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

• develop specialized training in contemporary international relations, global governance arenas and actors, major geopolitical issues, the spread of democratization processes, institutions of emerging countries, international institutions' cooperation policies, economic development policies, and the dynamics of international journalism
• possess specific expertise on the functioning of international economic institutions, issues of debt and sustainable growth, bilateral, multilateral, decentralized, and non-governmental cooperation policies, relations among emerging countries, processes of regionalization and decentralization, conflict transformation and regulation techniques, political theories of global development, and the role of the media and international public opinion
• develop interdisciplinary knowledge and acquire methodological tools necessary to design, coordinate, and implement international cooperation initiatives in areas such as economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental sustainability, and the protection of human rights
• achieve a high level of proficiency in at least two foreign languages

Graduates find employment in a variety of sectors, including organizations and public or private bodies—both national and international—as well as businesses and non-profit organizations operating in Italy and abroad, all of which engage with the international context and with developing countries in various capacities.

Graduates may also assume leadership and management roles within organizations that represent collective interests (political parties, employers’ and workers’ unions, associations for the protection of the environment and human rights), as well as within national or supranational associations of a humanitarian, cultural, or scientific nature.

The Master's degree program provides the skills required for the following positions:

• ambassador, executive, and officer in 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 governmental and non-governmental international organizations
• internal and external communications manager in multinational companies and international groups
• public relations specialist
• specialist in political science and international analysis
• expert in institutional communication
• manager in national and international environmental protection agencies
• expert in cooperation and environmental projects
• disaster manager, risk manager in the environmental sector
• consultant in environmental economics and policy for public and private institutions

Students enrolled in the RICS program may choose to pursue a double degree by attending one semester at Dalarna University in Falun, Sweden, or the second year of the program at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

*The 9 ECTS required for foreign language courses include 3 ECTS provided by a native speaker language instructor.
** Elective course activities are independently chosen by the student among degree programs of the same level as the Course of Studies.

Students can check their study plans to see which courses are compulsory, elective, or optional.

To be admitted to the Master's Degree Programme in International Relations and Development Cooperation, applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree, a three-year university diploma, or another academic qualification obtained abroad and deemed suitable. In addition, prospective students must:

• possess the required curricular prerequisites
• attend an entrance interview. Candidates may take the interview only if they meet the curricular requirements

Curricular Requirements

In order to enroll in the programme, students must have acquired prior curricular knowledge totaling 51 ECTS credits in the following academic areas:

Any credits exceeding the 180 ECTS required for the Bachelor's degree may be counted, provided they were obtained in courses relevant to the indicated fields and sectors. Similarly, pertinent language certifications and relevant internship experiences may be included, if they have not already been counted toward the Bachelor's degree.

Any additional ECTS credits required to meet the curricular requirements must be obtained prior to enrolling in the Master's degree programme and before the assessment of individual preparation. These credits can be earned at any university as "single course units" within first-cycle degree programmes.

For information on enrolling in "single course units" at this University, please refer to the academic regulations.

The possession of curricular requirements will be verified by the University's Degree Programmes and Academic Affairs Office, to which students may submit their documentation by email at segreteria.laurea@unistrapg.it or deliver it in person to the office (Palazzina Orvieto, Viale C. Manuali, 9 - 06123 Perugia).

When applying for the verification of curricular requirements, students must present:

• a copy of their degree certificate (for graduates) including the list of completed exams, the number of credits acquired, and the relevant scientific disciplinary sectors
• a copy of the list of exams completed and to be completed (for graduating students), including the credits already acquired and still to be acquired, and the relevant scientific disciplinary sectors.