Educational plan

The Master degree is comprised of teaching and other educational activities for a total of 120 ECTS and it is entirely taught in English.

The core parts initially provide a series of teachings instrumental to the disciplines involved in the course (Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, Law, Life Cycle Assessment) and then its organization is balanced between common core teaching in the following areas: business (Accounting, Environmental Management, Consumer Behaviour), economics (Microeconomics, Energy Economics, Agri-food Economics, Economics of Food Global Value Chain), and the environment (Trade and Environment, Global and Climate Change Economics, Applied Climate Economics).

From the end of the first year, students are invited to choose between two curricula:

  • Curriculum AEconomics of Climate and Energy–aimed to provide professional training in energy and environmental economics, and focused on sustainable economic development, evaluation of environmental assets, energy markets and policies, management of natural and environmental resources, environment policies, economic impacts of climate change, adaptation strategies and mitigation policies for climate change and international climate change agreements.
  • Curriculum BEconomics and Management of Sustainable Food System–aimed to provide professional training in the managements and administration of national and international companies in the agri-food sector, focusing on the analysis of economic and policy problems of the agri- food system. Expertise and instruments are provided to analyze and manage problems caused by economic and trade integration, to deal with internationalization issues, to assess company strategies, to study and manage national and international value chains, consumer behaviour, marketing strategies, food safety problems, and rural development.
study plan presentation
Programme structure

First year
Mandatory courses 57 ECTS

 

Second year
Mandatory courses 18 ECTS

 

Curricula
Economics of Climate and Energy 12 ECTS
Economics and Management of Sustainable Food System 12 ECTS

 

Electives 9 ECTS + 3 ECTS from advanced computer or language skills, internships, work, workshops and other activities
 

Master thesis 21 ECTS


These educational plans and programme descriptions refer to the A.Y. 2025/2026
Environmental and food economics (Classe LM-76 R)
Enrolled in a. y. 2025/2026 (KBD)
year
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Microeconomics and Environment 12 104 English SECS-P/01
- Advanced microeconomics (first semester)6
- Environmental economics (second semester)6
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Environmental and Food Law 6 48 English IUS/10
Management for Innovation and Sustainability 12 96 English SECS-P/08
- Accounting6
- Environmental management6
Mathematics and Probability for Economics 6 56 English SECS-S/06
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Economics and Politics of the Agrifood Sector 12 96 English AGR/01
- Agrifood economics6
- Trade and environment6
Statistics, Econometrics and Applications 9 80 English SECS-P/05
be activated by the A.Y. 2026/2027
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Applied Climate Economics 6 48 English AGR/01
Energy Economics 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Global and Climate Change Economics 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Optional
Advanced Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Time Series and Forecasting 6 48 English SECS-P/05
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Economic Modeling of the Environment 6 48 English SECS-P/01
Optional
Basic Phyton / R Course 3 24 English NN
Food and Environmental History 6 48 English SECS-P/12
Food Industry Design Technology and Innovation 6 48 English AGR/15
Project Management for Sustainable Development 3 20 Italian SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English ICAR/02
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Exam 21 0 English NN
Study plan rules
- Choose one course from the list below:
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Advanced Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation 6 48 English First semester SECS-P/01
Time Series and Forecasting 6 48 English First semester SECS-P/05
Food and Environmental History 6 48 English Second semester SECS-P/12
- Student must earn 9 credits/ects for elective acrivities, from all courses offered by the University of Milan.
Student can employ part or all of the 9 credits attending one or more of the following courses. See also the paragraph "Program structure - Study plan definition and submission for approval".
Courses or activities Max 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 Italian Second semester SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English Second semester ICAR/02
- Student must earn 3 credits/ects from advanced computer or language skills, internships, work, workshops and other activities.
Student must choose one of the following course:
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Basic Phyton / R Course 3 24 English Second semester NN
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian Undefined NN
Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) 3 0 French Undefined NN
Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) 3 0 German Undefined NN
Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) 3 0 Spanish Undefined NN
Internship 3 0 English Undefined NN
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian NN
Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) 3 0 French NN
Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) 3 0 German NN
Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) 3 0 Spanish NN
Internship 3 0 English NN
SUGGESTED PRE-REQUISITES:
"Mathematics and probability for economics" is preparatory to "Statistics, econometrics and applications";

Curriculum "Economics of Climate and Energy ":
"Statistics, Econometrics and applications" is preparatory to all the second-year courses.

Curriculum "Economics and Management of Sustainable Food System":
"Statistics, Econometrics and Applications" and "Economics and Policy of the Agrifood system (Mod. Trade and environment)" are preparatory to "Economics of Food Global Value Chain."
year
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Microeconomics and Environment 12 104 English SECS-P/01
- Advanced microeconomics (first semester)6
- Environmental economics (second semester)6
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Environmental and Food Law 6 48 English IUS/10
Management for Innovation and Sustainability 12 96 English SECS-P/08
- Accounting6
- Environmental management6
Mathematics and Probability for Economics 6 56 English SECS-S/06
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Economics and Politics of the Agrifood Sector 12 96 English AGR/01
- Agrifood economics6
- Trade and environment6
Statistics, Econometrics and Applications 9 80 English SECS-P/05
be activated by the A.Y. 2026/2027
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Food Consumption 6 48 English AGR/01
Economics of Food Global Value Chain 6 48 English AGR/01
Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and Applications 6 48 English AGR/09
Optional
Applied Climate Economics 6 48 English AGR/01
Climate Change: Impact and Adaptation 6 64 English AGR/02 FIS/06
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Food Security and Rural Development 6 48 English AGR/01
Optional
Basic Phyton / R Course 3 24 English NN
Food and Environmental History 6 48 English SECS-P/12
Food Industry Design Technology and Innovation 6 48 English AGR/15
Project Management for Sustainable Development 3 20 Italian SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English ICAR/02
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Exam 21 0 English NN
Study plan rules
- Choose one course from the list below:
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Applied Climate Economics 6 48 English First semester AGR/01
Climate Change: Impact and Adaptation 6 64 English First semester AGR/02 FIS/06
Food and Environmental History 6 48 English Second semester SECS-P/12
- Student must earn 9 credits/ects for elective acrivities, from all courses offered by the University of Milan.
Student can employ part or all of the 9 credits attending one or more of the following courses. See also the paragraph "Program structure - Study plan definition and submission for approval".
Courses or activities Max 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 Italian Second semester SECS-P/08
Water Resources Sustainable Economy 3 20 English Second semester ICAR/02
- Student must earn 3 credits/ects from advanced computer or language skills, internships, work, workshops and other activities.
Student must choose one of the following course:
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Basic Phyton / R Course 3 24 English Second semester NN
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian Undefined NN
Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) 3 0 French Undefined NN
Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) 3 0 German Undefined NN
Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) 3 0 Spanish Undefined NN
Internship 3 0 English Undefined NN
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian NN
Advanced Language Skills: French (3 ECTS) 3 0 French NN
Advanced Language Skills: German (3 ECTS) 3 0 German NN
Advanced Language Skills: Spanish (3 ECTS) 3 0 Spanish NN
Internship 3 0 English NN
SUGGESTED PRE-REQUISITES:
"Mathematics and probability for economics" is preparatory to "Statistics, econometrics and applications";

Curriculum "Economics of Climate and Energy ":
"Statistics, Econometrics and applications" is preparatory to all the second-year courses.

Curriculum "Economics and Management of Sustainable Food System":
"Statistics, Econometrics and Applications" and "Economics and Policy of the Agrifood system (Mod. Trade and environment)" are preparatory to "Economics of Food Global Value Chain."
Environmental and food economics (Classe LM-76)
Enrolled from 2022/23 academic year to 2024/2025 academic year (K07)
course year not available
First semester
Courses or activities Max 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 Max 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 Max 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 Max 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.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Stage 3 0 English NN
Final Exam 21 0 English NN
Second semester
Courses or activities Max 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
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian NN
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 Max 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".
course year not available
First semester
Courses or activities Max 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 Max 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 Max 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 Max 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.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Stage 3 0 English NN
Final Exam 21 0 English NN
Second semester
Courses or activities Max 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
Undefined
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian NN
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 Max 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".