Environmental and Food Economics

Giovani spighe di grano in campo
Environmental and Food Economics
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Master programme
LM-76 - SCIENZE ECONOMICHE PER L AMBIENTE E LA CULTURA
Master programme
120
ECTS
Access
Open with entry requirements examination
2
Years
Course location
Milan
Language
English
The relationship between the environment, natural resources, and the agri-food system plays a central role in the development of modern societies. The issues of sustainable economic development, the management of natural and energy resources, and the sustainability of the agri-food system represent new economic and policy challenges. The Master degree in Environmental and Food Economics provides the conceptual and analytical tools for participants to be able to address those challenges. Advanced expertise in economics and business administration and management, quantitative methods, and specific theoretical and applied knowledge in environmental and natural resource economics and in the economics and management of the agri-food chain is provided. The aim is to equip students with a solid understanding of the instruments to promote sustainable economic development, the management of natural resources (water, soil, energy), environmental and energy policies, management and innovation of the agri-food sector, internationalization of agri-food companies, food security issues and rural development. The Master degree in Environmental and Food Economics represents a novelty in the Italian university system, by combining topics of environmental and climate change economics with the economics and management of the agri-food sector, carefully selects the contents of its courses, and for being taught entirely in English.
The Master degree in Environmental and Food Economics is organized in two curricula: i. Environmental and Energy Economics; ii. Economics and Management of the Agri-Food System. The professional profiles that characterize the two curricula can be summarized as follows.
The professional profile of the Environmental and Energy Economics curriculum is more oriented to the world of institutions, both public and private, with job opportunities in national, EU, and international institutions, public administration, Energy Authorities, FAO, OECD, European Commission, public and private research organizations, and research departments of large national and multinational companies, as well as the green economy.
The professional profile of the Economics and Management of the Agri-Food System curriculum is more oriented to the world of private business with job opportunities in agri-food companies (small and medium enterprises, multinationals, GDO), as well as in producer organizations and national, EU, and international institutions that carry out research and studies in the fields of agricultural and food policies, food security, and rural development (FAO, World Bank, OECD, and the European Commission).

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
ERASMUS+ PROGRAM
The degree in Environmental and Food Economics offers the opportunity to study at several European universities, where students will be able to attend lectures and obtain credits for their degree. Our partners are selected among the most prestigious academic institutions: France (Rennes), Finland (University of Helsinki), Germany (University of Gottingen, Justus-Liebig-Universitat - Giessen, Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat Heidelberg), Greece (University of Athens), Netherlands (Wageningen University), Poland (University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Life Sciences- SGGW), Spain (University of Madrid-Politenica, Universidad de Castilla - La Mancha - Ciudad Real, Universitat Rovira i Virgili -Tarragona), Switzerland (University of Geneve), Norway (University of Agder - Kristiansand), Croatia (Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek), Denmark (Kobenhavns Universitet).
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) 12 months abroad (study periods and placements); b) placements, including for new graduates (within 12 months of completing a degree). Students who have already studied or had a placement abroad may apply to Erasmus+ nevertheless remembering that the possible total of 12 months for each Erasmus+ study cycle include the months previously spent abroad.
Enrolment
To attend the Master programme in Environmental and Food Economics it is necessary to possess an adequate knowledge of mathematics, economics and statistics at the undergraduate level. The Master programme can be attended by students with an Italian three-year undergraduate degree (ex. DM 270/04 or equivalent ex. DM 509/99) in any one of the following classes:

Geografia (L-6),
Ingegneria civile e ambientale (L-7), Ingegneria dell'informazione (L-8), Ingegneria industriale (L-9), Scienze biologiche (L-13),
Scienze del turismo (L.15),
Scienze dell'amministrazione e dell'organizzazione (L-16), Scienze dell'economia e della gestione aziendale (L-18),
Scienze della pianificazione territoriale, urbanistica paesaggistica e ambientale (L-21), Scienze e tecnologie agrarie e forestali (L-25),
Scienze e tecnologie alimentari (L-26), Scienze e tecnologie chimiche (L-27), Scienze e tecnologie fisiche (L-30), Scienze e tecnologie informatiche (L-31),
Scienze e tecnologie per l'ambiente e la natura (L-32), Scienze economiche (L-33),
Scienze geologiche (L-34), Scienze matematiche (L-35),
Scienze politiche e delle relazioni internazionali (L-36),
Scienze sociali per la cooperazione, lo sviluppo e la pace (L-37), Sociologia (L-40),
Statistica (L-41), Storia (L-42),
Tecnologie per la conservazione e il restauro dei beni culturali (L-43).

Students having obtained an undergraduate degree in classes other than those listed above and students with foreign degrees are admitted to the programme subject to a favorable decision by the Didactic Committee or by an ad hoc committee named by it.

To attend the degree course, graduates from the three-year and master's degree classes listed above, must have acquired at least 90 ECTS in the scientific-disciplinary sectors in previous studies:
a. FIS/01-FIS/07, MAT/01-MAT/09, SECS-S/01-SECS-S/05, SECS-S/06 (mathematics, physics, and statistics)
b. AGR/01, ING-IND/35, SECS-P/01-SECS-P/06, SECS-P/07-SECS-P/11, SECS-P/12 (business administration, economics, and management)
c. AGR/02-AGR/20, BIO/01-BIO/19, CHIM/01-CHIM/12, GEO/01-GEO/12 (agricultural, biological, chemical, and geological sciences)
d. ICAR/01-ICAR/22, ING-IND/09, ING-IND/22-ING-IND/30, ING-IND-34 (architecture and engineering)
e. INF/01, ING-INF/05, ING-INF/06 (computer science)
f. IUS/01-IUS/10, IUS/12-IUS/14, IUS/21 (law)
g. SPS/01-SPS/14 (social sciences)

There are minimum requirements in order to be admitted to the programme:
- at least 6 ECTS credits in the area of mathematics and statistics (MAT/01 - MAT/09, SECS-S/06);
- at least 6 ECTS credits in the area of economics and agricultural economics (AGR/01, SECS-P/01 - SECS-P/06, ING-IND/35);
- at least 6 ECTS credits in the area of management (AGR/01, SECS-P/07 - SECS-P/11, ING-IND/35);

Students who do not comply with the above prerequisites can fulfill them by attending crash courses in the above areas to be held starting at the end of August (see official course's website https://efe.cdl.unimi.it/en). (Note, crash courses are only for admitted students).

Students with foreign qualifications are expected to meet requirements equivalent to the minimum ones required from students with an Italian degree. The existence pre-requisites will be verified by a special committee appointed by the Didactic Committee.

In addition, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 1. be English mother tongue; 2. have obtained a high-school diploma in English; 3. have obtained a Bachelor's or other first-level university degree in English. Students who do not meet any of the requirements listed in points 1, 2 and 3 must have a B2 level or higher in English, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). For an overview of CEFR levels, please see: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/language-proficiency/placement-tests-entry-tests-and-english-courses . The certification must be uploaded when submitting the online application.
Students meeting the above requirements are invited to an interview for admission (in English). The interview, done remotely via electronic devices if necessary, is aimed at verifying the motivations of the candidates, and the above mentioned skills.

- Practical instructions
Applicants must apply for admission to the EFE program from January 22nd to September 30th, 2024.
Non EU candidates applying for a visa must apply from 22nd January to 30th April 2024
Applicants, both foreign and Italian holding a bachelor's degree or expecting to obtain it by December 31st, 2024

Applicants will be selected on the basis of an interview, whose aim is to ascertain the applicants' motivations as well as their personal knowledge, competencies, and skills in the core areas of the EFE program. For an idea of the required level of preparation, applicants may consult the following textbooks:

Economics:
- Varian H., Intermediate Microeconomics. A Modern Approach, 9th edition, Norton, 2019. Chapters: 1-6, 14-16, 19-25.

Quantitative methods:
- Haeusserl E. F., R. S. Paul, R. J. Wood, Introductory Mathematical Analysis for Business, Economics, and the Life and Social Sciences, 13th edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2010. Chapters: 0-6, 10-14.

Applicants will be contacted for an online interview.

Further detailed information concerning the EFE program are available at https://efe.cdl.unimi.it/en. For any other information, please contact InformaStudenti https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/welcome-desk-informastudenti

Please consult the degree course web site for further information and updates: https://efe.cdl.unimi.it/en.

Admission

Application for admission: from 22/01/2024 to 30/09/2024

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


Attachments and documents

Admission notice


Please note

The deadline for submitting applications for EU candidates is extended to 30 September 2024.

Learn more:
Programme description and courses list
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Advanced Microeconomics 8 64 English SECS-P/01
Environmental Accounting and Management 12 104 English SECS-P/08
- Accounting6
- Environmental management6
Mathematics for Economics 6 56 English MAT/06
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Economics and Politics of the Agrifood Sector 14 112 English AGR/01
- Agrifood economics7
- International agrifood markets and policies7
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics 8 64 English SECS-P/01
Statistics and Econometrics 9 80 English SECS-P/05 SECS-S/01
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Energy Economics 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Environmental and Food Law 6 48 English IUS/13
Global and Climate Change Economics 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Economic History 6 48 English SECS-P/12
Sustainable Development 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Stage 3 0 English
Final Exam 21 0 English
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Food Industry Design Technology and Innovation 6 48 English AGR/15
Project Management for Sustainable Development 3 20 English SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English ICAR/02
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian
Study plan rules
- Open choice courses: 9 CFU
The student can employ part or all of the 9 CFU of freely chosen activities in attending one or more of the following courses. See also the paragraphe "Programme structure - Study plan definition and submission for approval"
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Food Industry Design Technology and Innovation 6 48 English Second semester AGR/15
Project Management for Sustainable Development 3 20 English Second semester SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English Second semester ICAR/02
- Among the electives, those who do not hold an Italian high school diploma or university degree can obtain 3 credits in Additional language skills: Italian by demonstrating A2 level in Italian per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This level can be assessed in the following ways:
- by submitting a certificate of A2 or higher level issued no more than three years prior to the date of submission. You will find the list of language certificates recognized by the University at: https://www.unimi.it/en/node/349). The language certificate must be submitted to the University Language Centre (SLAM) via the Language Test category of the InformaStudenti service: https://informastudenti.unimi.it/saw/ess?AUTH=SAML;
- by a entry-level test administrated by SLAM that can only be taken only once and is compulsory for all students who do not have a valid language certificate. Those who fail to reach A2 level will have to attend one or more than one 60-hour Italian course(s) geared to their level.
Those who do not take the entry-level test or fail to pass the end-of-course test after six attempts will have to obtain language certification privately in order to earn the 3 credits of Additional language skills: Italian. As an alternative, they can modify their course programme by choosing a different elective.
SUGGESTED PRE-REQUISITES:
1. "Mathematics for economics" is preparatory to "Statistics and econometrics";

Curriculum "Environmental and Energy Economics":
1. "Statistics and Econometrics" is preparatory to "Energy economics" and to "Global and climate change economics".
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Advanced Microeconomics 8 64 English SECS-P/01
Environmental Accounting and Management 12 104 English SECS-P/08
- Accounting6
- Environmental management6
Mathematics for Economics 6 56 English MAT/06
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Economics and Politics of the Agrifood Sector 14 112 English AGR/01
- Agrifood economics7
- International agrifood markets and policies7
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics 8 64 English SECS-P/01
Statistics and Econometrics 9 80 English SECS-P/05 SECS-S/01
First semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Environmental and Food Law 6 48 English IUS/13
Food Chain in the Global Market 6 48 English AGR/01
Food Marketing and Consumer Behavior 6 48 English AGR/01
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Economic History 6 48 English SECS-P/12
Food Security and Rural Development 6 48 English AGR/01
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Stage 3 0 English
Final Exam 21 0 English
Second semester
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Food Industry Design Technology and Innovation 6 48 English AGR/15
Project Management for Sustainable Development 3 20 English SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English ICAR/02
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities (e.g. open online courses).
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian
Study plan rules
- Open choice courses: 9 CFU
The student can employ part or all of the 9 CFU of freely chosen activities in attending one or more of the following courses. See also the paragraphe "Programme structure - Study plan definition and submission for approval"
Courses or activities ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Food Industry Design Technology and Innovation 6 48 English Second semester AGR/15
Project Management for Sustainable Development 3 20 English Second semester SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English Second semester ICAR/02
- Among the electives, those who do not hold an Italian high school diploma or university degree can obtain 3 credits in Additional language skills: Italian by demonstrating A2 level in Italian per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This level can be assessed in the following ways:
- by submitting a certificate of A2 or higher level issued no more than three years prior to the date of submission. You will find the list of language certificates recognized by the University at: https://www.unimi.it/en/node/349). The language certificate must be submitted to the University Language Centre (SLAM) via the Language Test category of the InformaStudenti service: https://informastudenti.unimi.it/saw/ess?AUTH=SAML;
- by a entry-level test administrated by SLAM that can only be taken only once and is compulsory for all students who do not have a valid language certificate. Those who fail to reach A2 level will have to attend one or more than one 60-hour Italian course(s) geared to their level.
Those who do not take the entry-level test or fail to pass the end-of-course test after six attempts will have to obtain language certification privately in order to earn the 3 credits of Additional language skills: Italian. As an alternative, they can modify their course programme by choosing a different elective.
SUGGESTED PRE-REQUISITES:
1. "Mathematics for economics" is preparatory to "Statistics and econometrics";

Curriculum "Environmental and Energy Economics":
1. "Statistics and Econometrics" is preparatory to "Energy economics" and to "Global and climate change economics".
Learn more
Location
Milan
Course locations
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences - Via Celoria, 2 - 20133 MILAN
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