Master in International Relations at University of Milan

Detailed entry requirements

Milan's International Relations master asks for a bachelor's with at least 60 credits across economics, law, politics or history and English, English at B2 and a pass in a written entrance test. With a foreign degree, you need adequate knowledge of law, politics or history and economics, and the test may be required depending on your background. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree and credit requirements

Eligible Italian bachelor's classes include philosophy, geography, humanities, modern languages, language mediation, legal services, tourism, administration, business administration, communication, economics, political science and international relations, social sciences for cooperation and peace, social service and history. Graduates of other classes, and holders of a foreign qualification recognised as suitable, may be admitted with the approval of the teaching board. [2]

You need at least 60 credits in set fields, including: [2]

• At least 9 in economics: political economy, economic policy, finance or applied economics (SECS-P/01, 02, 03 and 06).
• At least 15 in law: private, comparative private, business, economic, labour, constitutional, public, administrative, international, EU or comparative public law.
• At least 9 in politics or history: political philosophy, history of political doctrines or institutions, political science, history of international relations, legal history, philosophy of law, history of Islamic countries, modern, Eastern European or contemporary history, or economic history.
• At least 9 in English language (L-LIN/12) with a mark out of thirty, or a B2 certificate instead.

Meeting only the four minimums is not enough: the total must reach 60 credits, and only exams marked out of thirty count. If you use a certificate instead of English credits, the 60 credits must come from economics, law and politics or history. [3]

With a foreign degree, the programme asks for adequate knowledge of three fields: law (preferably international or EU law), history or politics, and economics. Requirements are assessed flexibly across academic systems, but your preparation must be essentially in line with the course level. [3]

What this means for your transcript

Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as Italian CFU, and the committee looks at the subjects behind them. As a guide, based on the rule above:

• Usually a fit: a BA in Political Science or International Relations that includes law and economics papers, or an LLB or BA LLB that includes economics and political science.
• Check carefully: a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, which covers economics but may lack law, and a B.Com or BBA, where business law papers can help but politics or history is often missing. A BA in History or Sociology needs law and economics papers.
• Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or B.Sc. in a science subject, which rarely includes law, economics and politics or history.

If the committee finds gaps, it may recommend tutoring courses, which ran from September 2026 to January 2027 for the 2026/27 intake. [3]

English and Italian

English at CEFR B2 or higher is required for every curriculum. With a foreign degree you upload a B2 certificate with your application: TOEFL and IELTS are accepted, as are the certificates on the university's list. [3] Italian degree holders can instead count 9 graded credits in English language. [2]

Italian at B2 is required only for the Diplomacy and International Organizations and International Markets and Business curricula, not for International Security and Regional Dynamics. [3]

Entrance test

Passing the entrance test is a necessary condition for admission. It is a written test whose subjects depend on the curriculum you choose when you apply, and you must show sufficient knowledge in every area tested. [2][3]

• International Security and Regional Dynamics: international law, economics and international relations, entirely in English.
• International Cooperation and Human Rights: international law, economics and comparative social systems, entirely in English.
• Diplomacy and International Organizations: international law, economics and international relations.
• International Markets and Business: international law, economics and EU law.

With a foreign degree, you may be asked to sit the test depending on your academic background, and you learn this after applying. The programme pages do not state a minimum score. The 2026/27 admission notice also allowed the board to hold an interview. [1][3]

2026/27 deadlines

For 2026/27, non-EU citizens applying for a visa had to apply between 22 January and 30 April 2026. EU candidates and equivalents could apply until 25 August 2026. The €30 application fee was due by the same deadline, on pain of exclusion. [1]

Applicants still finishing their bachelor's could apply if they graduated by 31 December 2026. Enrolment of admitted students ran from 5 May 2026 to 15 January 2027. [1] The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates.

Documents and non-EU steps

With a foreign degree you upload your degree certificate (in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish), a Diploma Supplement or transcript, and a passport or other valid ID. [1] The programme also asks for a CV and your English certificate, and the committee cannot give a final evaluation on an incomplete application. [3]

Admitted non-EU visa applicants complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which closed on 31 July 2026 for 2026/27. By 30 November 2026 they also had to provide a statement of comparability from an ENIC-NARIC centre such as CIMEA, or a declaration of value. [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 Milan. Admission notice for the Master's degree programme in International Relations (REL), class LM-52 R, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Milan. Programme description (manifesto), Master's degree in International Relations, class LM-52 R, students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. University of Milan, International Relations programme website. Admission pages for candidates with an Italian or a foreign degree, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
4. University of Milan, International Relations (REL) course page: languages of teaching, study plan by trimester and 2026/27 admission dates. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
5. University of Milan. Regulation on tuition and fees, academic year 2026/27, with the annexes on fee areas and country groups. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
6. University of Milan. Fees for academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.

Can I study International Relations at Milan entirely in English?

Yes, through the International Security and Regional Dynamics curriculum. Its course units are listed as taught in English apart from the second foreign language you choose, its entrance test is entirely in English, and the thesis can be written in English. Italian at B2 is required only for two other curricula. [2][3][4]

What bachelor's degree do I need for International Relations at Milan?

A bachelor's with at least 60 credits across economics, law, politics or history and English, including 9 in economics, 15 in law, 9 in politics or history and 9 in English. With a foreign degree, you need adequate knowledge of law, politics or history and economics. [2][3]

Is there an entrance exam?

Yes. Passing a written test is a condition of admission. For the International Security curriculum it is entirely in English and covers international law, economics and international relations. With a foreign degree, you may be asked to sit it depending on your background. [3]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at B2 or higher for every curriculum. With a foreign degree you upload a B2 certificate with your application, and IELTS and TOEFL are accepted. We check that your certificate meets the university's list before we submit. [3]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

For 2026/27, non-EU citizens applying for a visa had to apply between 22 January and 30 April 2026 and complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes. For 2026/27, applicants still finishing their bachelor's could apply if they graduated by 31 December 2026. The application deadline still applied, which was 30 April 2026 for visa applicants. [1]

I have a BA in Economics or a B.Com. Can I apply?

Possibly. An economics degree usually covers the 9 economics credits but often lacks the 15 law credits, and a B.Com may include business law but little politics or history. The committee looks for adequate knowledge of law, politics or history and economics. [2][3]

What careers does the security curriculum lead to?

The university names analysis and research roles in strategic, political and international legal studies, at think tanks, study centres of multinational companies, international rating agencies, trade association research offices and public or private research institutes in Italy and abroad. [2]

Can someone handle my whole application to International Relations 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 International Relations?

A recognised Indian bachelor's, such as a BA in Political Science, an LLB or a BA in Economics, can fit if it gives you adequate knowledge of law, politics or history and economics. You also need English at B2 and may be asked to sit the entrance test. The steps are the online application, the test if required, admission and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [3] 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 Relations are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online admission application, the entrance test if required, admission 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 Relations are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online admission application, the entrance test if required, admission 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: online admission application, the entrance test if required, admission and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.