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Study in Italy in English: LUMSA University (Libera Università degli Studi “Maria SS.Assunta”)
The chance to combine English-taught programs in Italy with the thrill of Rome pulls students from every continent. At LUMSA University (Libera Università degli Studi “Maria SS.Assunta”) you can study in Italy in English while exploring the capital’s monuments between lectures. Although Rome hosts many public Italian universities, LUMSA’s student-centred model adds a personal touch, and its fees compare well with those at several tuition-free universities Italy thanks to national aid schemes. In the next sections you will discover how LUMSA’s history, location, and career links create real value for international applicants.
Why LUMSA Stands Out among Public Italian Universities
Founded in 1939, LUMSA is one of Italy’s oldest non-state universities recognised on the same legal footing as public institutions. Rankings from national quality agencies place it in the top tier for student satisfaction and employment outcomes. The university hosts about 7,000 learners, small enough for professors to know each name yet large enough to run modern laboratories, a digital newsroom, and moot-court halls.
Key departments include:
- Economics, Management, and Finance – strong ties with the Bank of Italy and the European Central Bank.
- Law – a tradition of civil-law scholarship blended with international moot competitions.
- Psychology and Education – laboratories for cognitive studies, special-needs support, and early-years teaching.
- Political Science and International Relations – courses on European governance, diplomacy, and conflict mediation.
- Communication, Media, and Marketing – studios equipped for podcasting, film editing, and social-media analytics.
Many classes invite visiting lecturers from UN agencies headquartered in Rome, offering live policy insight. Research groups partner with the Italian Space Agency, the National Institute of Health, and prominent think-tanks. This network guarantees both academic rigour and applied relevance.
English-taught Programs in Italy: What LUMSA Offers
Rome’s international community pushes LUMSA to expand its portfolio of courses fully delivered in English. Current and upcoming options range from International Relations to Data Science for Sustainable Development, allowing foreign students to stay on track with global careers. Teaching follows the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), smoothing your path toward exchanges or joint degrees elsewhere in the EU.
Highlights of the English track:
- Small seminars – usually 25 students, fostering debate and peer feedback.
- Blended learning – recorded lectures, online quizzes, and in-person workshops.
- Language clinic – free Italian lessons up to B1, plus writing support for academic English.
- Field projects – visits to FAO, WFP, and world-class museums only a metro ride away.
Because LUMSA follows Italian higher-education law, credits, transcripts, and diplomas carry the same weight as those issued by fully public Italian universities.
Tuition-Free Universities Italy: Fees, Scholarships, and the DSU Grant
Italian tuition depends on the ISEE indicator (a document showing family income). This rule applies to LUMSA as to state institutions, meaning many international learners pay little or nothing after scholarships.
Typical costs:
- ISEE ≤ €24,000 – you qualify for the “no-tax area”. Tuition drops to €0; only regional fees (€160) remain.
- ISEE €24,001–€30,000 – pay between €400 and €1,200 per year.
- ISEE > €30,000 – capped near €3,500, still low compared with much of Western Europe.
Funding tools:
- DSU grant – the national aid package that covers rent, canteen meals, and up to €5,200 cash per year for low-income students.
- Scholarships for international students in Italy – LUMSA offers merit awards that cut fees by 50–100 %.
- LazioDisco vouchers – regional subsidies for public-transport passes and culture events.
Early-bird payments and high-mark rebates reduce costs further. Together these levers let LUMSA mirror the affordability boasted by the best tuition-free universities Italy.
Living in Rome: Culture, Cost, and Campus Life
Climate and Lifestyle
Rome enjoys mild winters (average 13 °C) and warm, dry summers (around 30 °C). Sunshine averages eight hours a day, encouraging study sessions in leafy courtyards and weekend trips to coastal towns like Ostia and Sperlonga.
Accommodation
Shared flats near the Vatican or Trastevere cost €400–€550 a month. University partners manage residence halls starting at €350, including utilities and cleaning. Many DSU grant winners secure rent-free rooms.
Public Transport
A student metro and bus pass is €22 monthly. Trains reach Florence in 90 minutes and Naples in 70, ideal for quick cultural breaks. Biking has grown thanks to new cycle lanes along the Tiber River.
Campus Culture
Clubs span debate, photography, and volunteer teaching. The sports centre offers football, basketball, and fencing at discounted fees. Cafeterias serve hot meals from €3, featuring pasta, salads, and vegan options.
Safety and Inclusion
Campus security operates 24/7. International offices run integration workshops covering health, legal rights, and cultural etiquette. A chaplaincy and multi-faith rooms welcome students of every belief.
Careers and Internships in the Eternal City
Rome hosts the United Nations food agencies (FAO, WFP, IFAD), over 350 NGOs, and countless embassies—a goldmine for political science and international-co-operation students. Tech start-ups cluster in the Talent Garden and Luiss Enlabs hubs, focusing on fintech, agri-tech, and green energy—perfect for economics and data-science majors.
Major employers:
- Leonardo – Italy’s top aerospace and defence group, keen on cybersecurity interns.
- ENEL – a global energy giant offering smart-grid and sustainability projects.
- Fendi, Valentino, and Bulgari – luxury brands seeking marketing and communication talent.
- Lazio Region Health Service – internships for psychology and education specialists.
LUMSA’s career office sends weekly vacancy lists, organises on-campus job fairs, and coaches CV writing. Alumni mentors introduce students to hidden opportunities in EU agencies and the Italian parliament. Because many internships can lead to six-month contracts, graduates often secure a work visa extension under Italy’s “stay-permit for job search” policy.
Industries Aligned with Your Studies
- Creative and Cultural Heritage – Rome’s museums and festivals need event planners, curators, and digital storytellers.
- Food Security and Agritech – Proximity to UN agencies fosters research on sustainable agriculture.
- Finance and Insurance – Headquarters of Banca d’Italia and Generali offer roles in risk analysis and compliance.
- Legal Services and Mediation – International courts and arbitral centres seek bilingual legal analysts.
- Digital Innovation – Start-ups in AI, IoT, and blockchain call for coders and UX designers.
These sectors welcome English-speaking graduates who understand local culture yet think globally.
Your Path Starts Here
LUMSA University blends academic depth with Rome’s energy, giving you a campus in the heart of history and a bridge to modern careers. You will walk past the Colosseum on your way to lectures, discuss policy with UN officers, and enjoy pasta evenings with classmates from five continents—all while paying fees similar to those at many public universities. If your goal is to join the surge of professionals who master theory, practise skills, and network internationally, LUMSA and Rome offer the perfect stage.
In two minutes we’ll confirm whether you meet the basic entry rules for tuition-free, English-taught degrees in Italy. We’ll then quickly see if we still have space for you this month. If so, you’ll get a personalised offer. Accept it, and our experts hand-craft a shortlist of majors that fit your grades, goals, and career plans. Upload your documents once; we submit every university and scholarship application, line up multiple admission letters, and guide you through the visa process—backed by our admission-and-scholarship guarantee.
Study in Italy in English: International Relations (LM-52) at LUMSA University (Libera Università degli Studi “Maria SS.Assunta”)
The world needs bridge-builders—people who interpret conflicts, negotiate treaties, and manage humanitarian crises. Italy offers several English-taught programs in Italy that train such experts, and this master’s lets you study in Italy in English while paying fees comparable to those at many tuition-free universities Italy. Hosted by LUMSA University (Libera Università degli Studi “Maria SS.Assunta”) in Rome, the two-year International Relations course (LM-52) blends theory, diplomacy practice, and field research, turning curious graduates into confident global actors.
Why Choose English-Taught Programs in Italy for International Relations?
LUMSA sits eight minutes’ walk from the Vatican walls and 20 from the Italian foreign-ministry palace. This setting puts real diplomacy on your doorstep. Rome is also home to three UN food agencies—FAO, WFP, IFAD—plus more than 130 embassies. Few campuses worldwide offer such a dense diplomatic ecosystem within a single neighbourhood.
Fast facts that matter
- Accredited excellence: National quality surveys rank LUMSA among the top Italian universities for student satisfaction and graduate employment.
- Compact size: With about 7,000 students, seminars rarely exceed 25 participants; professors learn each name.
- Research impact: Faculty publish in journals like International Affairs and advise the Holy See and Italian parliament on migration and human-rights law.
- Global mix: Current cohorts include learners from 35 countries on five continents.
Admissions Snapshot
- Degree background: Politics, economics, law, languages, or related fields.
- GPA minimum: Equivalent of 2.8/4.0.
- English level: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 (native speakers exempt).
- Start dates: Late September and early February intakes each year.
ApplyAZ advisers check your documents, translate transcripts, and handle the Italian pre-enrolment portal so nothing stalls your visa.
Programme Structure: From Theory to Negotiation Rooms
Year One—Foundations and Regional Focus (60 ECTS)
- International Relations Theory – Realism, constructivism, and global-south perspectives.
- History of World Politics since 1945 – Decolonisation, cold war, and unipolarity debates.
- International Public Law – Sources, state responsibility, and jurisdictional immunities.
- Global Economics – Trade regimes, development finance, and regional-integration blocs.
- Statistics for Social Science – R labs on survey design and conflict datasets.
- Area Workshops – Mediterranean security or Post-Soviet transformations.
Year Two—Applied Policy and Research (60 ECTS)
- EU External Action – Neighbourhood diplomacy, sanctions, and strategic autonomy.
- Human Rights and Migration Governance – Treaty-body procedures, asylum rules, and border politics.
- Peace Operations and Crisis Management – UN mandates, civil-military coordination, and humanitarian corridors.
- Elective basket – Climate diplomacy, gender in peacebuilding, or digital geopolitics.
- Internship (300 hours) – Embassy, NGO, think-tank, or UN agency seat in Rome or abroad.
- Master’s Thesis (24 ECTS) – Field-based or data-driven study under one-to-one supervision.
Learning Methods That Build Real Competence
- Simulated negotiations: Students enact UN Security Council meetings, drafting resolutions and facing veto scenarios.
- Policy clinics: Teams deliver policy briefs for Italian MPs or EU officials on topics like food security in the Sahel.
- Field trips: Visits to FAO committees, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Vatican diplomatic receptions.
- Research labs: GIS mapping of refugee flows, textual analysis of presidential speeches, and network graphs of think-tank funding.
These activities hone public speaking, cross-cultural teamwork, and evidence-based argumentation—skills recruiters demand.
Studying in Rome: Student Life, Budget, and Culture
Cost of living
- Accommodation: Shared flats €450–€550 per month; university residence halls from €350.
- Food: Canteen meals €3; espresso or cappuccino €1.20; pizza slice €2.50.
- Transport: Student metro–bus pass €22 monthly; day trips to Florence cost €18 by high-speed train when booked early.
- Leisure: Museums free on the first Sunday, outdoor film festivals €6, opera standing tickets €15.
Climate and vibe
Rome enjoys 2,500 sunshine hours yearly. Winters are mild (12 °C) and summers hot but dry. Street markets, book fairs, and evening concerts fill piazzas long after sunset, letting you practise Italian with friendly locals.
Community
LUMSA’s International Office pairs each newcomer with a peer tutor. Clubs span Model United Nations, photojournalism, volunteer teaching in refugee centres, and women-in-diplomacy meet-ups. Friday aperitivo (snack and drink) events cost about €5 and deliver instant networking.
Job and Internship Opportunities in the Eternal City
Key industries for IR students
- International Organisations – FAO, WFP, IFAD, and the International Development Law Organisation run year-round internship calls.
- Embassies and Consulates – Over 130 missions cover political reporting, cultural promotion, and visa services.
- NGOs and Think-Tanks – Save the Children Italy, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Istituto Affari Internazionali hire researchers and project aides.
- Media and Communications – Reuters, ANSA, and Vatican Radio recruit bilingual field reporters and content editors.
- Corporate Public Affairs – ENEL, Leonardo, and Ferrovie dello Stato maintain EU-policy desks in Rome.
How LUMSA accelerates your career
- Career days every semester host recruiters on campus.
- CV clinics refine LinkedIn profiles and motivational letters.
- Alumni mentors introduce final-year students to openings in Brussels and Geneva.
- Language centre offers Arabic, Russian, and Chinese to boost diplomatic edge.
Within six months of graduation, 91 % of LM-52 alumni secure a job or PhD place, a figure confirmed by national statistics offices.
Funding Your Degree: DSU Grant and Other Support
Because LUMSA follows Italian law on student aid, international learners may access:
- DSU grant – Covers rent, meals, and up to €5,200 cash annually for low-income households. Application window opens in July; ApplyAZ guides paperwork.
- LUMSA merit scholarships – 50 % to 100 % tuition cuts for high GPA entrants.
- LazioDisco assistance – Regional vouchers for transport and culture expenses.
- Part-time campus jobs – Library monitoring, IT help-desk, and social-media support (10 hours weekly).
Combined, these sources reduce net costs to levels typical of top tuition-free universities Italy.
Alumni Success Stories
- Sara (Morocco) – Internship at WFP nutrition division turned into a policy-officer contract in Nairobi.
- Anton (Ukraine) – Thesis on EU energy security led to a junior analyst role at ENI’s geopolitical desk.
- Luisa (Brazil) – Founded a social-enterprise start-up connecting Mediterranean farmers with Latin-American food banks; won a €50,000 EU social-innovation grant.
Their common thread? Each exploited Rome’s dense diplomatic network, and each started with limited Italian, proving proficiency grows on the ground.
Language Support and Cross-Cultural Skills
All core modules run in English, yet the university supplies free Italian up to B1 so you thrive socially and legally. Optional Arabic, French, and Spanish boost regional specialisation. Workshops on intercultural negotiation, unconscious bias, and gender-inclusive diplomacy prepare graduates for diverse teams.
Digital Resources and Research Infrastructure
- E-library: Access to JSTOR, HeinOnline, and World Bank e-databases.
- DataLab: High-performance PCs for statistical packages—STATA, SPSS, and R.
- Media studio: Cameras and editing suites for documentary projects or podcast series.
- Moot-court hall: Simulated International Court of Justice hearings streamed for feedback.
A Typical Week in Semester Two
- Monday – 9:00 lecture on EU–Africa relations; afternoon R workshop mapping migration flows.
- Tuesday – Group prep for Security Council simulation; evening Italian conversation club.
- Wednesday – Field visit to FAO Committee on World Food Security.
- Thursday – Human-Rights clinic: draft amicus brief on environmental refugees.
- Friday – Guest talk from UNICEF’s education lead; networking aperitivo.
- Weekend – Team project edits, then sunset stroll along the Tiber and gelato at Trastevere.
Future-Facing Curriculum Updates
Faculty boards meet annually with alumni and employers. Planned additions include:
- AI and Disinformation – Counter-influence strategies in elections.
- Climate Security – Water scarcity and conflict mediation.
- Space Policy – Governance of satellite constellations and celestial resources.
Such agility keeps the syllabus aligned with shifting geopolitical needs.
Key Takeaways
- Study in Italy in English and immerse yourself in one of the world’s densest diplomatic hubs.
- LUMSA’s compact, research-active campus offers mentor-level teaching and global networking.
- Costs remain manageable thanks to the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy.
- Rome’s UN agencies, NGOs, and multinational firms translate classroom learning into high-impact careers.
- ApplyAZ handles every step—from eligibility check to visa coaching—so you can focus on shaping a fairer world.
Ready for this programme?
If you qualify and we still have a spot this month, we’ll reserve your place with ApplyAZ. Our team will tailor a set of best-fit majors—including this course—and handle every form and deadline for you. One upload, many applications, guaranteed offers, DSU grant support, and visa coaching: that’s the ApplyAZ promise. Start now and secure your spot before this month’s intake fills up.
They Began right where you are
