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The University of Notre Dame prepares graduates to foster global change
Growing inequality, climate change, conflict, and democratic recession are among the gravest challenges we face as a global community today. More than ever, the world needs more people who can make a difference. We need professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to create a positive impact on people, communities, and countries.
There’s one school that champions this — the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.
“Students at the Keough School are driven by a profound sense of purpose. We challenge them to not only study global issues but to innovate and lead. They thrive in our interdisciplinary environment, gaining the skills and insights to influence policy, foster peace and promote justice across the world.”
Paul Winters, Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Global Affairs in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame
university (US News and World Report)
TOP
25
alumni from 72 countries
200+
of graduates employed or pursuing advanced degrees
97%
Masters in Global Affairs graduates pursue careers at nonprofit and non-governmental organisations
over
1/2
The Master of Global Affairs programme
The Keough School is known for training ethical leaders for the new global world, like Fernando Ixpanel from Guatemala. He is a 2024 graduate of the Master of Global Affairs programme and is today a consultant for the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions at the Organisation of American States.
Ixpanel chose the Keough School’s MGA programme to learn more about governance models, anti-corruption efforts, and international cooperation. But what he gained was so much more.
The greatest influence of the MGA on Ixpanel? Being part of a diverse community for over two years. “I got to know what others are fighting for and how policy advocacy influences and supports decision-makers in implementing and upholding normative frameworks, legislation and policies,” he says.
“The MGA curriculum exposed me to different areas that I did not know about,” he says. “This exposure, and engaging in meaningful conversations, made me feel better prepared to address those areas professionally.”
World-changing research
The Keough School and its nine research centres and institutes recognise that problems today must address the whole person. For someone interested in democracy and international development like Ixpanel, the school’s institutes and centres, along with the university’s reputation, were what drew him in.
Ixpanel presented original research at the 2024 Student Peace Conference, hosted by the Keough School's Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, along with his classmates. The conference is an annual student academic event that promotes discussion on peacebuilding, justice, and conflict transformation issues.
“I was aware of Notre Dame’s prestige, but it was the resources, opportunities, and generous scholarship packages that led me to choose the Keough School over other programs,” he says.
“After graduating with a global affairs degree from the Keough School, our alumni secure impactful careers in organisations such as Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services, US government agencies and the World Bank. Whether in nonprofits, government, or advanced studies, they contribute to addressing the world’s most critical issues.”
William Goldberg
Hear from the Master of Global Affairs programme director
Master of Global Affairs programme director
Hear from the
“After graduating with a global affairs degree from the Keough School, our alumni secure impactful careers in organisations such as Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services, US government agencies and the World Bank. Whether in nonprofits, government, or advanced studies, they contribute to addressing the world’s most critical issues.”
William Goldberg
Career development
The Keough School of Global Affairs provides undergraduate and graduate students with a variety of resources to help them discern their career path, connect with employers and alumni, and launch their professional careers. Support includes personal career advising through both the Keough School and the university, career development opportunities such as career talks, workshops, and funding opportunities to help students advance their professional development.
The Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame shapes leaders with the skills to build a better future for all. At the Keough School, every MGA student goes beyond the classroom to gain practical, hands-on experience — an essential part of the curriculum designed to equip them with the skills needed to be a changemaker.
Through the Integration Lab (i-Lab), students collaborate with global partner organisations to tackle real-world challenges. Working in teams, they design projects and deliver solutions that help these partners overcome key obstacles. To date, the i-Lab has spearheaded 42 projects in 51 countries, working with 21 global partners, including prominent organizations such as the World Benchmarking Alliance, Catholic Relief Services, Fund for Peace, Oxfam International, International Food Policy Research Institute, and Mercy Corps.
Practical, hands-on experience
The Keough School’s Peace Studies Internship, run by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, places students in organisations focused on peace, justice, and conflict transformation. Students gain invaluable hands-on experience contributing to peacebuilding initiatives in areas of the world including Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the US.