Master in Cooperation, Development and Migrations

The master's programme in Cooperation, Development and Migrations at Università degli Studi di Palermo is taught in English over two years in Palermo, Italy. This field examines international development, humanitarian cooperation, and migration as interconnected global issues, drawing on political science, sociology, economics, and international relations to understand how societies address inequality, displacement, and cross-border movement of people. Students typically study subjects such as development theory and practice, international cooperation and humanitarian aid, migration policy and law, and the social and economic drivers behind global population movements. Coursework often incorporates case studies from different regions, encouraging comparative analysis of development and migration challenges across contexts, and generally combines theoretical study with practical or project-based work related to cooperation and development initiatives. At the master's level, students move toward more focused research, typically completing the programme with a thesis examining a specific development, cooperation, or migration issue. Admission is open access, with a bachelor's degree or equivalent required for entry. Graduates of programmes in this area commonly pursue careers with international organisations, nongovernmental organisations, government agencies working on development and migration policy, humanitarian aid organisations, and research institutes focused on global social and economic issues. Some continue toward doctoral research, while others take up roles in project management for development initiatives or advocacy and policy work related to migration. The interdisciplinary and cross-cultural skills built through this field are particularly relevant given the ongoing global attention to migration and international development. Palermo, in Sicily, sits at a crossroads of Mediterranean migration routes, giving the programme a geographically relevant setting, and its English-medium instruction is designed to be accessible to an international group of students interested in these global issues.