Master in Health and Physical Activity at University of Rome Foro Italico
Two-year English-taught LM-67 European master at Foro Italico in Rome on exercise for health, prevention and rehabilitation, with second-year internships at partner universities in Oslo, Vienna, Odense and Cologne.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
University of Rome Foro Italico
Health and Physical Activity is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (LM-67) taught in English at the University of Rome Foro Italico, with a first year in Rome and second-year internships at European partner universities. Fees depend on family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
- A bachelor's degree of at least three years (180 ECTS) in sport science, or an equivalent non-EU degree.
- Graduates in other fields need at least 28 ECTS: 12 biomedical, 12 in physical education, sport or movement science, and 4 in psychology, pedagogy or sociology.
- English at B2 to C1 level, assessed during selection.
- Admission test set by the university: a check of your study record, then an online test on preventive and adapted physical activity and an interview on those topics and your motivation.
- Holders of a foreign degree applying in Rome submit the university's foreign academic title form and CV, and provide translated degree documents with proof of validity within the set time after enrolment.
About the programme
The European Master of Science in Health and Physical Activity is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-67) run by the Department of Exercise, Human and Health Sciences at the University of Rome Foro Italico, Italy's state university for sport and movement sciences. Foro Italico has coordinated it since 2002 with the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in Oslo, the University of Vienna, the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and the German Sport University Cologne.
Teaching is entirely in English. Graduates receive a joint European certificate together with the Italian Laurea Magistrale in Attività Fisica e Salute. It suits sport science graduates, and graduates of related fields with enough biomedical and movement science credits, who want to work with exercise for health, prevention and rehabilitation rather than competitive performance.
What you will study
The first year is a common path in Rome built around four 15 ECTS teaching modules, with lecturers drawn from universities across Europe. The second year combines two internship areas and a 30 ECTS thesis. Units in the current plan include:
- Biomedical challenges and considerations in health and exercise
- Lifelong healthy habits: promoting physical activity from childhood to adulthood
- Enhancing well-being through movement therapy and physical activity for adult and special populations
- Integrated research methodology in sport sciences
- Second-year areas: children, adults, elderly, musculoskeletal disorders, movement therapy in orthopaedic rehabilitation, and psycho-pedagogic aspects of preventive physical activity
- Specialist units such as exercise therapy in cardiac patients, digital health with wearable devices, and exercise prescription for people with diabetes
How the programme is taught
Three first-year modules run in Rome in autumn and winter; the fourth takes place in Rome in spring or at a partner university. Second-year internships run from spring to autumn at the partners: Odense (children and elderly), Vienna (adults), Cologne (sport therapy), Oslo (psychology) and Rome (orthopaedic rehabilitation). You must earn at least 15 ECTS at two different partner universities.
Attendance of at least 90% per module is required. Teaching mixes lectures, seminars, practical sessions, lab work and student presentations, supported by online resources, and a compulsory English academic writing course runs mostly online. Single modules are also open to qualified students at €800 each.
Career paths
The university describes roles in public and private settings that design, run and manage physical activity for fitness, wellbeing and the prevention of chronic disease. Listed profiles include:
- Advanced fitness instructor or personal trainer, and specialist instructor in health-oriented exercise
- Public health promoter
- Manager of fitness and health activities for young people, older adults, functional re-education and special populations
- Specialist in the education and training of people with disabilities
Fees and scholarships
This master follows Foro Italico's standard fee system (2026/27 calendar). You pay a first instalment of €156, the €140 Lazio regional tax plus €16 stamp duty, then two instalments set by your ISEE bracket; students with income abroad submit an ISEE parificato by the end of November, otherwise the top bracket applies. Up to ten top-ranked students from partner universities are exempt. Lazio DiSCo scholarship applicants pay only the first instalment while awaiting results, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Applicants from outside the partner countries apply to the Rome office and, at the same time, through the Esse3 admission portal, attaching the foreign degree form and CV. Selection covers your degree, a basic knowledge test, an interview and English. For 2026/27 the deadline was 16 July 2026 at 12:00 noon, with the online test on 20 July and interviews on 22 and 23 July. Non-EU applicants also pre-enrol on Universitaly and then apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 call is still to come.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Is the Health and Physical Activity master taught in English?
Yes. The whole programme runs in English, and the selection checks your English at B2 to C1 level. Admitted students also complete a compulsory English academic writing course in the first year.
Which bachelor's degrees are accepted?
Sport science graduates meet the minimum requirements directly. Graduates of other three-year (180 ECTS) degrees need at least 28 ECTS: 12 biomedical, 12 in physical education or movement science, and 4 in psychology, pedagogy or sociology.
Is there an entrance test?
Yes. After a check of your study record, eligible candidates sit an online test on preventive and adapted physical activity, then an interview on those topics and on motivation. For 2026/27 the test was on 20 July and interviews on 22 and 23 July.
Where will I study?
The first year is in Rome at Foro Italico. In the second year you choose two internship areas hosted by partner universities in Odense, Vienna, Cologne and Oslo, with orthopaedic rehabilitation offered in Rome.
When can I apply for 2027/28?
The 2027/28 call is not published yet. For 2026/27 the deadline for the selection was 16 July 2026 at 12:00 noon (CEST), with 38 places in the call and enrolment in late September.
How much does it cost?
Fees follow the Foro Italico rules: a first instalment of €156 (regional tax and stamp duty), then two instalments set by your ISEE or ISEE parificato bracket. Eligible students can apply for the Lazio DiSCo scholarship.
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