Architects of global dialogue: why study diplomacy and economics in Rome with ESE

How do you become a leader in a world where a tweet can influence markets and a trade deal can redraw geopolitical balances? The answer is simple: by learning to think differently. We need people who can read between the lines of history, understand the logic of economics and act with the tact of diplomacy. And there is no place in the world where these three dimensions meet with the same intensity as Rome.

At the European School of Economics (ESE), we did not choose Rome by chance. We chose it because it is the perfect laboratory for our philosophy: to train a new generation of visionary and pragmatic leaders, ready to act in a global context.

Rome: Where history meets the future

Imagine walking to class past the Pantheon, a two-thousand-year-old engineering masterpiece, and then entering a classroom where cryptocurrencies and international agreements are discussed. This is everyday life for an ESE student in Rome. The city is not just a postcard, but a continuous immersion in an ecosystem where the glorious past inspires the decisions that will shape the future.

But Rome today is much more than its history. It is a nerve centre of world diplomacy. It is home to crucial organisations such as the FAO, the IFAD and the World Food Programme, as well as more than 140 embassies and international missions. For our students, this means being surrounded by opportunities. It means being able to attend conferences, meet diplomats and start building a global network while having a coffee, turning every day into a potential lesson in international relations.

The ESE method: Learning to do, not just to know

In such a challenging scenario, our short course in Diplomacy and Economics is designed to be a skills accelerator. Our approach is not to fill your head with notions, but to give you a toolbox to think and act strategically.

What does this mean in practice? It means that you will learn to read a balance sheet as sharply as you analyse an international treaty. You will understand how a European Central Bank policy can influence a small company and how a humanitarian crisis on the other side of the world is also a complex economic and logistical challenge. Our goal is to teach you to harmonise the languages of power and economics, a rare and sought-after skill.

The heart of this method is the internship. At ESE, we believe that real learning happens in the field. The internship is the bridge between your ambition and professional reality. It is the moment when you put your ideas to the test, see from the inside how an embassy, an international organisation or a consultancy firm works, and start building that CV and self-confidence that will make all the difference.

Your future starts here

The world will increasingly need people capable of building dialogue and creating value in an ethical and sustainable way. Choosing to study Diplomacy and Economics at the ESE in Rome is more than an academic choice: it is a declaration of intent. It is deciding that you do not want to be a spectator, but one of the protagonists of the future.

If you feel that this is your path, if your dream is to work where the decisions that matter are made, then this is your starting point.

Registration for the September 2025 intake is now open. Places are limited to ensure a personalised training experience.

Find out more about the course and take the first step to apply:

Diplomacy and Economics Course – European School of Economic