Level: Master Degree
Course: LM 52 - International Relations
Language of the course: English
Admission: public selection

The MISS is offered jointly by the School of International Studies (Trento) and the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa). It adopts a strong multi-disciplinary approach coupled with a broad range of optional specialization courses. The programme allows students to acquire a deep understanding of the main challenges posed to security in our globalized society providing them with the skills required to evaluate responses from national actors and the international community. Thanks to an innovative learning approach that combines class teaching with role-play, simulations, moot courts, and case-study analysis, participants are expected to understand the various factors and actors having an impact on the global order, with specific reference to security issues.

Security studies have long been important to analyse the challenges of international relations.  From traditional ideas of security such as war, global conflicts and national security to non-traditional concerns such as energy crisis, migration and climate change, security studies represent a solid framework for the analysis of multi-level challenges to our global society. The Master’s Degree in International Security Studies (MISS) provides the students with both theoretical and practical approaches to understand the dynamics of contemporary security, and to evaluate responses from national actors and the international community.

Students spend the first year at the Sant’Anna School in Pisa, where teaching is focused on the main issues concerning security, including hard and soft security, technological security, environmental security, and human security. The second year is based at the School of International Studies in Trento, where students have a closer look at the specific security challenges modern societies are faced, such as armed and other violent conflicts, terrorism, energy issues, environmental degradation, migration and financial flows. . During the second year, students are encouraged to spend a period abroad for research purposes, to prepare their dissertation, or pursue an internship. 

Degree Objectives

The Master’s Degree in International Security Studies (MISS) aims to prepare a new generation of analysts, policymakers, and scholars to address contemporary national and international security challenges. The course adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, which provides students with a solid knowledge of core security issues and the emerging threats faced in the international arena. Participants will acquire the theoretical tools and practical skills and competences necessary to understand and assess the various factors and actors capable of impacting on the global order, with specific reference to security issues.

Employment opportunities

The MISS prepares its students for positions within the areas of security, public policy, and international relations. MISS graduates will possess the skills and qualifications necessary to:

• Hold positions of responsibility within European and international institutions and organisations engaged in security, peacekeeping, and state-building activities;
• Work in private organisations dealing with risk prevention and risk management;
• Work in national ministries and enter the diplomatic service;
• Work for governmental and non-governmental organisations engaged in areas such as institution-building, project management, humanitarian assistance, local development and reforms, security risk prevention and management;
• For those intending to continue their studies, the programme provides a solid basis for admission to PhD programmes in International Studies and in other disciplines related to international security.