Master in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-75 R master at the University of Milan linking environmental science with economics and policy, with two curricula, an internship or lab and a 21 ECTS dissertation. Entry needs 45 set credits and B2 English.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-75 R) taught entirely in English at the University of Milan's Città Studi campus. Entry needs an environmental sciences degree or 45 ECTS across set science, maths and social science areas, plus English at B2. Scholarship winners get a waiver on the second instalment, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Environmental Change and Global Sustainability master asks for an environmental and natural sciences degree, or another degree with at least 45 ECTS across at least two set subject groups, including 12 in maths, statistics or computer science and 12 in physical, Earth or life sciences. You also need English at B2 and a positive review by the admission board, which may include an online interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a bachelor's degree: the programme description sets 180 credits for admission. Graduates of the Italian bachelor's class L-32 (Environmental and Natural Sciences), or of its predecessor class under the 1999 rules, meet the degree rule directly. [1]
Graduates of other classes need at least 45 ECTS in the subject areas of at least two of these four groups: [1]
- Group 1, computer science, mathematics and statistics: INF/01, MAT/01 to MAT/09, SECS-S/01 and SECS-S/06.
- Group 2, chemistry, physics and Earth sciences: CHIM/01 to CHIM/03, CHIM/06, CHIM/12, FIS/01, FIS/06, FIS/07, GEO/01, GEO/02, GEO/04, GEO/05 and GEO/10 to GEO/12.
- Group 3, life sciences: AGR/02, AGR/03, AGR/05, AGR/08 to AGR/10, AGR/13, AGR/15, BIO/01 to BIO/07 and BIO/09 to BIO/13.
- Group 4, economic and social sciences: AGR/01, ING-IND/35, IUS/01, IUS/04, IUS/09, IUS/13, SECS-P/01, SECS-P/02, SPS/04, SPS/07 and SPS/10.
At least 12 of the 45 ECTS must come from group 1, and at least 12 from group 2 or group 3. The same criteria apply to foreign degrees when the subject areas and credits can be clearly identified; if they cannot, a dedicated committee assesses your record. [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 Environmental Science, or a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Botany, Zoology or Agriculture that includes mathematics or statistics courses, since it tends to cover group 1 and group 2 or 3.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil, Environmental, Chemical or Agricultural Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Biotechnology, where the maths is often strong but engineering courses may not map onto the listed chemistry, physics, Earth science or life science areas.
- Often short: a BA, B.Com or BBA, or a B.Sc. in Economics, without courses in chemistry, physics, Earth sciences or life sciences, since 12 ECTS must come from group 2 or 3; and a life sciences degree with no mathematics or statistics, since 12 ECTS must come from group 1.
The programme also runs optional crash courses in these areas from the end of August, open only to admitted students. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is required, shown with a certificate on the University of Milan's accepted list. Native English speakers and graduates of bachelor's programmes taught entirely in English do not need to produce a certificate. Applicants without a documented B2 may still be accepted if their English, assessed at the interview, is evidently good. [1]
On the university's list, B2 corresponds to IELTS 5.5 to 6.5, TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, PTE Academic 59 to 75 or Cambridge B2 First. Certificates must cover reading, writing, listening and speaking. [3]
Admission review and interview
There is no set entrance exam for everyone. The admission board checks your degree and credits and, where your marks in the listed subject areas leave doubts about your preparation, may invite you to an online interview in English. [1]
The programme description's practical instructions also say that international candidates, like Italian residents, will be contacted for an online interview, which checks background knowledge, abilities and competences in the programme's key areas. The admission notice allows the board to use an interview and/or a written test, in person or remotely. [1][2]
For 2026/27, 65 places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants needing a visa applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026, while other applicants had until 30 October 2026. Admitted students enrol between 5 May 2026 and 15 January 2027. [2]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduated and met the entry requirements by 31 December 2026. [1][2]
Visa applicants also had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026, or they were excluded from the selection and from enrolment. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applicants with a foreign degree apply on the university's international platform by the deadline. You upload: [2]
- your bachelor's degree or degree-awarding certificate, in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish;
- a Diploma Supplement or a transcript with courses, marks, ECTS, subject areas and the grading system;
- your passport or another valid ID.
The application cannot be changed once submitted. [2]
To finalise enrolment you provide your bachelor's degree legalised or apostilled, your high school diploma, an official Italian translation unless the documents are in English, French, German or Spanish, a Statement of Comparability from an ENIC-NARIC centre such as CIMEA or a declaration of value from the Italian embassy, an Italian tax code and, for non-EU citizens, your residence permit or the receipt of its application. For 2026/27 these were due by 30 November 2026, and admission stays provisional until they are checked. [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 Milan. Programme description (manifesto), Master's degree in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (LM-75 R), students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Admission notice for the Master's degree programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (LM-75 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Accepted English language certificates, list updated June 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Fees for academic year 2026/27, with the annex of country groups. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Regulations on tuition and fees, academic year 2025/26, annex listing programmes by tuition area. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-75-R (environmental sciences and technologies), run by the Department of Environmental Science and Policy. It is worth 120 ECTS, taught entirely in English and based at the Città Studi campus in Milan, mainly in Via Celoria. Access is open, subject to a check of entry requirements. [1]
The degree builds advanced expertise in the hard and life science side of environmental studies together with their economic and social science side, with a strongly multidisciplinary approach. It suits graduates in environmental, natural or related sciences who want to work where climate, ecosystems and policy meet.
What you will study
The first year is common to all students and covers ecology, biodiversity, climate, chemistry, statistics and environmental economics, plus one geoscience unit such as Geodiversity: Theory and Applications. In the first year you also choose one of two curricula, Environmental Systems: Management and Sustainability or Technological Processes and Environmental Sustainability, and in the second year you take three electives (18 ECTS) from it. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [1]
- Approaches to the Study of Ecological Systems (8 ECTS)
- Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation (8 ECTS)
- Climate Change: Impact and Adaptation (8 ECTS)
- Environmental Economics and Policy (8 ECTS)
- Quantitative Ecology for Environmental Change (6 ECTS)
- Chemistry of Natural Processes and Technologies for the Environment (8 ECTS)
- Statistical Methods in Environmental Studies (6 ECTS)
- Curriculum electives such as Ecosystem Functioning and Services, Recycle and Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Geochemistry and Remote Sensing
How the programme is taught
In the second year you earn 6 ECTS through an internship or the Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Environmental Change and Global Sustainability, plus 3 ECTS from Italian language skills or a short course such as Project Management for Sustainable Development, and 12 ECTS of free electives. All students attend a course on safety for field activities, and the degree ends with a 21 ECTS dissertation, written and defended in English. [1]
Attendance is strongly recommended. International mobility is encouraged: Erasmus+ study periods and traineeships abroad are recognised in your academic career. [1]
Career paths
The university describes five professional profiles, each of which can also lead to secondary school teaching: [1]
- Environmental manager in agri-food, energy, green economy, industrial and service companies
- Public administration specialist designing environmental monitoring and evaluation for municipalities, regions and protected areas
- International development specialist planning sustainability strategies in supranational bodies and NGOs
- Environmental impact assessment specialist in regional environmental agencies (ARPA), research institutes and consultancies
- Environmental monitoring specialist analysing the impact of pollution at regional scale
Graduates can also continue to a PhD and a research career. [1]
Fees and scholarships
ECGS is in the university's tuition Area B. [5] For 2026/27, if your family's income and assets are outside Italy, the second instalment is fixed by country group rather than by ISEE, with the lowest rate for Group A, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A first instalment applies to everyone. [4]
Students who win a regional or University of Milan scholarship get a waiver on the second instalment, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
The admission board checks your degree and credits against the entry requirements and may call you for an online interview in English. [1] We apply on apply.unimi.it in the non-EU visa applicant category. For 2026/27 the general window ran from 22 January to 30 October 2026, but the deadline for visa applicants was 30 April 2026. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [2]
Visa applicants must also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which we submit for you, by 31 July (for 2026/27), or they are excluded from the selection and from enrolment. After admission you apply for a study visa. Your degree then needs a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, due with your other enrolment documents by 30 November for 2026/27. [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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your transcript, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Milan 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
Is Environmental Change and Global Sustainability taught in English?
Yes. The whole degree is taught in English, and the thesis is written and discussed in English. You need English at B2; native speakers and graduates of bachelor's degrees taught entirely in English do not need a certificate. [1]
What bachelor's degree do I need for Environmental Change and Global Sustainability at Milan?
A degree in environmental and natural sciences (Italian class L-32), or another degree with at least 45 ECTS from at least two of four subject groups, including 12 in maths, statistics or computer science and 12 in chemistry, physics, Earth sciences or life sciences. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
There is no set exam for everyone. The admission board reviews your degree and marks and may invite you to an online interview in English, which checks your background in the programme's key areas. The admission notice also allows a written test. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher, shown with an accepted certificate such as IELTS 5.5 or above. Native speakers and English-taught bachelor's graduates are exempt, and without a documented B2 you may still be accepted if your English is evidently good at the interview. [1][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026 and had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. The degree reserved 65 places for non-EU students living abroad. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, you could apply if you expected to graduate and meet the entry requirements by 31 December 2026. [1][2]
I have a B.Sc. in Botany or a B.Tech in Civil Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. You need 45 ECTS across at least two groups, with 12 in maths, statistics or computer science and 12 in chemistry, physics, Earth sciences or life sciences. A Botany degree often meets the life sciences block but may lack maths, and engineering courses must map onto the listed areas. We check your transcript against each rule. [1]
What are the two curricula?
Environmental Systems: Management and Sustainability, and Technological Processes and Environmental Sustainability. You choose in the first year, then take three curriculum electives, such as Ecosystem Functioning and Services, Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Geochemistry or Remote Sensing. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Environmental Change and Global Sustainability at Milan?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Milan's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Milan 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 Environmental Change and Global Sustainability?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Sc. in Environmental Science, or a B.Sc. or B.Tech with enough maths and science, can fit if it shows 45 ECTS across at least two set subject groups, including 12 in maths, statistics or computing and 12 in physical, Earth or life sciences. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, the board's review with a possible 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 Environmental Change and Global Sustainability are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the board's review with a possible interview, 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 Environmental Change and Global Sustainability are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the board's review with a possible interview, 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 Environmental Change and Global Sustainability 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, the board's review with a possible interview, 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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