Master in Legal Studies at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught law master in Bologna, class LM/SC-GIUR-R, restricted access, with four curricula: Law and Digital Transition; Law, Economics and Finance; Human Rights, Environmental and Social Justice; Global and Transnational Legal Culture.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
The Master in Legal Studies is a two-year, 120 ECTS law degree (class LM/SC-GIUR-R) taught entirely in English at the University of Bologna, with four curricula from digital transition to human rights. Places are limited. Tuition follows family income, with a flat fee option for non-OECD citizens.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Legal Studies has competitive admission. For 2026/27, academic eligibility, B2 English, a document assessment and an English interview are separate requirements. Reaching the minimum selection scores qualifies an applicant for ranking; places are then assigned by ranking.
Qualification and law-credit requirements
- A suitable first-cycle qualification is required. A foreign qualification must be of the appropriate level and allow second-cycle study in its awarding system; final authenticity and recognition checks are handled by the university.
- The law-background route includes L-14 and LMG/01, their specified predecessor classes and previous-system law degrees.
- The non-law route lists L-5, L-10, L-11, L-16, L-18, L-20, L-33, L-36, L-37, L-39, L-40 and L-42, with at least 30 CFU in legal subjects. The regulation permits relevant final-examination credits to count. Foreign non-law backgrounds require an individual curricular assessment.
English evidence
- B2 English is compulsory. The 2026/27 call accepts the specified certificates issued no earlier than 1 January 2021, including recognised TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge and Trinity routes at the required level.
- Listed alternatives include an English-taught degree, a documented B2 university English examination, the native-speaker route, or evidence of at least two courses taught in English. We follow the call’s exact evidence requirements, so IELTS is not assumed to be mandatory for every applicant.
Selection scores and places
- For 2026/27, 150 places are divided equally between EU/equivalent applicants and non-EU applicants living abroad.
- The first assessment is worth 40 points and requires at least 25 to reach the English interview. The interview is worth 60 points. A final total of at least 60/100, including the required first-stage minimum, is needed for the ranking.
- The document stage assesses academic merit, fit with legal studies and advanced English. The interview examines legal preparation, other study/professional experience and the ability to discuss legal matters in English. Meeting the score threshold does not override the ranking or applicant-category quota.
Documents and conditional admission
- We use the mandatory official CV form and upload identity evidence, the required academic record, English evidence and any applicable residence-permit or adjustment documents. Overseas academic documents must follow the call’s Italian/English translation and transcript instructions.
- A conditionally admitted pending graduate must obtain the degree by 31 December 2026. Missing that qualification deadline cancels the conditional enrolment. The published 2026 application deadlines are historical at the review date, not future windows.
Sources and verification
- University of Bologna. Legal Studies: programme enrolment, curricular qualifications and language requirements. 2026/27 guidance; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Legal Studies: Call for Applications, admission requirements, selection and application sections. 2026/27 admission call; reviewed 6 October 2026.
About the programme
Legal Studies is a two-year second cycle degree (laurea magistrale) in the law class LM/SC-GIUR-R, taught entirely in English in Bologna by the Department of Legal Studies (DSG). It is worth 120 ECTS and has restricted access, so places are limited and assigned through a selection. The director is Marco Martino.
The university says the degree forms graduates for careers in legal advisory work that operates in an international context or needs a supranational perspective. It suits law graduates, and graduates of related fields who meet the requirements, who want to work on legal questions that cross national borders.
What you will study
Students follow one of four curricula, each giving a different angle on law beyond a single national system:
- Law and Digital Transition
- Law, Economics and Finance
- Human Rights, Environmental and Social Justice
- Global and Transnational Legal Culture
The course units of each curriculum, with credits and teaching periods, are listed in the course structure diagram on the degree website. We check the 2027/28 version when it is published, as the offer can change between intakes.
Career paths
The official profile points to legal advisory roles in international settings or where a supranational view of law is needed. The four curricula point to different fields within that: digital regulation, economic and financial law, human rights and environmental justice, or transnational legal culture. A laurea magistrale also gives access to PhD programmes. This degree is not the five-year single-cycle law degree, so whether it counts towards a bar qualification depends on the rules of the country where you want to practise.
Fees and scholarships
The University of Bologna sets fees by family income (ISEE), so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Income earned abroad is declared through ER.GO, the regional right-to-study body that also decides scholarships.
How to apply from outside the EU
Legal Studies has restricted access, so the admission call on the degree website is the key document: it sets the deadlines, the selection criteria and the quota of places reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. We apply on Studenti Online before the deadline.
If you are admitted, we submit the Universitaly pre-enrolment; the university validates it and the consulate then handles your study visa. Enrolment and payment of the first instalment follow online, and after arrival your original qualification documents are checked in Bologna before your career is activated.
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 selection application, official CV form 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
Can a non-law graduate apply?
A listed non-law background can qualify with at least 30 CFU in legal subjects. Foreign backgrounds require committee assessment.
Is English required?
Yes, B2. The call allows specified certificates and alternative evidence routes.
What is needed to reach the interview?
At least 25/40 in the first assessment.
What total is needed for the final ranking?
At least 60/100, while satisfying the first-stage minimum. A place still depends on ranking and quota.
Is there a selection round?
Yes. Applications go through the selection round set out in the call.
Can I finish my bachelor’s after applying?
Under the 2026/27 conditional route, you must graduate by 31 December 2026.
Can someone handle my whole application to Legal Studies 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 Legal Studies?
Your Indian degree must be of the appropriate level and allow master's-level study in India [1]. Law backgrounds follow the law-background route, while non-law backgrounds need at least 30 CFU in legal subjects and an individual curricular assessment [1]. You also need English at B2, at least 25/40 in the document assessment and an English interview [2]. The steps are a Studenti Online application, the selection and Universitaly pre-enrolment. 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 Legal Studies are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: a Studenti Online application, the two-stage selection 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 Legal Studies are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: a Studenti Online application, the two-stage selection 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 Legal Studies 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: a Studenti Online application, the two-stage selection 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.
More English-taught programmes at this university
Other public universities in this city
They began right where you are
