International Relations Schools and Programs in Italy

International Relations Studies in Italy

Study International Relations in Rome!

Italy is a practical place to study international relations: Rome hosts United Nations agencies such as the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and Italian universities combine politics, law, economics and history in their programmes. Students can choose between Italian state degrees, mostly taught in Italian, and American-style degrees taught in English. Our directory lists two schools in Italy for this subject: the Università per Stranieri di Perugia and John Cabot University in Rome.

How the degrees are organised

Italian university degrees follow the European three-cycle model. According to Universitaly, the portal of the Ministry of University and Research, the first-cycle Laurea (bachelor's degree) lasts three years and requires 180 CFU, and the Laurea Magistrale (master's degree) requires a further 120 CFU over two years; 1 CFU corresponds to 1 ECTS credit. Master's degrees in this field belong to national degree classes, for example LM-52 International Relations.

American universities in Italy follow the US credit system instead. John Cabot University's Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs requires 120 credit hours, and its Master of Arts in International Affairs 36 credits, completed in three semesters or 12 to 16 months.

Where to study international relations in Italy

Perugia. The Università per Stranieri di Perugia (University for Foreigners of Perugia) grew out of summer courses for Italians and foreigners that began in 1921. Its Master's Degree in International Relations and Development Cooperation (RICS) belongs to the classes LM-52 International Relations and LM-81 Development and International Cooperation Sciences and takes two years and 120 ECTS. The first year includes comparative constitutional law, international economic policy, the politics and history of international relations, international relations and development in Africa, and diplomatic English. The second year adds electives, a 6-credit internship and an 18-credit final exam. RICS students can take a double degree by spending one semester at Dalarna University in Falun, Sweden, or the second year at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. At bachelor's level, the university's degree in Social Sciences for Sustainability and International Cooperation (SoCI) aims at fluent use of English and Spanish besides Italian and offers a double degree with Mittweida University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

Rome. John Cabot University, founded in 1972, is an independent American liberal arts university. Its BA in International Affairs is taught in English, with fall or spring entry. The core curriculum includes world politics, international organizations, comparative politics, economics, European history and public international law. Students must also show a second language at CEFR level B2 or equivalent. The university's career services help students find internships with international organisations based in Rome, including the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization. The MA in International Affairs costs $22,000 (20,000 euros) in tuition according to the university, and a double-degree option leads to a Laurea Magistrale in Relations and Institutions of Asia and Africa at L'Orientale University in two years.

Admission and language

For Italian state degrees, universities check each applicant's previous studies. The RICS master's, for example, requires a bachelor's degree with at least 51 ECTS credits in specified subject areas and an entrance interview, and international students who need a visa must show Italian at level B2 of the CEFR. Universitaly notes that most undergraduate programmes in Italy are taught in Italian, while several graduate programmes are in English.

Non-EU students who need a visa pre-register through the Universitaly portal. For the 2026-27 academic year, visa applications for degree courses must be filed with the Italian consulate by 30 November 2026 at the latest, and individual universities may set earlier dates.

Recognition of the qualification

Laurea and Laurea Magistrale degrees are Italian state qualifications. John Cabot University is accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and is authorised by the Italian Ministry of Education to operate as an American university in Italy. Its bachelor's degree, accompanied by a Statement of Correspondence or a Dichiarazione di valore, is valid for admission to Italian graduate programmes such as the Laurea Magistrale. Students who plan to work in the public sector of another country should check how that country recognises the degree.

Careers

Graduates in international relations work in international and non-governmental organisations, national administrations and diplomatic services, European institutions, companies active in international markets, think tanks and the media. The RICS programme names roles such as officer in the diplomatic service, development cooperation project manager, humanitarian emergency expert and junior officer in international organisations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study international relations in English in Italy?

Yes. John Cabot University in Rome teaches its BA and MA in International Affairs in English. Italian state degrees are mostly taught in Italian at bachelor's level, while several graduate programmes in Italy are taught in English.

How long is a master's in international relations in Italy?

An Italian Laurea Magistrale takes two years and 120 ECTS credits. John Cabot University's MA in International Affairs takes three semesters, or 12 to 16 months on the accelerated track.

Do I need to speak Italian?

For Italian-taught degrees, yes: the RICS master's in Perugia asks international students who need a visa for Italian at level B2. At John Cabot University, teaching is in English.

Is a degree from an American university in Italy recognised?

John Cabot University is accredited in the United States and authorised to operate in Italy. Its bachelor's degree, with a Statement of Correspondence or a Dichiarazione di valore, gives access to Italian master's programmes.