Master in Behavioural and Applied Economics at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-56 economics master's at the University of Trento joining behavioural economics with applied econometrics, experiments and data analysis. Entry needs 48 credits in economics, business and quantitative methods and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Behavioural and Applied Economics (BEA) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-56) taught in English at the University of Trento. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 48 credits in economics, business and quantitative methods, plus English at B2. First-year non-EU fees fall with a high admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Trento's Behavioural and Applied Economics master asks for a bachelor's degree or recognised equivalent with at least 48 credits in economics, business and quantitative methods, English at B2, and a merit score of at least 50 out of 100. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 48-credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree or higher qualification, from Italy or abroad, recognised as equivalent. [1] The programme page specifies a bachelor's of at least three years. [2] Your degree must show at least 48 university credits (CFU) that prove good knowledge of economics, business administration and quantitative methods, including: [1]
- At least 16 CFU in economics: sectors SECS-P/01 to SECS-P/06 and SECS-P/12.
- At least 6 CFU in business: sectors SECS-P/07 to SECS-P/11.
- At least 8 CFU in quantitative methods: sectors MAT-05, MAT-06, MAT-09, SECS-S/01, SECS-S/03, SECS-S/04 and SECS-S/06.
The selection committee checks whether a foreign study plan meets these rules, and UniTrento may ask for a CIMEA statement of verification or comparability through the DiploMe service. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at your subjects, not only your total. The three minimums add up to 30 credits, so the rest of the 48 can come from any of the three areas. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.A. or B.Sc. in Economics, or a BBA or B.Com with courses in micro and macroeconomics, management or accounting, and statistics or maths.
- Check carefully: a B.Com or BBA with little economic theory, or a B.Sc. in Statistics or Mathematics with few economics or business courses. Each of the three blocks needs its own minimum.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E. or BCA without economics or business courses. These usually cover the quantitative block but not the 16 economics and 6 business credits.
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher, proved in one of these ways: [1]
- a certificate such as IELTS (overall 6), TOEFL (overall 72), Cambridge FCE, CAE or CPE, BULATS (60), BEC Vantage or Higher, Trinity ISE II to IV, Pearson Academic (42) or GMAT (580), among others listed in the call; IELTS Indicator and TOEFL Home Edition are accepted;
- a passed B2 or higher English exam in previous studies;
- a bachelor's or master's degree taught entirely in English, with certification;
- English as your mother tongue, with a self-certification that your full primary and secondary education was in English.
Certificates are valid for five years unless the issuer states otherwise, and the committee may interview you to check your English. [1]
Selection
There is no written test. The committee scores your file out of 100: [1]
- Academic record: up to 40 points.
- Certificates: up to 10 points for English and an optional GMAT or GRE.
- Statement of purpose, reference letters and the committee's overall view: up to 50 points, with at least 25 needed.
You need at least 50 out of 100 to be eligible, and the committee may interview you if your documents do not give enough information. Your score also sets your first-year fee. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27 the first call ran from 17 December 2025 to 4 March 2026 at noon CET and was the only call open to non-EU applicants living abroad. A second call, from 15 April to 29 May 2026, was for EU and equivalent applicants only. Rankings for the first call were due by 30 April 2026. [1]
Non-EU applicants finishing a bachelor's outside Italy had to graduate by 30 June 2026. Admitted non-EU students had to obtain their visa by 30 September 2026 and enrol by 31 October 2026. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply online and upload: [1]
- your passport;
- your bachelor's diploma, if already awarded;
- a transcript with exams and marks, and your grade point average if available, in Italian or English;
- a CV in English and your proof of English;
- a statement of purpose, given as answers to questions in English;
- at least two reference letters, uploaded by you before the deadline, plus contacts for two referees;
- GMAT or GRE scores, if you have them (optional).
Admitted candidates confirm their place by the date in the admission notice, then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment within two weeks of confirming. Pre-enrolment is compulsory for the study visa. [1][2]
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 Trento, Department of Economics and Management. Public selection for admission to the two-year Master's degree in Behavioural and Applied Economics (BEA), academic year 2026/2027 (English translation). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, Behavioural and Applied Economics master's programme pages: overview and admission for non-European applicants, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento. Tuition fees for non-EU students on master's degrees taught in English, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Behavioural and Applied Economics (BEA) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-56, economics) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English by the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Trento, in via Vigilio Inama 5, Trento.
It combines two fields in a single path. Applied economics gives you econometrics and large data sets to study industrial organisation, labour markets, public policy and data analytics. Behavioural economics brings in insights from psychology, organising predictable biases into theories that explain real decisions better. It suits economics, business and quantitative graduates who want to test theory with data.
What you will study
The first year is almost entirely required courses in theory and methods; the second year moves to policy, questionnaire design, electives, a short internship and the thesis. Units in the current plan include:
- Behavioural Economics (12 ECTS) and Microeconomics: Game Theory and Imperfect Markets
- Applied Econometrics, and Statistical Methods for Experiments and Data Learning
- Computer Simulation for Economics and an introduction to programming and Stata
- Business Strategy and Performance Evaluation (12 ECTS) and International Contracts Law
- Public Policies (12 ECTS), Empirical Industrial Dynamics and Questionnaire Design
- Options such as Data Analysis and Field Experiments, Empirical Labour Economics, Psychology of Decision Making and a Workshop in Behavioral Finance
- An internship and a master's thesis (14 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Theory and empirical work are taught together: you learn to frame research questions, find the right data, run lab and field experiments and explain results to specialists and non-specialists. Crash courses in economics, international business and quantitative methods help students from different backgrounds get started.
Career paths
The department points graduates to research roles in national and international research centres, think tanks and non-profits (such as central banks, the EU, OECD, World Bank or UN agencies), consultancy in banks and financial institutions, financial advice, and work as data or market analysts in private companies, multinationals, government bodies and NGOs.
Fees and scholarships
BEA sits in UniTrento's fee group A. [3] Under the 2026/27 call, the first-year fee for non-EU students living abroad follows the admission score, with a full waiver at 90 or more. In year two, the fee follows the credits you earn, and at least 42 credits by 10 August 2027 brings a full waiver. [1] Top-ranked non-EU applicants scoring at least 70 may get a UniTrento scholarship that waives fees, though it cannot be combined with other Italian public scholarships. [1] Opera Universitaria di Trento offers income-based grants, so BEA can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
BEA offered 15 of its 30 places to non-EU citizens living abroad for 2026/27. Scores out of 100 combined your academic record (40 points), certificates such as English or GMAT/GRE (10) and your statement of purpose, reference letters and the committee's overall view (50). You needed at least 50 overall and at least 25 in the last block. [1]
The 2026/27 window for non-EU applicants ran from 17 December 2025 to 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with rankings by 30 April 2026. [1] Admitted students confirmed their place, pre-enrolled on Universitaly within two weeks of confirming and applied for a type D study visa, which they had to obtain by 30 September 2026. [1][2] The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates.
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 Trento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with statement of purpose and reference letters, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU 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 Behavioural and Applied Economics at Trento?
A bachelor's or recognised equivalent with at least 48 credits in economics, business and quantitative methods, including at least 16 in economics, 6 in business and 8 in maths, statistics or quantitative methods. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. The committee scores your academic record (40 points), certificates (10) and statement of purpose, reference letters and overall view (50) out of 100. You need at least 50 overall, and it may interview you. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. Accepted proof includes IELTS 6 overall, TOEFL 72, Cambridge FCE or higher, Pearson Academic 42 or GMAT 580, a degree taught entirely in English with certification, or English as your mother tongue. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had one call, from 17 December 2025 to 4 March 2026 at noon CET, with rankings by 30 April 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants graduating outside Italy could apply if they finished their bachelor's by 30 June 2026. Europeans, and non-EU students graduating from an Italian university with a valid study permit, had until 31 October 2026. [1]
I have a B.Com or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
Possibly. A B.Com often covers the business credits, so we check it also has 16 economics and 8 quantitative credits. A B.Tech usually covers the quantitative block but often lacks the 16 economics and 6 business credits. [1]
How are BEA fees set for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the first-year fee fell with your admission score, to nothing at 90 or more, and year-two fees follow the credits you earn. Applicants scoring at least 70 may receive a UniTrento scholarship that waives fees. [1]
What careers does BEA lead to?
Research roles in think tanks and international organisations, consultancy in banks and financial institutions, and data or market analyst jobs in companies, public bodies and NGOs.
Can someone handle my whole application to Behavioural and Applied Economics at Trento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Trento's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU 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 Behavioural and Applied Economics?
A recognised Indian bachelor's, such as a B.A. or B.Sc. in Economics, a B.Com or a BBA, can meet the rule if it shows 48 credits in economics, business and quantitative methods with the set minimums, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the online application with statement of purpose and reference letters, place confirmation 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 Behavioural and Applied Economics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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 Behavioural and Applied Economics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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 Behavioural and Applied Economics 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: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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
