Overview of the program

Subject
SOCIO-ECONOMIC SCIENCES AND LAW
Credits
60
Department/Institution
DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE POLITICHE E SOCIALI
with the Almo Collegio Borromeo of Pavia
Duration
one-year
Fees
8.000 €
Application dates
from 15/04/2025 to 30/06/2025
Study format
In-person
Available places
from 14 to 35
Duration courses
from November 2025 to June 2026
Auditors
No
Language
English

The Post-bachelor Vocational Program aims to meet a precise training need in tune with a labour market that operates on an international scale and closely follows developments in the economic, social and cultural changes of today's world. The function of the course is therefore to prepare future professionals who can operate in the field of international cooperation for whom, the mere sensitivity to working in different and often difficult contexts is not enough, but must be complemented with targeted economic, humanistic and project skills, fostering the development of those characteristics of creativity, spirit of independence and decision-making that are necessary for this type of professionalism.

The professional figure trained in the Vocational Program can find employment in non-governmental organisations, international organisations, public, private and non-profit bodies working in the field of development cooperation, UN agencies or other bodies/networks operating in the field of development policies at international level.

The training course is characterised by a strong multidisciplinary profile and an important professionalisation orientation. The theoretical part is divided into the macro areas of:

  • preliminary economics
  • development economics
  • development geopolitics
  • project cycle management for development cooperation.

The Project Cycle Management module is preparatory to the internship and is of particular importance within the course curriculum, as it integrates several highly formative aspects: the use of professionals from the world of international cooperation (non-governmental organisations, international organisations), a participative and inclusive teaching method through the systematic use of structured group work. Students are confronted with project case studies that are then discussed and analysed: this encourages interaction within the class and creates a common responsibility in seeking solutions that are then developed on a concrete level. The internship represents a fundamental and highly professionalising part of the Vocational Program, lasting from 3 to 6 months at NGOs, International Organisations, foundations, research centres, public and private institutions all over the world. The internship experience is carefully prepared by a special figure of the internship tutor who, through periodic individual and group meetings, has the task of orienting students.

  • Internships

    Academic year: 1
    Credits: 10
    Language: English

A) STUDENTS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Students coming from Developing Countries and from areas of strategic and priority interest for the Italian cooperation, statistically in the previous editions, have represented about 50% of the class and their presence constitutes a distinctive and peculiar character of the Vocational Program, which by nature aims at valorising deserving and talented young people in conditions of severe poverty, working to strengthen the capacity building of the countries of origin in close collaboration with the Italian cooperation. Students from developing countries (DCs) may alternatively receive:

  • AICS (Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo) Scholarships > for the 2025/2026 edition, AICS is providing no. 6 scholarships to cover the Vocational Program's tuition fee, flight to/from the country of origin, room and board costs (8 months) at the College and health insurance for the internship period
  • Total Exemption > exemption from payment of the Vocational Program's tuition fee
  • Partial Exemption > 50% exemption from payment of the enrolment fee for the Vocational Program, based on the income situation as per the certification/self-certification submitted and academic merit
  • Additional Vocational Program's Grants > if additional resources will be available, payment of the Vocational Program's enrolment fee will be waived, with the exception of the university fee (€ 560.00) and the Borromeo fee (€ 240.00).

B) STUDENTS FROM THE MENA REGION
For students from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) is making available, for A.Y. 2025/2026:

  • no. 4 scholarships to cover: tuition fee, flight to/from the country of origin, room and board costs (8 months) at the College and health insurance for the internship period.

C) STUDENTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
For students who are not from developing countries, but who are in a disadvantaged economic situation as proven by the ISEE model submitted or by self-certification submitted, exemptions/scholarships will be granted as follows:

  • Partial Exemption > 50% exemption from payment of the enrolment fee for the Vocational Program, based on the income situation as per the certification/self-certification submitted and academic merit
  • Additional Vocational Program's Grants > if additional resources will be available, payment of the Vocational Program's enrolment fee will be waived, with the exception of the university fee (€ 560.00) and the Borromeo fee (€ 240.00).

These financial benefits are assigned each year on the basis of each enrolled student's merit, assessed through the analysis of qualifications (as per CV) and motivational interview.
All students, including those who benefit from exemptions and scholarships, will in any case be required to pay the following fees: admission fee (€ 50.00), stamp duty on the application form (€ 16.00 - except AICS scholarship holders), secretarial fees (€ 200.00- except AICS scholarship holders) and the fee for the reimbursement of expenses for the award of the Vocational Program's degree (€ 116.00).

The Organizational Secretary will be located at:

Collegio Almo Borromeo
Piazza del Collegio Borromeo - 27100 Pavia (PV)
E: [email protected]
T: +39 0382.395504

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