Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Bahir Dar University is dedicated to advancing education, research, and community engagement in geography, environmental management, and sustainable development. The department prepares competent professionals equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills to address environmental, socio-economic, and spatial challenges at local, national, and global levels.

Through its undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the department promotes excellence in geospatial analysis, climate change adaptation, natural resource management, urban and regional planning, and environmental sustainability. With experienced faculty members, well-equipped laboratories, and strong research engagement, the department contributes to policy development, innovation, and societal transformation in Ethiopia and beyond.

Department of Political Science and International Studies

Dear Students, Stakeholders, Government Institutions, NGOs, and Partners,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Department of Political Science and International Studies at Bahir Dar University. Our department is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, and we invite collaboration and partnership with all stakeholders in these areas. We actively contribute to academic knowledge production, policy dialogue, and capacity-building initiatives that address contemporary political challenges.

The department is academically strong and diverse, with 54 qualified academic staff, including PhD holders and scholars with international academic exposure.

We offer a full range of academic programs at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, including:
• PhD in Political Science (with academic mobility partnership with the Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands)
• MA in Political Science
• MA in Peace and Conflict Studies
• BA in Political Science and International Studies
• BA in Civics and Ethical Studies
• BA in Philosophy
All programs are delivered through regular, summer, and distance modalities, ensuring flexibility and access for a wide range of students.

Our curricula are continuously reviewed and strengthened to ensure they are both competency-based and outcome-based, aligned with current academic standards and societal needs.
In addition to teaching and research, the department hosts important academic and policy-oriented platforms, including the Diplomacy and Foreign Policy Research Center, established and operated at the university level by our department. This center plays a key role in advancing research and policy engagement on regional and international affairs.

We also run the Hub of Ideas (Biweekly Program), an interactive academic forum where students and instructors engage in structured debates, discussions, and intellectual discourse to strengthen critical thinking and scholarly exchange.

We warmly invite students, researchers, government institutions, NGOs, and development partners to collaborate with us in advancing knowledge, research, and practical solutions to societal and global challenges.
We look forward to building strong academic and institutional partnerships for impactful engagement and excellence.