All candidates must present and defend a 20,000-word research thesis.
International Economics is a required area of study for the M.A.I.A. degree. Candidates are required to take Microeconomics, Macroeconomics (or corresponding waiver exam), International Trade Theory and International Monetary Theory.
Students coming from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, the University of Bologna, or Sciences Po Lille who have already taken intermediate Microeconomics or Macroeconomics are encouraged to take the corresponding waiver exams in June or July so they may register for Pre-Term economics courses in case they do not pass the waiver. Students who pass the waiver exams in Microeconomics and/or Macroeconomics (or take one or both of the courses in pre-term) will be able to take a wider selection of courses during the regular academic year.
For the M.A.I.A., non-native English speakers must pass a comprehensive proficiency examination to demonstrate the required competence in English. Those students who attend one year at SAIS Bologna and apply for the M.A.I.A. program during their first semester must pass all four sections of the English proficiency prior to admission to the M.A.I.A., i.e. in September or January. Those students who come from one of our partner institutions and enter as second year M.A.I.A. students must pass all four sections of the English proficiency by the end of their year in Bologna, i.e. May. Nevertheless, the written section of the exam must be taken by all non-native English speakers, M.A.I.A. applicants included, during orientation week.
Native English speakers must pass a written and oral proficiency examination by the end of the second year in one of the seven languages offered at SAIS Bologna.
SAIS Bologna has partnered with other schools to offer formal programs for students interested in pursuing a second graduate or professional degree in conjunction with their international relations studies. M.A.I.A. students may also choose to pursue an ad-hoc dual degree with another outside institution.
M.A.I.A.-M.A.I.S. Program
SAIS Bologna and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna
This two-year research program allows SAIS Bologna students to spend a second year at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, studying for the Master of Advanced International Studies (M.A.I.S.). Upon successful completion of coursework and defense of a thesis, the student will be awarded the M.A.I.S. degree. Conversely, students enrolled at the Diplomatic Academy, after successful completion of one year of study, may spend a second year of study at SAIS Bologna. Upon completion of a thesis and six additional courses, they will be awarded the M.A.I.A. by SAIS.
M.A.I.A.-Master’s with Sciences Po Lille
SAIS Bologna and the Institut d’études politiques de Lille
This two-year research program allows SAIS Bologna students to spend a second year at the Institut d’études Politiques de Lille (Sciences Po Lille), studying in one of the grande école’s 18 specializations. Upon successful completion of course work and defense of a thesis, the student will be awarded a master’s. Conversely, students enrolled at Sciences Po Lille, after successful completion of one year of study, may spend a second year of study at SAIS Bologna. Upon completion of a thesis and six additional courses, they will be awarded the M.A.I.A. by SAIS.
M.A.I.A.-Laurea Magistrale Program
SAIS Bologna and University of Bologna, Facoltà di Scienze Politiche, Bologna and Forlì
This two-year program can be completed either by spending the first year at SAIS Bologna and the second year at the University of Bologna or the University of Bologna, Forlì, or vice versa. Students must apply separately to both institutions. Students who begin at the University of Bologna, take six additional courses and complete a thesis during a second year at SAIS Bologna. Upon completion, they may receive both a Laurea Magistrale in Scienze Internazionali e Diplomatiche (International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs) and an M.A.I.A. degree. Students who complete their first year course work at SAIS Bologna and then continue at either University of Bologna campus, will receive credit toward the Laurea Magistrale in Scienze Internazionali e Diplomatiche for the courses taken at SAIS Bologna.