Master in Agrifood Innovation Management at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-69 R master at the University of Trento's Center Agriculture Food Environment on innovation across the agri-food chain, from crop production and processing to marketing, law and quality. Non-EU entry is a selection on your record and an interview, with 10 places in 2026/27.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Agrifood Innovation Management is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-69 R) taught in English at the University of Trento. Entry needs a degree in agricultural or food sciences, or 66 ECTS across set subject groups, plus English at B2 and basic Italian. Non-EU fees follow your admission score and top scorers pay nothing, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Trento's Agrifood Innovation Management master asks non-EU applicants for a three-year bachelor's in agricultural or food sciences, or another degree with at least 66 ECTS across six subject groups, English at B2 and basic Italian, then a score of at least 50 out of 100 from your record and an interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a bachelor's degree of at least three years. Italian graduates of these classes meet the rule directly: [1]
- L-25 (or the older class 20): agricultural and forestry sciences and technologies.
- L-26 (or the older class 20): food sciences and technologies.
With any other degree you need at least 66 ECTS across six groups: [1]
- At least 18 ECTS in agricultural and animal production: agricultural economics, agronomy, tree and horticultural crops, forestry, soil science, food technology, animal science, veterinary subjects and human nutrition.
- At least 18 ECTS in biology: agricultural genetics, entomology, plant pathology, microbiology, hygiene, botany, plant physiology, zoology, ecology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.
- At least 12 ECTS in maths, computing, physics or statistics.
- At least 6 ECTS in chemistry, including agricultural chemistry or biochemistry.
- At least 6 ECTS in engineering: agricultural hydraulics, mechanics and buildings, surveying, landscape architecture, energy systems, applied physics or materials.
- At least 6 ECTS in economics or law: agricultural and general economics, business management, marketing, appraisal, management engineering, and agri-food, commercial, international or EU law.
A bachelor's degree from abroad is valid if the selection committee finds that its curriculum covers comparable content. UniTrento may ask for a statement of verification or comparability. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as Italian ECTS, and the committee looks at the subjects behind them. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Agriculture or Horticulture, or a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Food Science or Food Technology, which sit closest to the two Italian classes.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Botany, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or Life Sciences, a B.V.Sc., or a B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering or Biotechnology, which often cover biology and chemistry but may miss the engineering block or the economics and law block.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA, BA in Economics, BCA, or a B.Tech in Computer Science, IT or Mechanical Engineering, which may cover maths, engineering or economics but rarely the 36 ECTS in agricultural and biological subjects.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is required. You can show it with: [1]
- a certificate from an internationally recognised body, from the list on the UniTrento language centre's page;
- a B2 or higher English exam passed at another university that tested reading, listening, writing and speaking;
- a declaration from your university that your degree was taught entirely in English;
- a declaration in your application that you are a citizen of an English-speaking country.
The programme's admission page adds that a certificate must be no older than five years. [2] The committee may also assess other certificates. English above B2 can add up to 10 points to your score. [1]
Italian
Basic knowledge of Italian is expected, and non-native speakers hold part of the interview in Italian. If the committee finds your Italian insufficient and you are admitted, you add an Italian elective or extra-curricular course to your study plan. [1]
Selection and ranking
There is no written test. A committee from the Center Agriculture Food Environment scores you out of 100: [1]
- Up to 60 points: your academic record and how well it fits the programme, such as final grade, GPA, courses and professional experience.
- Up to 10 points: English above B2.
- Up to 30 points: an interview in English on your preparation and background.
You are invited to the interview only if your record scores above 40 points, and missing the interview means exclusion. The interview date is posted on the website at least three days ahead. You need 50 out of 100 to be eligible, and ties go to the younger candidate. The committee may ask for extra documents, such as course syllabi. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Non-EU applicants living abroad had 10 places. Applications and the application fee were due by 4 March 2026 at 12:00 noon CET, and rankings came out by 20 May 2026. [1][2]
You could apply before graduating if you obtained your bachelor's by 30 June 2026, or by 31 October 2026 for non-EU graduates of an Italian university holding an Italian study permit. Students had to hold an Italian visa by 31 October 2026 to keep their place. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply online and upload: [1]
- the personal details pages of your passport;
- your bachelor's diploma, if already awarded;
- a transcript with courses, credits, marks, GPA and the grading scale, plus any courses still to pass;
- a CV in English, preferably in Europass format, with any optional attachments in the same PDF;
- your English proof, and any Italian certificate.
Documents not in Italian or English need an official translation. [1]
If admitted, you confirm your place with a non-refundable payment by the deadline given with the ranking. You then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, within two weeks of confirming according to the admission page, and UniTrento sends your admission letter only after it. Pre-enrolment is needed for the study visa. Your foreign degree is checked after admission and pre-enrolment. [1][2]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Trento, Center Agriculture Food Environment. Call for applications, Master's degree in Agrifood Innovation Management (LM-69 R), non-European candidates living abroad, academic year 2026/27 (English courtesy translation). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento. Agrifood Innovation Management admission page for non-European applicants, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Agrifood Innovation Management (AIM) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-69 R) worth 120 ECTS and taught entirely in English. It is run by the Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A) of the University of Trento. [1]
The degree builds skills in innovation management, product enhancement and quality assurance, so that graduates can bring new approaches into every stage of the agri-food supply chain while reading market dynamics and changes in food culture. It suits graduates in agricultural, forestry or food sciences, or related fields, who want to lead innovation in farms, food companies and research bodies.
What you will study
The first year covers plant production, crop protection, food processing and the market and legal context of agri-food. The second year turns to innovation management, product quality and authenticity, and ends with an internship and a 20 ECTS thesis. Units in the official study plan include:
- Improvement in Crop Production (12 ECTS) and Food Production and Processing (12 ECTS)
- Short Cycle Breeding and Innovative Techniques, and Plant Physiology Applied to Agricultural Production
- Biopesticides and Innovative Techniques for Plant Protection
- Agri-food Marketing Analysis and Techniques, and Agri-food Law: Introductory Notions
- Innovative Plants and Automation, and Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
- Methods for Innovation Management and Startups
- Traceability and Authenticity Detection, Sensory Quality of Agri-food Products, and The Microbiome of Environment and Products
- Electives such as eco-sustainable management of invasive species, or innovative feed and animal welfare
How the programme is taught
Teaching mixes lectures, classroom exercises and laboratory activities with field exercises and tutorials, and uses learning by doing, challenge-based learning, role-playing and problem solving. The second year includes an internship in a company linked to a research project, followed by the final thesis.
Career paths
The course prepares graduates for an international job market. The university points to roles planning and managing innovation in production companies, research institutions and retail chains, and in agronomy practice. Graduates can also continue to the UniTrento PhD in Agrifood and Environmental Sciences.
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, the first-year fee for non-EU students living abroad followed your admission score, and a score of 90 or more meant a full fee waiver. In the second year you pay nothing if you earn at least 42 ECTS by 10 August 2027; with fewer credits the fee rises in steps. [1]
Top-ranked non-EU candidates with at least 70 points may also win a UniTrento scholarship, which waives tuition and adds a contribution to mobility costs, paid after arrival in Italy. No separate application is needed, and it cannot be combined with MAECI, Università a colori or Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarships. [1][2] Eligible students can also apply to Opera Universitaria di Trento, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
AIM runs its own call for non-EU applicants living abroad. For 2026/27 there were 10 places. Applications closed on the UniTrento portal on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with an application fee and uploads of your CV, transcript and English proof. Shortlisted candidates had an interview in English, with a part in Italian for non-native speakers, and rankings came out by 20 May 2026. [1][2]
Admitted students confirm their place with a non-refundable payment. Within two weeks of confirming, we complete your Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you then apply for a type D study visa. For 2026/27, students whose visa was issued after 31 October 2026 lost their place. The admission page says admitted non-EU students get a place in on-campus housing, paid as rent. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1][2]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against Trento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What bachelor's degree do I need for Agrifood Innovation Management at Trento?
A three-year bachelor's in agricultural and forestry or food sciences (Italian classes L-25 or L-26), or another degree with at least 66 ECTS across six groups: agricultural production, biology, maths and physics, chemistry, engineering, and economics or law. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. You are scored out of 100: up to 60 for your academic record, 10 for English above B2 and 30 for an interview in English. You need above 40 on your record to be interviewed and 50 overall to be eligible. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher. A recognised certificate, no older than five years according to the admission page, a B2 exam passed at another university, a statement that your degree was taught entirely in English, or citizenship of an English-speaking country can count. We check which proof your file can use. [1][2]
Do I need to speak Italian?
Basic Italian is expected, and non-native speakers hold part of the interview in Italian. If the committee finds your Italian insufficient, you add an Italian course to your study plan once admitted. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied by 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET for 10 places, and rankings came out by 20 May 2026. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. For 2026/27, applicants with a degree from outside Italy had to obtain their bachelor's by 30 June 2026, and their transcript listed the courses still to pass. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Microbiology or Biotechnology. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees often cover the biology and chemistry groups, but you also need 18 ECTS in agricultural or animal production subjects and 6 each in engineering and in economics or law. We check your transcript against all six groups. [1]
How are the fees set?
For 2026/27, the first-year fee for non-EU students living abroad followed the admission score, and 90 or more meant a full waiver. In year two, 42 ECTS by 10 August means no fee. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Agrifood Innovation Management at Trento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Trento's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Agrifood Innovation Management?
A B.Sc. in Agriculture or Horticulture, or a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Food Technology, sits closest to the Italian degree classes the rule names. Other degrees need 66 ECTS across agriculture, biology, maths, chemistry, engineering and economics or law. You also need English at B2 and basic Italian. The steps are the online application, an interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Agrifood Innovation Management are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application on the UniTrento portal, an interview in English with a part in Italian, and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Agrifood Innovation Management are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application on the UniTrento portal, an interview in English with a part in Italian, and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Agrifood Innovation Management are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: online application on the UniTrento portal, an interview in English with a part in Italian, and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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