Master in Applied Economics and Markets at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught LM-56 master's in Applied Economics and Markets at the University of Bologna, with econometrics, policy analysis and a finance or modelling track. Entry needs a related first degree, a committee score of 60/100 and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Applied Economics and Markets is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-56) taught in English at the University of Bologna. Entry needs a first degree in economics, business, statistics, maths, physics, computing or engineering, a committee score of at least 60/100 and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Applied Economics and Markets master asks for a first degree in economics, business, political science, statistics, maths, physics, computer science or IT or industrial engineering, or a suitable foreign equivalent, English at B2 and a committee score of at least 60/100 for academic merit and fit. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a first cycle degree in one of these Italian classes, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable under Italian rules that gives access to a similar master's programme in the country where it was issued: [1]
- Economics and business: Economic Sciences (L-33) and Economic and Business Management Sciences (L-18).
- Social sciences: Political Sciences and International Relations (L-36).
- Quantitative sciences: Statistics (L-41), Mathematical Sciences (L-35), Physical Sciences and Technologies (L-30) and Computer Sciences and Technologies (L-31).
- Engineering: Information Technology Engineering (L-8) and Industrial Engineering (L-9).
If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot register for the programme. For foreign degrees, the committee checks whether your qualification corresponds to these classes. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
The rule is set by subject area, and the committee then scores how well your studies fit the programme. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, a B.Sc. in Statistics, Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science, or a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT or an industrial engineering branch such as Mechanical or Electrical.
- Check carefully: a B.Com or BBA, which sits close to the business management class, or a BA in Political Science, where the coherence score depends on how much economics, maths and statistics your transcript shows. A BCA is also worth checking against the computer science class.
- Often short: degrees outside these areas, such as law, humanities, life sciences, civil engineering or architecture.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, proven at the application stage. Certificates must be no older than three years. The 2026/27 call accepts: [1]
- IELTS 5.5 or higher
- TOEFL iBT 80 or higher
- Cambridge First (grade C or above), Advanced or Proficiency, or a Cambridge English score of 160 or higher
- Trinity College London ISE II or higher
- Cambridge Business English Vantage or higher
- IGCSE English as a Second Language or First Language English, with all four skills
You are exempt if your first or second cycle degree was taught entirely in English, as clearly stated in your transcript or a signed institutional document, or if you passed a university English exam with B2 stated as the level reached. Native speakers can self-certify. [1]
Committee assessment
There is no entrance test. A committee from the Department of Economics scores each application out of 100: [1]
- Academic merit: the duration and quality of your degree, up to 70 points.
- Coherence: how well your academic curriculum matches the programme's learning objectives, up to 30 points.
You need at least 60/100 to be admitted. If you are not admitted in one intake, you can apply again in a later one. The application form also asks for your weighted average or final grade, IT skills, relevant work experience, certifications such as GMAT or GRE and other languages. Reference letters can be added but are not evaluated. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
- Intake 1 (EU and non-EU): applications from 13 January to 12 February 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 23 March 2026.
- Intake 2 (EU and non-EU): applications from 13 March to 13 April 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 4 June 2026.
- Intake 3 (EU candidates only): applications from 15 May to 15 June 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
Matriculation ran from 22 July to 29 October 2026, with late matriculation until 19 November 2026 subject to a penalty. You could apply before graduating, but the degree had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, otherwise registration is cancelled. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applications are made on Studenti Online and must include: [1]
- a valid identity document, or a passport if your ID has no English translation
- your degree certificate translated into Italian or English, with the transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available, or your list of exams if you have not yet graduated
- a B2 English certificate or proof of an exemption
Mandatory documents that are missing or only partly uploaded by the intake deadline mean the application is not considered. Non-EU applicants living abroad must also pre-enrol on Universitaly and request a study visa. At matriculation, foreign qualifications must be translated and their authenticity and value verified where required, and originals are shown in Bologna. For 2026/27, careers had to be activated by 26 February 2027. [1]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Bologna, Department of Economics. Admission notice to the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Applied Economics and Markets (LM-56, code 6756), academic year 2026/27, English courtesy translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Second Cycle Degree Programme in Applied Economics and Markets, programme website: overview, How to enrol page and course structure for students enrolled in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Applied Economics and Markets is a two-year second cycle degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-56, code 6756) taught entirely in English at the University of Bologna. It is run by the Department of Economics, with teaching in Bologna. [1][2]
Access is open, with no cap on places, but every applicant must meet the degree and English requirements and pass a committee check of personal competencies. The department also awards merit grants based on the admission rankings. [1]
What you will study
The study plan for students enrolling in 2026/27 builds the first year on compulsory units: [2]
- Quantitative Methods for Economists (12 CFU): mathematical methods and statistical methods for economic analysis
- Microeconomic Analysis (12 CFU): econometrics for individual data and modelling individual behaviour
- Macroeconomic Analysis (12 CFU): macroeconomic models for policy analysis and time series econometrics
- Corporate Law (6 CFU)
You also choose two of International Economics and Trade, Industrial Economics and Monetary Economics, and either Python or R for Economists. Refresher courses in statistics and mathematics are available as extra credits. [2]
In the second year you follow one of two tracks: Financial and Monetary Economics, or Measuring and Modeling Economics. Options include Options, Futures and Derivatives, Portfolio Theory, Green Finance, Econometrics of Financial Markets, Macrofinance, Introduction to Machine Learning for Economists, Environmental Economics and Economics of Regulation. The year also includes a seminars workshop, 12 elective credits that can be an internship, and a 15-credit final examination, which can combine a shorter final exam with an internship in Italy or abroad to prepare it. [2]
Fees and scholarships
Bologna's fees follow family income (ISEE). International students whose income and assets are only abroad cannot submit an ISEE and use a separate documentation route for fee reductions. [1] First-year students with a low ISEE get a full exemption, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [2]
The regional body ER.GO runs scholarships, residence places and other benefits through its own yearly call, separate from the admission application. For 2026/27, the Department of Economics also offered four merit grants of €4,608 gross each, two for intake 1 and two for intake 2, for admitted students who scored at least 65/100. [1]
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could apply in intake 1 (13 January to 12 February 2026, 1:00 p.m.) or intake 2 (13 March to 13 April 2026, 1:00 p.m.). Intake 3 was reserved for EU candidates. Applications go through Bologna's Studenti Online system with your degree or transcript, an identity document and a B2 English certificate. [1]
Admitted non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a study visa. At matriculation they pay the first instalment, upload the degree and visa, and show original documents in Bologna, where the university verifies the qualification's translation, authenticity and value where required. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Studenti Online application with your degree, transcript and English certificate, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What bachelor's degree do I need for Bologna's Applied Economics and Markets master?
A first degree in economics, business management, political science, statistics, maths, physics, computer science, or IT or industrial engineering, or a suitable foreign equivalent. If you do not meet the curricular requirements, you cannot register. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. A committee scores your application out of 100: up to 70 points for academic merit and up to 30 for how well your degree fits the programme. You need at least 60 to be admitted. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. Accepted certificates include IELTS 5.5 and TOEFL iBT 80, no older than three years. A degree taught entirely in English, or a university English exam passed at B2, also counts. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could use intake 1, which closed on 12 February 2026, or intake 2, which closed on 13 April 2026, both at 1:00 p.m. Intake 3 was for EU candidates only. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, you could apply and enrol before graduating, but the degree had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, otherwise the registration is cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Com or a BBA. Can I apply?
Possibly. Business management is one of the listed fields, so the committee checks whether your degree corresponds to it. Your coherence score then depends on how much economics, maths and statistics your transcript shows. [1]
Are there scholarships beyond the regional grant?
Yes. For 2026/27, the Department of Economics offered four merit grants of €4,608 gross each, two for each of intakes 1 and 2, for admitted students who scored at least 65/100. Eligible students can also apply for the ER.GO regional scholarship. [1]
What does the programme cover?
The first year covers quantitative methods, microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis, econometrics, corporate law and Python or R. In the second year you choose a finance and monetary track or a measuring and modelling track, then an internship option and a final examination. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Applied Economics and Markets at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Applied Economics and Markets?
A three-year Indian bachelor's in economics, business, statistics, maths, physics, computer science or IT or industrial engineering matches the fields Bologna lists, and the committee scores your grades and how well your degree fits the programme. You also need English at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Applied Economics and Markets are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Applied Economics and Markets are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Applied Economics and Markets are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
More English-taught programmes at this university
Other public universities in this city
They began right where you are
