Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences for Global Challenges
Pavia, Italy
BA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 400 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
* 1st call dedicated to EU and NON-EU applicants
** students may be eligible to apply for a flat rate or to tuition fees calculated according to their family income
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences for Global Challenges at The University of Pavia is taught in English and trains students to analyze biodiversity, health, climate change, population ageing, migration and natural disasters. It provides analytical tools to understand political, economic, demographic, climate and healthcare systems and organizational competences for work in public administrations and national or international organizations. The programme mixes social science methods with medical, environmental and mathematical tools and connects to Master’s programmes in the Department of Political and Social Sciences.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter public administrations, international organizations, NGOs, research institutes and consultancy roles. Typical positions include policy analyst, program officer, research associate, data analyst, project manager and humanitarian or environmental officer.
The Bachelor’s Degree in “Social Sciences for Global Challenges” is completely taught in English and aims to train future experts on global challenges, such as: biodiversity, health, climate change, population ageing, migrations and natural disasters.
The Degree Program offers the analytical instruments and the knowledge needed to understand the causes, nature and development of political, economic, demographic, climate and healthcare-related challenges, as well as the organizational competences to work effectively in public administrations and in international and national organizations.
The Degree Program is a first step for training professionals able to analyze interconnected social, environmental and organizational systems, to interpret changes and to provide innovative solutions for local and international organizations by combining social science approaches and medical, environmental and mathematical tools. “Social Sciences for Global Challenges” is linked with other national and international Master’s Degree Programs offered within the Department of Political and Social Sciences and at the University of Pavia.
Program Structure
The program follows a progressive, interdisciplinary academic path, moving from more general to specific courses. This will enable students to use methods, theories and approaches from different
disciplines.
The program is structured around the following areas: political and social sciences, law, economics, history, statistics and foreign languages, with additional competences offered by anthropology, maths, epidemiology and complexity theory.
The first year includes general courses ranging from Sociology, Political Science, Contemporary History, Cultural Anthropology and Principles of Economics, to data analysis and interpretation, so as to offer a solid introduction to the topics that will be explored throughout the program. With the Degree Program being entirely taught in English, the first year also offers an Advanced English course to develop basic soft skills.
During the second year, the students will attend courses aimed at the acquisition of knowledge, methods and abilities to analyze phenomena and complex challenges at a global level, as well as assess their local impacts. In the second and third years, students will also acquire 12 CFU in an additional foreign language to be selected among the numerous European and extra-European languages offered within the Department.
During the third year, “Social Sciences for Global Challenges” offers a wide range of more specialized courses. More elective courses will be available to students (18 CFU), who will have the opportunity to focus on specific interest areas in greater detail.
To provide a more practical and career-oriented experience, the Degree Program offers the chance to attend curricular internships or training activities within national and international qualified organizations.
“Social Sciences for Global Challenges” addresses students who aspire to become professionals who can contribute to the excellence and operational effectiveness of national and international organizations, public administrations, and third-sector organizations, with specific reference to those involved with global challenges.