Master’s Degree Programme in International Relations and Development Cooperation (RICS)

• 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

*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.

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:

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.