Master in International Security Studies at University of Trento

About the programme

International Security Studies (MISS) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-52) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English. It is jointly awarded by the University of Trento, through its School of International Studies, and the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa. The first year takes place in Trento, at the Paolo Prodi building in via Tommaso Gar, and the second year in Pisa.

The course treats security as a lens on international relations and draws on political science, law, economics, history, political sociology, political geography and political philosophy. Beyond the strategic and military view, it covers human, economic and financial, environmental and climate, resource and food, and cyber and digital security. It suits graduates in the social sciences, law, economics or languages with a strong interest in global affairs.

What you will study

The first year builds the core of security studies with a set of required units and guided choices in economics, history and environmental security. The second year adds regional and thematic options, skills courses and the thesis. Units in the current plan include:

• Security Studies: Concepts and Cases and Power, Force and Violence in International Politics
• International Law and National Security, and Research Methods in Security Studies
• Economic Security or Development Economics, and History and International Relations of the Middle East
• Global Food Security, Natural Resources and Energy Security, or Political Geographies of Environmental Change
• Terrorism and Insurgency in Peace and War, plus two of African Security, European Security and Security Assistance in Fragile Contexts
• Ethics of Security or The Global South and the International Order
• A thesis (18 ECTS), with an Italian A2 course required for students who do not speak Italian

How the programme is taught

A whole semester is set aside for a traineeship or a research experience abroad, which builds language and transversal skills. You also take part in practical, innovative learning activities with international academics, experts and practitioners, and graduate with a degree awarded jointly by the two universities.

Career paths

The university lists roles such as security analyst, researcher, official in national and international governmental and non-governmental organisations, expert in designing and monitoring security policies, and manager of intervention strategies in crisis and conflict settings. Employers include United Nations bodies, EU institutions and agencies, and ministries such as foreign affairs.

Fees and scholarships

For 2026/27 the non-EU maximum is €10,000 a year, cut according to your admission score: 90 or above pays nothing, 70 to 89.9 pays €1,000, 60 to 69.9 pays €3,000 and 50 to 59.9 pays €6,500. In year two the amount depends on credits earned. Top-ranked applicants with 90 or more may get a UniTrento scholarship with a fee waiver, and Opera Universitaria di Trento runs income-based grants. MISS can be tuition-free for eligible students.

How to apply from outside the EU

You apply to the University of Trento. For 2026/27 there were 5 places for non-EU citizens living abroad, and the committee weighed academic background with a reference letter (60 points), a statement of purpose (15) and the relevance of your studies and experience (25).

The 2026/27 deadline was 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with a €30 application fee and rankings by 30 April 2026. After confirming your place you pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks and apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 call is not yet published.

How ApplyAZ helps

If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.