Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS)
Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS)
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Master programme
LM-75 - Environmental and land sciences and technology
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 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)
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.
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.
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
Online services
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..
- 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..
- 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 |
Learn more
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
Academic guidance tutor
Erasmus and international mobility tutor
Study plan tutor
Internship tutor
Quality Assurance Delegate
Reference structures
Contacts
- ECGS Secretariat
Milano - Via Celoria 2, 2nd floor
https://informastudenti.unimi.it/saw/ess?AUTH=SAML
+39+39 02502 16501/16475
Contact us via InformaStudenti - Student administrative office
Milan - Via Celoria 18
https://informastudenti.unimi.it
+39+39 02503 25032
https://www.unimi.it/it/node/360 - International Students Office - Welcome Desk
Milan - Via S. Sofia, 9/1
https://www.unimi.it/en/international/coming-abroad/international-students-office-welcome-desk
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
Guidance:
Admission, ranking and enrolment
Official documents