Master in European and International Studies at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-52 master's at the University of Trento combining economics, history, law, political science and sociology, with four tracks from international affairs to sustainability and rights. Entry needs 60 credits in two listed areas and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
European and International Studies (MEIS) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-52) taught in English at the University of Trento in Trento. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 60 credits in two of history and philosophy, economics, law, political science, sociology or foreign languages, plus English at B2, such as IELTS with no skill below 5.5. Non-EU fees follow your admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniTrento's European and International Studies master asks for a bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 60 credits in at least two of history and philosophy, economics, law, political science, sociology or foreign languages, a background suited to an interdisciplinary degree, English at B2 and a merit score of at least 50 out of 100. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree or higher, awarded in Italy or abroad and recognised as equivalent. It must include the equivalent of at least 60 credits from at least two of these disciplinary areas: [1]
- History and philosophy
- Economics
- Law
- Political science
- Sociology
- Foreign languages
You also need a personal background of academic, vocational and professional experience suited to the interdisciplinary nature of the degree. [1]
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could apply before graduating if they obtained their bachelor's before 30 June 2026. For degrees from abroad, UniTrento may ask for a statement of verification or a statement of comparability. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Degrees from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka do not use Italian credits, so the committee reads your course list against the areas above. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA in Political Science, History, Economics or Sociology, a BA combining two of these subjects, or a BA LLB with political science, economics or sociology papers.
- Check carefully: a B.Com or BBA, which may reach 60 credits through economics and business law courses, though accounting and management courses do not fall in the listed areas. A BA in English or another language also needs a second area, such as history or political science.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or B.Sc. in a science subject, which usually has few courses in the listed areas.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by one of these certificates dated March 2024 or later: [1]
- IELTS: no skill below 5.5. IELTS Indicator is accepted.
- TOEFL iBT: no skill below 21, or the equivalent paper-based or computer-based TOEFL. TOEFL Home Edition is accepted.
- Cambridge B2 First: no skill below 165.
If you gained your bachelor's or master's at a university where teaching is entirely in English, you do not need a certificate. [1]
Selection and ranking
There is no written entrance test. A committee of three teaching staff from the School of International Studies checks the entry requirements and scores your file out of 100: [1]
- Up to 60 points: academic background and reference letter, including your degree grade, exam average, other academic and training activities, publications, professional, internship and volunteering experience, language skills and the reference letter.
- Up to 15 points: statement of purpose, judged on clarity, motivation, relevance to the course, English and originality.
- Up to 25 points: how relevant your previous studies and extracurricular activities, such as placements, summer schools and jobs, are to the aims of MEIS.
You need at least 50 out of 100 to be suitable. The committee may call you for an interview, in person or online, only if it needs more information. If scores are tied, the younger candidate ranks higher. [1]
2026/27 places and deadlines
For 2026/27 there were 50 places, 10 of them reserved for non-EU nationals living abroad. Non-EU applicants had one call, from 17 December 2025 to 4 March 2026 at noon CET, with a €30 application fee paid by the deadline. The second call, from 1 April to 1 June 2026, was open only to Europeans and equivalents, and unused first-round places moved to it. The call set 30 April for the first-call ranking list. [1]
Admitted non-EU students had to obtain their visa by 30 September 2026 and enrol by 31 October 2026. These are the 2026/27 dates. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs: [1]
- a copy of the personal data pages of your passport;
- your bachelor's degree certificate, or a registration certificate showing your expected graduation date;
- a transcript listing all courses, exams and marks, with your weighted average and the minimum to maximum mark range, plus an official translation if it is not in English or Italian;
- a transcript of any master's degree already awarded;
- a reference letter, preferably from a university lecturer, uploaded with the application or sent by the referee to the programme;
- a CV in English in the Europass format;
- your English certificate;
- a statement of purpose in English, up to 4,000 characters including spaces.
Once admitted, you confirm your place with a non-refundable €100 fee by the date published with the ranking list. Admitted non-EU students then complete pre-enrolment with the Italian diplomatic mission in their country, which is compulsory for the visa. [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 Trento, School of International Studies. Public selection for admission to the Two-Year Master's Degree in European and International Studies (MEIS), academic year 2026/27 (English translation of the call). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, European and International Studies programme pages: home and overview (teaching language, tracks, double degrees and career outcomes). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
European and International Studies (MEIS) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-52, European and international studies) worth 120 ECTS. It is run by the School of International Studies of the University of Trento and taught entirely in English, in Trento. [2]
The course is multidisciplinary: economics, history, law, political science and sociology are taught side by side, so you learn how governance systems, markets and international institutions work and how they shape the economic, legal, political and social changes in Europe and the wider world. It suits graduates in political science, economics, law, history, sociology or languages who want a career in European or international affairs.
What you will study
You choose one of four tracks: International Affairs, Europe and the World, Sustainability Environment and Rights, or an Open track built from electives. [2] The first year sets a shared base and lets you pick between two versions of each core subject; the second year adds a policy lab, track courses and the thesis. Units in the current plan include:
- Data Analysis and Statistics (8 ECTS) and Research Design
- International Political Philosophy and History of Ideas
- European and International Politics, International Economics, International and European Union Law, and International History
- English for International Studies, plus a second language at B2 (such as Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian or Spanish)
- Second-year options such as European Union Politics: Integration and Policies, Foreign Policy Analysis, Labour Rights in the Global Economy and The Economics of European Integration
- A Policy Lab (6 ECTS) and a master's thesis (16 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Alongside lectures by international experts, the School runs seminars, conferences, debates and professional workshops, and you can take an internship or applied workshops on global affairs as part of your credits. Each student has a tutor, and language workshops support your language skills. Double degree agreements link MEIS with Metropolitan University Prague (International Relations and European Studies) and Masaryk University in Brno (Energy Policy Studies). [2]
Career paths
The university prepares MEIS graduates for responsible roles in organisations and institutions working on European and international affairs, in companies active on international markets, and in governmental and non-governmental organisations dealing with human rights, international relations, environmental protection or institutional design. The degree also leads towards a diplomatic career and to further study, such as PhD programmes in international studies. [2]
Fees and scholarships
Under the 2026/27 call, the maximum fee for non-EU students living abroad was €10,000 a year, and the first-year fee followed the admission score: 90 or more brought a full tuition waiver, 70 to 89.9 paid €1,000, 60 to 69.9 paid €3,000 and 50 to 59.9 paid €6,500. In year two, earning at least 42 CFU by 10 August 2027 brings a full waiver. Fewer credits mean €1,000, €3,000 or €6,500, or €10,000 below 6 CFU. [1]
UniTrento also grants scholarships to top-ranked non-EU applicants who score at least 90. They come with a fee waiver, are paid only after arrival in Italy and cannot be combined with MAECI, Unicolor or Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarships. [1] Eligible students can also apply to Opera Universitaria di Trento. MEIS can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
MEIS had 50 places for 2026/27, 10 of them reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. A committee scored academic background and a reference letter (up to 60 points), a statement of purpose (up to 15) and the relevance of your studies and experience (up to 25), and 50 out of 100 was needed to be suitable. [1]
Non-EU applicants could use only the first 2026/27 call, from 17 December 2025 to 4 March 2026 at noon CET, with a €30 application fee. The second call was open only to Europeans and equivalents. [1]
Once admitted, you confirm your place with a non-refundable €100 fee by the date published with the ranking list. Admitted non-EU students must then complete pre-enrolment with the Italian diplomatic mission in their country, which is compulsory for the visa. [1] We handle your Universitaly pre-enrolment with you, and you apply for a type D study visa. For 2026/27, admitted non-EU students had to obtain the visa by 30 September 2026 and enrol by 31 October 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [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 UniTrento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, 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 European and International Studies at UniTrento?
A bachelor's degree or higher, or a recognised foreign equivalent, with at least 60 credits from at least two of: history and philosophy, economics, law, political science, sociology or foreign languages. The committee also looks for academic and professional experience suited to an interdisciplinary degree. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores your file out of 100: up to 60 for your academic background and reference letter, 15 for your statement of purpose and 25 for the relevance of your studies and experience. You need at least 50 to be suitable, and an interview is held only if the committee needs more information. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2, with a certificate dated March 2024 or later: IELTS with no skill below 5.5, TOEFL iBT with no skill below 21 or Cambridge B2 First with no skill below 165. IELTS Indicator and TOEFL Home Edition are accepted. A degree from a university that teaches entirely in English replaces the certificate, so we check which proof fits your file. [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 a €30 application fee. The second call was for Europeans and equivalents only. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants still finishing their bachelor's could apply if they obtained the degree before 30 June 2026. Instead of the degree certificate, you upload a registration certificate showing your expected graduation date. [1]
I have a B.Com or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
It depends on your transcript. The rule asks for 60 credits across at least two of history and philosophy, economics, law, political science, sociology or foreign languages. A B.Com with enough economics and business law courses may meet it, while most B.Tech degrees have few such courses and often fall short. We check your course list against the rule. [1]
Which tracks can I choose?
Four: International Affairs, Europe and the World, Sustainability Environment and Rights, and an Open track that lets you combine courses across international affairs, European studies and environmental and societal challenges. [2]
How much does MEIS cost for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the maximum was €10,000 a year, and the first-year fee for non-EU students living abroad followed the admission score: a full waiver at 90 or more, otherwise €1,000, €3,000 or €6,500. Top-ranked applicants scoring at least 90 may also win a UniTrento scholarship with a fee waiver. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to European and International Studies at UniTrento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniTrento'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 European and International Studies?
A recognised Indian bachelor's, such as a BA in Political Science, History, Economics or Sociology, or a BA LLB, can meet the rule if its courses add up to 60 credits in at least two of history and philosophy, economics, law, political science, sociology or foreign languages. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, the merit ranking, 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 European and International Studies 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 European and International Studies 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'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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