Food Science and Technology (LM-70) at University of Turin

If you want to study in Italy in English and build a career shaping safer, tastier, and more sustainable foods, this LM-70 master’s is a clear path. It sits among respected English-taught programs in Italy and follows the standards used by public Italian universities. With early planning, the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy can reduce total costs and, for many profiles, align with the idea behind tuition-free universities Italy.

Food Science and Technology connects chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and data. You will learn how ingredients behave, how processes change quality, and how to keep products safe from plant to plate. Teaching in English helps you work with international teams and follow global rules and methods with confidence.

Why study in Italy in English for Food Science and Technology

Studying in English lets you learn and communicate using the shared technical language of the global food sector. It helps you read current research, understand standards, and present your work to partners from many countries.

You will learn how to design recipes, scale processes, and use data to make decisions. You will practise safe lab habits, write short technical reports, and learn to explain results to non-experts. The goal is simple: create products people trust, produced with care for health, cost, and the environment.

What you will gain

• A strong base in food chemistry, biochemistry, and physical properties.
• Microbiology skills to prevent spoilage and manage pathogens.
• Process engineering tools to scale from bench to pilot plant.
• Sensory science and consumer testing methods.
• Quality systems and risk assessment (including HACCP and traceability).
• Data literacy for design of experiments, statistics, and dashboards.
• Clear English writing and speaking for technical and non-technical audiences.

Where this can lead

• Product development for dairy, bakery, beverages, plant-based foods, and more.
• Food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
• Process optimisation and continuous improvement in factories.
• Packaging innovation for shelf life and sustainability.
• Supply-chain planning, cold-chain design, and auditing.
• Sustainability roles measuring water, energy, and carbon footprints.
• Research assistant roles or a PhD in food science or biotechnology.

Who thrives in this course

• Curious learners who enjoy experiments and careful measurement.
• Team players who give and receive feedback on time.
• Problem-solvers who link data with real-world decisions.
• Communicators who can write short, useful documents.

English-taught programs in Italy: course structure, labs, and skills

As one of the English-taught programs in Italy, the master’s follows the ECTS credit system. You complete 120 ECTS across four semesters. Teaching, assessments, and the thesis can be done in English, which supports mobility across Europe and beyond.

Structure at a glance (four semesters)

• Semester 1: food chemistry and biochemistry; food microbiology; statistics and experimental design; academic writing.
• Semester 2: food process engineering; heat and mass transfer in foods; sensory science; quality and safety systems.
• Semester 3: electives and specialisation tracks; pilot-plant practice; internship; thesis proposal.
• Semester 4: thesis research and defence; seminars with industry partners; professional portfolio.

Core knowledge you will master

• Food chemistry: water activity, Maillard reactions, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
• Microbiology: growth kinetics, biofilms, predictive models, fermentation control, and sanitation.
• Process engineering: mixing, emulsification, pasteurisation, sterilisation, drying, extrusion, and encapsulation.
• Physical properties: rheology, phase transitions, gelation, crystallisation, and texture.
• Safety and quality: hazard analysis, allergen control, sampling plans, and shelf-life modelling.
• Sensory and consumer science: test design, panel training, and preference mapping.
• Packaging: barrier properties, modified-atmosphere systems, active and intelligent packaging.
• Data and digital: design of experiments, process monitoring, SPC charts, and basic coding.

Elective tracks to tailor your path

• Clean-label and plant-based innovation: reformulation, protein functionality, and alternatives to additives.
• Fermented foods and beverages: starter cultures, bioreactors, flavour development, and stability.
• Nutraceuticals and functional foods: bioavailability, claims, and regulatory pathways.
• Meat, dairy, and seafood technologies: structure, safety, and consumer trends.
• Cereal and bakery systems: dough rheology, enzymes, and staling control.
• Food packaging and logistics: shelf-life design and cold-chain engineering.
• Data-driven process control: sensors, IoT basics, and predictive maintenance.

Laboratory and pilot-plant skills

• Hygienic design, aseptic practice, and safe handling of chemicals and equipment.
• Microbiological methods: plating, rapid tests, challenge studies, and environmental monitoring.
• Chromatography and spectroscopy for flavour and nutrient analysis.
• Thermal processing validation with data loggers and lethality calculations.
• Rheology, texture analysis, and particle-size measurements.
• Sensory booths, panel management, and statistical analysis of results.
• Packaging tests: oxygen transmission rate, water vapour transmission rate, and compression.

Assessment you can plan for

• Short quizzes and problem sets with transparent rubrics.
• Lab reports with method, uncertainty, and limits.
• Team projects with milestones and peer review.
• Oral presentations focused on decisions and evidence.
• A thesis with clear figures, readable code or spreadsheets, and a practical conclusion.

Learning inside public Italian universities: quality, safety, and support

As part of public Italian universities, the programme follows clear rules on teaching quality, safety, and integrity. This structure helps you plan your time and focus on learning.

What this means for you

• Published syllabi with learning outcomes, methods, and assessments.
• Exam calendars released early, with defined retake opportunities.
• Lab safety training and supervision in pilot-plant facilities.
• Academic integrity policy with citation guidance and research ethics.
• Administrative support for enrolment, exams, internships, and thesis steps.

Why structure matters for Food Science and Technology

• Process validation and safety depend on correct timing and records.
• Sensory tests and panel work require careful scheduling.
• Thesis work benefits from early milestones and feedback.
• Funding renewals often depend on credits; a calendar protects your plan.

Professional habits you will practise

• Documentation: clear SOPs (standard operating procedures), batch records, and change logs.
• Risk control: hazard lists with owners and deadlines.
• Clean data: version control, naming conventions, and reproducible files.
• Communication: one-page memos that start with the decision and the evidence.
• Integrity: report limits honestly and propose safe pilots.

Industry-style tools you will learn

• HACCP and prerequisite programmes (hygiene, allergen, and pest controls).
• Verification and validation steps for critical limits.
• Statistical process control and capability analysis.
• Root-cause analysis and corrective action plans.
• Traceability systems and mock recall drills.

Career outcomes and sectors

• R&D and product development: create, test, and launch new foods.
• Quality assurance and compliance: maintain certifications and pass audits.
• Operations and process: improve yields, reduce waste, and save energy.
• Supply chain and packaging: design shelf life and protect quality in transit.
• Technical sales and applications: support customers with evidence and trials.
• Regulatory affairs: label checks, claims, and market entry strategy.
• Sustainability: life-cycle assessment and circular solutions.

Funding road map toward tuition-free universities Italy (DSU grant and scholarships)

Many students combine the DSU grant with scholarships for international students in Italy to lower the net cost. This approach aligns with pathways often grouped under tuition-free universities Italy, even when a full fee waiver is not possible.

DSU grant (Diritto allo Studio Universitario)

• May include a fee reduction or waiver, a living scholarship, and services that cut daily costs.
• Requires income and identity documents; some may need translation or legalisation (official recognition).
• Renewal depends on credits and grades; track thresholds from the first semester.
• Payment often arrives in instalments; plan a buffer for early expenses.

Scholarships for international students in Italy

• Merit awards for strong transcripts or a promising project proposal.
• Mobility support for relocation and setup.
• Departmental prizes for excellent lab work or thesis results.
• Paid student roles with set hours under academic rules.

A simple funding plan

1. Build one calendar of deadlines for the DSU grant and other scholarship calls.
2. Prepare required documents and certified translations early.
3. Submit ahead of time and store confirmations in one folder.
4. Track renewal criteria with monthly reminders.
5. Draft a semester budget with a small emergency buffer.

Budget habits that protect study time

• Plan by semester and match major costs to milestones.
• Use libraries and digital resources before buying books.
• Share housing and plan meals to reduce waste.
• Compare transport options and use student discounts.
• Keep receipts and copies ready for any audit.

Part-time work and internships

• Choose roles that fit your timetable and learning goals.
• Record hours and tasks; respect any visa limits.
• Prefer internships that give clear supervision and feedback.
• Protect lab and thesis time; do not overload your week.

Curriculum depth: from molecules to markets

Food Science and Technology brings science and engineering together. You study how small changes at the molecular level shape texture, flavour, safety, and shelf life, and how process choices affect cost and sustainability.

Chemistry and biochemistry

• Reactions that create colour and flavour, and how to control them.
• Lipid oxidation and strategies to delay rancidity.
• Protein functionality for foams, gels, and emulsions.
• Carbohydrate behaviour from starch gelatinisation to retrogradation.
• Vitamins, minerals, and nutrient stability.

Microbiology and safety

• Growth models and factors that control spoilage and pathogens.
• Fermentation design and control for flavour and safety.
• Biofilms and sanitation programmes that actually work.
• Predictive microbiology to set safe limits and shelf life.
• Challenge tests to verify barriers and processes.

Process engineering

• Thermal processes with accurate time–temperature profiles.
• Non-thermal methods (e.g., high-pressure processing and pulsed electric fields).
• Drying, concentration, and encapsulation to protect quality.
• Emulsions and foams with stable droplet or bubble sizes.
• Scale-up rules that preserve quality from lab to line.

Sensory and consumer science

• Discrimination, descriptive, and hedonic tests.
• Panel selection and training with reference standards.
• Preference mapping and linking sensory to drivers of liking.
• Clear reports that stakeholders can use.

Packaging and shelf life

• Gas barriers, light protection, and mechanical strength.
• MAP (modified-atmosphere packaging) design and validation.
• Active and intelligent packaging for quality and safety signals.
• Storage tests and accelerated ageing models.

Data and digital tools

• Design of experiments for efficient testing.
• Statistical analysis with honest uncertainty.
• Process monitoring with control charts and alarms.
• Simple dashboards that show the right signal at the right time.

Projects and portfolio: work that proves your skill

A concise portfolio helps employers see what you can do. Aim for projects with a clear question, a clean method, and a practical result.

Suggested portfolio pieces

1. Shelf-life model for a new product, validated by real storage data.
2. Thermal-process validation with lethality calculations and logger traces.
3. Sensory study that links drivers of liking to an actionable change.
4. Packaging comparison with oxygen and moisture barrier data.
5. Process improvement that saves energy or reduces waste.
6. HACCP review with a revised plan and verification checks.
7. Sustainability case using life-cycle thinking and a tested reformulation.
8. Thesis proposal with milestones, risks, and a data-management plan.

How to present each item

• Start with the decision your work informed.
• Show one figure with units, dates, and uncertainty ranges.
• Explain the method and the main limit.
• Propose a safe next step and an owner.
• Provide readable files and a short readme.

Admissions and preparation: show you are ready

Selection values science basics, safe lab behaviour, and clear writing. You do not need to be expert in everything, but you should show discipline and motivation.

Who should apply

• Graduates in food science, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, agriculture, or related fields.
• Engineers with interest in process and product design.
• Early professionals who want to formalise practical experience.

Preparation that helps

• Refreshers in chemistry, microbiology, and thermodynamics.
• Basic statistics and experimental design.
• Short-form writing in English for technical readers.
• Familiarity with HACCP and simple risk tools.
• Notebook hygiene, data logs, and version control habits.

Application documents

• Degree certificate and transcripts with dates and credits.
• One- or two-page CV focused on results and responsibilities.
• Motivation letter linking goals to Food Science and Technology.
• Language certificate if requested.
• A sample project with a short method note.

Writing a strong motivation letter

• Open with one sentence about your goal.
• Give one example that proves persistence and care.
• Explain a problem you solved and how you measured change.
• Link electives and a thesis idea to your plan.
• Close with a realistic timeline and next steps.

Thesis roadmap: one question, one method, one honest limit

Your thesis is your calling card. Keep the scope tight and the outputs usable.

Possible themes

• Reformulation to cut sodium or sugar while keeping liking scores.
• Clean-label stabilisers for sauces or plant-based dairy.
• Thermal or non-thermal steps that improve safety with less damage.
• Shelf-life extension using active packaging.
• Fermentation strategies to enhance flavour and reduce waste.
• Energy-saving process changes with measured impact.

Deliverables employers value

• A two-page executive summary with the key result or number.
• Clean figures and captions that a manager can read fast.
• Reproducible files (spreadsheets or code) with a readme.
• A short section on limits and next steps.

How to stay on track

• Fix milestones and add buffers for delays.
• Share partial drafts and invite targeted feedback.
• Record assumptions and update them when evidence shifts.
• Leave time for proofreading and formatting.

Daily routines that build trust and speed

Small habits protect quality and time. They also make teamwork easier.

Communication

• Begin with the decision; then show the evidence and risk.
• Use numbers people can picture, not only percentages.
• Keep figures honest: units, scales, and intervals visible.
• If evidence is thin, say so and propose a pilot.

Teamwork

• Assign roles and deadlines early.
• Keep a risk and decision log for each project.
• Review with checklists; record fixes and lessons.
• Thank reviewers and update files promptly.

Integrity

• Disclose assumptions and data limits.
• Avoid cherry-picking or data dredging.
• Respect licences, confidentiality, and consent.
• Credit contributors and declare conflicts.

Bringing it all together

Food Science and Technology (LM-70) at University of Turin (Università degli Studi di Torino) gives you a practical, science-driven route into a vital industry. You study in English in a solid framework used by public Italian universities. You design products and processes, measure what matters, and communicate clearly. With planning—DSU grant applications and scholarships for international students in Italy—you can manage costs and focus on learning. By graduation, you will have a portfolio that shows your skills and a method that employers trust.

Ready for this programme?
If you qualify and we still have a spot this month, we’ll reserve your place with ApplyAZ. Our team will tailor a set of best-fit majors—including this course—and handle every form and deadline for you. One upload, many applications, guaranteed offers, DSU grant support, and visa coaching: that’s the ApplyAZ promise. Start now and secure your spot before this month’s intake fills up.