Master in Economics and Public Policy at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught master in Bologna, class LM-56-R, with open access and two curricula, Health Economics Management and Policy, and Policy Analysis and Evaluation, built on advanced, data-driven economic analysis of public policy.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Economics and Public Policy is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-56-R) taught in English at the University of Bologna, with curricula in Health Economics, Management and Policy and in Policy Analysis and Evaluation. Entry needs a first degree in one of 18 listed fields, 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 Economics and Public Policy master asks for a first degree in one of 18 listed fields, from economics and statistics to engineering, law, pharmacy and medicine, or a suitable foreign equivalent, English at B2 and a committee score of at least 60/100 for your chosen curriculum. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
Both 2026/27 calls, one for each curriculum, ask for a first cycle degree in one of these Italian classes, or a suitable foreign qualification under Italian rules that gives access to a similar master's programme in the country where it was issued: [1][2]
- Economics, business and administration: Economics (L-33), Economics and Business Management (L-18) and Administration and Organisation Sciences (L-16).
- Social sciences and humanities: Political Sciences and International Relations (L-36), Sociology (L-40) and Philosophy (L-5).
- Law: Legal Services (L-14) and the single-cycle master's in Law (LMG/01).
- Quantitative sciences: Statistics (L-41), Mathematics (L-35), Physics (L-30) and Computer Science (L-31).
- Engineering: Civil and Environmental (L-7), Information (L-8) and Industrial Engineering (L-9).
- Health: Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (L-29), and the single-cycle master's degrees in Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy (LM-13) and Medicine and Surgery (LM-41).
The calls set no specific credit requirements. If you do not meet the curricular requirements, you cannot register for the programme. [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 curriculum you choose. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, a B.Com or BBA, a B.Sc. in Statistics, Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science, a BCA, a B.Tech or B.E. in most branches, an LLB, or a BA in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology or Philosophy. For the health curriculum, an MBBS, B.Pharm or Pharm.D also matches a listed field.
- Check carefully: degrees that combine a listed subject with others, such as a BA with Economics as one of several majors, or a B.Sc. in Biotechnology or Life Sciences for the health curriculum, where the fit with a listed class needs a closer look.
- Often short: degrees in fields that are not listed, such as nursing, dentistry, psychology, history, languages, architecture or fine arts.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, proven at the application stage. Certificates must be no older than three years and uploaded by the intake deadline. The 2026/27 calls accept: [1][2]
- 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][2]
Committee assessment
There is no entrance test. Each curriculum has its own committee from the Department of Economics, which scores applications out of 100: [1][2]
- Academic merit: the duration and quality of your degree course and your grades, up to 70 points.
- Coherence: how well your academic curriculum matches the learning objectives of the curriculum you apply for, up to 30 points.
You need at least 60/100 to be admitted. The rule on trying again differs: in Health Economics, Management and Policy, applicants who are not admitted can take part in a later intake, while in Policy Analysis and Evaluation they cannot. 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][2]
2026/27 deadlines
Health Economics, Management and Policy: [1]
- Intake 1 (EU and non-EU): applications from 13 January to 25 February 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 25 March 2026.
- Intake 2 (EU and non-EU): applications from 27 March to 29 April 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 26 May 2026.
- Intake 3 (EU candidates only): applications from 27 May to 24 June 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 22 July 2026.
Policy Analysis and Evaluation: [2]
- Intake 1: applications from 30 January to 6 March 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 7 April 2026.
- Intake 2: applications from 27 March to 29 April 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 26 May 2026.
- Intake 3: applications from 18 May to 24 June 2026 at 1:00 p.m., results from 22 July 2026.
The Policy Analysis and Evaluation call does not restrict its intakes by citizenship. For both curricula, 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 calls set the 2027/28 dates. [1][2]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applications are made on Studenti Online and must include: [1][2]
- 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][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 Bologna, Department of Economics. Admission notice to the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Economics and Public Policy, curriculum Health Economics, Management and Policy (code 6758), academic year 2026/27, English courtesy translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Department of Economics. Admission notice to the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Economics and Public Policy, curriculum Policy Analysis and Evaluation (code 6758), academic year 2026/27, English courtesy translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Second Cycle Degree Programme in Economics and Public Policy, programme website: overview, How to enrol page and 2026/27 study plans for both curricula. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Economics and Public Policy is a two-year second cycle degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-56-R, Economics, taught entirely in English at the University of Bologna by the Department of Economics (DSE). It is worth 120 ECTS, has open access with no fixed number of places, and is directed by Giulio Zanella.
The university presents the degree under the line "Transforming public policies": advanced economic analysis applied to economic and social challenges, with innovative, data-driven solutions. It suits graduates who want to apply economic analysis and data to public policy questions, including health policy.
What you will study
Students choose one of two curricula, which the Department of Economics presents with separate brochures for prospective students:
- Health Economics Management and Policy (HEMAP)
- Policy Analysis and Evaluation (PAE)
Both lead to the same degree in class LM-56-R, and each has its own admission notice and committee. In the 2026/27 study plans: [1][2][3]
- Health Economics, Management and Policy: first-year units in health economics, healthcare management, international law and health, econometrics, statistics for healthcare, and accounting and management in healthcare; in the second year, health econometrics, planning and evaluation of health policies, and legal issues in pharmaceutical markets.
- Policy Analysis and Evaluation: first-year units in econometrics and economic statistics, public management and negotiation, econometric methods for policy evaluation, public economics (18 CFU), law for public policy, and Python or R; in the second year, Current Public Policy Issues, field experiments or machine learning, and three options such as tax policy, labour economics and policy, or inequality, poverty and public policy.
Both curricula end with a final examination, which can be combined with an internship in Italy or abroad to prepare it. [3]
Career paths
The degree's stated focus, transforming public policies through advanced and data-driven economic analysis, shapes where graduates use it. The Health Economics Management and Policy curriculum looks towards health systems and their management, and Policy Analysis and Evaluation towards the design and assessment of public programmes. The degree website's Opportunities section and the university's job placement service give details on internships and job offers.
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, if your family ISEE is €27,000 or less, this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students; above that, the contribution grows with income. Income held abroad is declared to ER.GO, the regional right-to-study body. Non-OECD citizens, including students from countries like India, whose family income is only abroad may opt for a reduced flat fee.
For 2026/27, the Department of Economics also offered four merit grants of €4,608 gross each in each curriculum, for admitted students who scored at least 70 points: in Health Economics, Management and Policy, two for intake 1, one for intake 2 and one for intake 3; in Policy Analysis and Evaluation, three for intake 1 and one for intake 2. [1][2]
How to apply from outside the EU
Each curriculum has its own admission notice. For 2026/27, Health Economics, Management and Policy accepted non-EU applicants in intake 1 (closed 25 February 2026) and intake 2 (closed 29 April 2026), with intake 3 for EU candidates only. Policy Analysis and Evaluation ran intakes closing on 6 March, 29 April and 24 June 2026. Applications go through Studenti Online, and the 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][2] Once admitted, non-EU applicants living abroad complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment; the university validates it, and only then can you apply for the study visa at the Italian consulate.
At enrolment you pay the first instalment and hand in your translated degree certificate and transcript with a document on their value, such as a Diploma Supplement, a CIMEA statement or a declaration of value. See the non-EU enrolment guide.
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 for your chosen curriculum 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 Economics and Public Policy master?
A first degree in one of 18 listed fields, including economics, business, statistics, maths, physics, computer science, engineering, law, political science, sociology, philosophy, pharmacy and medicine, or a suitable foreign equivalent. No specific credits are set, but without a listed field you cannot register. [1][2]
Which curricula can I choose?
Two: Health Economics, Management and Policy, and Policy Analysis and Evaluation. Both lead to the same 120 ECTS degree in class LM-56-R, but each has its own admission notice, committee and deadlines. [1][2][3]
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 studies fit the curriculum you choose. You need at least 60 to be admitted. [1][2]
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][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, Health Economics, Management and Policy took non-EU applicants until 25 February 2026 (intake 1) or 29 April 2026 (intake 2). Policy Analysis and Evaluation intakes closed on 6 March, 29 April and 24 June 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1][2]
If I am not admitted, can I try again in a later intake?
It depends on the curriculum. Under the 2026/27 calls, Health Economics, Management and Policy applicants who are not admitted can take part in a later intake, but Policy Analysis and Evaluation applicants cannot. [1][2]
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][2]
I have an MBBS or a B.Pharm. Can I apply?
Possibly. Medicine and surgery and pharmacy are among the listed classes, so the committee checks how your degree corresponds to them, then scores your grades and how well your studies fit the curriculum you choose, such as Health Economics, Management and Policy. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Economics and Public Policy 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 Economics and Public Policy?
Indian degrees in economics, commerce, business, statistics, maths, computer science, engineering, law, political science, sociology, pharmacy or medicine match the fields Bologna lists, and the committee scores your grades and your fit with the curriculum. You also need English at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application for one curriculum, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][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 Economics and Public Policy are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application for one curriculum in an intake open to non-EU applicants, 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 Economics and Public Policy are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application for one curriculum in an intake open to non-EU applicants, 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 Economics and Public Policy 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 for one curriculum in an intake open to non-EU applicants, 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.
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