Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS)

Enviromental change global sustainable
Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS)
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Master programme
LM-75 - Environmental and land sciences and technology
Master programme
120
ECTS
Access
Open with entry requirements examination
2
Years
Language
English
Environmental change plays a central role in modern societies, to the point that a sustainable management of the environment currently represents one of the most important open challenges for humanity. Addressing this challenge requires a multidisciplinary approach that overcomes the usual boundaries of scientific disciplines. In this context, the Master program in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS) provides advanced expertise in the hard- and life-science components of environmental studies as well as in their economic- and social-science components. The general goal is to train students to tackle environmental change and sustainability in a multidisciplinary perspective. Students will therefore be provided with both a solid knowledge of the dynamics of the different components of the environment and a deep understanding of the tools required to promote its sustainable management and protection.
The Master degree in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability represents a novelty in the Italian university system, not only for its marked multidisciplinary approach, but also for being taught entirely in English.
The main peculiar quality of ECGS graduates is their ability to tackle environmental change and sustainability in a multidisciplinary perspective. This ability benefits of advanced expertise in the hard- and life-science components of environmental studies as well as in their economic- and social-science components. In this context, five professional profiles ECGS graduates can achieve are listed below:
1. Environmental manager in agro-food, energy and green economy companies as well as in other companies in the industrial and service sectors;
2. Environmental specialist in the public administration as well as in local governments;
3. Environmental specialist in supra and international bodies as well as in national and international non-governmental organizations.
4. Specialist in environmental impact studies and strategic environmental assessments;
5. Specialist in environmental analysis and monitoring.

Further employment opportunities of ECGS graduates concern research positions at universities and research institutions as well as teaching at the secondary school level.

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
In line with the nature of the ECGS programme, international mobility is highly encouraged.
Students enrolled in the programme may spend a study period abroad under the ERASMUS+ program (they can take courses, take exams, prepare theses, carry out research), obtaining recognition for their academic career from that educational experience.
Erasmus+ also provides Placements, that is, the opportunity for a traineeship in companies and other organisations abroad. The new Erasmus+ program provides the following new study and placement opportunities: a) up to 12 months abroad (study periods and placements); b) placements, including those for new graduates (within 12 months of completing a degree). Students who have already spent a period abroad under the Erasmus+ programme may still apply for an Erasmus+ educational or placement activity. Yet, the months previously spent abroad concur to the attainment of the overall maximum of 12 months for each Erasmus+ study cycle.
Enrolment
Pre-requisites for admission and assessment requires

Eligibility to the Master program in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability presupposes to possess suitable curricular qualifications and to have an adequate personal preparation, to be verified by means of an interview. As to the curricular qualifications, the ECGS program can be accessed by graduates holding an Italian three-year laurea (BA) degree (ex D.M. 270/2004 or ex D.M. 509/1999) in either the class L-32 Scienze per l'ambiente e la natura (ex D.M. 270/2004) or the class L-27 Scienze e tecnologie per l'ambiente e la natura (ex D.M 509/1999). The ECGS programme can also be accessed by graduates holding an Italian three-year laurea (BA) degree, obtained in classes different from the above-mentioned ones, provided they have earned at least 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits for having attended courses in the scientific-disciplinary sectors belonging to at least two of the following sets, of which at least 15 in the scientific-disciplinary sectors belonging to the first set and at least 12 in the scientific-disciplinary sectors belonging to the second set or the third set.
1. computer science, mathematics, and statistics (INF/01, MAT/01-/09, SECS-S/01, SECS-S/06);
2. chemistry, physics and Earth sciences (CHIM/01-/03, CHIM/06, CHIM/12, FIS/01, FIS/06-/07, GEO/01-/02, GEO/04-/05, GEO/10-/12);
3. life sciences (AGR/02-/03, AGR/05, AGR/08-/10, AGR/13, AGR/15, BIO/01-/07, BIO/09-/13);
4. economic and social sciences (AGR/01, ING-IND/35, IUS/01, IUS/04, IUS/09, IUS/13, SECS-P/01-/02, SPS/04, SPS/07, SPS/10).

Students with foreign qualifications obtained from international Universities subscribing to both the European system for acknowledging university qualifications and the ECTS system for assigning university credits can also enter the ECGS program, provided that they hold first-level degrees accepted as equivalent to Italian laurea degrees by the members of a Committee appointed by the ECGS program Council, who will also ascertain that the international applicants meet curricular requirements in disciplines similar to those belonging to the scientific-disciplinary sectors listed above.

Finally, students with foreign qualifications obtained from international Universities not subscribing to the European system for acknowledging university qualifications and the ECTS system for assigning university credits can also enter the ECGS program, provided that they hold first-level degrees accepted as equivalent to Italian laurea degrees by a Committee appointed by the ECGS program Council, and that the same Committee verifies that the international applicants meet curricular requirements similar to those required of the applicants holding qualifications awarded by Italian Universities.

Moreover, in all the above cases, knowledge of the English language is required at level B2 or higher, according to the classification provided by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The qualifications recognised by the University of Milan, with the corresponding CEFR levels, can be found at: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/language-proficiency/placement-tests-and-english-courses/accepted-language-certificates. Native English speakers and graduates from university first-level programmes entirely taught in English are exempted from producing any such language qualification.
Students without a documented B2 level may be accepted on condition that their level of English proficiency, assessed during the interview, is evidently good.

In entrance, optional training activities are provided to facilitate the integration of students from different first level degrees and from different universities (see the programme website at: https://ecgs.cdl.unimi.it/en).

Applicants must apply for admission to the ECGS program from January 22nd to August 25th, 2024.
Non EU candidates applying for a visa must apply from January 22nd to April 30th, 2024.
Applicants will be contacted for an on-line interview.

Admission

Application for admission: from 22/01/2024 to 25/08/2024

Application for matriculation: from 08/04/2024 to 15/01/2025


Attachments and documents

Admission notice

Learn more:
Programme description and courses list
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Approaches to the Study of Ecological Systems 8 64 English BIO/07
Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation 8 64 English BIO/05
Environmental Economics and Policy 8 64 English SECS-P/01
Quantitative Methods 6 64 English MAT/06 MAT/08
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics and Policy 8 64 English AGR/01
Chemistry of Natural Processes and Technologies for the Environment 8 64 English CHIM/06 CHIM/07
Statistical Methods in Environmental Studies 6 64 English SECS-P/05 SECS-S/01
Optional
Geodiversity: Theory and Applications 8 80 English GEO/04
Sedimentary Successions and Their Natural Resources for the Energy Transition 8 64 English GEO/02
Study plan rules
- Choose one course between:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Geodiversity: Theory and Applications 8 80 English Second semester GEO/04
Sedimentary Successions and Their Natural Resources for the Energy Transition 8 64 English Second semester GEO/02
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Applied Environmental and Resource Economics 6 48 English AGR/01
Climate Change: Impact and Adaptation 6 64 English AGR/02 FIS/06
Ecosystem Functioning and Services 6 48 English BIO/07
Georesources and Sustainability 6 48 English GEO/09
Plant and Animal Diversity: Values and Risks 6 48 English BIO/04 BIO/05
Recycle and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Products and Processes 6 48 English CHIM/04
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Environmental Law 6 48 English IUS/10
Green Procurement 6 48 English IUS/10
Laboratory of Environmental Change and Global Sustainability 9 144 English
Sustainability Accounting and Management 6 48 English SECS-P/08
Sustainable Development 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Dissertation 21 0 English
Study plan rules
- The student:
- must attend the "Safety for field activities" course. Further information will be avaible by e-mail or on the course website.

- must acquire 9 ECTS credits for Internship and Placement.
Internship and Placement credits can be spent:
Within an external internship;
Within an internal internship;
Within the Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Environmental Change and Global Sustainability organised by ECGS Master..
- Open choice courses: 12 CFU
- Choose three courses (18 CFU), according to the following rules:
- 1 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Plant and Animal Diversity: Values and Risks 6 48 English First semester BIO/04 BIO/05
- 2 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Ecosystem Functioning and Services 6 48 English First semester BIO/07
- 3 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Recycle and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Products and Processes 6 48 English First semester CHIM/04
- 4 - the student can choose one the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Georesources and Sustainability 6 48 English First semester GEO/09
- 5 - the student can choose one of the following courses:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Applied Environmental and Resource Economics 6 48 English First semester AGR/01
Climate Change: Impact and Adaptation 6 64 English First semester AGR/02 FIS/06
- 6 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Environmental Law 6 48 English Second semester IUS/10
Green Procurement 6 48 English Second semester IUS/10
Sustainable Development 6 48 English Second semester SECS-P/01
- 7 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Sustainability Accounting and Management 6 48 English Second semester SECS-P/08
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Approaches to the Study of Ecological Systems 8 64 English BIO/07
Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation 8 64 English BIO/05
Environmental Economics and Policy 8 64 English SECS-P/01
Quantitative Methods 6 64 English MAT/06 MAT/08
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics and Policy 8 64 English AGR/01
Chemistry of Natural Processes and Technologies for the Environment 8 64 English CHIM/06 CHIM/07
Statistical Methods in Environmental Studies 6 64 English SECS-P/05 SECS-S/01
Optional
Geodiversity: Theory and Applications 8 80 English GEO/04
Sedimentary Successions and Their Natural Resources for the Energy Transition 8 64 English GEO/02
Study plan rules
- Choose one course between:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Geodiversity: Theory and Applications 8 80 English Second semester GEO/04
Sedimentary Successions and Their Natural Resources for the Energy Transition 8 64 English Second semester GEO/02
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Bioresource and Pollution Control Technology 6 48 English AGR/09
Ecosustainable Materials and Processes 6 48 English CHIM/07
Ecosystem Functioning and Services 6 48 English BIO/07
Environmental Change and Public Health 6 64 English MED/04 MED/50
Environmental Geochemistry 6 48 English GEO/08
Methods in Ecotoxicology 6 64 English BIO/07 VET/07
Multilevel Effects of Environmental Contamination 6 48 English BIO/05 BIO/06 BIO/14
Remote Sensing of Agro-Environmental Change 6 48 English AGR/02
Waste Management and Sustainability 6 56 English AGR/10 AGR/13 AGR/18
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Food Industry Design, Technology and Innovation 6 48 English AGR/15
Laboratory of Environmental Change and Global Sustainability 9 144 English
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Dissertation 21 0 English
Study plan rules
- The student:
- must attend the "Safety for field activities" course. Further information will be avaible by e-mail or on the course website.

- must acquire 9 ECTS credits for Internship and Placement.
Internship and Placement credits can be spent:
Within an external internship;
Within an internal internship;
Within the Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Environmental Change and Global Sustainability organised by ECGS Master..
- Open choice courses: 12 CFU
- Choose three courses (18 CFU), according to the following rules:
- 1 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Multilevel Effects of Environmental Contamination 6 48 English First semester BIO/05 BIO/06 BIO/14
- 2 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Ecosystem Functioning and Services 6 48 English First semester BIO/07
- 3 - the student can choose the following course:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Environmental Geochemistry 6 48 English First semester GEO/08
- 4 - the student can choose one or two of the following courses:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Remote Sensing of Agro-Environmental Change 6 48 English First semester AGR/02
Waste Management and Sustainability 6 56 English First semester AGR/10 AGR/13 AGR/18
- 5 - the student can choose one or two of the following courses:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Ecosustainable Materials and Processes 6 48 English First semester CHIM/07
- 6 - the student can choose one or two of the following courses:
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Bioresource and Pollution Control Technology 6 48 English First semester AGR/09
Environmental Change and Public Health 6 64 English First semester MED/04 MED/50
Methods in Ecotoxicology 6 64 English First semester BIO/07 VET/07
Food Industry Design, Technology and Innovation 6 48 English Second semester AGR/15
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Course locations
Lecture rooms and laboratories are located in the "Città Studi" campus, mostly in the University buildings of Via Celoria, 20
Head of study programme
Erasmus and international mobility tutor 
Quality Assurance Delegate
Contacts

The tuition fees for students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes are divided into two instalments with different calculation methods and payment schedules:

  • The amount of the first instalment is the same for all students
  • The amount of the second instalment varies according to the ISEE University value, the degree programme and the student status (on track / off track for one year or off track for more than a year) 
  • An additional fee is due for online programmes

The University also offers:

  • Concessions for students meeting high merit requirements
  • Diversified tuition fees according to the student's home country for international students with assets/income abroad
  • Concessions for international students with refugee status

Scholarships and benefits

The University provides a range of financial benefits to students meeting special requirements (merit, financial or personal conditions, international students).

Learn more