Having developed very rapidly in recent decades, international tourism has become one of the world economy's major industries.

In 2012 international tourism hit a record high as for the first time more than one billion tourists traveled internationally within one single year. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the tourism and hospitality industry is generating 9% of the global GDP and approximately 10% of total world employment.

Yet, managing international tourism demands a serious commitment: it is challenging and one must take into account a variety of different economies, institutions, legal systems, languages, and cultures. To strike a fair balance between the various elements at play - the tourist industry, the tourist, the local community, the environment - entrepreneurs and operators need to have an excellent grasp of several (even fairly disparate) disciplines, highly professional skills, a strategic and essential view of phenomena, with a strong sense of responsibility.... [-]

The study programme of the Master covers three main subject areas: Italian language / Italian and comparative literature / Arts, history and culture, within a holistic framework encouraging the encounter of expertise from different academic fields. Italian literature, the central subject of the Master, is taught with constant reference to the culture in which it has been produced and studied.

The teaching staff includes internationally renowned scholars with outstanding research records in the various fields. Learning benefits from the linguistic and cultural situation in Ticino, an Italian speaking environment open to multilingualism, and from the excellent study conditions at Università Della Svizzera Italiana.... [-]

The public sector has radically changed in recent years, as a result of major reforms affecting the operational management of administrations and organizations as well as their political functioning. The most obvious example is the growing impact of the supranational sphere of influence. Recent economic events on the global scale have also placed the public sector back at the heart of socio-economic systems. At the same time, the activities of the non-profit sector have expanded to cover, for example, the provision of utility services. On the whole, public and non-profit private sectors are expected to become key players in this innovation, supporting families and individuals in their economic, cultural and social activities. In this context, while the public sector creates interesting and exciting professional opportunities at the local, regional, national and international levels, it also requires new appropriately qualified professionals. The Master's programme in Public Management and Policy (PMP) teaches notions and know-how that are indispensable to future professionals in the public and non-profit private sectors, nationally and worldwide. The variety of abilities required by anyone wishing to occupy a position of responsibility and promote change in these sectors are exactly what PMP-USI offers. The PMP teaching curriculum is:... [-]

Goals and Contents The Master of Science in Architecture offers the opportunity to acquire the most advanced theoretical knowledge and operative skills for the practice of contemporary architectural design. Architectural design is taught through its disciplinary foundations and is closely related to technological innovation, environmental issues, models of territorial management and the themes of restoration and reestablishment of the historical, architectural and environmental heritage. The objective the Master pursues is to train professionals who, on the basis of the acquired awareness and in-depth knowledge of the complexity of current architectural practice, are competent both to carry out the functions of direct architectural design and to coordinate the different specialists involved in professional projects. The study program consists of a series of theoretical lectures and design studios dedicated to arguments and methods of architectural design in its different forms (housing, services industry, culture, etc.) and scales (from interior design to the architectural structure, all the way up to the urban and territorial plan). The program draws on two different but correlated teaching approaches. The first consists of theoretical courses pertaining to the methodological, technological and historical knowledge that will enable future architects to explore central themes of contemporary architectural culture critically. The second approach entails each semester, the choice of a design studio which focuses on a specific project typology, whether architectural or urban. In the years of the Master, students are asked to produce one theoretical paper on topics of their own choice with the approval of a teacher.The last... [-]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most popular areas in computer science and engineering. AI deals with intelligent behavior, learning, and adaptation in machines, robots, and body-less computer programs. AI is everywhere: search engines use it to improve answers to queries, to recognize speech, to translate languages, email programs use it to filter spam, banks use it to predict exchange rates and stock markets, doctors use it to recognize tumors, robots use it to localize themselves and obstacles, autonomous cars use it to drive, video games use it to enhance the player's experience, adaptive telescopes use it to improve image quality, smartphones use it to recognize objects/faces/gestures/voices/music, etc etc.... [-]

Goals and Contents

The Master in Banking and Finance has been designed to provide graduates with the necessary tools and skills for understanding financial markets and products from a banker’s perspective.

Lugano being the 3rd financial marketplace in Switzerland provides an ideal venue to offer students with different backgrounds the best possible start for a successful career in banking or finance. The degree provides a background in finance methodology as well as the opportunity to go into more depth in selected topics of banking and finance by choosing electives.

The Master programme stretches over two years (120 ECTS) and is structured to allow the students to personalise their study curricula according to their individual interests and educational backgrounds. It includes four semesters of lectures and seminars and an internship.... [-]

The Master in "Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication", jointly offered by the Institute of Communication and Health of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and the Faculty of Psychology of Vita-Salute San Raffaele University of Milan (UNISR), presents a new joint Master's program through training in cognitive psychology, neuroscience and communication. The program focuses on the intersection between the theoretical bases of cognitive psychology and those of communication applied to the context of health.

Students who choose this specialization will get a strong biological, methodological and statistical training, acquiring also knowledge in management. The specialization will familiarize students with the latest research and practice in cognitive psychology and provide a modern preparation to lead and influence change in health in today's diverse communities.... [-]

Goals and ContentsThe Master in Computational Science (MCS) program is an exciting new approach to understanding complex systems in a broad range of knowledge areas including the natural and physical sciences, the social sciences, the life sciences, management science and medical science. By integrating computer simulation, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, and data analysis, recent developments in computational science are making possible what was unthinkable only a few years ago. Problems that are inaccessible to traditional experimental and empirical methods can now be addressed thanks to new techniques in algorithmic modeling and the increasing speed of modern supercomputers.The MCS program combines courses in computer science, mathematics, statistics, and data analysis to build application-oriented competencies in simulation science and data science. Students enrolled in the MCS program acquire valuable and much sought-after analytical skills through direct involvement in modeling projects addressing a wide range of real-world problems spanning many interdisciplinary applications.The program introduces students to the university's blend of innovative scientific research and real-world applications, thus providing an excellent foundation for a career in industry and science. Students may emphasize numerical software, mathematical modeling, deterministic and probabilistic theory, computer simulation, or data science. Our graduates are ready to pursue professional careers in research, engineering, scientific computing, data science, data and business analytics, computational medicine, and information systems.For the master's thesis, students can participate in ongoing research projects at the ICS, the IDIDS, or the Faculty of Informatics. Topics include Numerical Analysis, High-Performance Computing, Geo-Science, Computational Engineering, Optimization, Computational (Bio-) Mechanics and Fluid-Mechanics,... [-]

Goals and Contents

Corporate communication plays today a key role in the management of organizations, by helping them project who they are and what they do and by participating in the decision-making process. In charge of managing relationships with the organization's stakeholders, corporate communication contributes to enhancing the quality of corporate and business decisions. It also steers the organizational identity processes at the heart of corporate branding. It, therefore, contributes to the management of the organization's reputation capital, a key factor influencing the ability of an organization to attract strategic resources. In this it is a strategic partner of other corporate functions: for instance in managing relationships with investors, it interacts with financial managers; in dealing with public authorities and regulators, it collaborates with legal services; in addressing issues of identity and corporate culture, it partners with human resources specialists; in communicating with customers, it collaborates with marketers, etc. Corporate communication specialists, therefore, need to acquire solid general management skills in order to carry out their roles effectively.... [-]

The MSc in Economic Policy (MEP) is an advanced program offered by the Faculty of Economics at the Università della Svizzera italiana.

The goal of the Master is to teach students how to analyze economic problems at the national as well as international level and how to identify the most appropriate policy instruments. In a cordial environment and in close interaction with the Faculty, the students will be equipped with the quantitative methods and the analytical tools necessary for a successful career as a professional economist with a strong policy orientation. The master will also drive interested students into a Ph.D. program.

Objectives and content

The Faculty of Economics of the University of Italian Switzerland is organizing a joint Master with the High School of Economics and International Relations (ASERI) of the Catholic University of Milan, involving students Swiss, Italians and foreigners interested in a curriculum that allows them to get a double degree: a Bachelor and a Master Italian Swiss Master (MSc). The Master in Economics and International Policies (MEPIN) offers a vast store of scientific instruments and expertise which are indispensable for the understanding of the economic and political phenomena linked to the globalization of markets. The basis on which develops the whole program are related to the study of economics, law and institutions, international policies. It will also feature a multi-disciplinary knowledge needed to address issues such as sustainable development, market globalization, an aging population, migration and, more generally, the forms of cooperation between public and private economic operators aimed at achieving a common goal, such as the provision of a service or the creation and management of a project. The partnership between the public and the private are now increasingly frequent in various sectors (health, public utilities, infrastructure, social services and environmental resources) and at all levels (local, national and supranational). In many international organizations, public-private partnership is a privileged mode for the realization of public interest programs related to fundamental issues such as energy, transport or development cooperation projects. The study of the areas of intersection between public and private, from the local to the global level,... [-]

Goals and Contents

Finance is the area of economics that studies investment decisions.These decisions are fundamental to the well-being of firms and individuals. Investment outcomes are affected by randomness. Investment decisions involve trade-offs between risk and expected return.

The Master programme stretches over two years (120 ECTS) and is structured to allow the students to personalise their study curricula according to their individual interests and educational backgrounds. It includes four semesters of lectures and seminars and an internship. Typically, in the first semester, students attend the foundation courses in order to acquire the basics of finance, accounting and statistics. The second and third semesters arededicated to core courses and electives. The final thesis should show the candidate’s ability to integrate acquired knowledge in the advanced scientific analysis of a topic in finance.... [-]

The Master of Science in Financial Communication is offered jointly by the Faculty of Economics, and the Faculty of Communication Sciences. This full-time study program of the Università della Svizzera italiana is held in Lugano - Switzerland comprises 120 ECTS spread over 4 semesters (usual duration 2 years) and is entirely offered in English.

The Master program in financial communication offers students the unique opportunity to acquire an integrated set of competencies, including financial, communicative and legal knowledge, strongly and increasingly required in the financial sector. The recent financial crisis has created new challenges for banks, business companies, and market operators, who are expected to master, besides a solid financial background, also strong capacities in communicating with clients and investors and a mature awareness of the legal framework in which financial services and products are promoted and transactions are negotiated.... [-]

The Master of Science in Financial Technology and Computing is offered jointly by the Faculty of Informatics and by the Faculty of Economics of the Università della Svizzera italiana, USI, situated in Lugano - Switzerland. This full-time study program comprises 120 ECTS spread over 4 semesters (usual duration 2 years) and is entirely offered in English.

This unique cross-discipline program combines USI's world-leading expertise in Finance and Informatics and offers exciting career prospects that range from fintech startups to banks and insurers to hedge funds.

The program has been designed to provide graduates with an informatics background with the necessary tools and skills for understanding fundamental problems in finance while, at the same time, learning about advanced tools and techniques in informatics to be applied in finance.... [-]

Contents

The Master of Science in Informatics is characterized by a broad offering of topics and subjects that can be freely combined in a learning path tailored to the needs and interests of each student. At USI, students learn how to understand, design, simulate and optimize complex software-intensive systems. They master the ability to develop automated solutions, introduce them in different business and application domains, and predict and assess their positive impact in the real world. Students experience the need for a rigorous approach to guarantee the quality of their work while following the most appropriate software engineering methodologies, techniques, and state-of-the-art tools. Students can benefit from the research excellence of our teaching staff by getting involved in ongoing research activities as part of their master thesis project (which can be carried out across the entire second year of the Master). We offer the unique opportunity to obtain a double Master's degree in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano. TeachingTop-level and internationally renowned professors teach innovative courses with a strong multi-disciplinary orientation and in collaboration with prestigious institutions at national and international level. Teaching at the Faculty of Informatics emphasizes close contact between students and staff. Professors are pursuing research on a variety of topics and are active participants in Swiss and International research projects and networks. Visiting professors from prestigious universities complement the top-quality teaching offer.... [-]

Goals and Content

The MSc in Management is designed to provide graduates, from a wide variety of backgrounds, with the necessary tools and skills for understanding modern management, creating the best possible start for a successful career. The Degree provides both a broad background in management as well as the opportunity to go into more depth on selected topics by choosing electives. The programme has theoretical and practical elements, allowing students to understand the theory while at the same time being able to apply the knowledge to practical management situations.The goal of the course is to create an understanding of the management processes that are the basis of organisations today. It should also help to develop the skills necessary to perform successfully in business organisations from start-ups to multinational companies, which are reflected in courses like Entrepreneurship and International Business. However, as most tasks in organisations become increasingly interdisciplinary it is also important to be able to work across traditional areas, which is another skill that is actively encouraged by the programme. This is also reflected in the variety of different teaching methods used including lectures, case studies, group work, games and fieldwork. However, all teaching methods stress an interactive approach or dialogue with the students.The Faculty and the students are an international group, with education and work experience from across the world. This further increases learning and cultural exchanges, as students also learn to work effectively with people from different cultures.The degree has two streams in the first semester.... [-]

The Master of Science in Management & Informatics has been designed to provide graduates from a wide variety of backgrounds (informatics, economics, mathematics, business, engineering,etc.) with the necessary tools and skills for understanding complex information technology (IT) problems while, at the same time, knowing about the needs and requirements of a modern organization.

This Master offers a balanced combination of courses that cover the necessary background in management as well as the fundamental aspects of current and evolving information technologies. Moreover, the program provides students with a specialized knowledge of topics at the interface between management and informatics such as enterprise resource planning. Since English is the unique teaching language, graduates are well-prepared to work in international companies. Moreover, the interdisciplinary approach of this Master provides a general skill to work across traditional areas.... [-]

Goals and Contents

Organisations and businesses that seek success endeavor to serve their clients and customers effectively. Since firms depend on customers and suppliers for the resources needed to carry out their business it is critical that management builds and sustains relationships with customers and suppliers The management of these relationships is critical for the development of any business. It is one of the key tasks of marketing and requires an effective understanding of how relationships work and will involve most management positions within the company. Graduates from this programme will have acquired competencies to meet the requirements for a professional career in companies of different size. The aim of the programme is to prepare participants to assume positions of general management or to take up specialized positions such as product and marketing managers. Another option would be to take on professional work in marketing research and communications. The programme is designed to develop participants’ analytical and decision-making skills grounded in a solid knowledge of best management practices and rigorous methodological approach. In particular, it develops the capability to analyze and interpret markets as well as the ability to conceive and put into practice effective solutions that a company can adopt in dealing with various marketing issues. To this purpose traditional teaching is integrated with more active teaching methods, consisting of a discussion of case histories, role-playing, business games, and working on individual and group projects. The programme stretches over two years (120 ECTS credits) and is structured to allow... [-]

The Master in Media Management is offered by the Faculty of Communication Sciences at USI in Lugano. The full programs consist of 120 ECTS and usually lasts 2 years. This Master offers the chance to study fundamental aspects how media companies operate and to deepen the understanding of the managerial activities of such companies (economical structures, politics of the field, research, creation, and building of products and services, legal management, use of the web, etc,).

The study program involves also an analysis of the creation, production and diffusion processes of the editorial content of different kinds: from newspapers to books, from radio to television and from digital and online content. Our aim is to form professionals who, based on the gained knowledge about these dynamics and on the major cultural and political-economic contextual factors, could work in designing, coordinating and controlling productive and distributional processes within the media industry.... [-]

Fashion is becoming increasingly digital.

The fashion industry needs communication managers that...

Would you like to acquire...

Be part of the first international Master of Science in Digital Fashion Communication that is being developed as a Double Degree by USI – ­Università della Svizzera italiana in collaboration with Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris, France).... [-]

The Master in Philosophy at USI differs from many other philosophy programs:

The Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Logistics and Management (MASHLM) is a part-time executive program designed for humanitarian professionals who want to enrich their capacities and enhance their careers.

MASHLM provides training in the key areas of supply chain management, process and project management, strategic management, and humanitarian action. Students attend 6 blocks in Lugano, Switzerland.

The entire program takes 1 year to complete. This format allows participants to earn their master's degree while still working full-time.... [-]

Enrich your professional profile in the public or private sector with high-level intercultural competencies!

New edition starting October 2, 2017

The Master of Advanced Studies in Intercultural Communication (MIC) is a part-time postgraduate program for professionals engaged in managing operational or strategic situations in a multicultural context and in managing multicultural human resources.

Founded in 2004, MIC is the only academic program in Intercultural Communication of its kind in Europe that allows you to pursue your professional activity while studying.

As part of our program you will:

Top qualification

MSDE is a unique opportunity for students to become highly qualified, software and data engineers able to effectively deal with the increasing complexity of modern software systems and with the gigantic amount of data they generate and manipulate.... [-]