Master in Global Cultures at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught history master (LM-84 R) at the University of Bologna's Department of History and Cultures, combining global history, political thought, anthropology and geography. Open access, with a 30-credit rule, English at B2 and an interview for foreign degrees.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Global Cultures is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-84 R) taught in English at the University of Bologna. Entry needs a bachelor's in history or at least 30 credits in listed history, politics, anthropology or geography areas, English at B2 and, for foreign degrees, an online interview in English. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Global Cultures master asks for a three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent, either an Italian history degree or any degree with at least 30 credits in listed history, politics, anthropology or geography areas, plus English at B2 and, for foreign degrees, an in-depth online interview in English. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a three-year university degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable that gives access to a similar programme in the country where it was awarded. [1]
An Italian degree in class L-42 History meets the curricular requirement directly. Any other degree, including one obtained abroad, needs at least 30 credits in one or more of these subject groups: [1]
- History: modern history, contemporary history, history of Eastern Europe, and history of science and technology.
- Regional history and cultures: history of Islamic countries; Armenian, Caucasian, Mongolian and Turkish studies; Indian and Central Asian philosophy, religions and history; history of East and South-East Asia; American, African and Asian history and institutions.
- Politics and international relations: history of political thought, history of political institutions, political science and history of international relations.
- Social sciences and geography: anthropology and ethnology, geography, economic and political geography, and sociology of culture and communication.
For a foreign degree, the committee evaluates your knowledge and competencies from your academic background. If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot register for the programme. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at what you studied, not just the total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA in History, Political Science, International Relations, Sociology, Anthropology or Geography, or a BA with History or Political Science as a main subject, which often covers 30 credits in these areas.
- Check carefully: a BA in English, Philosophy, Economics, Mass Communication or Journalism, or a general BA with only one or two history or politics papers.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA, B.Sc., B.Com or BBA, which rarely include 30 credits of history, politics, geography or anthropology.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, proved when you apply in one of these ways: [1]
- A recognised certificate issued from 1 January 2023. The list includes IELTS from 5.5, TOEFL iBT from 72, PTE Academic from GSE 50 (the online test is not accepted), Cambridge FCE, Trinity ISE II with all modules and the Oxford Test of English, among others. [3]
- A certificate stating that your bachelor's or master's degree was taught in English. [1]
- A self-declaration that you are a native English speaker. [1]
Interview or final grade
There is no written test. How your personal competencies are assessed depends on where your degree comes from: [1]
- Foreign degree: an in-depth interview in English, held online on Microsoft Teams, on the areas of knowledge required for admission. If the outcome is negative, you cannot register.
- Italian degree: a final grade of at least 100/110, or a weighted average of at least 27.14 if only the final exam is left. Below that you are not admitted, even if you meet the curricular requirements.
The knowledge required covers the categories, tools and language of history, the ability to analyse and place original sources in context, critical knowledge of ancient, medieval, modern or contemporary history and its debates, and the ability to argue about history in English, orally and in writing. [2]
2026/27 intakes and deadlines
- Intake 1, graduates only: applications 2 February to 2 March 2026 at 23:59, interviews 16 March to 3 April 2026.
- Intake 2, graduates only: applications 1 April to 18 May 2026 at 23:59, interviews 8 to 26 June 2026.
- Intake 3, graduates and final-year students: applications 1 July to 31 August 2026 at 23:59, interviews 21 September to 2 October 2026.
All three intakes were open to European and non-European applicants, and you could apply again in a later intake if you were not admitted. For the first two, your degree certificate had to be submitted by the closing date. Students still finishing could apply only in the third intake and had to graduate by 31 December 2026. Admitted candidates enrolled by 19 November 2026. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
On Studenti Online you upload: [1]
- A valid identity document, or your passport if your ID has no English translation.
- Your degree certificate translated into Italian or English, with your transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available, or your transcript if you have not graduated yet. You also enter the details of the course units you passed.
- Your proof of English at B2.
- Your residence permit, if you already hold one.
Missing or partly uploaded required documents at the deadline mean your application is not considered. Non-EU citizens living abroad must also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for an entry visa for study. After admission you enrol on Studenti Online, pay the first instalment and upload your degree and entry visa. Your documents must be translated and their authenticity and value verified where required, and you show the originals to the International Student Administration Office in Bologna. Career activation had to be completed 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. Admission notice for the second-cycle degree programme in Global Cultures (class LM-84, code 6033), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Teaching regulations for the degree programme LM-84 R Global Cultures, Bologna campus, with course structure diagram, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Global Cultures programme website: home, overview, programme enrolment, language certificate and professional profile pages, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Tuition fees and exemptions, reduced fixed fee for non-OECD citizens and table of maximum contribution amounts, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Global Cultures is a two-year laurea magistrale (second-cycle degree) in class LM-84 R, History, run by the Department of History and Cultures (DiSCi) in Bologna. It is worth 120 ECTS, is delivered entirely in English and has open access, so there is no fixed number of places. Davide Domenici is the degree programme director.
Under the motto "Reading the world", the degree investigates history in order to understand the global present. The university describes it as training for historians and experts in globalisation who analyse historical and social phenomena on a global scale. [3] It suits students who want to read today's global questions through history rather than through a single national story.
What you will study
The programme studies the past on a global scale: how historical and social phenomena connect across regions, and how that history shapes the world today. The university describes an interdisciplinary approach that combines history, political thought, anthropology and geography. [3]
The 2026/27 study plan is built mostly from elective units chosen within set groups: [2]
- Global and entangled histories (12 CFU): Global History or Entangled Histories.
- Cultures, politics, spaces (24 CFU): two of Anthropology in a Global World, Critical Theory and Geography of Global Challenges.
- Cultural spheres and connected worlds (12 CFU each): units such as Africa and the Indian Ocean, Intellectual History of Colonial and Post-colonial South Asia, The Ottoman Empire in the Eurasian Context, The United States in Global History, Global Diasporas and Indigenous Americas, Colonialism, and Globalization.
- Senior Seminar in Global Humanities (6 CFU, compulsory).
- Second year: one historical-context unit (6 CFU), three global-issues units (18 CFU) such as Critical Geopolitics, Consumer Culture and Theories of Empire, and 12 CFU of electives from across the university.
- Final dissertation (18 CFU), based on your own research.
We check the 2027/28 course structure before you apply, since units can change between intakes.
How the programme is taught
Global Cultures is one of the university's international programmes and offers a double degree option: the university names Bielefeld University in Germany as a partner, with selection rules published on the degree website. [3] The 12-credit units in the first two groups are integrated courses of two 6-credit modules, and the dissertation must make an original contribution based on your own research, such as the study and cataloguing of historical sources. [2]
Career paths
The university sets out two profiles. The first is a historian who studies historical and social phenomena, particularly those linked to globalisation, for archives, museums, foundations, research bodies and heritage consultancies. The second is an expert who plans and manages projects on social phenomena linked to globalisation, for cultural and economic cooperation bodies, NGOs, cooperatives and the social sector. [3] Graduates can also continue to a PhD, since a laurea magistrale gives access to doctoral study. The degree website's Opportunities section and the university's job placement service publish internships, job offers and careers events.
Fees and scholarships
Global Cultures is not listed among the higher-fee degrees in the 2026/27 table, so the standard second-cycle fee band applies. [4] With a family ISEE of €27,000 or less this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Income abroad is declared through ER.GO, the regional right-to-study body that also awards scholarships. Non-OECD citizens, including students from countries like India, whose family income is only abroad can choose a reduced flat fee. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
Access is open, with no cap on places, but you must meet the credit and English rules, and applicants with a foreign degree pass an in-depth online interview in English. [1] For 2026/27 there were three intakes on Studenti Online, all open to non-EU applicants: 2 February to 2 March, 1 April to 18 May and 1 July to 31 August 2026. The first two were only for applicants who had already graduated. If you are not admitted in one intake, you can apply again in a later one. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad must also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa, and we submit the pre-enrolment for you. [1] The university validates it before you apply for the visa, validation can take longer in August when its offices close for several days, and the consulate also asks for proof of financial means. [3] After admission you enrol by 19 November, pay the first instalment and upload your degree and entry visa. In Bologna you show the originals to the International Student Administration Office and apply for a residence permit within eight days of arrival. [1][3]
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, interview preparation 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 Global Cultures at Bologna?
A three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent. An Italian history degree qualifies directly. Any other degree, including a foreign one, needs at least 30 credits in listed areas such as modern or contemporary history, Asian or African history, political science, international relations, anthropology or geography. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. With a foreign degree, you take an in-depth online interview in English on Microsoft Teams, covering the knowledge the programme expects, such as historical methods and sources. Italian graduates need a final grade of at least 100/110 instead. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. IELTS from 5.5 and TOEFL iBT from 72 are among the recognised certificates, if issued from 1 January 2023. A certificate stating that your degree was taught in English also counts, as does a native-speaker declaration, so we check which proof your documents can give. [1][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could use all three intakes: 2 February to 2 March, 1 April to 18 May and 1 July to 31 August 2026. The first two were only for graduates. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Only in the third intake, and only if your final examination is the last step left. Students at foreign universities are assessed through the interview, and the degree had to be completed by 31 December 2026, or the enrolment was cancelled. [1]
I have a BA in English or a B.Com. Can I apply?
Possibly. A BA in English or a B.Com rarely reaches 30 credits in history, politics, anthropology or geography on its own, but papers such as Indian history, political theory or international relations may count. The committee judges your academic background, so we check your transcript against the list first. [1]
Can I earn a double degree?
Yes. Global Cultures has a double degree option, and the university names Bielefeld University in Germany as a partner. The selection rules are published on the degree website. [3]
What does the degree prepare me for?
The university sets out two profiles: a historian working with sources for archives, museums, foundations and research bodies, and an expert in social phenomena linked to globalisation, for cooperation bodies, NGOs and the social sector. A laurea magistrale also gives access to PhD programmes. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Global Cultures 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 Global Cultures?
An Indian BA in History, Political Science, Sociology or Geography, or a BA with these as main subjects, can meet the rule of 30 credits in listed history, politics, anthropology or geography areas. With a foreign degree you take an online interview in English, and you need English at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application, the interview 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 Global Cultures are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application, an online interview in English 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 Global Cultures are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application, an online interview in English 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 Global Cultures 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, an online interview in English 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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