Master in Economics at University of Siena
Two-year English-taught MSc in Economics (LM-56, 120 ECTS) at the University of Siena, with a quantitative first year, wide second-year options, a 21-credit thesis and double degrees with Marburg and Ljubljana. Entry needs economics or quantitative credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Siena
English
University of Siena
Economics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-56) taught entirely in English at the University of Siena. Entry needs a bachelor's in economics or a related field, or 75 credits in set subjects with 40 in economics and maths or statistics, plus English at B2 and a committee review. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Siena's MSc in Economics asks for a three-year degree, preferably in economics, business, statistics, maths or the social sciences, or at least 75 credits in set subjects with 40 in economics and maths or statistics, plus English at B2 and a review by an enrolment committee. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a three-year bachelor's degree or a recognised foreign qualification. The 2025/26 regulations prefer degrees in economics (L-33), business economics and management (L-18), statistics (L-41), mathematics (L-35), political science and international relations (L-36) or social sciences for cooperation and development (L-37). [1][2]
- Other degrees: at least 75 CFU in listed economics, maths and statistics, and law, sociology or politics subjects, with at least 40 CFU in economics and maths or statistics. The quantitative list also includes computer science and computer engineering sectors. [2]
- Knowledge expected: maths, statistics and econometrics at the level of an economics bachelor's, and intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics. [3]
- Timing: the required credits must be held before enrolment, because enrolment with missing credits is not allowed. [2]
For degrees from abroad, the regulations set the knowledge needed from the minimum content in each subject area. [2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for about 25 hours of student work, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. [1] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, or a B.Com or BBA with solid economics, maths and statistics papers.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Statistics, a B.Tech, B.E. or BCA, or a BA in Political Science. Quantitative or computing credits can count, but you still need intermediate micro and macroeconomics for the selection.
- Often short: a BA in languages, literature or history, or another degree with few economics, maths or statistics papers, which usually lacks the 40 economics and quantitative credits.
The programme website notes that applicants with a strong maths and statistics background may be admitted without prior economics training. [5]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or above. The university checks it through an international certificate it recognises, or an equivalent certificate issued by a university. [1][2]
The programme pages we reviewed do not list minimum test scores, so we check which certificate your file can use. [3]
Selection
An enrolment committee reviews your documents. Applicants who pass this first stage may be invited to a remote online test, an interview or both, and the outcome follows about one month after the application deadline, or earlier. [3]
Under the 2025/26 rules, the check covers intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics plus maths, statistics and econometrics, and the Teaching Committee sets the method for graduates of foreign universities each year. [2] A GRE quantitative score of 760 or more is recommended but not strictly required. [5]
Graduates with a final mark of at least 95/110, at least 36 CFU in economics, 28 CFU in quantitative subjects and a weighted exam average of at least 26/30 are admitted directly. The conditions for direct admission of foreign graduates are set each year. [1][2]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who need a study visa had a single window, which closed on 6 May 2026, with no summer intake. Non-EU applicants who do not need a visa and EU applicants could also apply from 7 May to 30 September 2026. Applications outside the window for your category are rejected. [4]
The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published.
Documents and application
Applications go through the University of Siena's online portal. You upload: [3]
- An official academic transcript, or a provisional certificate if your degree is still in progress. A Diploma Supplement can replace the transcript.
- A CV, preferably in Europass format.
- Your English certificate at B2.
- At least two references.
- A valid passport.
- Certified translations of any document not in Italian or English.
Legalised documents are not needed to apply but are required for enrolment if you are admitted. [3]
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 Siena, Department of Economics and Statistics. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Economics (LM-56), in force from academic year 2025/2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Siena, Master's degree in Economics (LM-56). Annual course record (SUA-CdS) with admission requirements and procedure, academic year 2025/2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Siena, international admissions portal: Economics (LM-56) programme entry and the pages on documents required and admission fees, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Siena, international admissions portal. Admission calendar for master's degree programmes, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Siena, Economics (LM-56) programme website: home page and admission requirements page, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
The MSc in Economics is a two-year laurea magistrale (class LM-56, economic sciences, 120 ECTS) offered by the Department of Economics and Statistics within the School of Economics and Management, at Piazza San Francesco in Siena. It is conducted entirely in English and is designed to match international MSc standards.
It suits graduates with a quantitative background in economics or business who want an advanced, research-oriented training, either as a route into a PhD or into analyst roles.
What you will study
The first year gives a solid foundation in the four core areas of modern economics. In the second year you specialise through advanced topics across most fields of the discipline and add complementary subjects:
- Mathematics and statistics for economists
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Econometrics
- Advanced topics in specialised fields of economics
- Complementary subjects such as economic history, law, management and finance
How the programme is taught
Students can take a double degree with Philipps-Universität Marburg in Germany or the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, and can join Erasmus exchanges. The degree site also lists internship and training opportunities, and the course ends with a 21-credit thesis, written and defended in English. [1]
Career paths
The university describes graduates as economic analysts with advanced analytical skills, strategic thinking and adaptability. The degree is also a strong base for doctoral study. Graduates work in:
- government agencies and public institutions
- international organisations
- private and public companies
- banks and financial institutions
- professional associations
Fees and scholarships
Siena does not accept an ISEE parificato. Under its 2026/27 fee regulation, students without a valid Italian ISEE pay a contribution linked to the GDP per capita of their country of citizenship. DSU Toscana winners and eligible students are fully exempt, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Applications go through apply.unisi.it. We upload your degree, transcripts, CV, B2 English certificate and at least two references; a GRE score helps. The enrolment committee reviews the file, may call you for an online test or interview, and replies about a month after the deadline.
For 2026/27, applicants needing a study visa had a single window, which closed on 6 May 2026, with no summer intake. [4] After admission we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for the study visa. We watch the admission calendar for 2027/28.
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 Siena's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DSU Toscana 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 Siena's MSc in Economics?
A three-year degree or recognised foreign equivalent, preferably in economics, business, statistics, maths, political science or social sciences. Other degrees need at least 75 credits in listed subjects, 40 of them in economics and maths or statistics. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam? Do I need the GRE?
There is no fixed exam. An enrolment committee reviews your file and may invite you to a remote online test or an interview on micro, macro, maths, statistics and econometrics. A GRE quantitative score of 760 or more is recommended but not required. [2][3][5]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or above, shown by an international certificate the university recognises or an equivalent university certificate. The programme pages we reviewed do not set a specific IELTS score, so we check which proof your file can use. [1][2][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who need a study visa had one window, which closed on 6 May 2026, with no summer intake. Applications outside the window are rejected. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply with a provisional certificate while your degree is still in progress. You must hold all the required credits before enrolment, because enrolment with missing credits is not allowed. [2][3]
I have a B.Tech or a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Can I still apply?
Possibly. The programme website says applicants with strong maths and statistics can be admitted without prior economics training, and computing counts among the quantitative subjects. You still need intermediate micro and macroeconomics for the selection, so we check your transcript carefully. [2][3][5]
Are there double degrees?
Yes. The programme runs double degrees with Philipps-Universität Marburg in Germany and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, which the 2025/26 course record describes as being renewed. Students can also join Erasmus exchanges. [2][5]
What careers does it lead to?
Graduates work as economists and analysts in government bodies, international organisations, public and private companies, banks and financial institutions, and professional associations, or continue to a PhD in economics. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Economics at Siena?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Siena's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DSU Toscana 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?
A recognised Indian bachelor's, such as a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, or a B.Com or BBA with solid maths and statistics, can meet the rule if it covers the listed economics and quantitative subjects. You also need English at B2 and at least two references. The steps are the online application, the committee's review and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][3] 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 are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the enrolment committee's review 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 are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the enrolment committee's review 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 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, the enrolment committee's review 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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