Master in Global Politics and Society at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught master's at the University of Milan on globalisation, welfare, migration and inequality, with a double degree with Bremen, a triple degree with Geneva and Paris, and EMLS exchanges. Entry needs a related bachelor's, B2 English and an online test.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Global Politics and Society (GPS) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-62 R) taught in English at the University of Milan in Milan. Entry needs a bachelor's in political science, sociology, economics or a related field, English at B2 and a pass in an online admission test. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Global Politics and Society master asks for a bachelor's in political science, sociology, economics or a broadly related subject that matches one of the listed Italian degree classes, English at B2 and a pass in an online admission test. Your degree score and the test result are assessed together. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
GPS is aimed at top-level international students, and admission is based on academic excellence. You need a bachelor's degree or equivalent and a strong interest in, or previous studies of, political science, sociology or related subjects. [2]
With a degree from abroad, you are eligible if your bachelor's is in political science, sociology, economics or another broadly related subject, from history to legal studies and philosophy, and it can be regarded as equivalent to one of the Italian degree classes the programme lists: [2]
- Philosophy (L-05), modern languages and cultures (L-11), linguistic mediation (L-12), legal services (L-14) and administration and organisation (L-16)
- Business economics and management (L-18), communication (L-20) and economics (L-33)
- Political science and international relations (L-36), social sciences for cooperation, development and peace (L-37), social work (L-39), sociology (L-40), statistics (L-41) and history (L-42)
The programme rules do not set credit minimums by subject. The admission board reviews your transcript and may ask for further documents to assess your previous studies. [2][5]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA in Political Science, Sociology, Economics, History, Philosophy or Public Administration, or a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication, since the rule names these fields or close equivalents.
- Check carefully: a B.Com or BBA, which maps to business economics, a B.Sc. in Statistics, a law degree or a BA in English or another language. These match listed classes, but the board weighs how close your studies are to political science and sociology.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or a B.Sc. in a natural science, which does not match any listed class.
Your bachelor's score counts in the evaluation, together with the admission test. [2]
English
Non-native speakers need English at B2 or higher, and the GPS admissions committee checks it. IELTS or TOEFL results are taken into account, and at least one year of university study where English is the main language also counts. [2]
On the international platform you can also show B2 with documents proving English is your mother tongue, or with a recognised certificate obtained in the last three years, or two years for TOEFL. Visa applicants must show B2 in the language of instruction, which is English here. [5] On the university's list, B2 corresponds to IELTS 5.5 to 6.5, TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, PTE Academic 59 to 75 or Cambridge B2 First. [6]
Admission test
Access is open, subject to entry requirements, and passing an online admission test is a condition of admission. Everyone who submits a complete application by the deadline is invited to sit it. [2][3]
- Format: about 50 multiple-choice questions plus a few questions that need a short open answer.
- Content: general sociology, introduction to political science, social research methods, and general knowledge and current affairs in global politics and society. You need sufficient knowledge in each of the four areas.
- Preparation: the programme sets readings, including Introduction to Sociology by Giddens and co-authors, Principles of Comparative Politics by Clark, Golder and Golder, Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences by Agresti and Finlay, and Designing Social Inquiry by King, Keohane and Verba.
- Retakes: if you do not pass, you can sit the test again the following year.
The evaluation combines the test with your bachelor's degree score. No Italian language test is required. [2][3]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who needed a visa applied from 22 January to 30 April 2026 and sat the online test on 11 May 2026, with results by the end of May. Other applicants could apply until 20 July 2026, and a second test on 27 July 2026 was reserved for EU applicants who applied after 30 April. Candidates who failed the 11 May test could not resit on 27 July. [1][3]
Admitted students enrolled from 5 May 2026 to 15 January 2027. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
Final-year students could apply if they graduated, and met the entry requirements, by 31 December 2026. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
With a degree from abroad you apply on the university's international platform by the deadline. You upload your bachelor's degree or degree certificate, your Diploma Supplement or a transcript showing courses, marks, ECTS and subject area, and your passport. Documents are accepted in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish, and the application cannot be changed once submitted. [1] Only official translations are accepted, from your university or a certified or sworn translator. [5]
Visa applicants also had to submit Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026, or be excluded. To complete enrolment you add your degree, legalised or apostilled where required, your school-leaving diploma, an official Italian translation where needed, a statement of comparability from an ENIC-NARIC centre such as CIMEA or a declaration of value from the Italian embassy, an Italian tax code and your residence permit receipt. For 2026/27 these were due by 30 November 2026. [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 Milan. Admission notice for the Master's degree programme in Global Politics and Society (GPS), class LM-62 R, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Programme description (manifesto), Master's degree in Global Politics and Society (LM-62 R), students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan, Global Politics and Society programme website. Application page: admission requirements, admission test and 2026/27 dates. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Regulations on tuition and fees, waivers and scholarships, academic year 2026/27, with the annexes on tuition areas and country groups. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan, international admissions platform. Global Politics and Society course page: English proof, documents, translations and fee, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Accepted English language certificates, list updated June 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Global Politics and Society (GPS) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-62-R (political science), run by the Department of Social and Political Sciences in Milan and taught entirely in English. It is worth 120 ECTS, with open access subject to entry requirements and an entrance test. [2]
The programme trains professionals who can understand and interpret the social and political dynamics that come with globalisation. Its multidisciplinary training spans political science, sociology, economics and law, applied to political participation, welfare systems, migration, discrimination and changing labour markets. It suits graduates in the social sciences, economics, history, law or philosophy. [2]
What you will study
Compulsory units account for 54 ECTS; you add two 9 ECTS and three 6 ECTS electives, plus research methods, languages, labs or an internship. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [2]
- Global Social Dynamics
- Globalization and Cultural Diversity
- Multi-Level Legal System
- Comparative Political Economy and the Welfare State
- Global Social Inequalities
- Global Politics
- Electives such as International Migration and Immigration Policies, Global Citizenship, Datafied Society, and Labour Markets and Globalization
How the programme is taught
GPS belongs to the European Masters in Labour Studies (EMLS) network, so you can spend a semester at a partner university such as UCLouvain, Bremen or Warwick with the credits recognised. A double degree with the University of Bremen follows a welfare and employment path, with the first year in Bremen. A triple degree with the University of Geneva and ISIT, University of Paris-Panthéon-Assas follows a citizenship studies path across the three cities. [2]
Internships are worth 3 or 6 ECTS, the final dissertation 15 ECTS, and attendance is highly recommended. [2]
Career paths
The university describes graduates as analysts of social and political phenomena in a global setting. Paths it lists include: [2]
- Applied research in the social and political sciences, or a PhD
- International institutions such as UN agencies, the European Union, the World Bank and the OECD
- Ministries and public bodies working on social, labour, anti-discrimination and development policy
- NGOs and third-sector organisations in social, cultural, educational and development cooperation work
- Global companies that need geopolitical and socio-economic analysis
Fees and scholarships
GPS is billed in fee Area B. For new students in 2026/27 whose family income and assets are outside Italy, the second instalment was fixed by country group, and India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana are in Group A, the lowest fee group. [4] Winners of a full DSU scholarship, which the university runs under Lombardy's rules, are exempt from university tuition, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
All applicants take an online admission test on background knowledge, and the board combines the result with your bachelor's degree score; candidates who fail can try again the following year. [2] We apply on apply.unimi.it in the non-EU visa applicant category. [1] For 2026/27 the general window ran from 22 January to 20 July 2026, the deadline for visa applicants was 30 April 2026, and visa applicants sat the online test on 11 May 2026. Test details are posted each spring, and the 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][3]
After admission, we submit your Universitaly pre-enrolment (by 31 July 2026 for 2026/27), and you apply for a type D study visa. Your degree must then be backed by a statement of comparability from an ENIC-NARIC centre such as CIMEA or a declaration of value (by 30 November 2026 for that year). [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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application on apply.unimi.it, enrolment and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Milan 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 Global Politics and Society at Milan?
A bachelor's in political science, sociology, economics or a broadly related subject, from history to law and philosophy, that the university can regard as equivalent to one of the Italian degree classes it lists. Admission is based on academic excellence, and your degree score counts. [2]
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes. Everyone who submits a complete application sits an online test of about 50 multiple-choice questions and a few short open answers on sociology, political science, research methods and current affairs. You must show sufficient knowledge in each area, and you can retake it the next year. [2][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher. IELTS or TOEFL results count, and so does at least one year of university study taught in English. On the university's list, B2 means IELTS 5.5 to 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, and certificates must be from the last three years, or two for TOEFL. [2][5][6]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who needed a visa had to apply by 30 April 2026 and sit the online test on 11 May 2026. Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, final-year students could apply if they graduated, and met the entry requirements, by 31 December 2026. Graduands from other universities enrolled with reservation and then confirmed their degree details online. [1]
I have a B.Com or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
A B.Com is closer, since business economics and economics are among the listed degree classes, though the board weighs your fit with political science and sociology. A B.Tech does not match a listed class and is often short. We check your transcript against the rule before you apply. [2]
Are there double or triple degree options?
Yes. GPS offers a double degree with the University of Bremen, with the first year in Bremen, and a triple degree with the University of Geneva and ISIT, University of Paris-Panthéon-Assas. You can also spend a semester at a partner in the European Masters in Labour Studies network. [2]
How are the fees set?
For 2026/27, new students with family income and assets abroad paid a fixed second instalment by country group, and India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are in Group A, the lowest fee group. Winners of a full DSU scholarship are exempt from university tuition. [4]
Can someone handle my whole application to Global Politics and Society at Milan?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Milan's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Milan 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 Global Politics and Society?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in political science, sociology, economics or a related field such as history, law or philosophy can meet the rule if it matches one of the listed Italian degree classes. You also need English at B2 and a pass in the online admission test. The steps are the online application, the test, enrolment 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 Global Politics and Society are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the online admission test, enrolment 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 Politics and Society are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the online admission test, enrolment 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 Politics and Society 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 online admission test, enrolment 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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