The University of Pisa is among the leading partners in the new Joint Postgraduate Course in European Public Governance, the first Joint Postgraduate Course developed within the framework of the European University Alliance Circle U., together with UCLouvain (Belgium) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany).
This marks a major milestone in European academic cooperation: the course represents the first concrete outcome of the Alliance in terms of a joint degree, confirming the strategic role of European universities in developing innovative and integrated educational pathways.
The Joint Postgraduate Course offers an international and interdisciplinary programme focused on the key challenges facing European democracies, including climate change, economic inequality and migration. By integrating disciplines such as political science, law, economics and history, it aims to train professionals capable of understanding and governing the complex processes that shape the European Union.
The programme comes five years after the establishment of Circle U. and is the result of close collaboration between partner universities, which have worked jointly to harmonise curricula, administrative systems and educational objectives, overcoming institutional and national barriers.
“We are proud of this important achievement reached together with our European partners,” comments Rector Riccardo Zucchi of the University of Pisa. “This Joint Postgraduate Course demonstrates in concrete terms the value of university alliances and their ability to offer innovative, high-quality educational opportunities. Investing in the training of young people skilled in European governance means actively contributing to the future of Europe.”
“This course represents a step change in European academic cooperation,” adds Professor Alessandro Balestrino, coordinator of the course at the University of Pisa. “We have developed a truly integrated programme across three major European universities, enabling students to engage with different institutional and cultural contexts. The aim is to train graduates with strong analytical skills and the practical ability to operate in European and international decision-making environments.”
Up to ten places are available at the University of Pisa. Applicants must hold (or obtain by 24 July 2026) a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Sciences and International Relations, Public Administration or Sociology (classes 15, 19, 36 DM 509/99 and L-16, L-36, L-40), and enrol in the first year of the Postgraduate Course “European Union, Global Processes and Sustainable Development” (LM-52) at the Department of Political Sciences for the academic year 2026/2027.
Teaching activities will be conducted in English starting from September 2026. The first semester will take place at UCLouvain’s Brussels campus, where students will earn 30 credits. The programme then includes a mandatory mobility programme across at least two of the three partner universities, based on an individual study plan approved by the Board of the Degree Course. Students may also undertake study periods at other Circle U. universities or through Erasmus programmes. Upon completion of the programme, students will be awarded a Joint Degree issued by the partner universities.
Further information is available on the official programme pages on the Circle U. website and the website of the Department of Political Sciences.
