Double Master's in International Relations, Security and Development with the University of Sussex, United Kingdom
- Degree
- Double and Triple Degree
- Duration
- 2 Years
- Year
- 2026/2027
Programme features | The Double Degree in International Relations, Security and Development with the University of Sussex offers an innovative educational pathway that combines an analysis of international security dynamics with the study of global transformations and development challenges. The programme equips students with multidisciplinary skills to understand and address key issues in global politics, ranging from environmental and humanitarian crises to conflicts and emerging threats to international security. The University of Sussex (Brighton, United Kingdom) is internationally recognised for the excellence of its programmes in this field and was ranked number one in the world for Development Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. During their second year at Sussex, students will have the opportunity to study within one of only four dedicated International Relations departments in the UK, renowned worldwide for its critical approach to security and development issues. The MA in Conflict, Security and Development explores the intricate relationships between security, insecurity, and global development through topics such as war and armed interventions, global health and poverty, environmental degradation, and international crises. Students will gain theoretical tools and critical perspectives that will enable them to interpret contemporary crises in innovative ways and to address them while taking into account the power relations between the Global North and the Global South. Graduates of the programme will develop a thorough understanding of the political, economic, security, and environmental dimensions of global development, acquiring the skills needed to operate in complex international contexts and to contribute to the promotion of sustainable and equitable solutions. Both pathways foster analytical rigour, intercultural skills, and a nuanced understanding of the challenges that define the contemporary world. The dual degree and interdisciplinary profile provide preparation that is particularly well suited to careers in international organisations, NGOs, public administrations, think tanks, and institutions involved in public policy development. |
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Programme structure | The academic programme spans two years and involves study at both partner institutions:
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Available places | The programme offers 5 places for each academic year. |
Who is eligible to apply? | Students in their final year of a bachelor's degree, or recent graduates, who are interested in enrolling in Luiss's Master's Degree in International Relations for the 2026–2027 academic year are eligible to apply. |
Fees and charges | Admitted students will pay tuition fees to Luiss during their first year of study and to the University of Sussex during their second year. Tuition fee status at the University of Sussex is determined in accordance with UK government regulations. For more information, please visit the website of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). |
Qualifications awarded | Students who successfully complete the programme will be awarded the following academic qualifications:
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Disclaimer:
The information published on this page, including details about qualifications eligible for admission to Luiss, majors, and admission requirements, is reviewed annually and may be updated for future editions of the Programme.
Candidates are therefore advised to check this page regularly before submitting their application, in order to see whether there have been any changes or updates.
Luiss Academic Coordinator
Rosario Forlenza
Faculty | rforlenza@luiss.it
International Degree Programmes
Viale Romania 32
00197 Rome
For general queries:
international@luiss.it
For questions about the Programme:
Anna Meneghin
ameneghin@luiss.it
Tel. +39 06 85225588
Luigi Picardo
lpicardo@luiss.it
Tel. +39 0685225764
Key Academic Regulations
- The selected students will be enrolled at Luiss during the first year and, in the second year, at both Luiss and the University of Sussex concurrently.
- Participation in the programme will result in the award of additional points towards the final Master's degree grade, as stipulated in the Luiss Regulations.
- Only students who have no outstanding administrative issues with Luiss will be eligible to take part in the programme.
- Examinations taken at the University of Sussex will be recognised and recorded on the Luiss academic transcript, as stipulated in the curriculum. It will not be possible to request exemption from the official recording of grades.
- Students who meet the requirements and conditions set by both universities regarding credits, attendance, deadlines, and academic integrity will earn both degrees, awarded according to each institution's procedures.
Information about the thesis
The thesis/dissertation will be developed during the second year at the University of Sussex under the supervision of a supervisor from the partner university. Students must comply with the procedures and deadlines set by both universities. Each institution will assess the thesis according to its own academic criteria.
- The thesis will be written as part of the academic programme at Sussex, in accordance with the university's requirements, supervision arrangements, and internal and external assessment procedures.
- Luiss's degree procedures will not affect the University of Sussex's processes for assessing and awarding the degree, but they will be an essential requirement for obtaining the Luiss Master's degree.
- Students must also follow the standard Luiss procedure for the assignment of the dissertation, registration for the final examination, and the uploading of the dissertation.
- All grades obtained at Sussex, with the exception of the grade for the thesis/dissertation, must be transferred to Luiss via a Transcript of Records by mid-September.
- The final thesis defence will take place in Rome during the Autumn Graduation Session, via an in-person oral examination.
Further information
- Students selected for an international programme are required to fully comply with the curriculum set out for the mobility period, including any subsequent changes, with particular regard to language courses and other compulsory educational activities.
- While committed to providing complete, accurate, and timely information, Luiss reserves the right to amend, supplement, suspend, or withdraw the programme at any time.
- The University cannot be held responsible for any cancellations or changes to the programme resulting from circumstances beyond its control. In such cases, the students concerned will be informed promptly.
How to apply
Selection will be carried out by a joint committee made up of representatives from Luiss and the University of Sussex, which may also include individual interviews.
Interested students should submit their application to the International Degree Programmes Office, enclosing the following documents:
- Personal Statement;
- English language certificate (if available);
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Identity document or passport;
- Transcript of Records.
If you have any questions about the required documents or the application procedure, please contact the International Degree Programmes Office before the stated deadline.
The application procedures and any additional information not provided on this page will be made available through the Call for Applications for the relevant mobility year.
Admission Criteria (mobility year 2026/27)
| Requirements for applications for the 2026/2027 mobility year |
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| Completion of a bachelor's degree with a final grade at least equivalent to an Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) in the British system, which corresponds to 101/110 in the Italian system. |
| Enrolment at Luiss in accordance with the current admission procedures. |
| Meeting the entry requirements set by the University of Sussex (a Bachelor's degree with a minimum grade of at least 101/110 for graduates in Italy) and the requirements for admission to a Master's degree programme in Italy. |
Before the start of the second year at Sussex, students must submit a valid English language certificate from one of the options listed below. The certificate must not have been obtained more than two years prior.
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Students who do not meet these requirements by the specified deadlines will be excluded from the programme and will continue their studies on the Luiss Master's Degree Programme in International Relations.
For future editions of the programme, the admission requirements will be updated and published, as a general guide, in September each year.
Call for Applications – Schedule for the 2026–2027 edition
The deadlines and timelines for future editions of the Programme are updated annually and published on this page around September.
Read the Call for Applications – Mobility Year 2026-2027
Application instructions – 2026–2027 mobility year
