Master in Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems at University of Florence
Two-year English-taught LM-49-R master's at the University of Florence on sustainable tourism, combining tourism economics, statistics, law and destination management. Entry needs a related degree with 6 credits in economics or statistics and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Florence
English
University of Florence
Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-49-R) taught in English at the University of Florence. Entry needs a first-level degree in a related field with at least 6 credits in economics, management, demography or statistics, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniFi's Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems master asks for a first-level degree in a related field with at least 6 credits in economics, management, demography or statistics, English at B2, and a strong final grade or an interview, all assessed by the admission committee. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a first-level (bachelor's) degree in a related field. The listed fields are tourism management, geography, cultural heritage, modern languages, foreign languages and cultures, economics and business administration, communication sciences, sociology, spatial, urban and environmental sciences, agri-food sciences and technologies, environmental and nature sciences, political sciences and international relations, social sciences for cooperation, development and peace, statistics and history. [1]
- At least 6 credits in economics, management, demography or statistics. [1]
- Italian L-15 tourism degrees meet the curricular requirements automatically. [1]
- Foreign degrees are assessed case by case for equivalent requirements. [3]
These rules come from the programme's February 2026 Open Day presentation and its admission pages, which do not state an academic year. [1][3]
What this means for your transcript
The committee looks at your subjects, not just the name of your degree, and Italian credits are not always the same unit as the credits on a foreign transcript. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BBA, B.Com, BA in Economics, B.Sc. in Statistics or a bachelor's in tourism management. These fields are on the list and usually include economics, management or statistics credits.
- Check carefully: a BA in History, Geography, Sociology, Political Science, English or another foreign language, or a B.Sc. in Environmental Science. The field is on the list, but you still need 6 credits in economics, management, demography or statistics.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or B.Sc. in a science or computing subject that is not on the list. The committee reviews these case by case, and the field match is the main hurdle.
If some requirements are not met, the committee may ask for more documents, an exam or an interview with the programme director. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, or native-level proficiency. [1][3] The admission pages we reviewed do not list specific test scores.
Grades, interview and selection
There is no entrance test, and access is open with no cap on places. [2] The personal requirement is met with a first-level degree grade of 95 out of 110 or higher; below that, the admission committee holds an interview. For foreign graduates, the committee assesses your final grade in the context of the country where you studied. [1][3]
If you meet the requirements, the committee issues a Nulla Osta, and only students with a Nulla Osta can enrol. Applicants with significant gaps are not admitted but can reapply the following year. [1][3]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply in two rounds: 10 December 2025 to 6 February 2026, with outcomes around mid-March, and 16 February to 17 April 2026, with outcomes around mid-May. The third round, 15 June to 31 August 2026, was not open to non-EU citizens living abroad. The next intake sets the 2027/28 dates. [4]
The committee has one month to respond to each application. Applications for degrees not yet obtained are not considered, so you need to have graduated when you apply. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applicants with a degree from outside Italy apply only through the Apply Unifi (DreamApply) portal and upload every supporting document there, in PDF format. [3][4]
Non-EU applicants living abroad who receive the admission document complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and the study visa application by 31 July. For enrolment, the university accepts a declaration of value issued locally or CIMEA's verification and comparability services. [4]
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 Florence, School of Economics and Management. Master's programme in Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems, Open Day presentation, February 2026 (no academic year stated). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Florence, Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems programme page and study plan, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Florence, Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems course website: admission requirements and how to enrol pages, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Florence, Apply Unifi international admissions: admission document, intake rounds and admission fee, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems is a two-year master's degree in class LM-49-R (design and management of tourism systems) at the University of Florence. It is run by the Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications 'G. Parenti' (DiSIA) within the School of Economics and Management, taught in English and in person on the Novoli campus in Florence. Access is open, with no cap on places.
The programme looks at tourism as a system that draws on a territory's natural, economic and cultural heritage. It combines economics, statistics and law with the social sciences, and suits graduates in economics, tourism, languages, geography or cultural heritage who want to plan and manage sustainable tourism.
What you will study
The first year builds a shared base in economics, data and law, plus a foreign language for tourism (English, French, German or Spanish). The second year adds an advanced specialisation, electives, an internship or laboratory and an 18 ECTS thesis.
- Economic History of Tourism (9 ECTS)
- Demography and Data Analysis for Tourism (9 ECTS)
- Travel and Tourism Contracts (9 ECTS) and Tourism and Law (6 ECTS)
- Sustainable Tourism for Local System Development (6 ECTS)
- Agri-food Economics (6 ECTS)
- Electives in destination management, tourism marketing and organisational management in tourism
How the programme is taught
Curricular internships take place in accredited companies and institutions and can earn credits, and graduates can also do non-curricular internships within twelve months of graduating. Erasmus+ and other exchange schemes are available for study abroad. Students fill in their study plan online in November of the first year.
Career paths
The course website describes three professional profiles:
- Territory development expert: enhances natural, historical and architectural resources for public administrations and service organisations, making destinations competitive and sustainable.
- Events and promotion specialist: plans and runs local events and territorial promotion for convention bureaus, hotels and museums, including supplier relations and communication.
- Tourism product designer: studies the needs of different market segments and builds tourism routes and activities, for hotels, cultural events and travel agencies.
Graduates can also continue to a PhD.
Fees and scholarships
UniFi fees depend on ISEE. For 2026/27, students resident abroad receive an automatic figurative ISEE based on the World Bank income group of their country. Students from developing countries pay no university contribution. Winners and eligible candidates of the DSU Toscana scholarship pay only stamp duty, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
The course commission reviews each file within about a month and does not consider applications for degrees not yet awarded. [3] We apply on the Apply Unifi (DreamApply) portal. Enrolment needs a declaration of value or a CIMEA comparability statement. [4] For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply in two rounds, 10 December 2025 to 6 February 2026 and 16 February to 17 April 2026. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [4]
Once you are admitted, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July, and you apply for a type D study visa.
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 UniFi's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Apply Unifi (DreamApply) application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DSU Toscana 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 UniFi's Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems master?
A first-level degree in a related field such as tourism, economics and business, languages, geography, sociology, political science, statistics or history, with at least 6 credits in economics, management, demography or statistics. Foreign degrees are assessed case by case. [1][3]
Is there an entrance test?
No. Access is open, with no cap on places. The committee checks your degree and grade: 95 out of 110 or higher meets the personal requirement, otherwise you have an interview. Foreign grades are judged in the context of your country. [1][2][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher, or native-level proficiency. The admission pages we reviewed do not list specific test scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had two rounds: 10 December 2025 to 6 February 2026, and 16 February to 17 April 2026. The third round was closed to them. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
No. The programme does not consider applications for degrees not yet obtained, and you cannot enrol before your first-level degree is awarded, so you apply once you have graduated. [3]
I have a B.Tech or a BCA. Can I still apply?
Engineering and computing are not on the list of related fields, so the committee would assess your degree case by case. If some requirements are missing, it can ask for more documents, an exam or an interview. A BBA or B.Com is a closer match. [1][3]
Is Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems taught in English?
Yes. Teaching is in English, and about 70 to 80 students from all over the world join each year. First-year students can also take a language course for tourism in English, French, German or Spanish. [1][2]
What careers does it lead to?
The programme prepares territory development experts, events and promotion specialists and tourism product designers, working for public administrations, convention bureaus, hotels, museums and travel agencies. The degree can also lead to a PhD. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems at UniFi?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniFi's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DSU Toscana 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 Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in a listed field, such as a BBA, B.Com, BA in Economics or a tourism degree, can fit if it includes at least 6 credits in economics, management, demography or statistics, and you need English at B2. The steps are an Apply Unifi application, the admission document 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 Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application on Apply Unifi, the admission document (Nulla Osta) 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 Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application on Apply Unifi, the admission document (Nulla Osta) 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 Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems 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 Apply Unifi, the admission document (Nulla Osta) 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.
More English-taught programmes at this university
Other public universities in this city
They began right where you are
