Master in Innovation Development in Agri-Food Systems at University of Bari Aldo Moro
Two-year English-taught LM-69 R master at the University of Bari Aldo Moro that trains agri-food innovation brokers in low-input production, waste reduction, biomass recycling and business innovation. Entry needs 24 subject credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Bari
English
University of Bari Aldo Moro
Innovation Development in Agri-Food Systems (IDEAS) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-69 R) taught in English at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Bari. Entry needs a three-year bachelor's with at least 24 credits in listed science, engineering, agricultural, statistics or economics subjects, plus English at B2. With the ADISU Puglia scholarship and income-based fees, it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniBa's IDEAS master asks for a three-year bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 24 credits in listed science, engineering, agricultural, statistics or economics subjects, English at B2, and a preparation check that is passed with a final mark above 89/110 or equivalent, or otherwise through an interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a three-year bachelor's degree (laurea triennale) or a foreign qualification recognised as equivalent. A committee checks your curricular requirements from the documents you submit. [1]
Your degree must give you knowledge and skills worth at least 24 CFU in these subject areas: [1]
- mathematics, physics, chemistry and earth sciences;
- biology and agricultural sciences;
- industrial, chemical, materials, management and information engineering;
- statistics, economics and business management.
If you do not meet the curricular requirements, the committee can ask you to make them up through single courses at UniBa. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at the subjects you studied, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Botany, Biotechnology or Food Science, or a B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering or Food Technology, which normally covers well over 24 credits in biology, chemistry and agricultural subjects.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical or Computer Engineering, a B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics, or a BCA, where maths, science and engineering courses can count towards the 24 credits but agri-food content is limited.
- Check carefully: a B.Com or BBA, where only statistics, economics and management courses can count.
- Often short: a BA in humanities, languages or law, which rarely includes the listed subjects.
Missing requirements can be made up through single courses at UniBa, as the committee indicates. [1]
English
English is the official language of the course. If English is not your first language and your degree was not taught in English, you need English at CEFR level B2 or an equivalent, such as Academic IELTS or TOEFL iBT. The regulations do not set specific scores. [1]
If you hold a B2 certificate, you are exempt from the course's English test. Otherwise your level is checked with a 20-question test on grammar and reading comprehension, which you pass with at least 11 correct answers. [1]
Preparation check
The course is open access, with no selective entrance exam. Enrolment depends on a check of your personal preparation by a committee of course lecturers: [1]
- Final bachelor's mark above 89/110, or the equivalent: the check is passed.
- Lower final mark: you have an interview on basic science topics, with a focus on the agri-food sector. The committee sends dates to candidates who have applied to enrol, and can hold the interview online.
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who needed a visa had until 30 June 2026 to request the evaluation of their qualification on UniBa's DreamApply portal. After a positive evaluation, Universitaly pre-enrolment for open-access programmes was due by 30 September 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
Every applicant with a foreign qualification must request its evaluation on UniBa's DreamApply portal before enrolling. [3]
Only after a positive evaluation can you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for a type D study visa, uploading the same qualifications and documents. Pre-enrolment does not secure a visa appointment, and acceptance by the university gives no right to a visa. [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 Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences. Course regulations, International Master's degree in Innovation Development in Agri-Food Systems (IDEAS), class LM-69 R, 2026/27 cohort, approved by Rector's Decree no. 1984 of 16 June 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bari Aldo Moro. Admission of international students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bari Aldo Moro. Student contributions regulation, academic year 2026/27, issued by Rector's Decree no. 2472 of 31 July 2026 and amended by Rector's Decree no. 2686 of 4 September 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bari Aldo Moro, IDEAS programme page (language, degree class and access type). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Innovation Development in Agri-Food Systems (IDEAS) is a two-year international laurea magistrale in class LM-69 R (Agricultural Sciences and Technologies), taught in English by the Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences of the University of Bari Aldo Moro. It carries 120 ECTS and is open access, with no cap on places. [1][4]
Teaching takes place in person on the Bari campus, and attendance is recommended but not compulsory. Up to a third of teaching can be delivered online, concentrated on first-semester, first-year courses for students whose study visa is delayed. Exams and the final exam are held in person. You can also enrol part time, which doubles the length to four years. [1]
The degree trains innovation intermediaries for the agri-food sector, which the university calls AgriFood Innovation Brokers: people who take knowledge from science to business and apply new technologies with a multidisciplinary approach based on sustainability and the circular economy. It suits graduates in agricultural, food and related sciences.
What you will study
The course is built around three areas: innovative techniques to reduce inputs and impacts in agri-food systems, techniques to reduce waste and reuse and add value to biomass, and business development with transversal skills. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [1]
- Year 1: Modern Plant Breeding Strategies; Innovative and Smart Technologies in Crop Protection; Food and Food Components from Agrifood By-products and Novel Sources; Advanced Data Analysis Methods for Sustainable Agronomic and Environmental Management; Fruit Tree Eco-physiology and Strategies to Cope with Climate Change; Innovation in Biomass and Wastes Management in Agrifood Systems; Circular Economy and Policies
- Year 2: Sustainable Field Cropping Systems for Bio-based Sectors and Bio-energy, plus two of seven options covering soil, microorganism and plant interactions, fresh produce losses, eco-friendly biomass recycling, biodiversity in crop production, fruit and vegetable crops, bioeconomy and innovation, and remote sensing in agriculture
The second year also includes 9 free-choice credits, a 7 ECTS internship to prepare the thesis and a 20 ECTS thesis, written in English and structured like a scientific paper. Part of the thesis work can take place in companies or abroad through Erasmus+ or Global Thesis. [1]
Career paths
Graduates work as innovation brokers between research and agribusiness. The 2026/27 regulations list these employers and roles: [1]
- Freelance technical consulting, after passing the state exam for the register of agronomists and foresters
- Biomass reuse companies, biorefineries and green chemical industries
- Smart companies building decision support systems and sensors
- Bio-pharmaceutical companies
- Fruit and vegetable producer consortia and large-scale retail
- Seed and nursery companies
- Public and private research bodies, public administration and public education
Fees and scholarships
If your family's income and assets are only outside Italy, UniBa's 2026/27 regulation sets a fixed annual contribution by country group instead of an ISEE calculation, and students from the poorest countries pay nothing. With income or assets in Italy you use the ISEE or ISEE parificato, and an ISEE up to €26,000 means no contribution. Students eligible for an ADISU Puglia scholarship are fully exempt, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [3]
How to apply from outside the EU
Every applicant with a foreign qualification first requests an evaluation of it on UniBa's DreamApply portal, apply.uniba.it, where the course checks your three-year degree and the 24 credits in the listed subject areas. [1][3]
For 2026/27 the deadline for non-EU applicants needing a visa was 30 June 2026. After a positive evaluation, Universitaly pre-enrolment for open-access programmes such as this one was due by 30 September 2026, and you then apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [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 UniBa's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your qualification evaluation request on UniBa's DreamApply portal and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ADISU Puglia 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 the IDEAS master in Bari?
A three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 24 credits in listed subject areas: maths, physics, chemistry, earth sciences, biology, agriculture, engineering, statistics or economics. A committee checks this from your documents, and missing requirements can be made up through single courses. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. The course is open access. If your final bachelor's mark is above 89/110 or the equivalent, your preparation check is passed; otherwise you have an interview on basic science with a focus on agri-food, which can be held online. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2, unless English is your first language or your degree was taught in English. The regulations name Academic IELTS and TOEFL iBT as examples but set no scores. Without a B2 certificate, you take a 20-question English test and need 11 correct answers. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants needing a visa had until 30 June 2026 to request the evaluation of their qualification, and Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 30 September 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [2]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a B.Com. Can I apply?
Possibly. Maths, physics, engineering, statistics, economics and management courses all count towards the 24 required credits, so the committee checks your transcript. If your final mark is not above 89/110 or the equivalent, you also have an interview on agri-food science basics. [1]
Is the IDEAS master taught online?
No, teaching is in person in Bari. Up to a third can be delivered online, concentrated on first-semester, first-year courses for students whose study visa is delayed. Exams and the final exam are held in person. [1]
Where do graduates work?
The regulations list freelance consulting after the agronomists' state exam, biomass reuse firms and biorefineries, decision support and sensor companies, bio-pharmaceutical firms, fruit and vegetable consortia, large retailers, seed and nursery companies, research bodies, public administration and public education. [1]
How do fees work for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU students whose family lives abroad with income and assets only abroad pay a fixed yearly contribution by country group, and some country groups pay nothing. Students eligible for an ADISU Puglia scholarship are exempt from the all-inclusive contribution, so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to IDEAS at UniBa?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniBa's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ADISU Puglia 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 IDEAS?
A recognised three-year Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Sc. in Agriculture, Botany or Biotechnology, or a B.Tech, can meet the rule if it includes at least 24 credits in the listed science, engineering, agricultural, statistics or economics subjects. You also need English at B2. The steps are the qualification evaluation on UniBa's DreamApply portal, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the preparation check. [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 IDEAS are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: qualification evaluation on UniBa's DreamApply portal, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the preparation check, 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 IDEAS are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: qualification evaluation on UniBa's DreamApply portal, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the preparation check. 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 IDEAS 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: qualification evaluation on UniBa's DreamApply portal, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the preparation check, 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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