Master in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught master at the University of Milan's mountain campus in Edolo, training experts in the ecology, forests, economy, tourism and planning of mountain areas, with a compulsory internship and a 20 ECTS thesis.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas is a two-year, 120 ECTS master (class LM-73-R) taught in English by the University of Milan at its UNIMONT campus in Edolo, in the Italian Alps. It links ecology, forestry, economics and law. Non-EU students with family income abroad pay a fixed fee by country group.
Entry requirements
- A bachelor's degree in agricultural and forestry science (L-25), agri-food science (L-26) or environmental and nature science (L-32), or an equivalent foreign degree.
- Graduates of other fields need at least 45 ECTS in mathematics, physics, chemistry, statistics, biological and environmental, engineering and socio-economic subjects, including at least 12 in biological, agroforestry and environmental subjects.
- English at B2 level (CEFR), shown by a certificate from the last three years or assessed during the interview.
- A possible interview or written test, in person or online, to check your background.
- An application on apply.unimi.it with a €30 fee; documents in English, French, German, Spanish or Italian.
About the programme
Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas is a two-year master's degree in class LM-73-R (forest and environmental science and technology), taught entirely in English. It runs in person at UNIMONT, the University of Milan's campus in Edolo, a town in the province of Brescia in the Italian Alps. The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (Production, Landscape, Agroenergy) manages it.
The degree trains specialists who can manage and add value to mountain resources: ecosystems, forests, farming, local products, energy and tourism. It suits graduates in agriculture, forestry or environmental science, and graduates of other fields with enough science credits, who want to work on the development of mountain communities. Admission is open, after a check of your requirements.
What you will study
The course mixes environmental science with law, economics and management. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include:
- Mountain Ecosystems and Biodiversity Valorization (12 ECTS)
- Bioresources for Innovation in Mountain Products (12 ECTS)
- Sustainable Management and Bioeconomy of Mountain Forests (8 ECTS)
- Applied Statistics for Mountain Agri-Environmental Analyses
- Environmental Geology for Mountain Areas and European Union Law
- Economics, Management and Valorization of Mountain Goods and Services (8 ECTS)
- Renewable Energy and Mountain Sustainable Environment Management
- Infrastructures and Landscape Planning for Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Areas
How the programme is taught
Teaching combines lectures, laboratories, fieldwork and workshops with external stakeholders, so you work directly with mountain ecosystems and communities. The second year includes a 6 ECTS internship and a 20 ECTS thesis, and 8 ECTS go to electives such as Mountain Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas or Current Issues in Mountain Tourism Management. Erasmus+ links about 30 European universities, alongside the Swiss Mobility Programme and agreements in China, Japan and Latin America.
Career paths
Graduates can work for technical and environmental consultancies, forestry consortia and companies, local action groups, parks and protected areas, municipalities, provinces, regions and ministries, development agencies, NGOs and research institutions. Roles listed by the university include:
- Agronomist or forester, as a freelance Doctor of Agronomy and Forestry after the state exam and registration
- Territorial planner or landscape specialist
- Environmental or agroforestry consultant
- Project manager for mountain development
- Researcher or technical expert
Fees and scholarships
The University of Milan puts this master in fee Area B. For 2026/27, a student whose family income and assets are abroad pays a fixed second instalment by country group: €256 a year in Group A, which includes countries like India, Pakistan and Ghana, €1,164 in Group B and €4,101.12 in Group C. The first instalment starts at €146. Full winners of the Lombardy regional DSU scholarship, managed by the university, are exempt from fees, which means zero euro tuition for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
The admission board checks your degree and credits and may invite you to an interview or a written test, in person or online; if you have no English certificate, your English is assessed there. Non-EU applicants living abroad apply on apply.unimi.it and pay €30. For 2026/27 visa applicants applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026, and the 2027/28 dates were not yet published in September 2026.
Once admitted, you complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment (by 31 July for 2026/27) and apply for a type D study visa, which needs B2 English. A declaration of value or a CIMEA statement for your degree completes the file.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Where is the programme taught?
In person at UNIMONT, the University of Milan's campus in Edolo, in the province of Brescia in the Italian Alps. Teaching includes fieldwork and workshops with local stakeholders.
Is the degree fully in English?
Yes. It is taught entirely in English, and you need English at B2 level, shown by a certificate from the last three years or assessed during the admission interview. An optional Italian language unit is available.
What bachelor's background do I need?
A degree in agricultural and forestry, agri-food or environmental science, or another degree with at least 45 ECTS in science, engineering and socio-economic subjects, including 12 in biological, agroforestry and environmental subjects.
Is there an entrance test?
There is no set test. Admission is open after a check of your requirements, and the board may call you to an interview or a written test, in person or online.
When do non-EU students apply?
For 2026/27, visa applicants applied on apply.unimi.it between 22 January and 30 April 2026, with a €30 fee. The 2027/28 dates were not yet published in September 2026.
How much are the fees?
For 2026/27, students with family income abroad pay a fixed second instalment by country group, from €256 a year in Group A, plus a first instalment from €146. Full winners of the regional DSU scholarship are exempt from fees.
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