The one-year MA in Global Studies (MAGS) Program at Bard College prepares students to address the 21st century’s most pressing global problems.
Tour of the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.
About the Program
Students can choose to spend the full year in New York City, or to begin the program in Vienna, Austria with Central European University. All students spend the second semester in New York City, completing rigorous elective coursework and a capstone project, as well as, most importantly, an internship with an organization working on global affairs. By emphasizing critical thinking, writing, and experiential learning, the program will educate the next generation of global citizens to be actively engaged in the transnational public sphere.
Photo courtesy M. Bajis Salim
Professional Internships
The centerpiece of the MA in Global Studies experience is the internship, where students get an on-the-ground perspective on how a variety of civil society and private global actors address transnational problems. Whether it’s with an existing internship partner or at an organization new to our network, students are connected to high-profile and substantive internships in New York City.
Program Overview
Students complete 30 credits during the one-year MA program, including coursework on the form and function of the global political order, the histories and evolution of specific global problems and how groups and individuals have attempted to address them. Seminars range from skill-based courses that prepare students to enter the workforce, to rigorous elective coursework on a range of global events and issues.
For 2026–27 Applicants: Multiple Decision Timelines Now Available!
To better accommodate a range of applicants, we are pleased to introduce three admission decision timelines beginning with the 2026–27 application cycle! Applicants are encouraged to apply by the earliest timeline they are ready for. For full details and application instructions, please visit our Admission page.
Early Decision (NYC Track only)
Early Decision (NYC Track only)
- Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
- Admission Decisions Released: by February 1, 2026 (aid by Feb 8)
- Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
- Admission Decisions Released: by April 15, 2026 (aid by April 22)
- Final Deadline: May 31, 2026
- Note for Dual MA applicants: CEU’s final deadline (for self-financing applicants who do not need a visa for the first semester in Vienna) is July 15th, however we request that students (particularly international students) submit their application as close to our May 31 deadline as possible to remain in line with Bard’s onboarding timelines. Extensions will only be granted on a case-by-case basis.