Master in International Politics and Economics at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught interclass master's in Forlì joining political science and economics for careers in international economic policy, trade relations and political risk. Entry needs a business, economics or politics degree, a 50/100 document score and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
International Politics and Economics is a two-year, 120 ECTS interclass master's degree (classes LM-62 R and LM-56 R) taught in English at the University of Bologna's Forlì campus. Entry needs a first degree in business, economics or political science, a document score of at least 50/100 and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's International Politics and Economics master asks for a first degree in business administration, economics or political science, or a foreign degree the committee finds equivalent, English at B2 and a document assessment score of at least 50/100, with places limited by quota. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a first-cycle degree (a bachelor's or equivalent three-year university diploma), or a degree obtained abroad that is recognised as suitable under Italian law and gives access to a comparable master's programme in the country where it was issued. [1]
Your degree must also belong to one of these subject areas, defined by Italian degree classes: [1]
- L-18: Business administration
- L-33: Economics
- L-36: Political sciences and international relations
For degrees obtained abroad, the examination committee assesses whether the subject area of your qualification corresponds to one of these classes. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The rule is set by subject area, and your grade average then decides most of your score. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, a BA in Political Science or International Relations, or a BBA or B.Com, since economics, political science and business administration are the three listed areas.
- Check carefully: a BA in History, Sociology, Public Administration or Development Studies, a B.Sc. in Statistics or Mathematics, or a law degree, where the committee looks at how far your subjects correspond to economics, political science or business.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or a B.Sc. in a natural or life science, whose subject area usually sits outside the three listed classes.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, with a certificate issued no more than two years before the deadline of your intake. The 2026/27 call accepts: [1]
- B2 international certificates listed in the University Language Centre's equivalence table
- IELTS 5.5 or higher (if you do not yet hold the certificate, you can give the Test Report Form number)
- TOEFL paper-based 550 or higher
- Trinity GESE grade 7 or higher
- a B2 certificate from a university language centre in Italy or abroad
- a B2 result in the Oxford Online Placement Test taken at the University of Bologna
You are exempt if you are a native English speaker with nationality of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, the USA or another country on the university's list, if your degree was taught entirely in English, or if you hold an IB Diploma, high school diploma or GCE obtained in English with at least 50% of courses taught in English. [1]
Applicants without a certificate could book an online Oxford placement test with the university's Romagna language centre before their intake deadline, after paying the application fee. Applicants who do not prove B2 are excluded from the ranking. [1]
Document assessment and ranking
There is no entrance test. Once your degree and English are confirmed, a committee scores the documents you upload out of 100: [1]
- Academic merit: up to 60 points from the weighted average of your exam grades. On the Italian 30-point scale the formula is (average minus 18) times 60/11.5, so an average of 29.5/30 earns the full 60. For foreign degrees, the committee converts grades through ECTS or assesses the degree individually.
- International experience: up to 15 points, 5 for each Erasmus or overseas study period or other international experience.
- Other certified experience: up to 25 points, 5 for each extra qualification, further language certificate at B2 or above, or work, internship, voluntary service or publication in international politics or economics.
You need at least 50/100 to enter the ranking, and places are then filled in ranking order within each quota. Only activities backed by documents from the organisation where they took place are scored. On equal scores, the younger candidate ranks first. [1]
2026/27 places and deadlines
There were 95 places: 80 for EU citizens and non-EU citizens with equivalent status, and 15 for non-EU citizens living abroad. [1]
- First intake: applications from 26 February to 16 April 2026, rankings on 8 May 2026 and enrolment from 14 to 22 May 2026. All 15 places for non-EU applicants living abroad were in this intake.
- Second intake: applications from 23 April to 19 June 2026, rankings on 15 July 2026 and enrolment from 20 to 27 July 2026. Non-EU applicants living abroad could take part only for places left over from the first intake.
You could apply before graduating if you were in your final year and met the subject requirements by the application deadline, but the degree had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, otherwise enrolment is cancelled. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applications are made on Studenti Online and must include: [1]
- the programme's application form, completed
- a valid identity document, or your passport if the ID has no English translation
- your degree certificate and transcript with grades and credits, the Diploma Supplement if available, and a document explaining the grading system if your transcript does not
- your courses entered one by one in the application's academic title table
- proof of English at B2 or of an exemption
Documents in languages other than Italian, English, French or Spanish need a translation into English or Italian, which you may make yourself. Proof of international and other experience is optional but scored. Missing mandatory documents at the deadline mean exclusion. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad must also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa. At enrolment, the documents used for admission must be officially translated and, where required, authenticated and legalised, and you upload them with your visa, then show the originals at the Forlì student office. For 2026/27, careers had to 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.
- University of Bologna, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Forlì Campus. Call for applications for admission to the restricted-access Second Cycle Degree Programme in International Politics and Economics (classes LM-56 and LM-62, code 6763), academic year 2026/27, English courtesy translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Second Cycle Degree Programme in International Politics and Economics, programme website: overview, How to enrol page and course structure diagram for students enrolled in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Maximum all-inclusive contribution by degree programme, and fee pages on amounts, exemptions and the reduced fixed fee for non-OECD citizens, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
International Politics and Economics is a two-year laurea magistrale run by the Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS) on the University of Bologna's Forlì campus. It is an interclass degree in LM-62 R, Political science, and LM-56 R, Economics, is worth 120 ECTS and is delivered entirely in English. When you enrol you choose the class you will graduate in, and you can change that choice up to the second year. Access is restricted, and Lorenzo Zambernardi is the degree programme director. [1][2]
The degree works at the point where international politics meets the world economy. In the university's own words, it prepares specialists in international economic and financial policies, experts in trade relations with foreign countries and political risk specialists. It suits graduates in economics, business or political science who want to combine political analysis with economics in an international career. [1][2]
What you will study
The study plan for students enrolling in 2026/27 builds the first year on six compulsory units of 8 CFU each: [2]
- International Finance
- Quantitative Economics and Public Policy
- Topics in International Politics
- Data Analysis
- International Trade and Business Law from an EU Perspective
- Politics of the World Economy
You also pick units from an economics group, with options such as International Economics, Economics of the EU and Trade and Geography in the World Economy, and from a politics, history and law group, with options such as East Asia and the International System, Pan-European Security, Politics of International Migration and Regional and Global Governance. Optional language units include Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, Hindi, Korean and Russian. [2]
The second year adds International Business (6 CFU), further choice and elective units, and either an internship or the Laboratory of International Business Strategy (8 CFU). The final examination is worth 16 CFU, or a shorter final exam can be combined with an internship or thesis preparation abroad. Units can change between intakes, so we check the 2027/28 plan before you apply. [2]
How the programme is taught
Teaching takes place in Forlì. The degree belongs to the university's international offer and has a double or multiple degree option, in which selected students also earn a degree from a partner university; we check which partner tracks are open for your intake. Study periods abroad, such as Erasmus, also count towards the admission score. [1][2]
Career paths
The degree names three professional profiles:
- Specialist in international economic and financial policies
- Expert in trade relations with foreign countries
- Political risk specialist
A laurea magistrale also gives access to PhD programmes, and the university's job placement office lists internships and job offers for students and recent graduates.
Fees and scholarships
Bologna's fees follow family income (ISEE), and this degree sits in a higher fee band than the second-cycle standard. [1][3] For first-year students with an ISEE of €27,000 or less, this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. International students whose family income and assets are only abroad cannot submit an ISEE and use a separate documentation route. Citizens of non-OECD countries in that position may instead choose a reduced flat fee. [3]
ER.GO, the Emilia-Romagna right-to-study body, runs scholarships, residence places and other benefits through its own yearly call, separate from admission. For 2026/27, the departments also offered a scholarship worth €1,500 gross in memory of Professor Gianpaolo Rossini to the enrolled student with the highest admission score. [1]
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27, 15 of the 95 places were reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad, all in the first intake, with applications on Studenti Online from 26 February to 16 April 2026. These applicants could use the second intake, which closed on 19 June 2026, only for places left over from the first. A later extraordinary intake was open only to EU and equivalent candidates. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Admitted non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a study visa, which needs proof of financial means; we check the current figure for your intake. At enrolment they pay the first instalment, upload the translated qualification and the study visa, and show the original documents at the Forlì student office, which verifies the qualification's validity and authenticity. For 2026/27, careers had to be activated by 26 February 2027. [1][2]
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 with your transcript, English proof and experience documents, 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 Bologna's International Politics and Economics master?
A first degree in business administration, economics, or political science and international relations, or a foreign degree that the committee finds corresponds to one of these areas and that gives access to a comparable master's where it was issued. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. A committee scores your uploaded documents out of 100: up to 60 points for your grade average, 15 for international experience and 25 for other certified experience. You need at least 50 to enter the ranking. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, with a certificate no more than two years old, such as IELTS 5.5, TOEFL paper-based 550 or Trinity GESE grade 7. A degree taught entirely in English, or a school diploma obtained in English with at least half the courses in English, exempts you. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had 15 places, all in the first intake, which closed on 16 April 2026. They could use the second intake, closing on 19 June 2026, only for places left over. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you are in your final year and meet the subject requirements by the application deadline. For 2026/27, the degree had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, otherwise enrolment is cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Com or a BBA. Can I apply?
Possibly. Business administration is one of the three listed subject areas, so the committee checks whether your degree corresponds to it. If it does, your grade average then carries up to 60 of the 100 points. [1]
Can I choose between the economics and political science degree?
Yes. It is an interclass degree, so when you enrol you choose to graduate in LM-56 Economics or LM-62 Political science, and you can change that choice up to the second year. [1]
What careers does it lead to?
The university names specialists in international economic and financial policies, experts in trade relations with foreign countries and political risk specialists. The second year also offers an internship or a business strategy laboratory. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to International Politics and Economics 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 Politics and Economics?
A three-year Indian BA or B.Sc. in Economics, a BA in Political Science, or a BBA or B.Com can match the three subject areas Bologna lists, and your grade average carries up to 60 of the 100 points. You also need English at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application in the first intake, document assessment and ranking, 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 Politics and Economics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in the first intake, document assessment and ranking, 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 Politics and Economics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in the first intake, document assessment and ranking, 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 Politics and Economics 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 in the first intake, document assessment and ranking, 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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