Program Overview

Master in City Management

The Master in City Management is a first-level university master's program offered by the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. The program is designed to provide students with distinctive competencies in strategic planning, direction, and control of local public administrations.

Program Details

• Code: 0192
• Academic Year:
• Disciplinary Area: Social, Economic, and Legal
• Campus: Forlì
• Level: First
• Director: Luca Mazzara
• Duration: Annual
• Teaching Method: Conventional
• Language: Italian
• Cost: € 6,000.00
• Payment Terms: First installment € 3,000.00 (to be paid by February 24, 2026); second installment € 3,000.00 (to be paid by April 30, 2026)
• Application Deadline: February 10, 2026
• Enrollment Period: From February 17, 2026, to February 24, 2026

Proposing Structure

The program is proposed by the Department of Business Sciences (DiSA).

Professional Profile

The Master in City Management aims to provide students with competencies in strategic planning, direction, and control of local public administrations. The program is designed for individuals who want to work in the public administration sector, including administrators, directors, and officials.

Admission Requirements

• Minimum Number of Participants: 10
• Maximum Number of Participants: 30
• Credits: 60
• Admission Titles: All three-year and single-cycle master's degrees obtained under DM 270/04 (or first and second cycle degrees or single-cycle degrees obtained under previous regulations DM 509/99 and Old System)
• Foreign Degrees: All three-year and single-cycle master's degrees obtained abroad and recognized as valid for admission to the Master's program

Selection Criteria

• Selection Process: The admission to the Master's program is subject to a selection process that consists of an evaluation of the candidate's qualifications and a motivational interview.
• Maximum Score: 30 points, with 10 points assigned for the evaluation of qualifications and 20 points for the motivational interview
• Minimum Score for Admission: 18 points
• Tie-Breaker Criteria: In case of a tie, the candidate with the highest score in the motivational interview will be preferred. If the tie persists, the younger candidate will be preferred.

Teaching Plan

The program includes the following courses:

• Strategic Planning and Territorial Governance (ECON-06/A, 4 CFU, taught by Luca Mazzara)
• Sharing Cities (GIUR-11/B, 2 CFU, taught by Giorgia Pavani)
• Territorial Marketing and Brand Value (ECON-06/A, 2 CFU, taught by Luca Mazzara)
• Human Resource Management in Public Administration (ECON-06/A, 2 CFU, taught by Renato Ruffini)
• Local Finance and Project Financing (ECON-09/B, 4 CFU, taught by Giuseppe Torluccio and Michelangelo Nigro)
• Public Procurement Law (GIUR-06/A, 3 CFU, taught by Sofia Bandini)
• Programming and Control in Public Administration (ECON-06/A, 4 CFU, taught by Ileana Steccolini and Giulia Leoni)
• Strategic Lab (ECON-06/A, 3 CFU, taught by Luca Mazzara and Giulia Leoni)
• Economic and Financial Analysis of Local Groups (ECON-06/A, 2 CFU, taught by Emanuele Padovani)
• Performance Management and Public Value (ECON-06/A, 2 CFU, taught by Andrea Bonomi Savignon and Denita Cepiku)
• Digital Transformation in Public Administration (INF-05/A, 2 CFU, taught by Matteo Golfarelli)
• Sustainability, Accountability, and Social Reporting (ECON-06/A, 4 CFU, taught by Benedetta Siboni and Giovanna Galizzi)
• Programming, Planning, and Evaluation of European Funds (ECON-06/A, 3 CFU, taught by Andrea Pignatti and Emanuela Medeghini)
• Leadership and Change Management (ECON-06/A, 3 CFU, taught by Stefania Tagliabue)
• Accrual Accounting and Budgeting (ECON-06/A, 4 CFU, taught by Luca Mazzara and Marco Castellani)

Internship

The program includes an internship of 300 hours, which allows students to acquire 12 CFU. The internship must be carried out at a facility that has an agreement with the University of Bologna.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory for at least 70% of the lessons.

Reserved Places

There are reserved places for:

• Students with Civil Disability: 2 places for students with a certification of civil disability of 66% or more, or certification under Law 104/92, provided they are eligible for the selection and in excess of the regular number of places, with exemption from payment of enrollment fees, net of fixed costs and contribution to the selection.
• Technical-Administrative and CEL Personnel of the Alma Mater Studiorum: 2 places in excess of the regular number of places, with exemption from payment of the enrollment contribution, net of fixed costs.
• Alumni: 2 places in excess of the regular number of places, with a reduced fee (20% less than the enrollment contribution) for members of the Almae Matris Alumni Association.
• Auditors: A number of auditors not exceeding 20% of the enrolled students, in accordance with Article 8 of the admission announcement. Interested parties must signal their intention directly to the master's didactic secretariat by February 17, 2026. The acceptance of the request will be communicated by February 24, 2026.