Master in International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage at University of Bologna

Detailed entry requirements

Bologna's I-CONTACT master asks for a three-year bachelor's degree in a listed subject area, usually with at least 36 credits in set social science, history, law or economics fields, English at B2, and at least 70/100 in a committee's assessment of your grades, time abroad and experience. Access is open, with no cap on places. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree requirement

You need a three-year first-cycle degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable under Italian rules that gives access to a similar master's degree in the country that issued it. Your degree must also be in one of these areas: [1]

• Group 1, direct access to the assessment: Italian bachelor's classes in cultural heritage (L-1) or cooperation and peace studies (L-37).
• Group 2, with at least 36 ECTS in set fields: legal services, tourism, administration and organisation, business administration, economics, political science and international relations, social work, sociology, statistics or history (L-14, 15, 16, 18, 33, 36, 39, 40, 41 and 42). The 36 ECTS must be in political doctrines, political science and sociology, modern and contemporary history, private, constitutional, public and international law, economics and economic policy, statistics, geography or cultural anthropology (sectors SPS/02, 04 and 07, M-STO/02 and 04, IUS/01, 08, 09 and 13, SECS-P/01 and 02, SECS-S/01 and 03, M-GGR/01 and 02, M-DEA/01).
• Group 3, with at least 36 ECTS split 18 and 18: philosophy, geography, humanities, modern languages, linguistic mediation, education, communication, landscape and urban planning, psychology, agriculture and forestry, natural sciences, or technologies for the conservation of cultural heritage (L-5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 32 and 43). You need 18 ECTS in philosophy, social psychology, botany, anthropology, administrative law, archaeology, Italian literature, art history, linguistics, English, agriculture, maths, chemistry, physics, physical geography or applied economics (sectors M-FIL/05 and 06, M-PSI/05, BIO/01 and 08, IUS/10, L-ANT/07, L-FIL-LET/10, L-ART/01 and 03, L-LIN/01 and 12, AGR/01 and 02, MAT/01 and 02, CHIM/03, FIS/01, GEO/04, SECS-P/06), and 18 ECTS in the Group 2 fields.
• Foreign bachelor's degrees in administration and organisation, agriculture and forestry, applied languages, business administration, communication, cooperation and peace studies, cultural heritage, economics, education and training, geography, history, humanities, landscape and urban planning, legal services and law, linguistic mediation, natural sciences, philosophy, political science and international relations, psychology, social work, sociology, statistics, conservation and restoration technologies, or tourism. The committee checks that your record matches the requirements for the corresponding Italian degree.

If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot enrol. You can apply before you graduate; students on an Italian bachelor's need at least 150 CFU by the intake deadline. For 2026/27, admitted students had to graduate by 31 December 2026, or their enrolment was cancelled. [1]

What this means for your transcript

For a foreign degree, the committee looks at your subject area and at whether your record matches the credit blocks of the corresponding Italian degree. Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit. As a guide, based on the rule above:

• Usually a fit: a BA in History, Political Science, International Relations, Sociology, Economics or Social Work, an LLB, or a degree in archaeology or cultural heritage, with a good share of social science, history or law subjects.
• Check carefully: a B.Com, BBA, BA in English or other languages, Philosophy, Psychology, Mass Communication or Geography, or a B.Sc. in Agriculture or Natural Sciences, which must show the 36 credits across the listed fields.
• Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or B.Sc. in Computer Science, since these subject areas are not on the list.

English

English at CEFR level B2 or higher, proved when you apply. Accepted routes are: [1]

• A recognised certificate. The programme's list includes IELTS Academic at B2 (5.5 to 7.0), TOEFL iBT at B2 (72 to 94), PTE Academic with GSE 59 or higher, Cambridge B2 First, Aptis ESOL General or Advanced B2, Pearson English International Certificate B2, Trinity ISE II, Oxford Test of English B2, LanguageCert International ESOL B2 and Gatehouse Award Classic B2. [2]
• A B2 certificate issued by a university language centre.
• A bachelor's degree taught entirely in English, certified by the institution that awarded it.
• Nationality of a country where English is an official language.

Selection: committee assessment

Access is open, with no cap on places, but a committee scores every application out of 100 points: [1]

• Degree grade (up to 40 points): your final grade or, if you have not graduated, your weighted average, taken as a fraction of the top grade in your system. If your documents do not show it, you get the minimum score.
• Study periods abroad (up to 16 points): counted only if certified by a transcript from the host institution or a statement from your own.
• Additional and extracurricular experience (up to 44 points): as described in your CV, certified where possible and in line with the programme's aims.

With 70 points or more you are admitted. With 60 to 69 points the committee may invite you to an online interview on Skype or Microsoft Teams about your background and CV, and missing it means refusal. Below 60 points you are not admitted. If you are not admitted, you can apply again in a later intake. [1]

2026/27 intakes and deadlines

There were three intakes for 2026/27, each closing at 12:00: [1]

• Intake 1: applications from 4 February to 16 March 2026, results from 20 April 2026.
• Intake 2: applications from 31 March to 18 May 2026, results from 17 June 2026.
• Intake 3: applications from 22 July to 24 August 2026, results from 18 September 2026.

Admitted students could enrol from 20 April to 19 November 2026. The notice sets no separate dates for non-EU applicants. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published, and it will set the new dates. [1]

Documents and non-EU steps

You apply on Studenti Online and upload: [1]

• Your degree certificate translated into Italian or English, with a transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available, or your list of exams if you have not graduated yet.
• Your CV, your B2 English proof and a passport or ID.
• The mandatory declaration form.
• Optionally, documents for another degree, proof of study periods abroad and your residence permit if you have one.

The committee assesses only documents uploaded by the intake deadline, and an application missing compulsory documents is not considered. Your choice of curriculum, A (Protection of Human Rights and International Cooperation) or B (International Cooperation on Intercultural Heritage), is binding; if you apply for both, you are admitted to only one. [1]

Non-EU citizens living abroad also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa. After enrolment, your documents must be translated and checked for authenticity and value where required. You upload them with your visa on Studenti Online and show the originals when you arrive. Enrolment is completed only after these checks, and your career must be activated 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.

1. University of Bologna, Department of Cultural Heritage, Ravenna Campus. Admission notice for the second cycle degree programme in International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (I-CONTACT), LM-81, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Bologna, International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage programme page, enrolment requirements, deadlines and procedures (recognised English certificates and visa steps). Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for I-CONTACT at Bologna?

A three-year bachelor's in a listed area, such as cultural heritage, cooperation and peace studies, history, political science, law, economics, sociology, languages or philosophy. Most areas also need at least 36 credits in set social science, history, law, economics or geography fields. [1]

Is there an entrance exam?

No written test. A committee scores your degree grade (up to 40 points), study periods abroad (up to 16) and other experience (up to 44). You need 70/100 for admission, and with 60 to 69 points you may be called to an online interview. [1]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at B2. The programme accepts IELTS Academic at B2 (5.5 to 7.0), TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, PTE Academic GSE 59 and other listed certificates. A bachelor's taught entirely in English, certified by your university, also counts. [1][2]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

The notice has no separate non-EU dates. For 2026/27 the three intakes closed on 16 March, 18 May and 24 August 2026, with results from 20 April, 17 June and 18 September. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes. You can apply and enrol before you graduate, but for 2026/27 the degree had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, or the enrolment was cancelled. [1]

I have a B.Com or a BBA. Can I apply?

Possibly. Business administration is a listed area, but you also need at least 36 credits in set fields such as economics, economic policy, statistics, law, political science, sociology or history. We check your transcript against the list before you apply. [1]

Which curricula can I choose?

Two: Protection of Human Rights and International Cooperation, and International Cooperation on Intercultural Heritage. You choose when you apply and the choice is binding. If you apply for both, the committee admits you to only one. [1]

Is there a limit on places?

No. Access is open, so there is no cap on places. You still need to meet the curricular and English requirements and reach 70/100 in the committee's assessment. [1]

Can someone handle my whole application to International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (I-CONTACT) 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 International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (I-CONTACT)?

A three-year Indian bachelor's in history, political science, economics, sociology, law or a similar listed area can meet the degree rule if your transcript shows the required 36 credits in set fields, and a degree taught entirely in English, certified by your university, can prove B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application in one of the intakes, the committee assessment 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 International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (I-CONTACT) are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: the Studenti Online application in one of the intakes, the committee assessment 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 Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (I-CONTACT) are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: the Studenti Online application in one of the intakes, the committee assessment 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 International Cooperation on Human Rights and Intercultural Heritage (I-CONTACT) 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: the Studenti Online application in one of the intakes, the committee assessment 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.