Master in Functional and Sustainable Materials at University of Parma
Two-year English-taught materials science master's at the University of Parma on designing and characterising functional, sustainable materials, with extensive lab work and a 32-credit internship and thesis. Entry needs a science background and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Parma
English
University of Parma
Functional and Sustainable Materials is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-Sc.Mat.) taught in English at the University of Parma. An internal committee checks foreign bachelor's degrees case by case for a solid science background, there is no entrance test, and you need English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Parma's Functional and Sustainable Materials master asks for a bachelor's degree with a solid scientific background, judged case by case for foreign degrees, plus English at B2. There is no entrance test: an internal committee reviews each candidate's academic record. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
If your bachelor's degree is from outside Italy, an internal committee assesses your scientific competence case by case from your transcript. [1]
For Italian degrees, a bachelor's in materials science (class L-Sc.Mat) qualifies directly. A three-year degree in another class needs at least one of these credit blocks: [1]
- 21 ECTS in chemistry (sectors CHIM/01, 02, 03, 04 or 06)
- 21 ECTS in physics (sectors FIS/01 to FIS/08)
- 18 ECTS in mathematics or computing (sectors MAT/01 to MAT/09 or INF/01, or specific informatics or statistics courses)
Italian graduates short of these credits can make up as many as 30 CFU through a curricular requirements recovery pathway. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The credit blocks above are written for Italian degrees, and the committee judges foreign degrees as a whole. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics or Materials Science, or a B.Tech or B.E. in Chemical, Materials or Metallurgical Engineering, which normally carry well over 21 credits of chemistry or physics.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Mechanical, Electrical or Civil Engineering, a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Computer Science, or a BCA. These often reach the 18-credit maths or computing block, but the committee looks at your scientific background as a whole.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely include the chemistry, physics or maths credits the rule describes.
We check your transcript against these blocks before you apply.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. Applicants with a non-Italian degree need a certificate from a recognised body, such as Cambridge English, City and Guilds, Pearson, EDI (LCCIEB), IELTS, Trinity College London or TOEFL (ETS). The university does not list minimum scores. [1]
Native English speakers are exempt, as are applicants who completed at least one year of education in English and provide an English proficiency letter or a medium of instruction (MOI) document. [1]
Selection
There is no entrance test. Access is open with verification of requirements: an internal committee evaluates each candidate's curricular achievements, and candidates with a positive evaluation can then enrol. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who needed a study visa applied on Parma's admissions portal from 15 January to 6 April 2026. The 2027/28 call sets the new dates. [2]
For 2026/27, enrolment for most programmes closes on 31 October 2026. Non-EU students arriving on a study visa may enrol until 31 January 2027, subject to the university's assessment of the programme. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
The application needs your passport (valid for at least two years), CV, transcript of records, school-leaving diploma, bachelor's degree certificate and proof of English at B2. The portal charges a €30 application fee. [1][2]
After acceptance, visa applicants register on Universitaly, choose Parma and the programme, name the Italian embassy or consulate where they will apply for the visa and attach Parma's letter. They then pre-enrol and pay the first instalment. [1]
To complete enrolment, you hand in original documents in person: your degree certificate, legalised or apostilled, with a translation into Italian or English; a transcript; and either a declaration of value from the Italian embassy or a CIMEA statement of comparability. You also need an Italian tax code issued by the Revenue Agency or an Italian embassy or consulate. [1][3]
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 Parma, Master's degree in Functional and Sustainable Materials. Enrolment procedures and deadlines, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Parma. Call for English-taught master's degrees for non-EU students requiring a visa, and Admissions Portal guidance, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Parma. Completing enrolment with a foreign qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Parma. Tuition fees for international students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Parma, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability. Call for three study prizes for students of the Master's degree in Functional and Sustainable Materials, academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Functional and Sustainable Materials is a two-year second-cycle degree in materials science (class LM Sc. Mat.) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English in Parma. It is run by the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability together with the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences.
The course grew out of COMP-R, a MUR Department of Excellence project for 2023 to 2027 on complexity and sustainable development, which funds new instruments, new teaching staff and scholarships for the best students. It suits graduates in materials science, chemistry, physics or related sciences who want to design and analyse advanced materials for sustainable uses.
What you will study
Core teaching in chemistry and physics is paired with options in engineering, geology and biology, and a large share of the plan is lab work. You build part of your plan from two elective menus. Units in the 2026/27 plan include:
- Structural Materials, Inorganic Glass and Sustainable Polymeric Materials with lab (12 CFU)
- Condensed Matter Physics (9 CFU)
- Statistics and Chemometrics for Materials Science
- Advanced Synthesis of Sustainable Molecular Materials with lab
- Computational Materials Science with lab
- Physical Characterisation of Energy Materials
- Electives such as Catalytic Technologies for Sustainability, Carbon-based Nanostructures, Materials for Additive Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence for Materials Science
- Internship and final dissertation (32 CFU)
How the programme is taught
Attendance is not compulsory, except for practical activities, which carry a large part of the training. The second year ends with an internship and dissertation worth 32 credits, and you have up to 12 credits of free choice across the two years.
Career paths
The university expects graduates to work across the whole life cycle of materials, from production to characterisation, analysis and quality control, with attention to sustainability. Typical roles include:
- Research and development of new materials in industry
- Management of production processes
- Advanced design and technical leadership roles
- Scientific and technical consultancy for companies that develop and test advanced materials
Fees and scholarships
For 2025/26, the department funded three COMP-R study prizes of €1,500 each for second-year students of this programme, two of them reserved for international students, ranked on credits and grades with no application needed. [5] Otherwise, standard Parma fees apply. The 2026/27 first instalment is €156; the yearly contribution then ranges from nothing to about €2,000 depending on family finances, merit and years enrolled. [4] ER.GO, the Emilia-Romagna agency, handles fee reductions for students with income abroad and runs the regional scholarship call, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
With a non-Italian bachelor's degree, an internal committee reviews your transcript case by case, and you need a certified B2 in English unless you are exempt. [1]
Visa applicants apply through Parma's admissions portal, apply.unipr.it, which charges a €30 application fee and accepts up to three programmes. For 2026/27, the call for English-taught master's degrees ran from 15 January to 6 April 2026, and the next call sets the new dates. [2] Once you are accepted, we pre-enrol you with the university and register you on Universitaly, and you apply for a type D study visa. At enrolment you need a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement for your degree. [3]
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 Parma's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application on Parma's admissions portal, Universitaly pre-enrolment and university pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Parma's Functional and Sustainable Materials master?
A bachelor's with a solid scientific background. An internal committee judges foreign degrees case by case. For Italian degrees outside materials science, the rule is at least 21 ECTS in chemistry, 21 in physics or 18 in maths and computing. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No. There is no written exam. Access is open with verification of requirements: an internal committee reviews your curricular achievements, and candidates with a positive evaluation can then enrol. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher. With a foreign degree you need a recognised certificate, such as IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, Pearson or Trinity, and no minimum scores are listed. Native speakers and applicants with at least one year of English-medium study and an MOI or proficiency letter are exempt. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who needed a visa applied on apply.unipr.it from 15 January to 6 April 2026. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates, so we track it and prepare your file before it opens. [2]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a BCA. Can I apply?
Possibly. Foreign degrees are judged case by case. Engineering and BCA degrees often reach the benchmark of 18 credits in maths or computing, but the committee looks at your scientific background as a whole, so we check your transcript before you apply. [1]
Is Functional and Sustainable Materials taught in English?
Yes. It is listed as a course taught in English, and applicants need English at B2 unless they are native speakers or studied for at least one year in English. [1]
Are there scholarships?
For 2025/26, the department funded three COMP-R study prizes of €1,500 for second-year students of this programme, two reserved for international students. [5] Eligible students can also apply for the ER.GO regional scholarship, which the region awards. [4]
What jobs can graduates get?
The university expects graduates to work in research and development of new materials, management of production processes, quality control, advanced design roles and technical consultancy for companies that develop and test advanced materials.
Can someone handle my whole application to Functional and Sustainable Materials at Parma?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Parma's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Functional and Sustainable Materials?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in a science or engineering field, such as a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Physics or a B.Tech in Chemical or Materials Engineering, can fit, as an internal committee judges foreign degrees case by case. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, an acceptance letter 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 Functional and Sustainable Materials are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application on apply.unipr.it, an acceptance letter 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 Functional and Sustainable Materials are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application on apply.unipr.it, an acceptance letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: online application on apply.unipr.it, an acceptance letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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