Master in International Business and Development at University of Parma
Two-year English-taught LM-77 master's in international economics and management at the University of Parma, covering accounting, branding, finance and development economics, with joint degree partners abroad.
Master
2 years
Parma
English
University of Parma
International Business and Development is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's (class LM-77) taught in English by the University of Parma's Department of Economics and Management, with partner degree links in Lithuania, France, Germany and Brazil. Fees are income-based, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
International Business and Development requires a suitable bachelor’s qualification and English B2. The 2026/27 department guide gives named degree classes, a 16-credit alternative and a 90/110 condition. The international portal separately describes 90% or higher in relevant fields as preferential access. These are two different figures and applicant descriptions, not the same rule. [1, 2]
Current department guide: degree-class route
The 2026/27 guide names L-15 Tourism Sciences, L-18 Economics/Management, L-33 Economics, L-36 Political Science and L-41 Statistics, with a qualifying bachelor’s/equivalent and a minimum degree mark of 90/110. For other classes it states at least 16 CFU in specified ECON sectors and the same grade condition. The guide does not reproduce that full ECON-sector list, so we confirm the applicable sector mapping with the course commission. An unrelated 24-credit or 50-credit business matrix does not apply here. [2]
International portal: 90% is a preference, not 90/110
The current international listing gives preferential qualification/access to candidates holding, by application, a bachelor’s with marks of 90% or above in Economics, Political Science, Law, Business or Management. It does not describe that percentage as the sole minimum for all applicants. A 90/110 Italian grade is numerically different from 90% of another system’s maximum, and neither provides an automatic foreign GPA conversion. [1, 2]
We submit the full transcript, final grade and grading scale so the commission can assess the appropriate applicant route and qualification correspondence. The current guide’s 90/110 and 16-credit framework differs from older 2022 guidance mentioning 95/110 and other annex routes; the older figures are not a current universal rule. Open access still requires a favourable academic review. [1, 2]
English B2: certificate date, scores and MOI
The 2026/27 portal lists FCE/CAE, IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL 69+ and the named certification organisations. It expressly describes recognised certificates obtained in 2021 or later. Native-English applicants and holders of a prior English-taught qualification are exempt from the listed certificate requirement, with an official former-university letter stating the degree’s teaching language for the MOI route. [1]
The portal does not establish that a language waiver waives curricular or qualification review, or that every certificate body used by another Parma master is accepted here. We use the stated evidence for this programme. Italian certification is not an entry requirement for this English course; an Italian-language assessment is required within the study path before graduation. [1]
References and assessment records
The portal’s generic display says at least one reference should be provided, but its explicit explanation says references are not mandatory and are appreciated. They therefore belong to optional supporting evidence, rather than a compulsory eligibility barrier. We present the academic qualification and transcript accurately, with official translations where necessary, and any additional records requested in the application. [1]
No timed multiple-choice test format or automatic scientific-interview exemption is specified in the current international listing. The Data Science test does not apply to IBD. The commission’s assessment and formal acceptance remain necessary even where the candidate meets the academic preference. [1, 2]
Current intake status and applicant route
The 2026/27 international portal marks the application period ended. The university’s June second-intake list did not include IBD, so the Food Safety June round was not an IBD opportunity. EU/equivalent applicants must follow their ordinary evaluation/enrolment instructions; late final registration is not an overseas application extension. [1, 4]
Application file, language of documents and fees
We apply through the university’s admissions portal for the relevant international intake and upload the degree/academic record and course-specific evidence. The portal accepts academic records in English or Italian; official translations and verified copies are needed where necessary. The application fee is €30, covering up to three course requests within the call, rather than three automatic admissions. The fixed €156 administration charge is paid at final enrolment, separately from income-dependent tuition. [1]
Final enrolment with a foreign award requires original school and bachelor’s records with the prescribed diplomatic legalisation/Apostille, translations into Italian or English and the full university Transcript of Records. Any university-access examination certificate required in the awarding country is also needed, with a Declaration of Value or CIMEA comparability under the university’s stated procedure; ARDI is accepted only under its specific country/document conditions, not as a universal replacement. Originals are delivered to the Welcome Point/student administration. [3]
Immigration and final enrolment are separate from selection
Visa applicants must complete the applicable Universitaly pre-enrolment and consular study-visa process after academic acceptance. Final registration needs the passport, visa, residence permit/application receipt and official Italian tax code as applicable; self-generated online tax codes are not accepted. These English programmes do not require Italian B2 for admission, although the portal requires the course’s Italian-language assessment during the degree before graduation. [1, 3]
The central foreign-student page gives 31 October 2026 as the usual final enrolment date. Later-arriving visa holders may be considered through 31 January 2027, subject to programme-specific deadlines and the university checking teaching progress and practical feasibility. This is a conditional administrative provision for admission/enrolment, not a new overseas selection round, and late entry is not automatic. EU/equivalent applicants use the separately published ordinary procedure rather than borrowing the closed visa-intake dates. [3, 4]
Sources and verification
- University of Parma Admissions Portal, International Business and Development, 5131/GEN/2026, academic year 2026/27; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Parma Department of Economics and Management, Course Guide 2026/27, International Business and Development pp. 20-21; document publication date not stated, April 2026 attachment; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Parma, Complete the enrolment, updated 25 August 2026, academic year 2026/27; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Parma, Master’s degree courses in English, updated 3 June 2026; current 2026/27 programme portal; reviewed 6 October 2026.
About the programme
International Business and Development (IBD) is a two-year laurea magistrale in class LM-77 (economics and management) worth 120 ECTS, run by the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Parma. It has been running for many years and was the first Parma degree to be taught entirely in English.
IBD focuses on the international side of economics and management, with a practical approach that links theory and practice. It suits graduates in economics, business, political science or law, and also students coming from other three-year degrees who want a master's in economics with an international outlook.
What you will study
The first year gives a common base in quantitative, accounting and market subjects; the second year widens to policy, development and finance. Units in the 2026/27 plan include:
- Economic statistics (9 ECTS)
- International accounting and governance (10 ECTS)
- Sociology and economics of globalisation, or micro and macro economics (9 ECTS)
- International branding and retailing (10 ECTS)
- Economics of innovation and sustainability (9 ECTS) and growth and history of the global economy (9 ECTS)
- Development economics and international cooperation (9 ECTS)
- International financial management (9 ECTS) and environmental economics and policy (6 ECTS)
- Law, economics and culture (8 ECTS) and contemporary issues and tools in economics (7 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
The course page lists joint degree partnerships with Vilnius University (Lithuania), Grenoble Ecole de Management (France), Hochschule Bochum University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and FECAP (Brazil), and study abroad is also possible through bilateral agreements. The second year includes a communication skills unit, 8 to 12 credits of electives and a 14-credit final dissertation. Attendance is not compulsory, and students on English-taught degrees pass an Italian language assessment before graduating.
Career paths
IBD graduates work in Italy or abroad wherever economic and socio-cultural skills with an international angle are needed. The department highlights:
- Industrial and service companies that deal with foreign partners and markets
- International institutions
- Organisations working in international cooperation and development
- Roles where fluent English and international internship experience make a difference
Fees and scholarships
Parma's 2026/27 rules set a €156 payment at enrolment, covering the regional tax and stamp duty, and a personalised contribution of up to about €2,000 a year, from which eligible students can be exempt. The contribution follows your family's economic situation, merit and years enrolled. ER.GO handles fee reduction requests from international students with foreign income and runs the regional scholarship call, so IBD can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Applications go through the university’s course-specific admissions portal under the detailed eligibility rules in the entry requirements. The 2026/27 international selection is closed, and the next call sets the new dates. Academic admission, foreign-record validation, Universitaly, visa and final registration are separate stages, and we follow the enrolment instructions that apply once you are admitted. [1, 3, 4]
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 Parma's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your admissions portal application 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
Which degree classes does the current guide name?
L-15, L-18, L-33, L-36 and L-41, with a qualifying bachelor’s/equivalent and the guide’s 90/110 condition. [2]
Can another degree class be considered?
The 2026/27 guide describes at least 16 CFU in specified ECON sectors and the same mark condition; we confirm the precise sector mapping with the commission. [2]
Is 90% the same as 90/110?
No. The portal’s 90% is a relevant-degree preference; the department guide separately states 90/110. Foreign marks require commission interpretation. [1, 2]
Are references compulsory?
The portal explicitly says references are not mandatory, although appreciated. [1]
Does the course accept MOI evidence?
Yes. We submit an official previous-university letter confirming the teaching language of your English-taught qualification. [1]
Which English scores are listed?
B2, with FCE/CAE, IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL 69+, and the portal’s stated certificate-date condition. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to International Business and Development at Parma?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Parma'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 International Business and Development?
Indian applicants need a bachelor's that corresponds to one of the named economics, management, political science, statistics or tourism degree classes, or that has at least 16 credits in the specified ECON sectors, with the guide's 90/110 mark condition [2]. The portal also gives preference to marks of 90% or above in relevant fields [1]. You need English B2 [1]. We handle the portal application and Universitaly pre-enrolment. 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 International Business and Development are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: admissions portal application, curricular 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 International Business and Development are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: admissions portal application, curricular review 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: admissions portal application, curricular review 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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