Study location	Italy, Pavia
Type	Graduate, full-time
Nominal duration	2 years (120 ECTS)
Study language	English
Awards	AGROS
Course code	08418/00/2022

Tuition fee	€4,500 per year Students may be eligible to apply for a flat rate or to tuition fees calculated according to their family income. More information here: en.unipv.it/en/education/bachelors-and-masters-degree-programs/fees-and-funding/fees
Application fee	€35 per programme This fee is not refundable.

Entry qualification

Undergraduate diploma (or higher) Students must possess a Bachelors’ Degree (≥ 3 years) in Agricultural sciences and technologies or Agri-food Sciences and technologies or equivalent. BScs in different disciplines must be related to the areas covered by the course. Candidates who possess a Bachelors’ Degree awarded by a non-Italian University and are applying for admission to the Master’s Program in Agrifood Sustainability must possess a Bachelors’ Degree (≥ 3 years) in “Agricultural sciences and technologies” or “Agri-food Sciences and technologies” or equivalent. The following Bachelors’ degrees are not suitable for this course: Applied Chemistry, Bachelors’ degrees in Education, Chemistry, Mathematics, Bachelors’ degrees of Arts in Humanities. Bachelors’ degrees other than those indicated need to be evaluated to judge their suitability for the MSc program. Candidate must possess ≥ 45 credits (ECTS or equivalent) in the following subjects: Botany (general), Botany (environmental and applied), Zoology, Physiology, Genetics, Geography (physical and geomorphology), Chemistry (general and inorganic), Food chemistry, Hydraulic and maritime constructions and hydrology, Sanitary engineering. Students will be asked to fill a table containing the list of exams related to these subjects. An appointed committee will evaluate the academic credentials and will evaluate the suitability of their degree for the program. Candidates with suitable degree and subject are requested to take an interview to assess their preparation and eligibility for the admission. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English / French / Italian / Spanish. In order to finalize your enrollment, you must submit the scanned version of your original documents. During the application process, candidates must upload the following documents: MANDATORY: - a scanned copy of your passport or identity card. - a scan of your Bachelor degree transcript supplied by your university reporting the individual exams taken (or to be taken if still graduating) , relative marks and numbers of credits (or study hours) for each exam. If you have more than one degree, you may upload more than one transcript, each as a separate file. - List of exams relevant for the calculation of the 45 credits related to key topics. Further information on key topics, please see above. During the application, candidates will be asked to download and fill a table to list relevant exams. OPTIONAL: - a scan of your English language certificate. An appointed committee will evaluate the documentation and will evaluate the eligibility for the admission. To fully assess the admissibility, an interview is required.

Language requirements	English B2 or equivalent. Certifications accepted: - BEC Vantage - B2 First (Cambridge English Qualification) - IELTS 5.5-6.5 ‘Academic’ - TrackTest English Test B2 - ILEC Pass - TOEFL iBT 72-94 - Trinity College ISE II, GESE 7, GESE 8, GESE 9 - ‘Oxford Test of English’-Level B2 - LCCI EfB Level 3.

Other requirements	If you wish to find out the exact number consult this link.

More information	agrifood.cdl.unipv.it/en

Overview

The Master’s Degree Course in Agri-food sustainability provides a solid preparation in agricultural sciences and technologies, through a multidisciplinary vision, aimed at achieving an high production, attentive to the health of environment, agricultural producers and consumers, focusing on sustainability (one health).

The course includes experimental and demonstrative activities held in the agricultural lands owned by the University and through various projects of the Lombardy Region with partner agricultural companies, both conventional and organic.

The graduate will therefore be able to plan and manage agricultural production (in particular the quality of supply chains), acquiring a broad agro-ecological knowledge that includes food market, developing and managing innovation of companies and agricultural supply chains; as well as taking into account post-production and the agri-food products’ impact on human health.

The course is organized in two curricula. The first curriculum is oriented towards agricultural production systems based on agro-ecology and, more generally, on sustainable agriculture. The teaching and field activities will deepen the students’ knowledge on topics related to crop species and pathogens. For example, looking at the interactions and effects of insects, fungi and weeds, and the potential for sustainable control of these pests for both the environment and for food production. Moreover, design and planning skills of the rural territory are included in the programme, jointly with the application of mathematical models and IT and telematic tools. The second curriculum pays particular attention to post-production (in view of high organoleptic and nutritional quality), distribution, and the food industry, in order to better guide farms and their activities towards new production and markets. The teaching and field activities involve the acquisition of operational and managerial knowledge on the post-harvest conservation and treatment of products, as well as the impact they can have on human health. Moreover, teaching of techniques for quality control of various production chains and for the industrial sector are included in the programme.

Programme structure

Please find the study plan and the list of courses on this page

Career opportunities

The degree program will allow graduates to:
• manage agricultural companies;
• carry out environmental monitoring and analysis of agro-ecosystems;
• exploit and promote local biodiversity in a sustainable way;
• use soil conservation and protection tools and techniques;
• optimize traditional techniques;
• be able to evaluate, improve and certify process and product quality also through the use of innovative methodologies.

Graduates of this master’s degree course can be hired in:
• Farms of various levels and dimensions, including in the organic sector;
• Storage and processing companies,
• Agro-food marketing companies;
• Professional consultancy for small and medium-sized enterprises;
• Social agriculture and non-profit (NGO) organizations;
• Associations and institutional bodies representing the social and productive partners or international organizations (UN, FAO, etc.).