Master in Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism at University of Sassari
Two-year English-taught LM-77 master's from the University of Sassari, taught in Olbia, Sardinia, in tourism economics, strategy, data forecasting, marketing and service design. Entry needs a business or economics degree or about 40 credits, an entry test and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Sassari
English
University of Sassari
Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-77) taught in English by the University of Sassari at its Olbia site in Sardinia. Entry needs a business or economics bachelor's, or about 40 credits in economics, management, quantitative subjects and law, plus English at B2 and an entry test. With the regional scholarship, it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sassari's Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism master asks for a bachelor's in business or economics (classes L-18 or L-33) or an equivalent foreign degree, or about 40 credits in economics, management, quantitative subjects and law, plus English at B2 and an entry test or interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
The course asks for the knowledge gained in a bachelor's in business and economics (class L-18) or economics (class L-33), or an equivalent degree from abroad. [1]
With a different degree, you normally need the equivalent of at least 40 CFU in these areas: [1]
- Economics: political economy, economic policy, public finance, applied economics and economic history (SECS-P/01, 02, 03, 06 and 12)
- Business management: business administration, management, corporate finance and organisation (SECS-P/07, 08, 09 and 10)
- Maths and quantitative methods: statistics, economic statistics, demography, social statistics and mathematical methods for economics (SECS-S/01, 03, 04, 05 and 06)
- Law: private, commercial, economic, navigation and public law (IUS/01, 04, 05, 06 and 09)
For degrees from other countries, the curricular check looks at the content of your courses. These rules come from the 2025/26 teaching regulations, and the programme page for the 2026 cohort repeats them. [1][2]
The department's page for international students restricts access to graduates in fields related to economics and management, and the programme page lists access as limited, without giving a number of places. [2][3]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, so the commission reads your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Com, a BBA, or a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, where economics, accounting, management, statistics and business law papers make up most of the degree.
- Check carefully: a hotel management or tourism degree (BHM or BTTM), or a B.Sc. in Statistics or Mathematics. These can cover management or quantitative papers but may fall short on economics or law, and the international page favours economics and management graduates.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E. or BCA, or a BA in the humanities, which usually have few papers in the four listed areas.
If your background does not meet the requirements, a commission assesses your preparation in company financial performance, the economic and financial context, quantitative problem solving, descriptive statistics and economic and business problems. If it finds gaps, you study set topics and repeat the interview. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or equivalent, checked through a written test. You are exempt from the test if you hold a matching international language certificate. The regulations do not name specific tests or minimum scores. [1]
Entry test and interview
Admission depends on a check of your curricular requirements and of your personal preparation. The 2025/26 regulations describe a preliminary review of your CV, then an individual interview or a test on your preparation and motivation, run by a commission of law, business and economics teachers. Sessions are held at least three times a year: in April (for international students), September and January. [1]
The department's page for international students describes the test for this course as multiple-choice questions on business, quantitative, economic and legal topics, plus a written multiple-choice English test, and says it is likely to be held remotely. [3]
Dates for 2027/28
For 2027/28, the department checks the eligibility of international students from November 2026 to 15 January 2027. [3]
In the 2026/27 cycle, applicants registered by 31 March 2026 for tests held in March and April 2026, and international applications for 2026/27 closed on 1 April 2026. The department says its page is being updated, and the 2027/28 test dates are not yet published. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
Non-EU applicants pre-enrol on Universitaly only after passing the entry test, uploading the school and academic documents the application asks for. If the application is validated, you download it from Universitaly; the university does not send a separate acceptance letter. [3]
A declaration of value may be needed in some cases, and original qualifications may need legalisation. After the visa, you enrol on the UniSS portal by 15 January, and your student number is issued only after enrolment. [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 Sassari, Department of Economics and Business. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism (class LM-77), academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Sassari. Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism programme page (language, site, access and admission summary), 2026 cohort. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Sassari, Department of Economics and Business. Master's programmes for international students: how to enrol, covering the 2027/28 eligibility check, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism (IMaST) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-77, business and economics) worth 120 ECTS. It is run by the Department of Economics and Business (DiSEA) of the University of Sassari and taught entirely in English at the university's site in Olbia, on the north-east coast of Sardinia. [1][2]
The course trains managers who can design innovation and sustainability paths for tourism businesses and destinations. It builds on a business or economics bachelor's and adds quantitative, legal and managerial tools, with a particular eye on local economies, experience-based tourism products and respect for the natural and social environment.
What you will study
The first year gives a core in economics, quantitative analysis and law, together with innovation management; the second year adds specialist units and hands-on labs. The 2025/26 study plan includes: [1]
- Economics of Sustainable Tourism (12 ECTS)
- Strategic Management and Governance for Tourism Companies (12 ECTS)
- Data Analysis and Forecasting Methods for Sustainable Tourism (12 ECTS)
- Innovation Management and Tourism Service Design (12 ECTS)
- Legal Models for Sustainable Tourism and Mobility Lab (12 ECTS)
- International Tourism Marketing, and Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services
- Labs such as Destination Management and Digital Marketing, Tourism Entrepreneurship, and Financial Instruments for Sustainable Tourism
- A final thesis in English (12 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Teaching is in person in Olbia and attendance is recommended but not compulsory. Much of the second year runs as labs, where you apply marketing, finance, law and entrepreneurship to tourism cases. The thesis asks for original, preferably practical work that turns what you learned into a theoretical or operational proposal. The thesis is written in English and defended in public. [1]
The 2025/26 regulations say agreements with foreign universities are being defined for a double degree, with the second year spent at the partner university. [1]
Career paths
The university lists these professional profiles for graduates: [1]
- innovation management expert in tourism companies
- strategic analysis and international strategic management specialist
- international strategic marketing and tourism service design specialist
- big data management specialist, including well-being (BES) measurement
- finance specialist for tourism businesses
Fees and scholarships
Under UniSS's 2026/27 fee rules, foreign students resident abroad owe only €16 stamp duty and the ERSU regional tax in year one. Later years cost a flat €300 to €700, depending on the income band of the country of residence. ERSU Sassari scholarship holders and eligible students are exempt, and Inclusive UniSS grants support international students, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
DiSEA checks eligibility for 2027/28 from November 2026 to 15 January 2027. Access is limited, and the department restricts it to graduates in fields related to economics and management. You then take a test, which the department expects to hold remotely: multiple-choice questions on business, quantitative, economic and legal basics, plus a written English test. [2][3]
Only after passing do we pre-enrol you on Universitaly; UniSS sends no separate acceptance letter, and a declaration of value may be requested. With the validated pre-enrolment you apply for a type D visa, then enrol online by 15 January. [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 Sassari's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your eligibility check request, entry test registration and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional 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 Sassari's Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism master?
A bachelor's in business or economics (Italian classes L-18 or L-33) or an equivalent foreign degree. With another degree, you normally need about 40 credits in economics, business management, quantitative subjects and law, checked against your course content. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes. The department's international page describes a multiple-choice test on business, quantitative, economic and legal topics plus a written multiple-choice English test, likely held remotely. The regulations also allow an individual interview on your preparation and motivation. [1][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or equivalent. The department checks it with a written test, and you are exempt if you hold a matching international certificate. The regulations do not name specific tests or minimum scores, so we check which certificate your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2027/28, the department checks the eligibility of international students from November 2026 to 15 January 2027. In the 2026/27 cycle the tests ran in March and April 2026. After your visa, you enrol by 15 January. [3]
I have a B.Com, BBA or hotel management degree. Can I apply?
A B.Com or BBA usually covers economics, accounting, statistics and business law, so it often meets the 40-credit rule. A hotel management degree needs a careful check of its economics and law papers, since the department restricts access to economics and management graduates. [1][3]
Where is Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism taught?
In Olbia, on the north-east coast of Sardinia. The course is run by the University of Sassari's Department of Economics and Business and is taught entirely in English. [1][2]
What careers does it lead to?
The university lists innovation management in tourism companies, strategic analysis and international strategic management, tourism marketing and service design, big data and well-being measurement, and finance for tourism businesses. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism at Sassari?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Sassari's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional 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 Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism?
A recognised Indian B.Com or BBA usually fits, since the course asks for a business or economics degree or about 40 credits in economics, management, quantitative subjects and law, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the department's eligibility check, the entry test and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][3] 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 Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: the department's eligibility check, the entry test 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 Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: the department's eligibility check, the entry test 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: the department's eligibility check, the entry test 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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