1st Level Master in
Smart Farming Technologies
The programme trains specialists in agricultural engineering, consulting, administration, and practice for the future of digital agriculture. It bridges the gap between rapid technological advancements and current training, equipping students to tackle modern challenges in agriculture, forestry, and the food industry
Description
The programme offers an interdisciplinary technical and scientific basis with a focus on precision systems, hardware and software in plant production and livestock breeding. It provides methods for designing and implementing digital technologies in agriculture, especially for mountain areas and considering sustainability aspects. The aim is to provide specialists with the tools to competently introduce digital technologies into complex systems. The programme is aimed at graduates in agricultural and natural sciences, engineering and related disciplines, as well as at experts in administration and consulting.
Fee reductions: The tuition fee can be reduced by up to 70% for employees of companies that meet certain requirements, thanks to funding from the EDIH NOI project. The EDIH NOI co-financing rate depends on the size of the company, in accordance with state aid regulations. To apply for the it, you must upload a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed by the legal representative of the company concerned during the application process. The LOI template is available in the application portal. Please refer to the tuition fee section for more information.
At a glance
ECTS credits: 60
Duration of the course: 1 year
Courses will be taught in: German, Italian, and English
Places available: maximum of 20
Campus: NOI Techpark Bozen-Bolzano
Tuition fees: 10.000 € per year (+ 173 € provincial tax for the right to study)
Structure
The master aims to complete the first-level university education by focusing on the challenges of digital farming. The training objectives include key areas like precision farming, smart management of phytosanitary treatments in crop production, digital technologies applied to farming, and sustainable practices. Additional topics cover sensor technology, positioning systems, and evaluation of smart agriculture methods. Agricultural legislation and sustainable farming practices are also emphasized, focusing on prevention and efficiency.
The programme is divided into five modules. The first module, ‘Fundamentals’, covers introductory topics, concepts and technologies for digitising agricultural processes, as well as tools for farm management and information systems (FMIS). Module II, ‘Methods’, offers practice-oriented laboratory units on sensors, localisation, digital maps, data management and decision models. In modules III and IV, the focus is on the application of digital technologies in crop production (e.g. fertilisation, robotics) and in livestock farming (e.g. automation, fertiliser management), supplemented by economic, ecological and social assessments. Module V comprises a practice-related final thesis with a presentation at the end of the course.
The training offer is articulated on a study path of 1500 hours in total, of which:
- 360 hours are for face-to-face teaching, excursions to places of particular interest, and design and practical activities
- 80 hours of online teaching
- 960 hours of individual study
- 100 additional hours are planned for the final thesis and presentation
Practical activities cover topics such as sensor technology and positioning systems, and include 125 hours between January and June 2025 (7 CFU).
Lessons
The calendar is designed for working people, making it easier to combine study and work. Classes will run approximately from January 2025 to November 2025.
Classes will be concentrated on two days a week, preferably Friday afternoon 16:00-20:00 and Saturday 09:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00.
A compulsory attendance of 70% of the scheduled activities is required to graduate. This percentage must be met for each teaching method.
Changes to the timetable may be made due to justified organisational requirements. Any changes to the timetable will be agreed with students and professors.
People
Course director: Prof. Andreas Gronauer
Study Course Council:
Fabrizio Mazzetto, Luisa Petti, Guido Orzes
Career Opportunities
The programme aims to train new specialists with interdisciplinary skills who can be employed in a range of fields. This also includes freelance work as technical-scientific consultants for professional groups such as farmers and foresters, geologists, landscape architects and engineers. In addition, it qualifies graduates for employment in local institutions and authorities such as municipalities, provinces and regions, as well as in companies in agriculture and the upstream and downstream economic sectors. Graduates can apply their expertise there, particularly in the technical structures of national authorities and public institutions responsible for agricultural development measures, as well as in the offices of the European Union and international organisations, where they can work in technical-administrative support and in the consulting and planning of agricultural development strategies.
Application and Admission
You can find all you need to know in order to apply and gain admission to this study programme by browsing through the information below.
Early Bird Application
Application: 21/10/2024 – 15/11/2024 (by 12 noon)
Publication of the ranking lists: 29/11/2024
Enrollment deadline: 13/12/2024 (12 noon)
Start of lectures: 10/01/2025
The minimum number of enrolled students required for the master to be activated is 11 and the maximum number is 20.
Admission to is open to students in possession of
- a three-year degree in one of the following classes (ex D.M. 270/04):
– Architectural Sciences L-17,
– Computer Sciences and Technologies L-31,
– Engineering (all disciplines from L-7 to L-9),
– Sciences of Territorial, Urban, Landscape and Environmental Planning L-21,
– Sciences and Technologies for the Environment and Nature L-32,
– Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and Technologies L-25,
– Geological Sciences L-34,
– Economic Sciences L-33,
– Economics and Business Management Sciences L-18,
– Mathematical Sciences L-35,
– Animal Sciences and Production Technologies L-38,
– Statistics L-41. - a degree awarded in accordance with the regulations in force prior to Ministerial Decree 509/99 in: Architecture, Engineering (all disciplines), Agricultural, Forestry, Environmental, Animal, Natural and Geological Sciences, Economics.
- a degree in a class other than those indicated in point a) considered valid for access by the Study Course Council.
- a degree obtained abroad, recognised as equivalent by the Study Course Council for the purposes of admission to the course.
Applicants are required to have a good knowledge of German, Italian and English.
Regarding simultaneous enrolment at different universities and higher education institutions, at different faculties or schools of the same university and at different degree courses of the same faculty or school, the state regulations apply.
People about to graduate are also eligible for selection, provided that the required qualification was in any case obtained at the time of enrolment.
Your application must be submitted online through the Application Portal. The deadlines are indicated in the “Deadlines” section.
- You need to create an account and upload a valid ID card or passport (front/back). Please note: if your document is invalid, incomplete or unreadable, you will be excluded from the admission procedure;
- Fill in the online form and upload the attachments listed under “Admission procedure”;
- If you gained your qualification abroad, you must also upload the diploma of your qualification: if you are not yet in possession of the diploma, you’ll need to upload it upon enrolment;
- Complete and submit the online application by the deadline. Once the application has been sent, it cannot be modified. Filled-in forms which have not been sent correctly will not be taken into consideration.
Please note: Mendacious declarations will be criminally prosecuted and will result in the automatic exclusion from the ranking list.
According to current regulations, it is possible to enrol in up to 2 study courses at the same time. The two study courses must differ for at least 2/3 of the course contents.
The selection is carried out by the Master's Council, which will draw up a ranking based on the following criteria:
- degree title and grade (max 10 points).
- curriculum vitae (max 10 points).
- cover letter (max 10 points).
A minimum score of 10 points is required for admission to the Master's course.
By analogy with other activities envisaged within the EDIH project, priority will be given to one/one participant per company in order to reach as large a number of companies as possible with the activities.
Finally, admission will take into account the criteria of inclusiveness and equal opportunities.
If you have been admitted to more than one study programme, you can secure your admission for a maximum of 2 programmes by paying the designated rate twice.
1. Choose the study programme and pay the fees (to secure your admission) in the application portal.
The deadlines are indicated in the “Deadlines” section.
Please note that you do not gain full student status by only paying the tuition fees. This status will only be acquired upon enrolment. If you have secured your admission, there will be no refund of the tuition fees unless you do not pass your secondary school final exam.
The entire fee (including the provincial fees) will only be refunded if the Masters programme will not be activated due to the insufficient number of enrolled students.
2. Enrol online in the application portal.
The deadlines are indicated in the “Deadlines” section.
Enrolment is recommended as early as possible, so you have the possibility to upload incomplete documents before the deadline.
If you do not meet the enrolment deadline, you will be excluded and the next applicant in the ranking list will be admitted.
Admission with reservation:If you do not have the required academic qualification, you will be given a conditional offer for a study place and you must submit your qualification upon enrolment. If you achieve your qualification after the enrolment deadline, you cannot enrol, and you will lose your place which will be offered to the subsequent applicant in the ranking list.
If you have gained your qualification abroad, you must upload:
- the diploma of your qualification
- the official translation of your diploma into Italian (not necessary if the diploma has been issued in German or English)
- the Diploma supplement, where it must be indicated: that you have achieved at least 180 credit points (ECTS) and that the qualification gives access to a master programme
If you have gained your qualification abroad in one of the Countries that are signatory to the Lisbon Convention you must also upload:
- the Statement of Correspondence of your qualification, to be downloaded from the ARDI - Automatic Recognition Database – Italy
If you have gained your qualification abroad in a country that is not a signatory to the Lisbon Convention, you must also upload:
- the Statement of Comparability and Verification of your qualification, issued by the Italian Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence (CIMEA)
unibz performs the necessary checks on your foreign qualification and in case of doubt reserves the right to request additional documents.
Please note that if you do not possess a valid admission qualification, you can be excluded with Rector’s decree even after enrolment.
Tuition fees amount to €10,000 (+€173 for the provincial tax for the right to university study). The amounts are to be paid in a single instalment upon enrolment.
Payment of fees is a prerequisite for enrolment.
If you abandon your studies, renounce them, or are excluded from them, you are not entitled to a refund of the amount paid.
The Advisory Service provides support regarding your choice of study. In many cases a simple call or a short request is enough to get the relevant information (Tel. +39 0471 012100).