Master in Mediterranean Food Science and Technology at University of Palermo
Two-year English-taught master's degree in Palermo on the food processes of the Mediterranean area, centred on food chemistry, technology and microbiology, with sensory analysis labs and meetings with food companies.
Master
2 years
Palermo
English
University of Palermo
Mediterranean Food Science and Technology is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-70 R) taught in English at the University of Palermo, in person in Palermo. It focuses on food chemistry, technology and microbiology of Mediterranean foods. Non-EU students choose a fixed fee set by country list or an income-based fee.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Mediterranean Food Science and Technology has open access subject to curricular suitability, personal preparation and English evidence. The requirements below distinguish the programme’s 2026/27 rules from the separate international visa route. Sources were reviewed on 6 October 2026. [1-5]
Eligible degree classes and the alternative science/health route
The 2026/27 programme regulations list L-26 Food Science/Technology, L-2 Biotechnology, L-13 Biology, L-25 Agriculture/Forestry, L-27 Chemistry, L-29 Pharmaceutical Sciences/Technology, L-32 Environmental/Natural Sciences, L-38 Animal Science and L/SNT3 Technical Health Professions. Corresponding former classes and suitable foreign equivalents are assessed under the same curricular principle. [1, 6]
For another science or health bachelor’s/master’s qualification, the applicant needs at least 48 CFU overall in physics/mathematics, biology, chemistry and agricultural sectors, with the minimum distribution below. The stated block minima add up to 40 credits; the overall 48-credit minimum still requires a further 8 eligible credits. Missing prerequisites must be completed through successfully passed individual courses before enrolment. [1, 6]
Minimum distribution within the 48-credit requirement
- 6 CFU in physics PHYS/* or mathematics MATH/*. [6]
- 6 CFU in biochemistry BIOS-07/A, formerly BIO/10. [1, 6]
- 6 CFU in general/inorganic chemistry CHEM-03/A or agricultural chemistry AGRI-06/B, formerly CHIM/03 or AGR/13. [1, 6]
- 16 CFU in food science/technology AGRI-07/A, formerly AGR/15. [1, 6]
- 6 CFU in agricultural microbiology AGRI-08/A or general microbiology BIOS-15/A, formerly AGR/16 or BIO/19. [1, 6]
Preparation topics and the restricted exemption
The committee checks food production, processing and preservation; core technological and economic science; principal food-industry operations/processes; the role of microorganisms; food deterioration and control; food production/marketing economics; and English B2. Applicants must first satisfy the curricular requirements before this preparation assessment. [1, 6]
The automatic preparation exemption is explicitly for graduates of Italian universities with at least 90/110, together with a B2 language certificate or at least 5 curricular credits in the language field. This exemption does not apply automatically to a converted foreign degree score. Other applicants are assessed by the appointed teaching committee, and the international visa route retains its required personal-knowledge interview. [1, 2, 6]
English B2 evidence for the English-taught route
The international English-taught admission route requires English at CEFR B2 or above. The central list includes IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 and Pearson PTE General/Academic 46 or above, together with the listed Cambridge, British Institutes and Trinity ISE II-IV certificates. No additional component-score minimum is stated on that central page. We match your certificate to the named examinations and accepted evidence, without converting scores between tests. [2, 3]
The central procedure also accepts an official Medium of Instruction certificate. The language policy recognises an entirely English-taught qualifying degree, an entirely English-taught International Baccalaureate and a recognised English-language programme admission test as exemption routes. Evidence of a few English modules alone is not proof that the whole qualification was taught in English. Academic and programme-specific language assessment can still be required. [2, 3]
For applicants directed to the UniPa Language Centre, the current 2026/27 online assessment lasts 30 minutes: 18-24 points certify B1 and 25-30 certify B2. A B1 result does not meet a B2 requirement. Booking requires Student Portal/pre-enrolment credentials; the attestation is emailed to the student and must be sent to the coordinator. The next listed session after this review is 3 November 2026, 09:00-15:00; the test must be finished before the session closes. A language session does not reopen an expired international application deadline. [5]
International qualification file and compulsory assessment
Non-EU applicants abroad requiring a study visa create a Student Portal account and an enrolment application. The application needs a valid passport, passport photograph, qualifying bachelor’s degree, complete transcript, English B2 certificate or official Medium of Instruction evidence, and CV. To allow the committee to map foreign subjects to the Italian requirements, we prepare course descriptions, credit/workload information and the grading scale when requested. The programme decides whether the foreign award and curriculum are suitable. [1, 2, 4]
The administrative office checks the file and the coordinator evaluates academic eligibility. A preliminary admission letter is followed by the international route’s compulsory personal-knowledge interview, covering preparation, motivation, expectations and English. The later stages follow a positive assessment. Domestic grade-based assessment exemptions in the programme sheet do not replace this separately stated international interview. [1, 2]
2026/27 dates for non-EU visa applicants abroad
The published 2026/27 Student Portal application-creation deadline was 20 July 2026 and the Universitaly application-creation deadline was 4 August 2026. Both have passed. International Office forwarding to the embassy requires the admission letter and full approval of the personal-knowledge interview. The visa procedure must be completed by 30 November 2026. Later departmental interview dates concern candidates already following the appropriate admission route; they are not a new visa application window. No 2027/28 dates are confirmed in these reviewed sources. [2]
Other applicant categories, missing credits and conditional enrolment
EU applicants, eligible residents and applicants using the ordinary local procedure request curricular and personal-preparation verification through the Student Portal and follow the programme’s assessment calendar. Open access removes a competitive seat ranking; it does not remove the degree, credit, language or preparation checks. Applicants graduating later must meet the applicable conditional-enrolment rules, rather than enrol on the strength of an incomplete unsuitable curriculum. [1, 4]
The 2026/27 central procedure permits the relevant graduating-student route with at least 140 earned CFU and all required curricular credits, subject to the application/check dates, with graduation by 31 March 2027. Foreign equivalence and applicant-category eligibility require university approval. This date does not extend the July/August visa-route application deadlines. If curricular credits are missing, the rules allow eligible graduates to take individual courses, pass them by the November 2026 examination session and submit a new verification request within the annual calendar; otherwise access moves to the following year. [4]
Final enrolment and original documents
For the foreign visa route, finalisation requires the original qualifying degree and academic transcript with Italian or English translation and the prescribed legalisation. The central master’s checklist allows a Declaration of Value, CIMEA Comparability plus Verification, a Diploma Supplement plus Verification, or ARDI plus Verification according to the qualification. A Diploma Supplement alone does not satisfy the stated verification requirement. We prepare the residence-permit application evidence and the additional records requested by the office. [2]
Admission, Universitaly approval, visa issuance and final university enrolment are separate stages. The consular mission decides the study visa; the programme and International Students Office decide the academic/document checks. We track the dates for your category and keep the completed assessment and payment records on file. [2, 4]
Sources and verification
- University of Palermo, Guida accesso Lauree Magistrali 2026/2027, programme admission sheet, page 74; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Master degree course: enrolment procedures for extra-EU foreign students, 2026/27 guidance; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Language requirements / admission requirements, current official guidance; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, D.R. 7830/2026, prot. 134344, 17 July 2026, Linee guida accesso Corsi di Laurea Magistrale 2026/27; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo Language Centre, Verifica delle competenze linguistiche per accesso alle Lauree Magistrali, notice of 4 September 2026, academic year 2026/27; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Allegati al Regolamento Didattico Mediterranean Food Science and Technology 2026/27, Annex 3, admission requirements; reviewed 6 October 2026.
About the programme
Mediterranean Food Science and Technology is a two-year master's degree in class LM-70 R, worth 120 ECTS and run by the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF) of the University of Palermo. It is taught in English, in person in Palermo, and appears on UniPa's list of international master's degrees for 2026/27 with open access, so places are not capped.
The degree gives detailed knowledge of the food processes of the Mediterranean area. It suits graduates who want to specialise in the science and technology of Mediterranean foods, with teaching in English and regular contact with the food and beverage sector.
What you will study
According to the university's international student guides for 2025/26 and 2026/27, three disciplines carry most of the programme, and practical sessions run alongside the lectures:
- Food chemistry
- Food technology and food processes of the Mediterranean area
- Food microbiology
- Laboratory sessions on the sensory analysis of foods
The course units, credits and electives for each cohort are published on the curriculum page of the UniPa online course catalogue, which is the reference for the exact study plan.
How the programme is taught
Teaching is in person in Palermo. The guides note that meetings with national food and beverage companies are built into the lessons, so you hear directly from the industry during the course. As with every UniPa master's degree, the two years end with the defence of a thesis.
Career paths
The pages we could read do not publish a list of job profiles for this degree, so we read the professional profiles in the course regulations on the UniPa catalogue before you apply. What the guides do state is that national food and beverage companies take part in the lessons, which gives you early contact with employers in the sector.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition at UniPa does not depend on the degree you choose. For 2026/27, non-EU students living abroad pick one of two fee options: a fixed amount set by country list, or an income-based fee calculated with an ISEE parificato, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students. ERSU Palermo awards regional scholarships on merit and family income, and UniPa lists a tuition fee waiver among the benefits.
How to apply from outside the EU
The route from outside the EU covers the entry requirements for the English-taught curriculum, the academic assessment, the complete document file and the separately stated 2026/27 international deadlines. Preliminary admission is followed by the required interview, Universitaly and final enrolment checks. [1-5]
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 Palermo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Student Portal enrolment application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ERSU Palermo 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
Which bachelor’s degrees are accepted?
The listed classes cover food science, biotechnology, biology, agriculture, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, environment/nature, animal science and technical health professions. Foreign equivalents require assessment. [1, 6]
Do the listed subject minima require only 40 credits?
No. The five minima total 40 credits, but the programme requires 48 eligible credits overall in the alternative science/health route. [1, 6]
How many food-technology credits are required?
The alternative route requires at least 16 credits in AGRI-07/A, formerly AGR/15, within the overall 48-credit requirement. [1, 6]
Does 90/110 automatically exempt foreign graduates?
No. The published automatic preparation exemption specifies graduates of Italian universities, at least 90/110 and the stated English evidence. Foreign applicants undergo the applicable assessment. [1, 2, 6]
Is English B2 required?
Yes. The course is English-taught and its preparation rules specify B2, with central accepted certificates and documented exemption/MOI routes. [1-3, 6]
Can missing prerequisites be completed later?
Missing curricular credits must be earned through passed individual courses before enrolment. The programme and central annual calendar determine the applicable completion and reapplication dates. [4, 6]
Can someone handle my whole application to Mediterranean Food Science and Technology at Palermo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Palermo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ERSU Palermo 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 Mediterranean Food Science and Technology?
Indian graduates are assessed against the listed classes, such as food science, biotechnology, biology, agriculture and chemistry. Other science or health graduates need at least 48 CFU in physics or mathematics, biology, chemistry and agricultural sectors, including 16 in food technology. [1, 6] You also need B2 English and a personal-knowledge interview. [2, 3] We map your transcript and handle the Student Portal and Universitaly steps. 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 Mediterranean Food Science and Technology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Student Portal application, preliminary admission letter, personal-knowledge interview 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 Mediterranean Food Science and Technology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Student Portal application, preliminary admission letter, personal-knowledge interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment. 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 Mediterranean Food Science and Technology 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: Student Portal application, preliminary admission letter, personal-knowledge interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment, 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.
More English-taught programmes at this university
Other public universities in this city
They began right where you are
