Master in Nutritional Sciences at University of Calabria
Two-year English-taught curriculum of the LM-61 Nutrition Science master's at the University of Calabria, covering nutrient metabolism, nutrigenomics, food science and the Mediterranean diet, with a 6 CFU internship. Entry needs a related degree and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rende
English
University of Calabria
Nutritional Sciences is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-61) taught in English at the University of Calabria in Rende, as the English curriculum of its Nutrition Science degree. Entry needs a related degree in nutrition, pharmacy, biotechnology or biology, or 60 credits in set science sectors, plus English at B2 and a remote interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Calabria's Nutritional Sciences master asks for a bachelor's or master's in nutrition, pharmacy, biotechnology, biology, food or agricultural sciences or a listed health profession, or another degree with 60 credits in set science sectors, plus English at B2, a CV review and a remote oral interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You can apply with one of these qualifications: [2][3]
- A three-year degree in Nutrition Sciences or another class L-29 degree (pharmaceutical sciences and technologies).
- A degree in classes L-2 Biotechnology, L-13 Biological sciences, L-22 Human movement sciences, L-25 Agricultural and forestry sciences, L-26 Agri-food sciences and technologies, L-SNT03 Technical health professions or L-SNT2 Rehabilitation health professions.
- A master's degree in LM-6 Biology, LM-9 Medical, veterinary and pharmaceutical biotechnology, LM-13 Pharmacy and industrial pharmacy, LM-41 Medicine and surgery, LM-69 Agricultural sciences or LM-70 Food sciences and technologies.
- Any other degree with at least 60 CFU in these sectors: MAT/01 to 06, INF/05, BIO/09, BIO/10, BIO/13, BIO/14, BIO/16, BIO/19, FIS/01, FIS/07, CHIM/01, 03, 06, 08, 09, 10 and 11, MED/04, 05, 07, 12, 42 and 49, AGR/15, AGR/18 and SECS-P/13. At least 9 of these CFU must be in chemistry and 9 in biology.
- A foreign degree in these subject areas that gives access to master's-level study in its own country. The admission committee judges its suitability from your study record.
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 your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Food Science and Nutrition, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Life Sciences, a B.Pharm, a B.Sc. in Agriculture or Food Technology, or an MBBS, as these match the listed subject areas.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Nursing or Home Science is outside the listed classes, so it needs the 60-credit route with at least 9 chemistry and 9 biology credits.
- Often short: a B.Tech in a non-biological engineering field, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA usually lacks the 60 credits in the listed science sectors.
English
The Nutritional Sciences curriculum requires English at CEFR level B2 or higher. Students from countries where English is an official language are exempt. [2] For non-EU applicants living abroad, the 2026/27 call checks language skills in the online interview, held in English for this curriculum. [1]
The 2026/27 documents do not list test scores. In the 2022/23 call for this curriculum, the university treated IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80 to 99, Cambridge First (FCE) and Trinity ISE II as B2. [5]
Selection
Admission for non-EU applicants living abroad is based on qualifications. A departmental committee reviews your CV and documents, then holds a mandatory remote oral examination in English on the relevant subjects, your background and your English. At least twice as many candidates as places are invited to the oral. [1]
The teaching regulations say the committee weighs your exam average, your degree mark if you have graduated, and further university study in chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and nutrition. Ties go to the younger candidate. [2]
Two merit rankings are drawn up, one for places with a scholarship and one for places without. [1]
2026/27 places, deadline and fees
For 2026/27, the English curriculum offered 9 places with a scholarship and 11 without to non-EU students living abroad. Applications closed at 11:59 pm Italian time on 30 March 2026. [1]
Scholarship places were open to households with an income of €26,500 or less for an independent candidate, an income of €41,500 or less for a two-member household and an income of €54,000 or less for three or more members. Places without a scholarship were for households above these limits. [1]
Vacant places were reallocated from the rankings by 16 July 2026. The university expects the 2027/28 call around January 2027. [1][4]
Documents and non-EU steps
After enrolment, you submit your foreign degree with an official Italian translation, legalised by the Italian mission or with an Apostille, plus a Declaration of Value or an ENIC-NARIC certificate such as CIMEA's statements of comparability and verification. For the 2026/27 intake the deadline was 28 February 2027. [1]
Scholarship winners prove household income with an ISEE parificato by 30 October 2026, and receive their instructions in the acceptance letter sent through Universitaly. Every winner finalises enrolment in person at the Welcome Office by 30 October 2026. [1]
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 Calabria, Internationalisation Area. Unicaladmission call for applications for the admission of non-EU students residing abroad to two-year Master's degree programmes, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Calabria, Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutrition Sciences. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Nutrition Science (LM-61), curricula Scienza della Nutrizione and Nutritional Sciences, 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Calabria, Nutritional Sciences programme brochure (class LM-61 R), academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Calabria, Unicaladmission web page for international students (archive of calls and notice on the 2027/28 call). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Calabria. Call for admission with scholarships to the Nutritional Sciences curriculum, reserved for students from countries that signed the UNESCO Mediterranean Diet dossier, academic year 2022/2023. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Nutritional Sciences is the English-taught curriculum of the two-year master's degree in Nutrition Science (laurea magistrale, class LM-61) at the University of Calabria. It is run by the Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutrition Sciences on the university's campus in Rende, and the degree also has a curriculum taught in Italian. [2][3]
The English curriculum started in 2020/21. It trains nutritionists with in-depth, molecular-level knowledge of how foods and nutrients affect health and help prevent chronic and degenerative diseases, with particular attention to foods typical of the Mediterranean diet. [2][3]
It suits graduates in nutrition, pharmacy, biotechnology, biology, food or agricultural sciences, and some health professions. [2]
What you will study
The course works in two main areas: biomedicine and human nutrition, and food characterisation and the management of the agri-food system. Topics include: [2][3]
- Nutritional requirements, nutrient metabolism and assessment of nutritional status
- Nutrigenomics and epigenetics
- Relationships between food and microorganisms
- Food science and technology
- Endocrine regulation of metabolism and its physiopathology
- Nutritional and health aspects of typical Mediterranean diet foods
- Food supplements and nutraceuticals
- Interactions between drugs and nutrients, and food safety
How the programme is taught
The 120 CFU plan has 90 CFU of compulsory exams, at least 9 CFU of free-choice units, a 6 CFU internship (150 hours) in the second year and a 15 CFU final exam. Teaching combines lectures, laboratory work, exercises and seminars. [2]
In the Nutritional Sciences curriculum all activities are delivered in English. The thesis can be experimental or a literature-based dissertation, and it must be written and defended in English. [2]
The internship takes place in public or private health facilities working in nutrition or in food companies, and it can also be done abroad. A part-time option spreads the plan over four years. [2]
Career paths
The university says graduates can work wherever a biologist's skills are needed, especially in food science and human nutrition, in the public and private sectors and in the agri-food industry. Graduates can also go on to specialisation schools, PhDs and second-level masters in human nutrition. [2][3]
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, non-EU students living abroad enrolled through the Unicaladmission call, on places with or without a scholarship. Scholarship places were open to households under set income limits. The scholarship covers free accommodation, the campus canteen and about €3,600 in pocket money, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [1]
To keep the scholarship in the second year, students need at least 30 ECTS by 10 August 2027 and must apply again. Students with fewer than 20 ECTS by 30 November 2027 repay the amounts received. [1]
For EU residents, fees follow family income (ISEE), so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [3]
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply through the Unicaladmission call, which the university publishes each year. For 2026/27, applications closed on 30 March 2026, and the university expects the 2027/28 call around January 2027. [1][4]
A departmental committee reviews your CV and qualifications and invites at least twice as many candidates as places to a remote oral examination in English. Winners enrol online, and the university sends its acceptance letter through Universitaly, which the consulate uses for the type D study visa. [1]
After enrolment you submit your translated and legalised degree with a Declaration of Value or a CIMEA certificate, and you finalise enrolment in person at the university's Welcome Office. [1]
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 Calabria's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Unicaladmission application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Calabria 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 degree do I need for Nutritional Sciences at Calabria?
A bachelor's in nutrition, pharmacy, biotechnology, biology, food or agricultural science, or a listed health profession, or a master's in a related field such as biology, pharmacy or medicine. Other graduates need 60 credits in set science sectors, including 9 in chemistry and 9 in biology. [2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test for non-EU applicants living abroad. A committee reviews your CV and qualifications, then holds a mandatory remote oral examination in English on the relevant subjects and your background. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher, and the 2026/27 call checks it in the online interview. The current documents list no scores, but the 2022/23 call treated IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 80 as B2. Students from countries where English is an official language are exempt. [1][2][5]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had until 30 March 2026 to apply through the Unicaladmission call. The university expects the 2027/28 call around January 2027. [1][4]
Is there a scholarship for international students?
For 2026/27, the call offered 9 scholarship places on this curriculum to applicants under set household income limits. The scholarship covers the enrolment fee, free accommodation and the campus canteen, plus about €3,600 in pocket money. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Nursing. Can I apply?
Possibly. Neither is in the listed degree classes, so you need the 60-credit route: at least 60 credits in the listed science sectors, with 9 in chemistry and 9 in biology. We check your transcript against this rule. [2]
Is the whole course taught in English?
Yes. In the Nutritional Sciences curriculum all activities are delivered in English, and the final dissertation must be written and defended in English. The same degree also runs a separate curriculum in Italian. [2]
What do graduates go on to do?
The university says graduates can work wherever a biologist's skills are needed, especially in food science and human nutrition, in public bodies, private companies and the agri-food industry. Some continue to PhDs or specialisation schools. [2][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Nutritional Sciences at Calabria?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Calabria's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Calabria 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 Nutritional Sciences?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Sc. in Nutrition, Food Science, Biotechnology or Life Sciences, or a B.Pharm, can fit the degree rule, and other graduates need 60 credits in the listed science sectors. You also need English at B2, checked in a remote interview. The steps are the Unicaladmission application, the online interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [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 Nutritional Sciences are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Unicaladmission application, remote oral 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 Nutritional Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Unicaladmission application, remote oral 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 Nutritional Sciences 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: Unicaladmission application, remote oral 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.
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