Master in East European and Eurasian Studies at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught joint master's (LM-52 R) in Forlì, with Kaunas and Zagreb, on the politics, history, economics and societies of Eastern Europe, Russia, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia, with a compulsory semester abroad. Entry needs a related bachelor's, B2 English and an interview.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
East European and Eurasian Studies (MIREES) is a two-year, 120 ECTS international master's degree (class LM-52 R) taught in English at the University of Bologna's Forlì campus, awarded jointly with universities in Kaunas and Zagreb. Entry needs a bachelor's in a listed social science area or 48 credits in set fields, English at B2 and an online interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's East European and Eurasian Studies master (MIREES) asks for a three-year bachelor's degree in a listed subject area, or with at least 48 credits in set social science, history, economics and law fields, English at B2, and at least 50/100 from an online interview and an assessment of your academic record. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a three-year first-cycle degree, or a foreign qualification that is recognised as suitable under Italian rules and gives access to a similar master's degree in the country that issued it. Your degree must also meet one of these subject rules: [1]
- A degree in a listed area: Italian bachelor's classes in philosophy, geography, humanities, modern languages and cultures, linguistic mediation, communication sciences, economics, political science and international relations, social sciences for cooperation, development and peace, sociology, history, or defence and security sciences.
- Or at least 48 credits in set fields: political science, sociology and the history of international relations and political institutions, economics and economic policy, statistics and demography, history of philosophy, geography, social psychology, modern, contemporary and East European history, international and EU law, philosophy of law, and Slavic and Finno-Ugric studies (sectors SPS/01, 03 to 08, 11 and 14, SECS-P/01 and 02, SECS-S/01, 04 and 05, M-FIL/06, M-GGR/01 and 02, M-PSI/05, M-STO/02 to 04, IUS/13, 14 and 20, L-LIN/19 and 21).
- Foreign degrees: the International Academic Board compares the subject area of your degree with these classes and fields.
Final-year students can apply if they already meet the subject requirements by the application deadline. For 2026/27 they had to graduate by 31 December 2026, or their enrolment was cancelled. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The rule looks at the subject area of your degree, not just the total credits, and Italian CFU are not the same unit as the credits on a foreign transcript. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA in Political Science, International Relations, History, Sociology, Economics, Geography, Philosophy, Modern Languages or Mass Communication, or a B.Sc. in Economics.
- Check carefully: a B.Com, BBA, LLB or BA in Psychology, which may reach the 48-credit block only through its economics, statistics, law or social psychology subjects.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or B.Sc. in a pure science with few social science, economics, history or law credits.
For foreign degrees, the International Academic Board makes the final comparison. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 is required. A certificate must be no more than three years old at the application deadline. Accepted proof includes: [1]
- Any international B2 certificate on the university language centre's recognised list (the AICLU table). For IELTS Academic, Academic Online or General Training, the Test Report Form number is enough if you do not have the certificate.
- TOEFL paper-based with at least 550, or Trinity GESE grade 7 or higher.
- A B2 certificate from a university language centre in Italy or abroad.
- Native English speakers with documented nationality of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States or another country on the university's list.
- A university degree taught entirely in English, completed or in progress.
Applicants without any of these can take the Oxford Online Placement Test at the University of Bologna's language centre once, online, on set dates before the deadline. For the first 2026/27 selection the dates were 10 March, 14 April and 21 April 2026, open only to applicants who had completed their application. Without B2 proof you are excluded from the selection. [1]
Selection: interview and academic record
Only applicants who meet the subject and English requirements move on to the assessment of personal preparation, scored out of 100. You need at least 50/100 to be ranked. [1]
- Online interview (up to 30 points): held in English on Microsoft Teams. If you miss it, you are excluded from that selection.
- Academic merit (up to 45 points): based on the weighted average of your exam grades. On the Italian 30-point scale the formula is (average minus 18) times 45/11.5, with full marks from 29.5/30. For foreign degrees the board applies an ECTS conversion or assesses your record directly.
- International experience (up to 15 points): study, internship, research or thesis periods abroad, relevant summer schools, extra language certificates at B2 or above in languages other than English, and other documented academic activity on international relations or the region.
- Additional degrees (up to 5 points) and relevant non-academic experience (up to 5 points): such as work, internships or volunteering in international relations and the region, documented by the host organisation.
Ties go to the younger candidate. [1]
2026/27 places and deadlines
For 2026/27 there were 50 places: 35 for EU and equivalent applicants and 15 for non-EU citizens living abroad, who could apply only in the first selection. [1]
- First selection: applications ran from 26 February to 21 April 2026 at 13:00 CEST. Interview invitations came out on 24 April, online interviews ran from 27 to 29 April and the ranking was published on 5 May 2026. Admitted candidates enrolled from 7 to 15 May 2026.
- Second selection, if held: applications from 11 May to 30 June 2026, interviews from 6 to 8 July and the ranking on 14 July 2026, for remaining places, open only to EU and equivalent applicants.
- Third selection, if held: applications from 17 July to 7 September 2026, interviews on 10 and 11 September and the ranking on 15 September 2026, also only for EU and equivalent applicants.
Reserved places for non-EU citizens living abroad that stay empty after the first selection pass to EU and equivalent applicants. The 2027/28 call is not yet published, and it will set the new dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Studenti Online and upload, as PDFs: [1]
- The completed online admission form.
- Your degree certificate with a transcript of records and Diploma Supplement, if available, showing grades and credits, or your list of exams if you have not graduated yet, plus the grading system if it is not shown elsewhere. You also list each exam in the application table.
- A translation into English or Italian for documents not in Italian, English, French or Spanish; you may translate them yourself at this stage.
- Your passport or ID and your B2 English proof.
- Optional evidence of extra degrees and international or work experience, certified by the organisation concerned.
Non-EU citizens living abroad also submit Universitaly pre-enrolment to the Italian diplomatic mission and apply for a study visa. Universitaly allows only one programme, and you must be admitted to it. [1]
After admission, your documents must be officially translated and checked for authenticity and value where required. You upload them with your study visa on Studenti Online and show the originals at the Forlì Campus Student Administration Office when you arrive. Enrolment is completed only after these checks, and your career must 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, Forlì Campus. Revised call for applications for admission to the international Master's degree in East European and Eurasian Studies (MIREES), class LM-52, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, East European and Eurasian Studies programme pages: overview and career prospects. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, East European and Eurasian Studies study plan for students enrolling in academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
East European and Eurasian Studies (MIREES) is a two-year international master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-52 R, International relations) taught entirely in English. It is run by the Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS) of the University of Bologna on its Forlì campus and has restricted access: for 2026/27 there were 50 places, 15 of them reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. Sonia Lucarelli is the degree programme director. [1][2]
The programme is a joint degree with Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania, and the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Graduates receive a joint second-cycle title that is valid as a Laurea Magistrale in Italy, a Master of Political Science in Lithuania and a Master of Arts in East European Research and Study in Croatia. The 2026/27 call notes that the renewal of the joint-degree agreement between the partners was still being completed when it was published. [1]
The degree focuses on the political, economic and cultural transformations of post-socialist countries and the newer EU member states, with units on Russia, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia. [2][3]
What you will study
The degree is worth 120 CFU over four semesters. In the 2026/27 study plan, the first year includes: [3]
- Modernity and State-building in Eastern Europe and the Eurasian Space (8 CFU, two 4 CFU modules), compulsory
- Research Methods for the Social Sciences (8 CFU), compulsory
- One regional language (8 CFU): Russian at elementary, intermediate or advanced level, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Polish, Slovak or Ukrainian
- One history unit (8 CFU), such as History of the Soviet Union and Russia, Remapping the Post-Soviet Space or Political History of the Caucasus
- One politics and international relations unit (8 CFU), such as Russian Foreign Policy, Pan-European Security or Central Asia between Russia and China
- One economics or sociology unit (8 CFU), such as Economics of Transition in Eastern Europe or Borders and International Relations
- A further 16 CFU from these fields and a 4 CFU laboratory, such as Emerging Market Risk: How to Write Country Risk Report
In the second year you take 20 CFU of elective courses at partner universities, a Graduate Thesis Writing Workshop (2 CFU) and the final stage. The final stage is worth 22 CFU, either as a single final examination or as a 10 CFU final exam plus a 12 CFU internship or preparation period abroad. [3]
How the programme is taught
Attendance at lectures, seminars and conferences is compulsory. The first and second semesters are taught in English in Forlì. Every student spends the third semester abroad at a consortium partner in Kaunas or Zagreb, an associated partner university or another approved host, where teaching may be in English or in the host's language. The semester abroad combines language and elective courses with research and fieldwork for the thesis, and ends with a Work in progress seminar on thesis methods and structure. Erasmus+ grants support this compulsory mobility. [1]
Partner universities in the 2026/27 study plan also include Comenius University in Bratislava, European University Viadrina, Jagiellonian University, Koç University, Tbilisi State University, the University of Graz, the University of Helsinki and Yerevan State University. [3]
Career paths
The university describes two main profiles. A specialist in the Eurasian area works as a consultant, analyst or diplomatic mediator for international third-sector organisations, research centres of banks, companies and foundations, European institutions, NGOs and specialised media. An area mediator or conflict-resolution expert organises conferences, monitors human rights, observes elections and develops conflict-resolution and institution-building programmes for bodies such as the OSCE, UN, UNDP and NATO, as well as ministries and research centres. The degree also gives access to PhD programmes and second-level professional master's programmes. [2]
Fees and scholarships
Bologna sets tuition by family income. The contribution follows the family ISEE, up to a maximum set for each programme. Without a valid ISEE the maximum applies. International students with income and assets only abroad cannot submit an ISEE and follow the university's separate rules for foreign income. [1]
The regional scholarship body is ER.GO Emilia-Romagna, which runs its own calls for scholarships, housing and meals, separate from admission. With the right income documents, this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. ER.GO decides scholarship awards. [1]
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU citizens living abroad can apply only in the first selection, for 15 reserved places. For 2026/27 it ran from 26 February to 21 April 2026, with online interviews from 27 to 29 April and the ranking on 5 May 2026. The later rounds were open only to EU and equivalent applicants. [1]
You apply on Studenti Online with your degree documents, B2 English proof and the admission form. Non-EU applicants also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, naming this programme as their single choice, and apply for a study visa. After admission you enrol by paying the first instalment, upload your degree documents and visa, and show the originals at the Forlì Campus Student Administration Office on arrival. The 2027/28 call 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, admission form 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 East European and Eurasian Studies at Bologna?
A three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent in a listed area, such as political science, international relations, economics, history, sociology, languages, philosophy or communication, or one with at least 48 credits in set social science, history, economics and law fields. A board compares foreign degrees with these rules. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. Eligible applicants have an online interview in English on Microsoft Teams, worth up to 30 points, and an assessment of their academic record and experience, worth up to 70. You need at least 50/100 to be ranked. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. IELTS is among the accepted certificates, as are TOEFL paper-based with 550, Trinity GESE grade 7 and other listed B2 certificates no older than three years. A degree taught entirely in English also counts, and the university offers an online placement test to applicants without proof. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
Non-EU citizens living abroad can apply only in the first selection. For 2026/27 it ran from 26 February to 21 April 2026, with 15 reserved places and online interviews from 27 to 29 April. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you are in your final year and already meet the subject requirements by the application deadline. For 2026/27, admitted students had to graduate by 31 December 2026, or their enrolment was cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Com or a BBA. Can I apply?
Possibly. The listed degree areas include economics but not business, so the board looks at whether your subjects reach 48 credits in fields such as economics, statistics, political science, history or law. We check your transcript against the list before you apply. [1]
Will I study abroad during the degree?
Yes. The third semester abroad is compulsory, at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, the University of Zagreb or another partner, with Erasmus+ grants. Graduates receive a joint degree valid in Italy, Lithuania and Croatia. [1]
Which languages can I study?
Every student takes one regional language worth 8 CFU. The 2026/27 study plan offers Russian at elementary, intermediate or advanced level, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to East European and Eurasian Studies 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 East European and Eurasian Studies?
A three-year Indian BA in political science, history, economics, sociology or a similar field can meet the degree rule if the board matches its subjects to the listed areas, and a documented degree taught entirely in English also counts as B2 proof. Applicants are ranked on an online interview and their academic record. The steps are the Studenti Online application in the first selection 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 East European and Eurasian Studies are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: the Studenti Online application in the first selection, an online 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 East European and Eurasian Studies are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: the Studenti Online application in the first selection, an online 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 East European and Eurasian 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: the Studenti Online application in the first selection, an online 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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