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University of Naples Federico II (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II)
Choosing where to study in Italy in English can feel overwhelming. The University of Naples Federico II (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II) makes the decision easier. Founded in 1224, it is one of the oldest public Italian universities and a pioneer of modern research. Today, the institution offers an expanding portfolio of English‑taught programs in Italy, paired with policies that let eligible applicants access tuition‑free universities Italy schemes and the DSU grant—one of the best scholarships for international students in Italy.
Why choose University of Naples Federico II for English‑taught programs in Italy
The University of Naples Federico II combines heritage with forward thinking. It sits consistently in the world’s top 300 on global academic rankings while placing even higher in subject‑specific tables for engineering, medicine, agriculture, and computer science. Its membership in the SEA‑EU Alliance links it to six coastal universities, opening joint degrees and mobility options—an advantage if you want to study in Italy in English and still explore other European labs.
Key departments include:
- School of Medicine and Surgery – renowned for translational research and partnerships with major hospitals.
- Faculty of Engineering – strong in aerospace, civil, and environmental disciplines.
- Department of Agricultural Sciences – focused on Mediterranean food systems and sustainable farming.
- Faculty of Economics and Business – ideal for data analytics, international management, and fintech.
- Department of Computer Science – recognised for AI and cybersecurity expertise.
Most of these areas now run English‑taught programs in Italy at bachelor and master level. These courses keep class sizes small, making it easier to interact with professors, build local contacts, and practise language skills. Because the university belongs to the national network of public Italian universities, tuition fees are low and often waived altogether through income‑based rules. Pair that with the DSU grant—financial aid that covers meals, accommodation, and books—and you can cut yearly costs to a fraction of what you might pay elsewhere in Europe.
A living laboratory: life in Naples
Naples, or Napoli, offers a unique setting for anyone looking to study in Italy in English without losing immersion in authentic Italian life. The city hugs the Bay of Naples under the gaze of Mount Vesuvius. Winters are mild (average 10 °C), summers warm yet breezy (around 30 °C), so you can enjoy outdoor study sessions all year.
Public transport is efficient and cheap. A single metro ride costs little more than a cup of espresso, and integrated tickets cover buses and funiculars that climb the city’s hills. As an enrolled student at a public Italian university, you qualify for reduced monthly passes, making daily commutes easy on a lean budget.
Student life thrives in the historical centre. Cobbled streets offer pizzerias, bookshops, and open‑air markets. Federiciani—students of Federico II—meet at Piazza Bellini for affordable aperitivo, swap language tips, and form project groups that span disciplines. If you crave cultural weekends, you can reach Pompeii in thirty minutes, the Amalfi Coast in one hour, and Rome in just over sixty minutes by high‑speed train.
Naples also ranks among Italy’s most affordable big cities. Shared flats near the main campus cost roughly €250–€350 per month, lower than Milan or Florence. Street food—think pizza margherita or fried pasta balls—keeps lunch under €5. Combine that with DSU grant canteen vouchers, and daily living costs stay manageable, reinforcing the “tuition‑free universities Italy” advantage.
Affordable living and tuition‑free universities Italy: how costs add up
Many prospective learners search for tuition‑free universities Italy as a way to limit debt. Federico II fits that goal because fees link to family income and citizenship. If your household earnings sit below set thresholds, you pay zero tuition. Even if you pay full rate, yearly fees rarely exceed €2,400.
Additional savings:
- DSU grant (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) – covers up to €7,000 per year across rent, food, travel, and study materials.
- University accommodation – single rooms start from €180 per month.
- Free Italian language courses – help you integrate and widen part‑time job options.
These numbers matter when you compare Naples to other European tech hubs. Living in a city where overhead is low lets you allocate money towards conferences, side projects, or weekend explorations—key parts of every study in Italy in English journey.
Public Italian universities and career opportunities in Campania
The Campus of San Giovanni a Teduccio, once a factory district, now anchors the regional innovation wave. It hosts Apple Developer Academy, Cisco networking labs, and an Advanced Manufacturing Institute. Engineering and computer‑science students gain first‑hand exposure to agile methods and can pitch prototypes directly to global mentors.
Beyond tech, Naples has a diversified economy.
- Maritime logistics – Port of Naples handles over 20 million tonnes of cargo annually; internships here suit mechanical, civil, and maritime‑engineering students.
- Aerospace – Leonardo Aircraft Division and Avio Aero run production plants near Pomigliano d’Arco; they hire federiciani for R&D and quality control.
- Agri‑food and biotech – Campania is Europe’s “fruit and vegetable garden”. Firms like Mutti, La Doria, and agritech start‑ups cluster near the Department of Agricultural Sciences, giving nutrition and chemistry majors field projects.
- Cultural heritage and tourism – Restoration labs around Pompeii and the city’s museums need art‑history, geology, and digital‑humanities profiles.
Thanks to Erasmus+ traineeships, Curricular Internships, and strong alumni links, you can secure placements even if you only study in Italy in English and speak beginner‑level Italian. Employers value technical skills, and many operate internationally, so English communication works day to day.
Career support highlights
- Career Services Office runs CV workshops, mock interviews, and job fairs twice per year.
- “Contamination Lab” fosters interdisciplinary start‑ups; past teams launched sustainable‑fashion brands and AI‑driven transport tools.
- Visa‑extension pathways allow non‑EU graduates to stay up to 12 months to seek work, turning a successful internship into a full‑time contract.
These services amplify the advantage that public Italian universities already provide: low costs, strong networks, and government policies welcoming talent.
Broader industries and how they boost your field
Whatever your major, Naples offers industry connections:
- Computer Science & Data – Smart‑city analytics with Enel X, fintech projects in the city’s new Innovation District, blockchain pilots for port customs.
- Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering – Wind‑tunnel testing at CIRA (Italian Aerospace Research Centre) in nearby Capua.
- Biomedical Sciences – Oncology and gene‑therapy trials at CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate.
- Environmental Science – Volcanology and marine‑biology research around Vesuvius National Park and the Gulf of Naples.
- Design & Architecture – Urban regeneration projects funded by the European Green Deal; student studios collaborate on waterfront re‑planning.
Federico II partners directly with these bodies, weaving applied modules into English‑taught programs in Italy. That means your coursework often solves live business problems, not hypothetical case studies.
Cultural dimension: more than just courses
Studying at the University of Naples Federico II is not only academic. The university runs over 50 student clubs—ranging from robotics to Mediterranean cooking—plus free sports at CUS Napoli. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) organises Italian conversation cafés, tandem exchanges, and low‑cost trips across the peninsula.
Naples’ culture thrives on music and theatre. Students can attend rehearsals at Teatro di San Carlo for €10 or less. Summer festivals in neighbouring islands—Ischia, Procida, Capri—offer film screenings under the stars. Such events help you practise Italian organically, complementing your study in Italy in English formal classes.
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.
International Relations (LM‑52) at University of Naples Federico II
International Relations (LM‑52) is a strategic choice if you want to study in Italy in English, join one of the leading public Italian universities, and benefit from the affordability that characterises tuition-free universities Italy and the DSU grant. This master’s belongs to the growing ecosystem of English-taught programs in Italy and delivers the analytical, legal, and policy skills you need to operate in diplomacy, NGOs, global business, and international organisations.
Where this master stands among English-taught programs in Italy
International Relations (LM‑52) integrates political science, international law, economics, security studies, and area specialisations. It is taught entirely in English, so you can study in Italy in English without delaying your academic progress or career planning. As part of the network of public Italian universities, the course follows transparent rules on tuition and scholarships, making it accessible to a wide range of students.
You will learn to read global conflicts and cooperation through multiple lenses: power, institutions, identity, and markets. You will also train in research design and data analysis, so you can work with both qualitative interviews and quantitative datasets.
Why study in Italy in English for International Relations
Choosing to study in Italy in English gives you access to European academic traditions and legal frameworks while keeping a global perspective. The programme’s language policy ensures all core modules, exams, and most readings are in English. This prepares you to write briefs, policy memos, and funding proposals for international audiences from day one.
At the same time, you can add optional language courses (for example, Arabic, Russian, or Chinese) to match your regional focus. This combination—English for core analytical work plus a second or third language for field depth—is now standard in top English-taught programs in Italy.
Programme structure: two years, 120 ECTS
The master’s spans four semesters and totals 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). The pathway usually includes:
Core theories and methods
- International Relations Theory (realism, liberalism, constructivism, critical approaches)
- Comparative Politics and Regional Governance
- Research Methods for Social Sciences (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods)
- International Law and Human Rights Law
- Global Political Economy and Development
Thematic and regional tracks
- Security Studies and Strategic Analysis
- Environmental Politics and Energy Transitions
- Migration Governance and Citizenship
- Digital Diplomacy and Cyber Policy
- EU External Action and Neighbourhood Policy
- Area Studies (Middle East, Eurasia, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Sub‑Saharan Africa)
Professional skills modules
- Policy Writing, Negotiation, and Mediation Labs
- Project Cycle Management for NGOs and International Institutions
- Data for International Relations (statistics, R or Python basics, data visualisation)
- Monitoring and Evaluation for Development Projects
Final semester
- Internship or fieldwork-based research
- Master’s thesis (empirical or theoretical), defended before a faculty panel
Assessment and learning methods
The programme uses several methods to keep you engaged and work-ready:
- Short policy memos (1,500–2,000 words) to practise concise writing
- Oral presentations simulating diplomatic briefings
- Group projects modelling negotiation rounds (trade, climate, disarmament)
- Data-driven assignments using open international datasets
- A sustained thesis that shows you can pose a question, design a method, and deliver evidence-based conclusions
You learn to move from academic literature to workable policy recommendations, a key skill for employers who value clarity and speed.
Skills you will gain
By graduation, you can:
- Analyse international crises using competing theories and evidence
- Draft policy briefs, strategy notes, and risk assessments in clear English
- Navigate the legal basis of human rights, conflict resolution, and humanitarian action
- Interpret macroeconomic and trade indicators for global political economy questions
- Plan and evaluate international development or advocacy projects
- Communicate findings to both academic and non-academic stakeholders
- Use basic coding or statistical tools to support arguments with data
These skills prepare you for roles in ministries, embassies, EU bodies, UN agencies, NGOs, think tanks, and global firms that need geopolitical and regulatory insights.
Career paths and employment sectors
Graduates typically move into:
- Diplomatic services and foreign ministries
- Intergovernmental organisations (UN system, EU institutions, Council of Europe, OSCE)
- Non-governmental organisations working on climate, migration, peacebuilding, gender, or public health
- Think tanks and policy institutes (research, advocacy, forecasting)
- Corporate risk analysis and compliance teams
- Media and communication roles requiring geopolitical expertise
- Doctoral programmes in political science, international law, or global studies
The programme’s alignment with the LM‑52 class and Bologna Process supports international degree recognition and smooth applications to PhDs or specialised postgraduate diplomas.
Research opportunities and academic mentoring
International Relations students benefit from a strong research culture:
- Faculty research groups on security, EU governance, energy, global health, and human rights
- Workshops on qualitative interviewing, discourse analysis, and survey design
- Access to large databases (trade, conflict, human rights, energy, climate)
- Regular seminars featuring visiting scholars, practitioners, and policymakers
Each student receives a thesis supervisor early in the second year, ensuring steady guidance, methodological coherence, and a realistic timeline to complete the dissertation.
Public Italian universities: quality and accountability
As one of Italy’s oldest public Italian universities, University of Naples Federico II combines academic rigour with accountability. Curriculum updates respond to fast-changing global issues: cyber conflict, climate diplomacy, sanctions, and global supply-chain risks. Periodic reviews integrate feedback from employers and alumni to keep the degree work-ready and relevant.
Data and digital proficiency
Modern International Relations needs quantitative and digital tools:
- Training in statistics and reproducible methods (R, Python, or Stata basics)
- Policy dashboard building with visualisation libraries
- Exposure to big datasets (trade flows, human rights indexes, conflict-event data)
- Awareness of AI impacts on diplomacy, disinformation, and information security
These competencies support roles in policy labs, risk analytics, and evidence-based advocacy.
Ethics, inclusion, and responsible research
You will study how power and inequality shape the global order. Courses on ethics and law help you handle:
- Informed consent and data privacy in fieldwork
- Bias and representation in global narratives
- Gender and intersectional analyses in conflict and development
- Responsible communication to keep vulnerable populations safe
Understanding these issues is essential for work in humanitarian and development sectors.
Pathways to a PhD
If you aim for academic research or advanced policy roles, the master’s prepares you for doctoral study:
- Methodology training that meets international standards
- Thesis work that can be turned into journal articles or proposals
- Opportunities to present at graduate conferences
- References from faculty actively publishing in peer-reviewed outlets
This platform allows you to move smoothly into PhDs in political science, sociology, international law, or global governance.
Soft skills for international work
Beyond theory, you need soft skills to perform in cross-border organisations:
- Negotiation and mediation practice through simulations
- Team leadership in multicultural groups
- Public speaking and media training
- Grant writing and project budgeting
- Time management and agile project methods (for policy delivery under pressure)
These will help you meet employer expectations and handle multi-stakeholder projects efficiently.
Continuous professional development
After graduation, you can continue learning through:
- Short courses on sanctions, humanitarian law, climate diplomacy, cyber strategy
- Certificates in monitoring and evaluation or data science for politics
- Language enhancement programmes for field specialisation
This lifelong learning mindset keeps your skills relevant as international agendas shift.
Final perspective
International Relations (LM‑52) at University of Naples Federico II offers rigorous academic training, practical policy tools, and affordable access through the mechanisms that define tuition-free universities Italy. As a member of the public Italian universities system, it guarantees transparent fees, recognised degrees, and support schemes such as the DSU grant and scholarships for international students in Italy. If you want to study in Italy in English and graduate ready for diplomacy, development, and global policy analysis, this master’s is a strong, future-proof choice.
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.
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