The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Master of Arts in International Affairs
Medford, USA
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 59,372 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Tailored for mid-career professionals, the one-year Master of Arts in International Affairs program prepares you for advanced roles in government, the private sector, international law, or global organizations through a highly flexible curriculum. The MA is tailored to each student’s functional, academic, and professional goals and includes a capstone project. Students can further customize their education by cross-registering for courses at Tufts or Harvard University.
Dive deeper into an international career
Answering today’s questions in an interconnected world requires thinking in terms of tomorrow’s solutions. Diplomats need to understand the role of AI. Government ministers consider economic policy with regards to climate adaptation.
Fletcher’s Master of Arts illuminates connections. This highly customizable, flexible, one-year degree helps experienced professionals dive deeper into global affairs from a robust, interdisciplinary perspective. You’ll approach vexing global issues from multiple points of view, preparing you to enhance your career or pivot to your next venture. With the flexibility to investigate your unique interests, you design the MA to suit your particular aspirations and step into the next stage of your career.
Key features
- One-year, full-time, residential program on Fletcher’s Boston-area campus
- Program designed for mid-career professionals on sabbatical or leave from government ministries, military, international organizations, or private business
- Flexibility to suit your career: Students tailor their course of study to their functional, regional, and career interests.
- Interdisciplinary program: The MA trains dynamic thinkers. Students take classes in international law and organizations; diplomacy, history, and politics; and economics and international business.
- Cross-registration opportunities with graduate and professional schools at Tufts and Harvard University.
- Eight Fletcher-approved courses
- Breadth requirement: Students take at least one course from each of three divisions
- International law and organizations
- Diplomacy, history, and politics
- Economics and international business
Capstone project: Students work closely with a faculty member on a capstone project to culminate their studies.
Fletcher offers over $7 million in scholarships and financial aid each year. Prospective students are required to indicate on their admissions application if they wish to be considered for scholarship aid. By doing so, you open the door to a range of financial opportunities designed to help you succeed at Fletcher.
Fletcher scholarships
Fletcher scholarships, awarded on the basis of a holistic application review and demonstrated financial need, are available to both U.S. and international students. These scholarships are designed to support your educational journey, covering a portion of tuition costs. It's important to note that scholarship awards do not cover full tuition, so we encourage students to explore additional funding sources. By taking advantage of all available resources early in the process, you can build a comprehensive financial plan that empowers you to fully engage in your Fletcher experience.
Federal loans
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online. The Tufts school code is 002219.
- You will need an FSA ID number to apply online.
- You are encouraged to complete your FAFSA by February 15 to allow provisional credits to be reflected on your Tufts tuition bill, which will be available electronically in early July.
- Need-based financial aid awards will arrive via email from Tufts Student Financial Services. Please monitor your junk and spam filters to be sure you receive this important message.
Supplemental scholarships for enrolled students
Fletcher is pleased to offer several additional scholarship opportunities to enrolled students. The following scholarships are awarded annually and may provide funding in addition to institutional scholarship aid. Fletcher will send enrolled students annual application announcements for the following, each of which requires a separate application:
- Dacor Bacon House Foundation Fellowship: Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR), an association of US Foreign Service Officers in Washington, D.C., awards the Bacon House Foundation Fellowship annually to a Fletcher student, in an amount up to $10,000 ($5,000 per semester). The award is made primarily on the basis of academic excellence and requires an expressed interest in an international relations field such as language, conflict resolution, international economics, or environmental science.
- The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund: The Will of Dolores Zohrab Liebmann created a perpetual charitable trust designated as "The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund" for the purpose of funding advanced education and graduate study grants. Each award covers the cost of tuition and an $18,000 annual stipend. Tufts University nominates three qualified candidates for this fellowship; Fletcher may put forward two candidates for the Tufts University selection committee to consider.
- Gregory Henderson Scholarship: This scholarship is made possible through a gift from the Estate of Maia Henderson, a longtime friend of Fletcher. The Henderson Scholarship supports Fletcher students pursuing Korean Studies. The terms of this scholarship are explicit: scholarship recipients will be required to submit a letter of thanks to the trustees of the estate detailing their pursuit of Korean Studies while at Fletcher.
- The John L. Robinson Educational Fund Fellowship: The John L. Robinson Educational Fund at the North Texas Community Foundation (The Robinson Fund) will grant scholarships on a competitive basis to second-year master's students studying United States-Arab World commercial diplomacy and business diplomacy. Fellowship recipients will receive a full-tuition scholarship for their second year of study at The Fletcher School. Open to MALD and MIB students who are academically qualified with a demonstrated interest in United States-Arab World commercial diplomacy and business diplomacy.
External scholarships
External scholarships can provide additional support as you finance your education.