Integrated Master in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Science 

Build a systemic view
of agriculture and food

Develop applied skills
in real production settings

Lead sustainability across
the agri-food chain

The Integrated Master in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Science is jointly offered by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, through its School of Agriculture and School of Chemistry—combining over 100 years of excellence in agricultural education with strong scientific leadership in food and chemical sciences. Ranked among the Top 150–200 universities worldwide in Agriculture and Top 151–200 in Food Science & Technology (Shanghai Ranking GRAS 2025), the program offers a unique academic environment that integrates science, innovation, and real-world application. With access to a 180-hectare educational farm, modern laboratories, and interdisciplinary expertise spanning from field to food, students gain hands-on experience across the entire agri-food chain—preparing them to lead and innovate in the global agri-food sector. The structure of this 5-year program allows you to develop advanced scientific expertise without the need for a separate postgraduate degree.

Degree

The 5-year Integrated Master’s degree (EQF Level 7) combines Bachelor’s and Master’s studies into a single continuous program.
The degree provides legally established professional rights in Greece and across Europe, supporting career opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

Duration

5 years

Language

English

Structure

10 semesters | 300 ECTS
55 courses offered within the curriculum
36 out of 55 courses include laboratory, fieldwork, or applied training
Up to 89 hours of laboratory/applied training per semester
Interdisciplinary across life sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, and economics

Location

Thessaloniki, Greece

Enroll today

“Agriculture is the foundation of all arts.”

Xenophon, Ancient Greek philosopher

Global Rankings (Agricultural and Food Sciences)

The School of Agriculture of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is ranked among the Top 150–200 universities worldwide in both Agriculture and Food Science (QS & Shanghai Rankings)and 1st in Greece and southeast Europe

Instead of graduating with a Bachelor’s degree first, you complete a 5-year Integrated Master’s and earn a full Master of Science (MSc). This gives you a direct path to PhD studies without the need for a separate postgraduate application.

From the early semesters, learning goes beyond lectures. Laboratory work, field training, and supervised projects are part of core courses, using university farms, experimental facilities, and pilot units as learning environments. As you progress, training becomes more advanced, preparing you to work across agricultural production, food systems, sustainability, and natural resource management.

With an academic tradition approaching a century of continuous activity, the School combines long-standing expertise with modern scientific training. After completing the five-year program, graduates are academically qualified to enter doctoral studies directly and are also prepared to begin their professional careers immediately.

Why study Sustainable Agriculture and Food Science at AU

Unlike many 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degrees, this program leads to a 5-year Integrated Master’s degree (Level 7 EQF). You graduate with a full Master of Science qualification, giving you deeper expertise and access directly to doctoral studies, without a separate master’s application.

International recognition
Aristotle University is consistently ranked among the world’s leading universities in agricultural sciences.
Recent international rankings include:
– NTU Rankings (2024): 135th worldwide
– U.S. News Best Global Universities (2025–2026): 170th worldwide
– QS World University Rankings (2025 – Agriculture & Forestry): 151–200 worldwide and 58th in Europe
– Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (2025 – Agricultural Sciences): 151–200 worldwide

  • A research-active international environment
    You study in a research environment connected to major European initiatives.
    The university participates in programs such as Horizon Europe, PRIMA and Erasmus+, collaborates with leading European research networks and maintains an active role in international research and innovation projects.
  • Learning in real agricultural environments
    Your studies combine scientific knowledge with practical experience.
    Training takes place in:
    – experimental fields
    – university farms
    – pilot production units
    – analytical laboratories

A key learning environment is the 1,200-stremma University Farm near Thessaloniki, where students gain direct experience with real agricultural production systems.

  • Understanding the full agri-food system
    The program explores the full spectrum of agricultural and food sciences, including:
    – plant and animal production
    – natural resource management
    – agricultural engineering
    – agricultural economics
    – food technology
  • Hands-on and project-based learning
    Practical training is embedded throughout the curriculum.
    Students participate in laboratory work, field training, site visits to production units and applied projects based on real agricultural challenges.
  • The program integrates Skills Labs and Project-Based Learning (PBL), often in collaboration with external partners.
    Through these activities you develop:
    – practical agricultural skills
    – analytical and critical thinking
    – professional ethics
    – teamwork and communication abilities
  • Flexible academic pathways
    As your studies progress, you can shape your academic pathway by selecting courses and thematic directions aligned with your interests.
    This flexibility allows for personalised focus within an interdisciplinary programme and prepares graduates for roles across the global agri-food sector.

2 Schools, One Goal

You learn from two Schools, each bringing a different perspective. Together, they show you how sustainable production, food quality, and environmental responsibility connect in practice.

Sustainable Agriculture

School of Chemistry

The program gives you a strong foundation in sustainable agriculture and food science.
You learn how agricultural systems produce food, manage natural resources, and respond to environmental and sustainability challenges. Below, you can explore the main areas of study that shape the program throughout your studies.

Biological
& Environmental Foundations

Crop, Animal
& Production Systems

Food Systems
& Technology

Agricultural Engineering
& Digital Technologies

Economics, Policy
& Sustainability

Fieldwork, Laboratories
& Applied Training

How you will learn

Learning in the Integrated Master in Agricultural Sciences follows a clear and progressive structure. Step by step, you build scientific knowledge, practical skills, and professional responsibility.

  • Building your scientific foundations
    Your studies begin with the core sciences behind agriculture and environmental systems.
    You explore biology, ecology, chemistry, and systems thinking, building a strong scientific base across plant, animal, and environmental domains.
  • Connecting theory with real agricultural environments
    As you progress, learning moves beyond the classroom.
    Courses combine lectures with laboratory work, field training, and applied projects carried out in university farms, experimental fields, and pilot facilities.
  • Learning through practice
    Hands-on training is a central part of the program.
    Through laboratory work, field exercises, and project-based learning, you apply scientific methods to real challenges in agriculture, food production, and environmental management.
  • Thinking across disciplines
    Agriculture today connects many fields.
    During your studies, you work with ideas from environmental science, engineering, economics, and food systems, learning how to analyse complex sustainability challenges from different perspectives.
  • Modern learning methods
    The program combines traditional teaching with innovative learning tools.
    Digital simulations, gamified learning, living labs, and AI-supported tools help you explore real professional scenarios and develop practical problem-solving skills.
  • Learning in a European academic environment
    You study within a public university that is fully integrated into the European Higher Education Area.
    This supports academic mobility, international collaboration, and progression to postgraduate and doctoral studies.

A degree with global relevance

The program follows internationally recognised academic standards, ensuring transparency, comparability, and academic mobility across higher education systems. As a 5-year Integrated Master’s degree, it provides direct access to postgraduate and doctoral studies, allowing graduates to continue to PhD research without requiring an additional Master’s degree. Students also study within the European Higher Education Area, which supports international academic mobility through exchange opportunities such as Erasmus+. The degree combines strong scientific training with an interdisciplinary perspective on modern agri-food and environmental systems.

Picture yourself as a professional

Imagine yourself working with crops, animals, and food systems. Understanding how agriculture produces food while protecting natural resources and the environment. This degree prepares you for careers in agriculture, food production, sustainability, and environmental management. You may work in farms, food industries, research centres, or organisations focused on sustainable development. You can also continue with postgraduate or doctoral studies in Greece or abroad. You graduate ready to work in environments where science, food production, and sustainability meet.

Agronomist

Agricultural Consultant

Food Systems Specialist

Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

Agricultural Production Manager

Food Quality & Safety Specialist

Agricultural Researcher

Soil & Water Management Specialist

Why Aristotle University  

A leading university in Europe

  • One of the oldest agricultural schools in Greece
    The School of Agriculture at Aristotle University has an academic tradition approaching a century, contributing to the development of agricultural science, food production, and natural resource management in Greece and beyond.
  • A strong academic and research environment
    Students study within a research-active school where teaching is closely connected with scientific research and innovation in agriculture and food systems.
  • Access to university farms and experimental facilities
    Training is supported by university farms, experimental fields, and specialised laboratories, offering opportunities for practical learning in real agricultural environments.
  • Part of one of the largest universities in Southeast Europe
    Aristotle University brings together thousands of students and researchers across a wide range of scientific disciplines, creating a dynamic and interdisciplinary academic environment.
  • An internationally connected academic community
    Students become part of a university that collaborates with institutions, researchers, and academic networks across Europe and the world.

Learn more about our University

Life in Thessaloniki

For thousands of students each year, Thessaloniki becomes more than a place to study — it becomes part of everyday life. Located by the Aegean Sea and home to more than one million people in its wider metropolitan area, the city combines a strong academic presence with the relaxed rhythm of Mediterranean living. Traditions of hospitality and openness help create a welcoming environment for students from Greece and around the world. From the waterfront and the city center to nearby nature  including Mount Olympus and the beaches of Chalkidiki Thessaloniki offers a setting where university life and everyday life naturally come together.

Explore Thessaloniki

AU Students Win First Prize for Sustainable Wildlife Monitoring Technology

Future Agronomists in Action: Research on Intercropping Systems at AU

AU School of Agriculture Among the Top 150 Worldwide in NTU Rankings 2024

The MED GIAHS Chios Project: A Visual Documentation of Mastic Heritage

Stockton University and AU School of Agriculture: Strengthening Transatlantic Academic Cooperation

Steering Committee

Admission
requirements

•Completion of secondary education with a recognised high-school diploma obtained abroad
• The diploma must provide access to higher education in the country where it was issued
• Completion of at least the final two years of secondary education outside Greece
• English language proficiency at least B2 level according to the CEFR
• Participation in an online interview as part of the selection process
• Evaluation of the applicant’s academic background and supporting documents by the Program Committee

Tuition fees and detailed admission requirements are available at the Program’s website. 

Necessary
documents

• Application form available on the Program website
• Copy of ID card or passport
• High-school diploma (with official English translation)
• High-school transcript of the final year of studies
• Detailed grades of the final year of secondary education
• Proof of English language proficiency (minimum B2 level)
• Motivation letter (up to 500 words)
• Curriculum Vitae (in English)

Consult on the Program’s website for the documents you need to submit.  

Take the Next Step
Shape sustainable systems for a changing planet

Explore agriculture, food, and environmental sustainability through a modern scientific approach.
Prepare to contribute to the future of global agri-food systems.

Enroll today

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