Food Science and Technology
Food Science and Technology
Course sheet
A.Y. 2024/2025
Bachelor
L-26 - Food Sciences
Starting from academic year 2024-2025, this study programme has been renamed as Science and Technology for Sustainable Food
- Prospective students can find all relevant information on the page of the new study programme: Science and Technology for Sustainable Food
- Already enrolled students can refer to this webpage and to the dedicated website: Food Science and Technology
The degree course in Food Science and Technology aims to provide knowledge and train professional skills that allow the graduate to operate autonomously and to quickly enter the sector of production and distribution of food and drinks, and the sectors related to them, from the production to consumption. The general objective of the professional functions of the graduate in Food Science and Technology is the constant improvement of food products, look for quality and sustainability, eco-compatibility of industrial activities, developing innovations in each activity.
The professional profile of the Food Science and Technology graduate are characterized by an integrated knowledge of chemistry, biology and technology. The wide spectrum of basic knowledges and professional skills characterizes an expert who can cover many different functions in the food industry and in each production activities related to the food sector. The graduate in Food Science and Technology performs technical management and control tasks in the production, storage, distribution of food and drinks. The professional activity of the graduate takes place mainly in the food industries, in all the companies that operate for the production, transformation, conservation and distribution of food products, in public and private institutions and stakeholders that carry out analysis, control, certification and investigation activities for the protection and the enhancement of food production. The graduate is an expert able to operate in companies connected with the production of food, which supply materials, systems, adjuvants and ingredients. The most relevant professional outlets are those indicated technical professions in the management of the production processes of goods and services (Food preparation technicians; Food production technicians) and in life sciences (Biochemical laboratory technicians; Food technicians). The graduate is expected to work in the sectors of production, public administration and research institutions. The graduate's responsibilities include:
a) the management of food production, processing and marketing lines;
b) the study, design, management, surveillance, management and testing of food processing processes and related biological products, including the processes of purification of effluents and recovery of by-products;
c) the distribution and supply operations of raw materials and finished products, food additives, food plants;
d) analysis of food products, quality control of food raw materials, finished products, additives, technological aids, semi-finished products, packaging and everything else relating to the production, conservation and transformation of products, the definition of standards and specifications for aforementioned products;
e) market research and related activities in relation to food production;
f) research and development of processes and products in the food sector
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
a) the management of food production, processing and marketing lines;
b) the study, design, management, surveillance, management and testing of food processing processes and related biological products, including the processes of purification of effluents and recovery of by-products;
c) the distribution and supply operations of raw materials and finished products, food additives, food plants;
d) analysis of food products, quality control of food raw materials, finished products, additives, technological aids, semi-finished products, packaging and everything else relating to the production, conservation and transformation of products, the definition of standards and specifications for aforementioned products;
e) market research and related activities in relation to food production;
f) research and development of processes and products in the food sector
Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The eligibility criteria to study under the Erasmus+ program, the rules for participation and the criteria for students selection are described in a specific call dedicated to the Food Area. Erasmus+ provides mobility opportunities within 40 academic partners, widely distributed in Europe and selected on the basis of their excellence and teaching affinity with the Italian degree. Students can apply to take courses in the following thematic areas: chemistry, biochemistry, food microbiology, food technology processes, human nutrition, quality management and food economics and marketing. The outline of the Erasmus+ study program (learning agreement) is prepared by the student in collaboration with the Italian academic Erasmus+ tutor (Prof. Alyssa Mariel Hidalgo Vidal - [email protected]). This document is defined after consulting the teaching board of the Italian degree and receiving the official approval of the activities to be performed in the host institution. In case of research activities, a detailed program describing the activities and the duration of the internship must be planned and formally approved by the host institution supervisor and by a member of the Italian teaching board (Italian supervisor). At the end of study period abroad, the Erasmus+ activities (credits and grades) must be certified in a document called transcripts of records that must be approved by the Italian teaching board (Prof. Alyssa Mariel Hidalgo Vidal - [email protected]). Exam grades are converted according to a pre-defined scale. The bachelor degree in Food Science and Technology is part of the international program Erasmus+ Placement which is finalized to fund mobility of students, to carry out research activities aimed at the preparation of their final thesis in highly qualified host institutions (private and public universities and research centers).
Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended for all training activities.
Enrolment
Admission requirements
Basic knowledge of mathematics, chemistry and physics is a prerequisite for taking this course of studies.
Admission assessment
Admission into this Bachelor's degree programme is capped in order to meet high-quality teaching standards relative to the available resources. There are 180 places available for enrolment in the first year, plus 20 places for non-EU students residing abroad.
Access to the programme is regulated by a compulsory, selective test to ascertain that the candidate meets admission requirements, i.e. knowledge of key science subjects as provided by upper secondary school, and an understanding of elementary logic.
The test required for admission into the degree programme is TOLC-AV, an online test provided by the Consortium of Inter-University Integrated Access Systems (CISIA - https://www.cisiaonline.it).
For test topics and details, please review the page https://www.cisiaonline.it/en/area-tematica-tolc-agraria-veterinaria/struttura-della-prova-e-syllabus/
You may sit for the TOLC-AV test at the University of Milan or any other member university of CISIA.
The calendar with available venues and dates is posted to the page https://tolc.cisiaonline.it/calendario.php?l=gb.
Registration procedures and deadlines are set out in the call for applications posted to the page https://scienzealimentari.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi
Only students high enough in the merit ranking will be eligible for enrolment.
Admission of transfer or graduate students
Transfer students from a degree programme of the University of Milan, or another university, and graduate students will be waived from the test requirement only if admitted to years subsequent to Year I.
To this end, they will have to submit a specific request for prior assessment of their academic records using the online service as shown in the call for applications.
These candidates must provide a full transcript of records (listing exams, subject areas, credits, grades) and attach the course syllabi. For more details and dates, please refer to the call for applications.
Students admitted to the first year will be required to take the test and register for the call.
Additional learning requirements (OFA) and remedial activities
Students who are admitted with a score lower than or equal to 4 in the Mathematics section of the TOLC-AV test will have to fulfil additional learning requirements (OFA). In order to fulfil their OFA, students may either attend the Mathematics remedial course and pass the final test, or pass the Fundamentals of Calculus exam on the study plan. Students who do not pass the Mathematics OFA test (or the Fundamentals of Calculus exam) within the first year of the programme may not take second- or third-year exams. Learn more at https://scienzealimentari.cdl.unimi.it/it/studiare/le-matricole.
Basic knowledge of mathematics, chemistry and physics is a prerequisite for taking this course of studies.
Admission assessment
Admission into this Bachelor's degree programme is capped in order to meet high-quality teaching standards relative to the available resources. There are 180 places available for enrolment in the first year, plus 20 places for non-EU students residing abroad.
Access to the programme is regulated by a compulsory, selective test to ascertain that the candidate meets admission requirements, i.e. knowledge of key science subjects as provided by upper secondary school, and an understanding of elementary logic.
The test required for admission into the degree programme is TOLC-AV, an online test provided by the Consortium of Inter-University Integrated Access Systems (CISIA - https://www.cisiaonline.it).
For test topics and details, please review the page https://www.cisiaonline.it/en/area-tematica-tolc-agraria-veterinaria/struttura-della-prova-e-syllabus/
You may sit for the TOLC-AV test at the University of Milan or any other member university of CISIA.
The calendar with available venues and dates is posted to the page https://tolc.cisiaonline.it/calendario.php?l=gb.
Registration procedures and deadlines are set out in the call for applications posted to the page https://scienzealimentari.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi
Only students high enough in the merit ranking will be eligible for enrolment.
Admission of transfer or graduate students
Transfer students from a degree programme of the University of Milan, or another university, and graduate students will be waived from the test requirement only if admitted to years subsequent to Year I.
To this end, they will have to submit a specific request for prior assessment of their academic records using the online service as shown in the call for applications.
These candidates must provide a full transcript of records (listing exams, subject areas, credits, grades) and attach the course syllabi. For more details and dates, please refer to the call for applications.
Students admitted to the first year will be required to take the test and register for the call.
Additional learning requirements (OFA) and remedial activities
Students who are admitted with a score lower than or equal to 4 in the Mathematics section of the TOLC-AV test will have to fulfil additional learning requirements (OFA). In order to fulfil their OFA, students may either attend the Mathematics remedial course and pass the final test, or pass the Fundamentals of Calculus exam on the study plan. Students who do not pass the Mathematics OFA test (or the Fundamentals of Calculus exam) within the first year of the programme may not take second- or third-year exams. Learn more at https://scienzealimentari.cdl.unimi.it/it/studiare/le-matricole.
Applicants can find all relevant information on the website of the new study programme: Science and Technology for Sustainable Food
Programme description and courses list
course year not available
year
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Elements of Chemistry and Physical Chemistry | 8 | 76 | Italian | CHIM/02 |
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Calculus | 8 | 88 | Italian | MAT/05 |
| Fundamentals of Plant Biology and Yield | 10 | 88 | Italian | AGR/13 AGR/19 |
| - Unit 1 | 5 | 44 | AGR/13,AGR/19 | |
| - Unit 2 | 5 | 44 | AGR/13,AGR/19 | |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Fundamentals of Physics | 6 | 48 | Italian | FIS/07 |
| Organic Chemistry | 8 | 80 | Italian | CHIM/06 |
| Principle of Economics and Statistics | 8 | 72 | Italian | AGR/01 |
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| English Assessment B1 (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | English | NN |
course year not available
year
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Biochemistry | 10 | 88 | Italian | BIO/10 |
| Microbiology and Food Microbiology | 12 | 96 | Italian | AGR/16 |
| Principles of Food Engineering | 12 | 120 | Italian | AGR/15 ING-IND/11 |
| - Applied physics | 6 | 64 | ING-IND/11 | |
| - Unit operations | 6 | 56 | AGR/15 | |
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Analytical Chemistry with Elements of Chemometrics | 7 | 64 | Italian | CHIM/01 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Food Chemistry and Analysis | 8 | 80 | Italian | AGR/15 |
| Human Nutrition | 6 | 52 | Italian | BIO/09 |
year
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Applied Microbiology | 6 | 62 | Italian | AGR/16 |
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Food Processing with Elements of Packaging | 12 | 96 | Italian | AGR/15 |
| - Food packaging | 3 | 24 | AGR/15 | |
| - Food processing | 9 | 72 | AGR/15 | |
| Food Protection | 6 | 54 | Italian | AGR/11 AGR/12 |
| Food Quality and Traceability in the Supply Chains | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/15 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Firm and Chain Management in the Food Sector | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/01 |
| Food Ingredients, Additives and Contaminants | 6 | 48 | Italian | AGR/15 |
| Sensory Analysis of Food and Data Analysis | 6 | 54 | Italian | AGR/15 |
First semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Animal Morphology and Physiology (basic course) | 4 | 36 | Italian | VET/01 |
| Dairy Chemistry and Technology | 4 | 36 | Italian | AGR/15 |
| Health, Safety and Ergonomics in the Food Industry | 4 | 32 | Italian | AGR/09 |
| Sanitation in Food Processing | 4 | 32 | Italian | AGR/15 |
Second semester
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | ||||
| Alcoholic Beverage Technology | 4 | 32 | Italian | AGR/15 |
| Biomolecular Methodologies | 4 | 40 | Italian | BIO/10 |
| Chemistry and Technology of Flavours | 4 | 32 | Italian | AGR/15 |
| Food Enzymology | 4 | 36 | Italian | BIO/10 |
| Nutritional Evaluation of Foods | 4 | 32 | Italian | BIO/09 |
| Technology of Canned Fruits and Vegetables | 4 | 32 | Italian | AGR/15 |
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Computer Science Course | 3 | 30 | Italian | INF/01 |
| Stage | 8 | 0 | Italian | NN |
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | ||||
| Final Exam | 3 | 0 | Italian | NN |
Study plan rules
- The educational activities chosen by the student The student will be able to acquire the 12 CFU by choosing from the courses offered by the course of study in Food Science and Technology and more generally by the University of Milan, or profitably following seminars, conferences, refresher courses, or other activities organized by the University or by another institution for a maximum of 4 credits. These activities must be certified and can only be undertaken after a prior favorable opinion from the Academic Board. The table below lists the free-choice educational activities proposed by the Academic Board of Food Science and Technology. Independently chosen educational activities must be identified in consultation with the study plan tutor and appear in the individual study plan which must be prepared by the date established by the Academic Senate and approved by the Academic Board.
| Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Morphology and Physiology (basic course) | 4 | 36 | Italian | First semester | VET/01 |
| Dairy Chemistry and Technology | 4 | 36 | Italian | First semester | AGR/15 |
| Health, Safety and Ergonomics in the Food Industry | 4 | 32 | Italian | First semester | AGR/09 |
| Sanitation in Food Processing | 4 | 32 | Italian | First semester | AGR/15 |
| Alcoholic Beverage Technology | 4 | 32 | Italian | Second semester | AGR/15 |
| Biomolecular Methodologies | 4 | 40 | Italian | Second semester | BIO/10 |
| Chemistry and Technology of Flavours | 4 | 32 | Italian | Second semester | AGR/15 |
| Food Enzymology | 4 | 36 | Italian | Second semester | BIO/10 |
| Nutritional Evaluation of Foods | 4 | 32 | Italian | Second semester | BIO/09 |
| Technology of Canned Fruits and Vegetables | 4 | 32 | Italian | Second semester | AGR/15 |
Prescribed foundation courses
| Learning activity | Prescribed foundation courses |
|---|---|
| Food Processing with Elements of Packaging | Principles of Food Engineering (compulsory) |
Learn more
Location
Milan
Erasmus and international mobility tutor
Study plan tutor
Reference structures
Contacts
- Degree programme head
[email protected]
+390250319148 - Course management for the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (Science and Technology area)
via Celoria 2 - Milano Città Studi
Contatto: https://informastudenti.unimi.it/saw/ess?AUTH=SAML
+390250316511
Orario di apertura al pubblico: lunedì dalle 10 alle 12 e dalle 14 alle 16 - Student registrar
via Celoria 18 - Milano Città Studi
https://www.unimi.it/it/node/359
+390250325032
https://www.unimi.it/it/node/360
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