Master in Development and Migration Studies at University of Palermo
Two-year English-taught master's degree in Palermo on development cooperation and migration governance, combining economics, law, history, anthropology and politics, with 12 credits of internships.
Master
2 years
Palermo
English
University of Palermo
Development and Migration Studies is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-81 R) taught entirely in English at the University of Palermo, replacing Cooperation, Development and Migrations from 2026/27. It includes 12 credits of internships. Non-EU students pay a fee set by country list or by family income.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Development and Migration Studies has open access subject to curricular suitability, personal preparation and English evidence. The requirements below distinguish the programme’s 2026/27 rules from the separate international visa route. Sources were reviewed on 6 October 2026. [1-5]
Relevant bachelor’s degree classes
The curricular-class route lists L-37 Cooperation/Development, L-20 Communication, L-39 Social Work, L-36 Political Science/International Relations, L-18 Business Administration, L-33 Economics, L-15 Tourism, L-16 Administration/Organisation, L-40 Sociology and L-42 History, with the corresponding former classes. Foreign awards are assessed for suitable equivalence. Meeting a listed class addresses the curricular condition; it does not remove the preparation or English assessment. [1]
The 30-credit route for other degrees
Applicants from other classes need at least 30 CFU in the eligible sectors: SPS/04 and SPS/07-/12; IUS/01, /02 and /09; SECS-P/01, /02, /03, /06 and /12; SECS-S/01-/05; L-LIN/12 and L-OR/10; M-STO/02 and /04; M-GGR/01 and /02; M-FIL/06; and M-DEA/01. These cover political and social science, law, economics/statistics, English and Arab-world studies, modern/contemporary history, geography, philosophy and anthropology. [1]
The committee maps the transcript and relevant course content to these sectors. The 30-credit route includes a specific interview on suitability and preparation; acquiring the credits alone does not secure admission. For foreign applicants, we provide subject descriptions and workload information so that the committee can judge comparable content. [1, 2]
Compulsory motivation/preparation assessment and languages
The programme checks personal preparation, academic maturity, critical reasoning, motivation and fit with development/migration studies. Non-EU applicants undergo CV, motivation and career review followed by the required preparation/motivation interview. The EU route also includes English B2 verification and the preparation interview. The international Student Portal procedure separately requires a successful personal-knowledge interview. [1, 2]
The programme is entirely English-taught. The course sheet allows foreign EU/non-EU students who lack Italian to use further-language study credits to develop adequate Italian knowledge. That provision is not a universal Italian B2 admission requirement for this English course. English B2 and the academic interview remain the applicable entry checks. [1, 3, 6]
English B2 evidence for the English-taught route
The international English-taught admission route requires English at CEFR B2 or above. The central list includes IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 and Pearson PTE General/Academic 46 or above, together with the listed Cambridge, British Institutes and Trinity ISE II-IV certificates. No additional component-score minimum is stated on that central page. We match your certificate to the named examinations and accepted evidence rather than converting scores between tests. [2, 3]
The central procedure also accepts an official Medium of Instruction certificate. The language policy recognises an entirely English-taught qualifying degree, an entirely English-taught International Baccalaureate and a recognised English-language programme admission test as exemption routes. Evidence of a few English modules alone is not proof that the whole qualification was taught in English. Academic and programme-specific language assessment can still be required. [2, 3]
For applicants directed to the UniPa Language Centre, the current 2026/27 online assessment lasts 30 minutes: 18-24 points certify B1 and 25-30 certify B2. A B1 result does not meet a B2 requirement. Booking requires Student Portal/pre-enrolment credentials; the attestation is emailed to the student and must be sent to the coordinator. The next listed session after this review is 3 November 2026, 09:00-15:00; the test must be finished before the session closes. A language session does not reopen an expired international application deadline. [5]
International qualification file and compulsory assessment
Non-EU applicants abroad requiring a study visa create a Student Portal account and an enrolment application. The upload includes a valid passport, passport photograph, qualifying bachelor’s degree, complete transcript, English B2 certificate or official Medium of Instruction evidence, and CV. To allow the committee to map foreign subjects to the Italian requirements, we prepare course descriptions, credit/workload information and the grading scale when requested. The programme decides whether the foreign award and curriculum are suitable. [1, 2, 4]
The administrative office checks the file and the coordinator evaluates academic eligibility. A preliminary admission letter is followed by the international route’s compulsory personal-knowledge interview, covering preparation, motivation, expectations and English. The later stages follow only after a positive assessment. Domestic grade-based assessment exemptions in the programme sheet do not remove this separately stated international interview. [1, 2]
2026/27 dates for non-EU visa applicants abroad
The published 2026/27 Student Portal application-creation deadline was 20 July 2026 and the Universitaly application-creation deadline was 4 August 2026. Both have passed. International Office forwarding to the embassy requires the admission letter and full approval of the personal-knowledge interview. The visa procedure must be completed by 30 November 2026. Later departmental interview dates concern candidates already following the appropriate admission route; they are not a new visa application window. No 2027/28 dates are confirmed in these reviewed sources. [2]
Other applicant categories, missing credits and conditional enrolment
EU applicants, eligible residents and applicants using the ordinary local procedure request curricular and personal-preparation verification through the Student Portal and follow the programme’s assessment calendar. Open access removes a competitive seat ranking; it does not remove the degree, credit, language or preparation checks. Applicants graduating later must meet the applicable conditional-enrolment rules, rather than enrol on the strength of an incomplete unsuitable curriculum. [1, 4]
The 2026/27 central procedure permits the relevant graduating-student route with at least 140 earned CFU and all required curricular credits, subject to the application/check dates, with graduation by 31 March 2027. Foreign equivalence and applicant-category eligibility require university approval. This date does not extend the July/August visa-route application deadlines. If curricular credits are missing, the rules allow eligible graduates to take individual courses, pass them by the November 2026 examination session and submit a new verification request within the annual calendar; otherwise access moves to the following year. [4]
Final enrolment and original documents
For the foreign visa route, finalisation requires the original qualifying degree and academic transcript with Italian or English translation and the prescribed legalisation. The central master’s checklist allows a Declaration of Value, CIMEA Comparability plus Verification, a Diploma Supplement plus Verification, or ARDI plus Verification according to the qualification. A Diploma Supplement alone does not satisfy the stated verification requirement. Residence-permit application evidence and the additional records requested by the office are also needed. [2]
Admission, Universitaly approval, visa issuance and final university enrolment are separate stages. The consular mission decides the study visa; the programme and International Students Office decide the academic/document checks. We track the dates for your category and keep the completed assessment and payment records. [2, 4]
Sources and verification
- University of Palermo, Guida accesso Lauree Magistrali 2026/2027, programme admission sheet, page 21-22; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Master degree course: enrolment procedures for extra-EU foreign students, 2026/27 guidance; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Language requirements / admission requirements, current official guidance; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, D.R. 7830/2026, prot. 134344, 17 July 2026, Linee guida accesso Corsi di Laurea Magistrale 2026/27; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo Language Centre, Verifica delle competenze linguistiche per accesso alle Lauree Magistrali, notice of 4 September 2026, academic year 2026/27; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Laurea Magistrale Internazionale in Development and Migration Studies, programme presentation of 25 June 2026; reviewed 6 October 2026.
About the programme
Development and Migration Studies is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree in class LM-81 R (cooperation and development), run by the Department of Culture and Society of the University of Palermo.
It is taught entirely in English, in person in Palermo, and replaces the former Italian-named degree Cooperazione, Sviluppo e Migrazioni: the new course (code 2506) opens its first year in 2026/27.
The university presents it as an international master's degree and the only LM-81 course on a macro-regional scale.
It trains specialists who design, coordinate and manage development programmes and the governance of migration, with a focus on human development: better access to education, health, work, resources, freedom and political participation.
What you will study
The course combines economics, history, philosophy, anthropology, statistics, sociology, law and geography around five knowledge areas: international and development economics, development statistics and demography, anthropology and postcolonial studies, international law and human rights, and global politics and area studies.
First-year units offered in 2026/27 include:
- Development Economics
- International Economics
- Human Rights in Development and Migration Policies (9 ECTS)
- International Humanitarian Law, Refugees, and Human Rights Law
- History of Post-Colonial World
- Middle East and North Africa: History, Politics, Cultures
- Gender Issues in Development and Migration
- Sea Geographies in Migration Studies
How the programme is taught
Lectures are combined with active participation through reports, seminars and project work. Twelve credits are set aside for internships and professional activities with organisations in the sector, in Italy and abroad.
The degree also supports double degree options, integrated study paths and mobility agreements with European and non-European universities, and students can add languages such as Arabic, French, German, Spanish and Swahili.
Career paths
Graduates are trained as specialists in development cooperation and migration governance. The university lists these employers:
- International organisations and agencies
- European Union institutions
- Bilateral and multilateral cooperation bodies
- NGOs and third-sector foundations
- Research centres
- Consulting and communication firms
Fees and scholarships
UniPa's 2026/27 fees for non-EU students living abroad follow one of two routes: a fixed fee set by country list, or a fee based on family income.
The income-based fee is calculated with an ISEE parificato. ERSU Palermo, the regional right-to-study body, awards scholarships on merit and family income; the university lists a tuition fee waiver among the benefits.
How to apply from outside the EU
We follow the detailed entry requirements for the English-taught curriculum, the academic assessment, the complete document file and the separately stated 2026/27 international deadlines. Preliminary admission is followed by the required interview, Universitaly and final enrolment checks. [1-5]
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 Palermo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Student Portal application, interview preparation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ERSU Palermo 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
Which degree subjects are listed?
The listed classes include development, communication, social work, political science, business, economics, tourism, administration, sociology and history. Foreign awards require suitability assessment. [1]
Can other graduates apply?
Yes, through the eligible 30-credit subject route and its assessment interview. The sectors also include languages, geography, philosophy and anthropology. [1]
Are 30 credits sufficient for automatic admission?
No. The committee must check the curriculum and the applicant’s preparation, motivation and English. The alternative-credit route includes an interview. [1, 2]
Is an interview required?
Yes. The programme requires preparation/motivation assessment, and the non-EU visa application procedure separately states a compulsory personal-knowledge interview. [1, 2]
Is Italian B2 compulsory?
The reviewed rules do not impose universal Italian B2 admission for this English course. They allow foreign students to develop Italian through further-language credits; English B2 remains required. [1, 3]
Which intake rules are described here?
The academic guide and international deadlines are for 2026/27. No confirmed 2027/28 deadline is supplied by these reviewed sources. [1, 2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Development and Migration Studies at Palermo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Palermo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ERSU Palermo 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 Development and Migration Studies?
You need a bachelor's degree comparable to one of the listed classes, such as political science, economics, sociology or history, or at least 30 credits in the eligible social science, law, economics and related sectors [1]. You also need English at B2, for example IELTS Academic 5.5 [2, 3]. The steps are a Student Portal application, a preliminary admission letter and interview, and Universitaly pre-enrolment [2]. 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 Development and Migration Studies are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: a Student Portal application, a preliminary admission letter and interview, 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 Development and Migration Studies are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: a Student Portal application, a preliminary admission letter and interview, 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 Development and Migration Studies 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: a Student Portal application, a preliminary admission letter and interview, 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.
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