Access, Academics, Careers

At the Fribourg Institute, students don’t just study international institutions—they step inside them. Programs provide rare, invitation-only opportunities to sit down with diplomats, military leaders, policy experts, and NGO practitioners at places like the United Nations, NATO Headquarters, and the Council of Europe.

These are not tours or rehearsed lectures but interactive sessions where students ask questions, share perspectives, and learn directly from the professionals shaping global policy. The format may vary—roundtables, panels, seminars, or informal exchanges—but the impact is constant: students see how decisions are made, what trade-offs matter, and what skills professionals rely on.

This is often the moment when students begin to see themselves as professionals-in-training. Supported by a network built over decades, the Fribourg Institute opens doors few others can—placing students at the table where history is being written.

The Fribourg Institute was founded on the belief that academics should prepare students for the real world as much as the classroom. Each program blends theory and practice: structured readings, lectures, and guided discussions give students the vocabulary and context to understand today’s global challenges, while private meetings with diplomats, policy advisors, and NGO leaders let them put that knowledge into conversation.

Reflection is built into the process. Faculty-led debriefs after each session connect ideas to lived realities, ensuring that lessons resonate deeply. And through simulations, debates, group projects, and policy presentations—often with professional feedback—students practice the very skills they’ll need in graduate school and their careers.

The experience culminates in a capstone policy paper, an academic and professional showcase piece. Backed by 12 ECTS credits (6 U.S. credits) from the University of Fribourg, students gain academic recognition, professional preparation, and an insider’s perspective on the most pressing issues of our time.

The Fribourg Institute is a launchpad for international careers. Students leave with more than knowledge—they graduate with skills, connections, and confidence.

The curriculum is purposefully designed with professionalization in mind. Students draft policy papers that double as portfolio pieces, learn to frame arguments for decision-makers, and hone collaboration through debates and group projects. These exercises mirror the challenges they’ll face in graduate school or the workplace, giving them a head start in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.

Networking is equally central. From diplomats and senior officials to peers and young professionals just starting out, students build relationships that can shape careers long after summer ends. The friendships formed among classmates—serious, like-minded peers—often become the foundation of future professional networks.