Master in International Relations

Master in International Relations

The Master’s Program in International Relations (REL) offers you an advanced and highly-qualified education in political, legal, economic, and historical disciplines from a global perspective.

As you engage this two-year learning experience, you will have the opportunity to pursue a broad range of coursework in academic fields such as International Law, International Institutions, Economics and Regulations, Geopolitics, History of International Relations, and Area Studies.

Our faculty devotes particular attention in equipping students with multidisciplinary and versatile knowledge that proves crucial for their future careers. Under this perspective, we value the ability to work with and benefit from diverse disciplines across the social sciences to ensure our students have access to the appropriate tools to tackle the greatest political questions of our time.

With this goal in mind, teaching takes place in small classes, in order for you to interact and benefit from a close and fruitful collaboration with our faculty members.

Courses are conceived to unpack leading approaches to analytical and methodological standards and you will be encouraged to develop a sense of inquiry, critique, and argument. Our Master Students have achieved entry into prestigious Ph.D. programs in Italy and abroad.

The skills we cultivate translate well to careers in both the public sector and private sector. As a graduate in International relations at the University of Milan, you will be given the necessary knowledge to start a successful career in the Foreign Services, International Organizations, national administrations, NGOs, companies with international outreach, financial institutions and consultancy firms.

Program Structure

The Master’s Program is organized into four specialization tracks (called ‘curricula’):

A. Diplomacy and International Organizations

B. International Trade and European Integration

C. International Politics and Regional Dynamics (taught in English)

E. International Cooperation and Human Rights (taught in English)

Proficiency in Italian is only required for curricula A and B.

Curriculum C; International Politics and Regional Dynamics (taught in English)

• Geopolitics of the Contemporary International System
• International Monetary Economics
• History of Regional Integrations
• International Law of Armed Conflict
• International Economic Law
• Constitution-Building and Transition to Democracy
• International Political Thought
• Legal and Academic Discourse in English

Curriculum E; International Cooperation and Human Rights (taught in English)

• International Human Rights Law
• Development Policies
• Immigration Policies
• Globalization, Social Justice and Human Rights
• Global Networks
• Theories of Justice and Human Rights
• Global Criminal Organizations
• Design and Evaluation of Development Policies
• Legal and Academic Discourse in English

Students of curriculum C must obtain 6 ECTS in two of the following courses and students of curriculum E must obtain 6 ECTS in one of the following courses:

• History and Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
• American History and Politics
• History and Politics of North Africa and the Middle East
• International Relations of East Asia

Students of both curricula must obtain 9 ECTS in one of the following courses:

• Arabic; Chinese; French; German; Japanese; Russian; Spanish

For additional information concerning each track, explore the curricula on our website.

Admission/Entry Requirements

We welcome applications from outstanding candidates with Bachelor and Master degrees in relevant fields. Expected students are driven by a sense of purpose, have a strong interest in global governance and politics, and are motivated to pursue successful and meaningful careers in international affairs and development.

Successful applicants have a good knowledge of three core subject fields: Law (preferably International Law and/or EU Law), History and/or Politics; Economics. A good command of English is also required (at least level B2; TOEFL/IELTS certifications are accepted). We may use some flexibility in evaluating each requirement in order to accommodate the differences among university systems. Nevertheless, the substance of the preparation must be in line with the level of the teaching delivered.

Should you wish to apply to curricula A and B, Italian language proficiency at level B2 or higher is also required.

Depending on your background, you may be required to sit an admission test.

If you hold an Italian degree, please check the requirements for Italian candidates on our website.

Additional Information:

International Mobility

The University of Milan takes part in the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. Several of our best students spend one semester abroad during their second year. We have agreements with universities in several European countries, such as Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Norway, and Denmark. In addition, we have exchange agreements with selected universities in non-European countries, such as China, South Korea, and Turkey.

Internships and careers

Our ambition is to provide students with the necessary services to establish the foundation for a successful professional life. As you become our student, you will be granted access to our Internship and Placement database, containing hundreds of open positions.

Fees and Financial Aid

The annual fees are determined each year by the University Headquarters. Typically, fees range from €0 to €4000 depending on household income. For further information, visit the "fees and financial aid" page of the UNIMI Website.