Master in Science and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability at University of Bologna
Two-year master on the University of Bologna's Ravenna campus whose English-taught Water and Coastal Management curriculum covers coastal ecology, marine chemistry, geomorphology and coastal management. Entry is by a 60-point score for grades and science credits, plus English at B2.
Master
2 years
Bologna
Multiple
University of Bologna
Science and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-75-R) at the University of Bologna's Ravenna campus, whose Water and Coastal Management curriculum is taught in English. Entry needs an environmental sciences degree or 60 science or engineering credits, a score of 60 out of 100 for grades and science credits, and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Water and Coastal Management curriculum asks for a three-year degree in environmental sciences or at least 60 credits in maths, science, engineering, agriculture or statistics, plus English at B2 and a score of at least 60 out of 100 in the committee's assessment of your grades and science credits. Access is open, with no cap on places. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and subject requirement
You need a three-year first-cycle degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable under Italian rules that gives access to a similar degree programme in the country where it was awarded. [1]
Your degree must also meet one of two routes: [1]
- Degree class: an Italian degree in L-32 Sciences and Technologies for the Environment and Nature, a corresponding older degree, or a foreign degree recognised as equivalent.
- Credits, for degrees in other classes: at least 60 ECTS in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, agronomy, engineering, statistics or veterinary science (macro-areas MAT, INF, FIS, CHIM, BIO, GEO, AGR, ICAR, ING-IND, SECS-S and VET).
If you do not meet the curricular requirements, you cannot enrol. [1]
Points assessment
Access is open, with no cap on places, but a committee scores your file out of 100 and you are admitted with 60 points or more. There is no entrance test. [1]
- Grades, up to 40 points: for foreign degrees, your final grade or weighted average as a fraction of the maximum on your scale. A fraction of 0.95 or more earns 40 points, 0.85 to 0.94 earns 35, 0.75 to 0.84 earns 30, 0.65 to 0.74 earns 20 and below 0.65 earns 10. If your documents do not show this, you get the minimum score. Other academic qualifications, such as a second degree, can add up to 5 points within the 40.
- Science credits, up to 60 points: one point per ECTS, capped by area: mathematics and computer science 12, physics 12, chemistry 15, biology and ecology 18, and earth sciences 18.
Only in exceptional cases, when your documents do not let the committee assess you fully, it may call you to an online interview. Missing it means your application is refused. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as ECTS, and the committee converts your grade to a fraction of your scale's maximum. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Environmental Science, Biology, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry or Geology with maths or physics papers, which can collect science points across several areas.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil, Environmental or Chemical Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Agriculture. These usually meet the 60-credit rule, but engineering and agriculture credits do not earn science points, so the total depends on your maths, physics, chemistry, biology and earth science papers and on your grade.
- Often short: a BCA or B.Sc. in Computer Science, where computing and maths earn at most 12 science points, and a B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely include 60 credits in the listed areas.
For example, a grade of 75% earns 30 points, so you would then need at least 30 points from science credits to reach 60. [1]
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher, proven when you apply. Accepted proof: [1]
- A certificate on the list of recognised certificates published on the programme website.
- A B2 certificate from a university language centre. For Italian university language centres, a self-certification is enough.
- A first degree taught fully in English, certified by the institution that awarded it.
- Coming from a country where English is an official language.
The notice does not list minimum test scores. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27 the notice set ten intakes, with applications closing at 12:00 noon Italian time. Intakes 1 to 8 had no citizenship restriction, while intakes 9 and 10 were for EU citizens only: [1]
- Intake 1: 2 to 16 February 2026, results from 13 March.
- Intake 2: 17 February to 23 March 2026, results from 30 April.
- Intake 3: 24 March to 13 April 2026, results from 15 May.
- Intake 4: 14 April to 11 May 2026, results from 12 June.
- Intakes 5 to 8: 12 May to 14 September 2026, with the last results from 18 September.
Matriculation ran from 30 March to 19 November 2026. If you are not admitted in one intake, you can apply again in a later one. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
Applying before you graduate
You can apply before you graduate, and the committee then scores your weighted average. Students on Italian degrees need at least 150 ECTS by the intake deadline, and the notice does not set a credit minimum for foreign degrees. If you are admitted and enrol, you must graduate by 31 December 2026, or your enrolment is cancelled. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
- The application is made on Bologna's Studenti Online portal, selecting WACOMA, with your passport, your foreign degree certificate translated into Italian or English with your transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available (or your transcript if you have not graduated yet), and your English B2 proof.
- You also complete the Mandatory Declaration Form and the WACOMA application form, which must be the one on the programme website. Documents for any other degree you hold can be added.
- Only documents uploaded through Studenti Online are assessed, and missing mandatory documents at the deadline mean your application is not considered. An incomplete file can be completed until the intake deadline.
- Non-EU applicants living abroad also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa.
- After admission you enrol, pay the first instalment, upload your foreign qualification and visa on Studenti Online and show the originals at the international student office. The translation, authenticity and value of your documents are verified where required, and your career must be activated by 26 February 2027.
These steps come from the 2026/27 notice. [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 Bologna. Admission notice for the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Science and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability, Water and Coastal Management (WACOMA) curriculum (class LM-75, code 6794), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Science and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability programme home page (teaching languages, degree class, campus, department, director, curricula and access type). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Science and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability is a two-year second cycle degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-75-R, Environmental and land sciences, run by the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) on the University of Bologna's Ravenna campus.
It is worth 120 ECTS and has open access, with no cap on places, but you are admitted only if a committee scores your grades and science credits at 60 out of 100 or more. It is directed by Andrea Pasteris. [1][2]
The degree is taught in English and Italian and offers two curricula. This page covers Water and Coastal Management: in the 2026/27 course unit catalogue all of its compulsory units are taught in English.
The university describes the degree as training scientists who can analyse the environment and guide operational choices for its management, integrating knowledge and technologies for the ecological transition.
It suits students who want to work on coasts, seas and water resources.
What you will study
The first year of Water and Coastal Management is entirely compulsory: ten units of 6 ECTS each that combine ecology, chemistry, geology, hydrology and management of coastal areas. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include:
- Ecology of Coastal Environments
- Chemistry of Marine and Coastal Environments
- Coastal Geomorphology and Remote Sensing
- Hydrocomplexity of the Coastal Zone
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management
- Modelling and Assessing Climate-Related Ocean and Coastal Hazards and Risks
- Isotopes as Tracers of the Sea
- Geographic Information Systems
In the second year, Sediment Characterization and Management in Coastal Areas and Bioremediation and Exploitation of Marine Bioresources are compulsory.
Free-choice credits can go to short units on blue biotechnology, coastal geohazard assessment, maritime transport and port infrastructures, and oceans and coastal areas as green energy resources.
How the programme is taught
The Integrated Field and Laboratory Course mixes lectures with fieldwork: students take a multi-day excursion to the Venice lagoon area, working at wetland sites, barrier islands and coastal management facilities, then continue in the laboratory in Ravenna.
The degree ends with a final examination worth 18 ECTS, which you can prepare through an internship in Italy or abroad, or through thesis work in Italy or abroad.
Career paths
The curriculum applies environmental analysis to coasts and seas.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management trains students to use decision-support tools for water and coastal systems at operational and strategic levels, while other units cover the assessment of climate-related coastal hazards, sediment management, bioremediation and the monitoring of pollution with biomarkers.
These skills relate to coastal planning, environmental monitoring and the management of marine resources.
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27 fees on the Ravenna campus follow family income, and with a family ISEE of €27,000 or less this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Families with income abroad declare it to ER.GO, the Emilia-Romagna right-to-study body.
Non-EU, non-OECD citizens, including those from countries like India, whose family income is only abroad can instead choose a reduced flat fee. ER.GO also awards a regional scholarship.
How to apply from outside the EU
Water and Coastal Management has its own admission notice. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could apply on Studenti Online in intakes 1 to 8, from 2 February to 14 September 2026, and those not admitted in one intake could reapply in a later one. Intakes 9 and 10 were for EU citizens only. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
Once admitted, non-EU applicants living abroad complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, which the university must validate before you apply for a study visa at the Italian consulate; validation is slow in August, when offices close.
After enrolling and paying the first instalment, you give the International Student Administration office your translated degree certificate, transcript and a document on its value, such as a Diploma Supplement, CIMEA statement or declaration of value.
The university's guide for non-EU applicants lists every step.
Compare related master's programmes
If you are exploring nature and environmental sustainability, compare the curriculum and entry requirements on these programme pages before choosing your shortlist.
- Master in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas at University of Milan
- Master in Sustainable Natural Resource Management at University of Milan
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 Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Studenti Online application with the WACOMA application form, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Bologna's Water and Coastal Management master?
A three-year degree in environmental sciences (Italian class L-32) or a recognised foreign equivalent, or any bachelor's with at least 60 ECTS in maths, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, agronomy, engineering, statistics or veterinary science. You also need 60 points in the committee's assessment. [1]
How does the points assessment work?
The committee scores your file out of 100. Up to 40 points come from your grade as a fraction of your scale's maximum, and up to 60 from credits in maths, physics, chemistry, biology and earth sciences, one point per ECTS with a cap for each area. You need 60 points to be admitted. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. Access is open, with no cap on places, and the committee assesses your documents. Only in exceptional cases, when your file does not allow a full assessment, it may call you to an online interview on Skype or Microsoft Teams. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. A certificate on the programme's recognised list works, and so does a B2 certificate from a university language centre. A first degree taught fully in English also counts if your university certifies it, so IELTS is not the only route. No minimum scores are listed. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could use intakes 1 to 8, from 2 February to 14 September 2026, while intakes 9 and 10 were for EU citizens only. We aim for the first intakes, which closed on 16 February and 23 March, to leave time for the visa. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You upload the transcript of exams taken so far, and the committee scores your weighted average. For 2026/27 entry, you had to graduate by 31 December 2026, or your enrolment was cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Civil Engineering. Can I apply?
Usually for the degree rule, since engineering credits count towards the 60 ECTS. For the points, only maths, physics, chemistry, biology and earth science credits score, so we check those papers and your grade, which together must reach 60 out of 100. [1]
Where is the programme taught?
On the University of Bologna's Ravenna campus, where the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences runs the degree. [2] First-year fieldwork includes a multi-day excursion to the Venice lagoon area.
Can someone handle my whole application to Water and Coastal Management at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Water and Coastal Management?
A B.Sc. in Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry or Geology, or a B.Tech in Civil or Environmental Engineering, can meet the 60-credit rule. Your grade and science credits must then score 60 out of 100. A degree taught fully in English, certified by your university, can prove B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application in an early intake, the points assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] 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 Water and Coastal Management are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in an early intake, the committee's points assessment 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 Water and Coastal Management are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in an early intake, the committee's points assessment 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 Water and Coastal Management 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: Studenti Online application in an early intake, the committee's points assessment 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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