Bachelor in
This programme, developed together with chef Norbert Niederkofler, provides you with the interdisciplinary skills you need to work in the field of healthy, sustainable mountain enogastronomy, respecting biodiversity, building on local traditions and products, and focusing on food innovation in a circular economy.
Tradition (respect for values, old processing methods and the territory), creativity (using natural products to get the most out of their flavours), honesty (valuing the work of producers by integrating them into a virtuous circle that produces economic, social and cultural growth), innovation (using different techniques to extract the most flavour from the raw material and presenting it as naturally as possible on the plate) and sustainability (integrating processes into a circular system that simultaneously develops cuisine, the economy and culture) are the values that guide this programme.
The aim of this trilingual programme is to train food and wine experts capable of elevating food to the status of culture and giving it a new identity, on the basis of Michelin-starred chef Norbert Niederkofler's Cook the Mountain philosophy. An innovative concept that aims to rethink economic and social development by investigating the relationship between production, product, territory and consumption to create a cuisine that is a catalyst for cultural processes to spread a model of sustainable development. The raw materials, which are often difficult to find in an impervious context such as the Dolomites or other mountain areas, are made more valuable through the recovery of traditions and the rediscovery of biodiversity with the final result of elevating food to culture and giving it a new identity. The effect is to contribute to the creation of a transversal research laboratory on gastronomy that investigates the values that, on a global level, culturally and socially unite the people who live the mountains as a resource, passion, challenge, heritage to be protected, as well as to encourage a new way of experiencing the relationship between cuisine and mountains that combines ethics and conviviality, environmental sustainability and territorial development.
In this context, food and wine experts who graduate from this programme take on the role of "emotional educators", capable of promoting a new lifestyle.
The Municipality of Meran-Merano will award 5 scholarships of € 1,000 each to students enrolled in the first year of this study programme in the 2023/24 academic year , of which four scholarships will be awarded to students resident in the municipality of Meran-Merano. If there are no applicants for the scholarships reserved for residents of the municipality of Meran-Merano, the scholarships will be awarded according to the general ranking list.
Bachelor class: L/GASTR
ECTS credits: 180
Duration of the course: 3 years
Courses will be taught in English, Italian and German
Places available: 50 EU + 4 Non-EU
Campus: Bozen-Bolzano
Tuition fees: ca. € 1200 per year
The programme combines lectures, visits and activities with farmers, and workshops, with cooking experiences with internationally renowned chefs and an internship at AlpiNN - Food Space & Restaurant, Norbert Niederkofler and Paolo Ferretti's restaurant located on the top of Kronplatz-Plan de Corones and defined as the "home of Cook the Mountain".
In the first part of the programme, basic concepts of mathematics, statistics, chemistry and biology are taught, together with sustainable plant and animal production and the historical and anthropological evolution of their use. The second year is devoted to food and wine, including processes, technologies and organisational models, the role of microorganisms in food and how to control them, ensuring food hygiene, fermented products, as well as the financial management of small and large food and wine companies (from agritourism to catering companies at different levels of the production chain). Finally, the third year is dedicated to the visual and sensory communication of food and wine products, marketing and food law, and techniques for the recovery of by-products.
The local hospitality schools and the South Tyrolean Hotel and Restaurant Association (HGV) are also active partners.
Degree Course director: Prof. Emanuele Boselli
Student Representative in the Course Council: Giulia Zarbo
The faculty offers exchange programmes with universities all over the world and unibz is part of a large network of collaborations with employers in Italy and abroad where you can undertake your mandatory internships.
Graduates work as mountain food and wine experts in technical and organisational roles with specific skills in the food sector (technology and quality control, food safety and hygiene; management of mountain food and wine production companies), maîtres d'hotel or kitchen managers, logistics managers, procurement experts, or managers of specialised companies such as catering companies, restaurants or companies offering typical mountain food and wine products and services (agri-tourism, food and wine tourism, e-commerce, social media, conferences and events).
Thanks to their robust scientific, cultural, and technical skills, they will be able to take on communication roles in the media or in major companies in the food, gastronomy, catering and wine sectors, in the management and organisation of cultural events, in food and wine critique, in the regional gastronomic promotion, in the analysis of company strategies and economic/financial and cultural/artistic values (history of agriculture and food; food culture and symbolism; anthropological studies, art and design).
Subsequently, they may also decide to continue their education by enrolling in a master programme in the fields of food science and technology, agriculture or viticulture and oenology.
Strategic Buyer - Alois Dallmayr KG, München
”Companies in the food industry are eager to recruit graduates of this bachelor programme. This unique academic background equips candidates with a holistic perspective that encompasses product and business development, food culture, production methods, ethics, and communication. By valuing the intricacies of mountain areas, we expect these graduates to contribute to the diverse expertise of the team, fostering innovation and sustainable growth within the enogastronomy industry.”
The Open Day for high school students and interested people, starting from 9:00 am. Discover our bachelors and ask questions to our lecturers and to students that have been through your very same situation.
Living in South Tyrol, Housing, Scholarships, Single Subject Courses and more
Everything you need to know as a degree-seeking applicant or as an incoming exchange student
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.
Application: 03/03 - 06/05/2025 (by noon local time)
Language exams (online): 17/03/2025 and 16 - 17 and 22 - 23/04/2025 (registration: to be defined)
Admission exam (online): to be defined
Publication of ranking lists: by 27/05/2025
Payment of the 1st instalment of the tuition fees: by 05/06/2025 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: from 11/07 - 05/08/2025 (by noon local time)
Application: 28/05 - 09/07/2025 (by noon local time)
Language exams (online): 23 - 27/06/2025 (registration: to be defined)
Admission exam (online): to be defined
Publication of ranking lists: by 29/07/2025
Payment of the 1st instalment of the tuition fees: by 05/08/2025 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: from publication of the ranking list until 05/08/2025 (by noon local time)
The faculty can open additional application sessions for single study programmes in August and in September if there are available places. More information on additional sessions will be published in due course.
Intensive language courses: 01 - 19/09/2025 (Monday to Friday, 6 h/day)
Mathematics pre-course: 22/09 - 03/10/2025
Freshers Days: 29 - 30/09/2025
Classes: 29/09 - 23/12/2025
Exams (extraordinary session): 11 - 23/12/2025
Holidays: 24/12/2025 - 06/01/2026
Classes: 07 - 24/01/2026
Exams: 26/01 - 21/02/2026
Classes: 02/03 - 02/04/2026
Holidays: 03 - 06/04/2026
Classes: 07/04 - 13/06/2026
Exams (extraordinary session): 14 - 23/05/2026
Exams: 15/06 - 11/07/2026
Exams: 24/08 - 26/09/2026
EU citizens and citizens given parity of treatment
Early Bird Application: 15
Late Application: 10
Non-EU citizens (living abroad)
Early Bird Application: 5
The programme will only be offered if a minimum of 15 newly enrolled students is reached.
To gain admission to the programme you need one of the following qualifications:
Foreign school leaving certificates are considered equivalent if obtained after 12 years of education. In this case, you furthermore must have attended at least the last two years in the foreign school system (e.g. Irish Leaving Certificate: it is not enough to attend one year and obtain the foreign certificate).
The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research has set specific admission requirements for holders of certain certificates (e.g. American high school diplomas, British and Greek certificates). For more information: apply@unibz.it (Advisory Service).
To be admitted, you must fulfil the language requirements indicated in the section “Language requirements”.
According to national regulations, simultaneous enrolment in a maximum of 2 programmes is possible (however, the two programmes must not belong to the same class, e.g., L-18/L-18 and must differ for at least 2/3 of the course contents).
The official teaching languages are German, Italian and English. Therefore, the following language requirements apply, otherwise you will be excluded from the admission procedure:
Entry level (to gain admission)
1st language: B2
2nd language: B1
3rd language: no level required
Applicants with a B2 level in the 2nd language are given priority. A B1 level in the third language is the minimum requirement for taking curricular examinations in that specific language.
Exit level (to graduate)
1st language: C1
2nd language: B2
3rd language: B2
The levels of the Common European Framework of Reference apply.
Your first language is the language in which you have the highest level of proficiency (B2 or C1). Your third language is instead the language in which you are weaker (or in which you are an absolute beginner).
You can demonstrate your language proficiency in the application portal (in the section “upload language certificates” and/or “enrol for language exams”) after you have created an application in the section “create/manage applications”. The certification is mandatory for the first and second language, for the third language it is recommended (from B1 onwards).
You can demonstrate language proficiency through:
Please note that you can only register for B1 and B2 level exams and only for one level per language (e.g. in the same exam session you can register for a B1 German and a B2 Italian exam, but not for a B1 and a B2 German exam).
For information on studying in three languages also visit the following page.
Secondary schools in a foreign country/Bi- or multilingual schools
If the foreign language proficiency levels (for German, Italian, or English) are explicitly indicated on the diploma of graduation according to the Common European Framework of Reference (i.e., B1, B2 or C1), and if all four language abilities (reading, listening, speaking, writing) have been assessed, then the indicated levels will be accepted as a proof of proficiency for the second and/or third language.
Please upload your school-leaving certificate to the application portal in the section “upload language certificates” under the respective language. The Language Centre will decide on its recognition.
Third language/Intensive language courses in September
If you have already acquired a language certificate in the third teaching language, please upload it to the portal. If you are not able to certify your language competence in the third language and you are admitted to unibz, you will have to take a placement test. You will receive further information about the test by e-mail. Based on the result of the placement test, you will be assigned to a certain learning path so that you will be able to reach level B2 as soon as possible.
If you are an absolute beginner in the third language, or if you have a level below B2, you may attend a three-week intensive language course during the pre-semester session in September in order to start the learning path.
The dates of the extensive courses are indicated in the “Deadlines” section. Beginner courses (A1) will be offered exclusively during the pre-semester intensive course session in September will no longer be offered during the academic year. Therefore, absolute beginners should start their learning path for the third language by attending the intensive courses in September.
There will be extensive courses (4 hours per week) during the semesters and intensive courses (8 hours per week) during the time between semesters.
The language courses offered by the Language Centre are free of charge and aim to help the students reach the following target levels in the third language:
Your application must be submitted online through the Application Portal. The deadlines are indicated in the “Deadlines” section.
Please note: Mendacious declarations will be criminally prosecuted and will result in the automatic exclusion from the ranking list.
You might apply for more than one study programme. If you are excluded in the first session, you might apply again in the second one.
Considered as equivalent are:
Only one application period is offered. After the deadline it is not possible to apply anymore. Application fee: € 50. The fee is an administration fee and is non-refundable.
Once the ranking list has been published, if you have gained admission, secure it by paying the first instalment and then start your visa application on the Universitaly portal. The application on Universitaly is mandatory, otherwise you will not be allowed to enrol. On Universitaly you can apply for one study programme only.
The selection procedure is divided into two parts:
Here you can find an example of the admission exam and also the topics suggestions.
In the application portal, you shall:
(*) If you omit to indicate the final grades of the third-last and penultimate year of secondary school, the Admission Committee will assign you a final grade equal to the passing grade of the school year you have not provided a certificate for.
(*) If you have attended a school whose system differs substantially from the Italian system and you do not have the reports with the final grades of the third-last and/or penultimate year of study of your secondary school, the Admission Committee reserves the right to evaluate the possible final reports of the secondary school that refer to years different from the penultimate or third-last.
The dual study programmes are offered under condition of minimum 10 enrolled students. If this minimum number of students is not reached, the enrolled students can request the refund of the registration fee or they have the possibility to switch to the full-time programmes.
The Admission Committee will only evaluate the documents uploaded in the portal by the application deadline. The ranking lists with the admitted students will be published here: https://www.unibz.it/en/applicants/ranking-lists/ and are only valid for the respective academic year.
If on the day of the exam the Admission Committee evaluates your prior knowledge as inadequate, you may be assigned additional learning obligations to be achieved by the end of the first academic year.
In order to get prepared for the additional learning obligations test, preparatory courses are offered in the weeks before the beginning of the first semester. In particular, the courses are taught as intensive courses in which the basic concepts of mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry are dealt with. The additional educational debt is absolved by passing a special examination. Specific dates will be scheduled to take the exams during the first year.
The OFA-exam must be passed within the first academic year of study and is an essential prerequisite for taking the curricular exams of the years following the first. If you have not passed the OFA exam in one of the sessions planned, you will be not able to enrol in the second year of study; consequently, you will be enrolled in the first year again.
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.
If you do not meet this deadline, you will automatically be excluded and the next applicant in the ranking list will be admitted.
For EU citizens and citizens given parity of treatment only: any remaining places of the early bird application, will be offered in the late application.
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 or, in the event of non-EU applicants living abroad, you do not receive the documents necessary for enrolment from the Italian authorities in your country.
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.
If you have gained your secondary school qualification in Austria or Germany or if you have a European Baccalaureate, you must upload the secondary school diploma.
If you have gained your secondary school qualification abroad in one of the Countries that are signatories to the Lisbon Convention (except Austria and Germany) or if you have a Diploma of the International Baccalaureate, you must upload:
If you have gained your secondary school qualification abroad in a country that is not a signatory to the Lisbon Convention, you must upload:
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.
If you are a non-EU citizen living abroad:
Once you are eligible for admission (check the ranking lists) and have also applied on Universitaly, the Italian Authorities in your own country will issue you the entry visa for studies/university. This will allow to enrol for the study programme that you have applied for.
According to Italian law, within 8 working days of your arrival in Italy, you must have applied for the residence permit: as soon as you arrive, get in touch with the Advisory Service and you will be given the necessary information for starting the procedure.
Once you will obtain your residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), you have to hand it in at the Student Office personally or via e-mail.
Students intending to transfer from another Italian University to unibz have to submit to the Student Office - at the beginning of the academic year - a copy of the transfer application presented at the university of provenance.
Fees amount to € 1200
Delayed payment of the second instalment will result in a fine being levied. If you have not paid the tuition fees, you will be unable to take exams and will not be able to transfer to other universities or other study programmes.
If you drop out of a programme, interrupt your studies or are excluded from studies, you are not entitled to reimbursement of the fees.
Exemption from the tuition fees (and the provincial tax) is granted to:
Students who benefit from a scholarship granted by the Autonomous Province of Bozen-Bolzano are entitled to receive a refund of the tuition fees.
Credit points from previous university studies can only be recognised after enrolment if the exams taken at the university of provenance are equivalent in content to those offered at unibz. You can fill out the application after enrolment.
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).
Photography: IDM / Sennereiverband Südtirol / Franco Cogoli