Master in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-73 R master at the University of Milan's UNIMONT campus in Edolo, in the Alps, on the ecology, forests, products, energy, tourism and economy of mountain areas, with a 6 ECTS internship and a 20 ECTS thesis. Entry needs a related degree or 45 subject credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-73 R) taught in English by the University of Milan at its UNIMONT campus in Edolo, in the Alps. Entry needs a degree in agriculture, agri-food or environmental science, or 45 credits in set subjects, plus English at B2. Scholarship winners pay no second instalment, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's mountain areas master asks for a bachelor's degree in agricultural and forestry, agri-food or environmental science, or another degree with at least 45 credits in set subjects (12 of them biological, agroforestry or environmental), English at B2, and an interview or written test after the board checks your requirements. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a full bachelor's degree: the programme requires 180 credits for admission. Italian graduates of these degree classes meet the curricular rule: [1]
- L-25 or the older class 20: agricultural and forestry science and technology.
- L-26: agri-food science and technology.
- L-32 or the older class 27: environmental and nature science and technology.
Graduates of other classes need at least 45 credits in the subject areas below, with at least 12 of them in biological, agroforestry and environmental subjects: [1]
- Maths, physics, chemistry, computing and statistics: algebra, geometry, analysis, probability, numerical analysis, physics, analytical, general, organic and environmental chemistry, computer science and statistics.
- Biological, agroforestry and environmental subjects: agronomy, arboriculture, forestry, pedology, food science, agricultural microbiology, animal science, botany, zoology, ecology, microbiology and geology.
- Agricultural and forestry engineering and land planning: agricultural hydraulics, rural buildings, topography, urban planning, energy systems and materials science.
- Socio-economic and legal subjects: environmental sociology, geography, rural, political and applied economics, business and marketing, economic history, and agri-food, EU, public and administrative law.
A degree obtained abroad is accepted if the University recognises it as suitable. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as Italian credits, and the board looks at the subjects behind them. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Agriculture, Forestry or Horticulture, a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Food Science or Food Technology, or a B.Sc. in Environmental Science, which sit closest to the named Italian classes.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Botany, Zoology, Biology, Geology or Geography, a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil, Agricultural or Environmental Engineering, or a BA in Economics or Geography, which may reach 45 credits but need 12 in biological, agroforestry or environmental subjects.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA, BCA, or a B.Tech in Computer Science or IT, which may have maths, computing or business credits but rarely the 12 biological, agroforestry or environmental credits.
Selection
Access is open, subject to the entry requirements. An admission board first checks your curricular requirements, and may ask you to add information. [1][2]
The admission notice says candidates who meet the requirements are then called to an interview or a written test, in person or remotely, to check their initial preparation. [2] The programme description adds that preparation is judged from your results in the main subjects listed above, with an interview if gaps appear. [1] Results are sent by email or published on the programme website. [2]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is required. You can show it by uploading a B2 or higher certificate with your online application, or your level is assessed at a specific admission interview. The programme description does not list accepted tests or minimum scores. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Non-EU citizens applying for a visa could apply from 22 January to 30 April 2026, and had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. [1][2]
For other applicants the official documents differ: the admission notice's summary gives 30 October 2026, its procedure section says 25 August 2026 at the latest, and the programme description gives 31 October 2026. Enrolment ran from 5 May 2026 to 15 January 2027. [1][2]
You could apply before graduating if you would complete your degree and meet the entry requirements by 31 December 2026. For 2026/27, 20 places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Documents and non-EU steps
With a foreign degree you apply on the university's international platform and pay the application fee by the deadline; non-payment means exclusion. You upload: [1][2]
- your bachelor's degree or degree certificate, in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish;
- a Diploma Supplement, or a transcript with courses, marks, credits, subject areas and the grading system, in one of the same languages;
- your passport or another valid ID;
- your B2 English certificate, if you have one.
The form cannot be changed once submitted. [2]
Non-EU visa applicants must also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by the deadline. To finalise enrolment you provide: [2]
- your bachelor's degree, legalised or apostilled unless exempt, and your high school diploma;
- an official Italian translation, unless the originals are in English, French, German or Spanish;
- a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value from the Italian embassy, or for Lisbon Convention countries a Diploma Supplement or ARDI statement instead;
- an Italian tax code and, for non-EU citizens, your residence permit or its application receipt.
For 2026/27 these were due by 30 November 2026, and admission stays provisional until your documents are checked. [2]
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 Milan, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Programme description (course regulations), Master's degree in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas (LM-73 R), students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Admission notice, Master's degree in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas (LM-73 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas programme page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Fees for academic year 2026/27: instalments for students with income and assets abroad. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree in class LM-73 R (forest and environmental science and technology), taught in English. It runs in person at UNIMONT, the University of Milan's mountain campus in Edolo, a town in the province of Brescia in the central Alps that has focused on mountain development for 25 years. The Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (Production, Landscape, Agroenergy) manages it. [1][3]
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. [1]
What you will study
The course mixes environmental science with law, economics and management. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [1]
- 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 (6 ECTS)
- Environmental Geology for Mountain Areas (6 ECTS) and European Union Law (6 ECTS)
- Geographic and Historical Development of the Mountain in the Long Run (6 ECTS)
- 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
- Web Communication Theories and Techniques (6 ECTS)
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, written and presented in English. The internship, and possibly the thesis, are carried out with national and international partners in the sector. 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. [1]
For 2026/27, the first semester runs from 21 September 2026 to 15 January 2027 and the second from 22 February to 11 June 2027. Attendance is strongly recommended. [1]
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: [1][3]
- 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
Fees come in two instalments. If your family's income and assets are in Italy, the second instalment follows your ISEE; if they are abroad, it is set by your country group instead. [3][4] The University of Milan puts this master in fee Area B. India, Pakistan and Ghana are in Group A, the lowest country group. [4]
The University of Milan manages Lombardy's regional DSU scholarship, and winners of a regional or University of Milan scholarship get a waiver on the second instalment, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
The admission board checks your degree and credits, then calls candidates who meet the requirements to an interview or a written test, in person or online. If you have no English certificate, your English is assessed at an admission interview. Applicants with a foreign degree apply on apply.unimi.it and pay the application fee by the deadline. For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Visa applicants must also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which we submit for you. For 2026/27 the deadline was 31 July 2026, and missing it meant exclusion. You then apply for a type D study visa. To complete enrolment you provide your degree, legalised or apostilled, your high school diploma, a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, an Italian tax code and your residence permit or its application receipt. For 2026/27 these were due by 30 November 2026. [2]
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 Sustainable Natural Resource Management at University of Milan
- Master in Sciences and Management of Nature at University of Bologna
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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application on the international platform and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Milan 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
Where is the Mountain Areas master taught?
In person at UNIMONT, the University of Milan's mountain campus in Edolo, in the province of Brescia in the central Alps. Teaching includes fieldwork, laboratories and workshops with local and international stakeholders. [1][3]
What bachelor's degree do I need?
A degree in agricultural and forestry, agri-food or environmental science (Italian classes L-25, L-26 or L-32), or another degree with at least 45 credits in the listed science, engineering, planning and socio-economic subjects, including 12 in biological, agroforestry and environmental subjects. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
There is no set entrance exam. After checking your requirements, the admission board calls eligible candidates to an interview or a written test, in person or online, to check their initial preparation. [2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher. You can upload a B2 or higher certificate with your application, or your level is assessed at an admission interview. The programme description does not list accepted tests or scores, so we check which proof your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants applied from 22 January to 30 April 2026 and had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. Twenty places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, you could apply if you would graduate and meet the entry requirements by 31 December 2026. Graduates of other universities then enrol with reservations and confirm their degree afterwards. [2]
I have a B.Sc. in Botany or a BA in Economics. Can I apply?
Possibly. Neither is one of the named Italian classes, so you need 45 credits in the listed subjects, with at least 12 in biological, agroforestry and environmental subjects. Botany usually covers that block, while an economics degree often lacks it. We check your transcript against the rule. [1]
What careers does it lead to?
Graduates work for forestry and environmental consultancies, planning firms, forestry consortia, local action groups, parks, municipalities and regions, development agencies and NGOs. After the state exam they can work freelance as Doctors of Agronomy and Forestry, or go on to a research doctorate. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas at Milan?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Milan's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Milan 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 Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas?
A B.Sc. in Agriculture, Forestry, Food Technology or Environmental Science sits closest to the Italian degree classes the rule names. Other degrees need 45 credits in the listed subjects, including 12 in biological, agroforestry and environmental subjects. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, the board's check and interview or test, and Universitaly pre-enrolment by the deadline. [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 Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the admission board's check and interview or 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 Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the admission board's check and interview or test, 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 Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas 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: online application, the admission board's check and interview or test, 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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