
The Master's Degree Programme in International Relations and Development Cooperation prepares professionals with multidisciplinary expertise and strong analytical and operational skills for careers in international, governmental and non-governmental organisations, European institutions, public administrations and national bodies, as well as private companies operating in international markets. The programme also aims to train qualified professionals for roles in diplomacy and international relations, with particular emphasis on development cooperation—including with emerging countries—and in the protection of human rights and environmental sustainability.
Course information
- develop specialized training in contemporary international relations, in the arenas and actors of global governance, in major geopolitical issues, in the spread of democratization processes, in the institutions of emerging countries, in the cooperation policies of international organizations, in economic development policies, and in the dynamics of international journalism
- possess specific expertise regarding the functioning of international economic institutions, issues of debt and sustainable growth, bilateral, multilateral, decentralized, and non-governmental cooperation policies, relations between emerging countries, processes of regionalization and decentralization, conflict transformation and regulation techniques, political doctrines on global development, and the role of the media and international public opinion
- develop interdisciplinary knowledge and acquire methodological tools to design, coordinate, and implement international cooperation projects in the fields of economic development, institutional consolidation, environmental sustainability, and the protection of human rights
- achieve a high level of proficiency in at least two foreign languages
Graduates may find employment in organizations, public and private entities, both national and international, as well as economic enterprises and non-profit organizations operating in Italy and abroad, which in various capacities engage with the international context and developing countries.
Graduates may also take on leadership and management roles in organizations representing collective interests (political parties, business and labor unions, associations for the protection of the environment and human rights), or national and supranational associations of a humanitarian, cultural, or scientific nature.
The Master's degree program provides the training necessary to assume roles such as:
- ambassador, executive and official within the diplomatic service
- project manager, consultant, and practitioner in the field of development cooperation
- manager in the "internationalization" sector of small and medium-sized enterprises
- expert in humanitarian emergency programs
- manager in communication, public relations, research and development departments
- junior officer in international governmental and non-governmental organizations
- internal and external communications manager in multinational companies and international groups
- public relations specialist
- political science specialist and international analyst
- institutional communication specialist
- manager in national and international environmental protection agencies
- expert in cooperation and environmental projects
- disaster manager, environmental risk manager
- consultant in environmental economics and policy in public and private institutions
| SSD | Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Year I | ||
| GIUR-11/B | Comparative Constitutional Law | 6 |
| ECON-02/A | International Economic Policy | 6 |
HIST-03/A HIST-03/A | One elective exam from: History of Peace Processes (not available in 2026-2027) History and Culture of Migrations | 6 |
GSPS-02/A GSPS-04/B | Politics and History of International Relations (Integrated Course): International Politics (9 ECTS) History of International Relations (6 ECTS) | 15 |
| GSPS-03/A | Political Thought of Globalization | 6 |
| GSPS-04/C | International Relations and Development in Africa | 6 |
| ANGL-01/C | Diplomatic English | 9* |
GSPS-02/A GSPS-04/B | Elective learning activities** Institution, Politics and Policies of the European Union (6 ECTS) Political Risk in Global Politics: Analysis and Methods (6 ECTS) Workshop: Approaches to Empires in Modern History of Africa: From Colonialism to Globalization (3 ECTS) | 6 |
| Total Year I | 60 | |
| Year II | ||
GIUR-09/A GIUR-09/A | One elective exam from: International Environmental Law Advanced International Law | 6 |
IIND-07/B CEAR-01/B GLOT-01/A GSPS-02/A | One integrated elective course from: Sustainable International Strategies for Energy and Water (Integrated Course): Strategies for Energy (6 ECTS) Strategies for Water (6 ECTS) Or Language and Communication in Peacebuilding (Integrated Course): Language and Human Rights (6 ECTS) Foundations of Peacebuilding (6 ECTS) | 12 |
| GSPS-05/A | Sociology of International Journalism | 6 |
| SPAN-01/C | Language and Institutions of Spanish-speaking Countries | 9* |
| Elective learning activities** Workshop: New Forms of International Cooperation: Project Design and Management (3 ECTS) Workshop: Geographic Information System (3 ECTS) | 3 | |
| Internship | 6 | |
| Final examination | 18 | |
| Total Year II | 60 |
*The 9 ECTS for foreign language courses include 3 ECTS taught by a native speaker language assistant.
** Elective learning activities are chosen independently by the student among bachelor’s degree courses of the same level.
Students can check their study plans to see which courses are compulsory, optional, or electives.
First semester
Comparative Constitutional Law - prof. Francesco Duranti
History and Culture of Migrations - prof. Gianluca Gerli
Workshop: Approaches to Empires in Modern African History: From Colonialism to Globalization - prof.ssa Federica Guazzini
International Relations and Development in Africa - prof.ssa Federica Guazzini
Second semester
Diplomatic English - prof. Renato Tomei - dott.ssa Loredana Fabbri
Institutions, Politics and Policies of the European Union - prof.ssa Cecilia Emma Sottilotta
Political Thought on Globalization - prof. Salvatore Cingari
International Economic Policy - prof. Filippo Sbrana
Political Risk in Global Politics: Analysis and Methods - prof.ssa Cecilia Emma Sottilotta
Politics and History of International Relations (integrated course):
- International Politics - prof. Emidio Diodato
- History of International Relations - prof. Federico Niglia
First semester
Advanced International Law - Prof. Maura Marchegiani
International Environmental Law -Prof. Ottavio Quirico
Workshop: Geographic Information Systems - Prof. Chiara Biscarini
Workshop: New Forms of International Cooperation: Project Design and Management - Prof. Federica Guazzini
Language and Communication in Peacebuilding (integrated annual exam)
- The Fundamentals of Peacebuilding - Prof. Carlo Belli
Sociology of International Journalism - Prof. Matteo Gerli
Second semester
Language and Institutions of Spanish-speaking Countries -Prof. Giovanna Scocozza - Dr. Maria Luisa Sevilla Garcia-Montiel
Language and Communication in Peacebuilding (integrated annual exam)
- Language and Human Rights - Prof. Stefania Scaglione
Sustainable International Strategies for Energy and Water (integrated course)
- Strategies for Energy - Prof. Francesco Asdrubali
- Strategies for Water - Prof. Chiara Biscarini
The programmes from previous academic years are available in the archive.
To be admitted to the Master's degree programme in International Relations and Development Cooperation, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or a three-year university diploma, or another qualification obtained abroad and deemed suitable. In addition, in order to enrol in the above programme, students must:
- meet the required curricular prerequisites
- pass an entry interview. The candidate may take the interview provided they meet the curricular requirements.
Curricular Requirements
For admission to the programme, students must demonstrate prior curricular knowledge amounting to a total of 51 ECTS credits in the following disciplinary areas:
| Disciplinary Areas | SSD – Scientific-Disciplinary Sectors | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Historical, Philosophical, Pedagogical and Psychological Sciences | M-STO/01-02-03-04-05-06-07 M-GGR/01-02 M-FIL/05-06-08 M-DEA/01 M-PSI/01-05-06 | 6 |
| Economic and Statistical Sciences | SECS-P/01-02-03-04-06-07-08-09-10-11-12 SECS-S/01-02-03-04-05-06 | 6 |
| Political and Social Sciences | SPS/01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10-11-12-13-14 | 18 |
| Legal Sciences | IUS/01-02-03-04-05-07-08-09-10-11-13-14-15-16-17-20-21 | 9 |
| Foreign Languages | L-LIN/03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21 L-OR/09-10-12-15-21-22-23 | 12 |
Excess credits acquired beyond the 180 credits required for the Bachelor’s degree may be included in the calculation, provided they were obtained in courses related to the fields and sectors listed above. Similarly, relevant language certifications and internship experiences may also be included if they are pertinent to the listed areas and sectors and have not been counted towards the Bachelor’s degree.
Any additional ECTS credits required to meet the curricular prerequisites must be obtained before enrolling in the Master’s degree programme and before the assessment of individual academic preparation. These credits may be acquired at any university as “single course units” within first-cycle (Bachelor's level) degree programmes.
For information on how to register for “single course units” at this University, please refer to the academic regulations ("Manifesto degli studi").
The fulfilment of the curricular prerequisites will be assessed by the University’s Office of Degree Programmes and Educational Administration. Students may send their documentation by email to segreteria.laurea@unistrapg.it or submit it in person at the office (Palazzina Orvieto, Viale C. Manuali, 9 - 06123 Perugia).
For the assessment of curricular requirements, students must present:
- a copy of the degree certificate (for graduates), including a list of the courses taken, the corresponding credits earned, and the relevant scientific-disciplinary sectors
- a copy of the transcript of courses completed and to be completed (for graduating students), indicating credits earned and to be earned, as well as the related scientific-disciplinary sectors.
Except in cases of exemption, international students requiring a visa are required to have Italian language proficiency at level B2/CEFR.
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Notices
Publication of first semester timetable for academic year 2026-2027
The timetable for the first semester is available online.