Master in Food and Health at University of Padua
Two-year English-taught LM-61-R master at Padua's Agripolis campus linking food safety, metabolism, genomics of nutrition, nutrition-related diseases and consumer economics, with a 30 ECTS thesis. Entry needs a three-year degree in a food, agricultural or life science field and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Food and Health is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-61-R) taught in English at the University of Padua's Agripolis campus in Legnaro. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years in a food, agricultural, biological, biomedical or related field, a grade that meets your country's minimum, and English at B2. There is no entrance test. Regional scholarship winners are exempt from fees, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Padua's Food and Health master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent, in agricultural, food, animal, biological, biomedical, pharmaceutical or related sciences, with a grade that meets your country's minimum, plus English at B2. There is no entrance test: the programme has open admission with requirements, and you apply in one of the 2027/28 calls. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and subject requirements
You need an undergraduate degree of at least three years, or an equivalent qualification, in agricultural science, forest science, food science, animal science, dietetics, applied pharmaceutical science, biology, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, molecular biology or a related field. [1] The degree must come from an institution accredited in its own country's system. [5]
For holders of Italian degrees, the School's 2026/27 notice sets one of two routes, plus a degree grade of at least 95/110 or equivalent: [3]
- Degree class route: a degree in class L-2, L-13, L-25, L-26, L-29, L-32 or L-38.
- Credit route: a degree in any class with at least 50 CFU: at least 14 in statistics, computer science, mathematics or physics, at least 12 in biology, and at least 24 in agri-food, chemistry, veterinary, earth science or law sectors.
Country rules and minimum grades
The university's 2027/28 country list sets these master's entry titles and minimum grades: [2]
- India: a 3 or 4-year Honours bachelor's, a professional bachelor's of 4, 5 or 5.5 years, or a 3-year pass or general bachelor's plus a postgraduate bachelor's or at least a 1-year master's. Minimum GPA 70/100, 7.0/10, 5.6/8 or 2.8/4.
- Pakistan: a 3-year bachelor's (Honours), a 4 or 5-year professional bachelor's, or a 2-year pass bachelor's plus a 2-year master's. Minimum GPA 3.3/4.0.
- Bangladesh: a 4-year Honours bachelor's or a 4 or 5-year professional bachelor's. Minimum GPA 3.3/4.0.
- Sri Lanka: a 4-year bachelor's or a Special Degree. Minimum GPA 3.0/4.0.
The list is a reference, and the university's Admissions and Welcome Unit makes the final decision on each qualification. [2]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: an Honours B.Sc. in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Microbiology or Biology, a four-year B.Tech in Food Technology or Biotechnology, or a B.Pharm, with a grade above your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Home Science, a nursing degree, or a medical or dental degree, where the match with the listed fields depends on the food, biology and nutrition content of your transcript. A three-year pass or general Indian B.Sc. also needs a postgraduate qualification to meet the 2027/28 country rule.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA, BA or BCA, or a B.Tech in computer science, mechanical or civil engineering, which sit outside the food, agricultural, biological and biomedical fields listed.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. [1] For 2027/28 the university's accepted B2 scores include IELTS Academic or General Training 6.0, TOEFL iBT 86 for tests taken until 20 January 2026 or 4.5 for tests taken from 21 January 2026, PTE Academic 65, Cambridge B2 First 173, Trinity ISE II, Oxford Test of English 126 and Duolingo English Test 115. [4]
Certificates must still be valid or, where they have no expiry date, be no more than two years old on 15 September 2026. You can upload one after applying, up to 31 July 2027. [4]
You are exempt if you are a native speaker from a listed English-speaking country, or completed your qualification entirely in English in one of those countries or in the EU or Schengen area. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not on that list. [4]
Selection
There is no entrance test. The programme has open admission with requirements, and your application file, with your transcript, CV, motivation letter and English certificate, is assessed against the degree field, entry title and grade rules above. [1][5][8] The Admissions and Welcome Unit decides whether a foreign qualification meets the entry rules. [2]
2027/28 deadlines
Non-EU applicants living abroad can apply in Call One, from 15 September to 15 November 2026, or Call Two, from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. Call Three, from 1 April to 1 June 2027, is only for EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy. You can apply to this programme only once per academic year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
You can apply before graduating, but you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
The application needs your passport, your transcript or marksheet, your degree certificate if you have already graduated, a CV, a motivation letter and your English certificate, all uploaded as PDF files. Diplomas and transcripts must be official and in Italian or English, or come with official translations. No legalised documents are needed at this stage. [1][5]
- If admitted, you then formally accept your place. [1]
- Non-EU citizens living outside Italy complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July and apply for a type D study visa. [5]
- At enrolment, your degree and transcript must be translated into Italian or English and legalised or apostilled, or covered by a CIMEA certificate of verification. [5]
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 Padua, international application portal. Master's degree in Food and Health: entry qualification, language requirement, fees, programme structure and application calls, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Specific entry requirements for qualifications awarded by non-Italian education systems, updated 15 September 2026 and valid for academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. Admission notice for open-access master's degrees with requirements, candidates with an Italian qualification, Annex 1 course sheet for Food and Health, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Language requirement for admission to degree programmes, with the list of accepted English certificates and exemptions, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Admission of international students: how to apply, documents required for your application and how to enrol with a foreign qualification, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Tuition fees and exemptions notice, with the fixed fee for non-EU students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. Food and Health course details, study plan and professional opportunities pages, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Food and Health programme page (degree class, school, language, location and access type), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Food and Health is a master's degree in class LM-61-R (Human Nutrition Sciences), taught entirely in English by the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the Agripolis campus in Legnaro, near Padua. It lasts two years and 120 ECTS, has open admission with requirements and is managed by the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, with eight university departments taking part in the teaching. [1][7][8]
The degree studies the links between food, nutrition and human health through a "from harvested food to global health" approach, mixing theory with activities oriented to applied research. It suits graduates from agricultural, food, biological or biomedical backgrounds who want to work where food production meets public health.
What you will study
You start with one of two alternative entry courses chosen according to your background, bio-medical or agri-food. The programme then moves from the environmental footprint of food production through economics, food safety and metabolism to nutrition-related disease. Course units in the School's study plan include: [1][7]
- Nutrition and Metabolic Pathways: from Cells to Organs
- Genomics of Nutrition
- Ecology of Foodborne Pathogens, Food Toxicology and Antimicrobial Resistance
- International Regulations for Food Safety, Certification and Trading
- Food Microbiota, Human Microbiome, Plant Bioactive Compounds and Food Quality
- Research Methods in Economics: understanding decision making and consumer behaviour
- Quality Control and Data Analytics in Food Production
- Nutrition-related Diseases
How the programme is taught
The first year carries most of the taught course units, including the 11 ECTS entry-level unit and a 2 ECTS Communication Skills module. The second year adds four course units, 8 ECTS of electives and a master thesis worth 30 ECTS. Students can also apply for an Erasmus+ grant to gain experience abroad. [7]
Career paths
The School describes roles of responsibility in governmental and non-governmental organisations and in companies that produce, process and trade agri-food products. Graduates can also continue to doctoral research in Italy or abroad. The profiles listed include: [1][7]
- Product development and research specialist in the food industry
- Food quality and nutrition expert in public health and prevention
- Roles in public and private catering
- Nutrition and dietary roles in the health sector
- Independent consultancy
- NGOs, charities and projects on food quality and nutrition
Fees and scholarships
Food and Health is a Group B degree, so non-EU students whose household lives abroad pay a fixed, non-recalculable yearly fee, which is lower for students from countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. The ISEE parificato only reduces the regional tax. Students who are eligible for the Veneto regional scholarship are exempt from the fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. For 2026/27 the university also offered up to 100 fee exemptions to international students on degrees taught entirely in English, awarded on academic merit. [6] See the fees page.
How to apply from outside the EU
Applications go through apply.unipd.it, with your transcript, CV, motivation letter and English certificate; legalised copies are not needed at this stage. For 2027/28, non-EU applicants living abroad can use Call One (15 September to 15 November 2026) or Call Two (1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027), and can apply to this programme only once per academic year. [1][5]
Once admitted, you accept the place, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July, and you apply for a type D study visa. [1][5] At enrolment you present your degree and transcript translated into Italian or English and legalised or apostilled, or a CIMEA certificate of verification, and you must have graduated by 31 July 2027. Classes start on 1 October 2027. [1][2][5]
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 Padua's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application on the university portal, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Padua 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 Food and Health at Padua?
A degree of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent, in agricultural, forest, food or animal science, dietetics, applied pharmaceutical science, biology, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, molecular biology or a related field. Your degree must also meet the university's entry title and minimum grade rules for your country. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. The programme has open admission with requirements, so there is no written test. Your application, with your transcript, CV, motivation letter and English certificate, is assessed against the degree field, entry title and grade rules. [1][5][8]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. For 2027/28 the university accepts IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 86 (or 4.5 for tests from 21 January 2026), PTE Academic 65, Cambridge B2 First 173, Duolingo 115 and other listed tests. A degree taught in English in India or Pakistan is not on the exemption list. [1][4]
When is the 2027/28 deadline for non-EU students?
Non-EU applicants living abroad can apply in Call One, from 15 September to 15 November 2026, or Call Two, from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. You can apply only once per year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply while finishing your bachelor's, but you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027 to enrol for 2027/28. You can also upload your English certificate after applying, up to 31 July 2027. [2][4]
What grade do I need?
The 2027/28 country list sets minimums of 70/100 or 7.0/10 for India, a GPA of 3.3/4.0 for Pakistan and Bangladesh, and 3.0/4.0 for Sri Lanka. Holders of Italian degrees need at least 95/110. [2][3]
I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Microbiology. Can I apply?
Possibly. Applied pharmaceutical science, biology, biotechnology and molecular biology are among the fields the university lists. A four-year B.Pharm fits India's professional degree rule, while a three-year B.Sc. must be Honours, or be followed by a postgraduate qualification, and your grade must meet the minimum. [1][2]
What jobs do graduates do?
The School lists roles in governmental and non-governmental organisations, the food industry, the production and trade of agri-food products, public and private catering, nutrition and dietary roles in health, public health and prevention, and doctoral research in Italy or abroad. [1][7]
Can someone handle my whole application to Food and Health at Padua?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Padua's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Padua 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 Food and Health?
Padua's 2027/28 country list covers Indian 3 or 4-year Honours bachelor's degrees and professional bachelor's degrees of 4 years or more, with a minimum of 70/100 or 7.0/10. Your degree should be in a food, agricultural, biological, biomedical, pharmaceutical or related science, and you need English at B2. The steps are the online application, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2] 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 Food and Health are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in Call One or Call Two, admission decision, place acceptance 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 Food and Health are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in Call One or Call Two, admission decision, place acceptance 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 Food and Health 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 in Call One or Call Two, admission decision, place acceptance 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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