AFEPA Double Degree Programme

There are 6 places for the academic year 2027/2028:

• 2 at the Université Catholique de Louvain (Louvain, Belgium);
• 2 at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala, Sweden);
• 2 at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn (Bonn, Germany).
   

Students who apply for the AFEPA Double Degree Programme are required to:

• Have acquired a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent academic degree of minimum three years of undergraduate study, corresponding to 180 ECTS credits;
• Have a weighted average mark of at least 27/30, corresponding to a grade B;
• A minimum of 24 ECTS credits in Economics gained in the Bachelor's degree - including one course in Microeconomics and one course in Mathematics/Statistics. An additional introduction to Agricultural, Environmental or Food Sciences is recommended.
   

• Swedish University of Applied Sciences: minimum of 90 (ECTS) in Economics (potentially including BSc thesis and courses in Econometrics)
• Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn: minimum of 42 (ECTS) in Economics or Business Management (equivalent to 1260 hours workload, potentially including the BSc thesis if it has an economic focus), as well as:
  • a minimum of 5 ECTS in Microeconomics 
  • a minimum of 5 ECTS in Statistics
• Université Catholique de Louvain: no additions to the general AFEPA requirements

The language of instruction and examination is English for all the courses at SLU, UBonn, and most of the courses at UCL.

Applicant students must hold an English language certification obtained no earlier than September 1st, 2025. Below are listed the accepted certifications:

• TOEFL: 90 on the Internet-based Test (IBT), with a minimum of 20 on the written part;
• IELTS: overall band score of at least 6.5, and no section below 5.5;
• A test deemed equivalent by the AFEPA Management Board (if you want to submit test results other than from TOEFL or IELTS, please obtain our confirmation of that particular test prior to sending your application). Duolingo tests are not accepted.

Applicants from English speaking countries must provide an official letter from their university from which they graduated, attesting that English is the medium of instruction. It is upon the Consortium’s decision whether an English test as described above must be submitted additionally.
 

A board appointed by the Faculty will pre-select the students according to merit and on the basis of the study curriculum. The ranking list will be based on:

• 45% weighted average mark
• 45% CFU acquired
• 10% academic motivation

Students will be invited to a motivational interview with the appointed board.

The pre-selected students will be evaluated by the AFEPA Committee. Departures will be confirmed afterwards. Selected students will have to complete their application to one of the three partner universities as soon as possible upon request of the respective partner university.

In the event of a tie in scores, additional qualifications will be assessed according to the following priority order:

1. Bachelor's Degree grade (if available for both candidates)
2. High School Diploma grade
3. Date of birth (the oldest candidate wins)
    

The Master’s programme in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis (AFEPA) is a two-year programme of 120 ECTS credits.
The academic programme consists of:

• a number of compulsory courses for 30 ECTS credits;
• a number of optional courses for 54 ECTS credits that can form a major area for a minimum of 30 ECTS;
• two short Summer Schools for 6 ECTS credits in total;
• a thesis for 30 ECTS credits.

The AFEPA Summer School is one of the highlights of the programme. Every year in July/August, all participants in the AFEPA programme meet at one of the partner universities for the AFEPA summer school. For all students, this is the only occasion to meet all other students and academics involved in the programme.

One week of the Summer School is devoted to a 5-day workshop on a particular topic of agricultural economics. Throughout the Summer School, social events and field trips are organised for the participants.

The AFEPA Summer School 2027 will be hosted by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Piacenza campus).

Each university offers courses in specific thematic fields that students can choose from.

• Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Swedish University of Applied Sciences
• Université Catholique de Louvain

Students can consult the academic advisor (Prof. Paolo Sckokai / Prof. Claudio Soregaroli) regarding their choice of courses at the partner university abroad and after that, they should share the approved Study Plan with the International Office.
 

AFEPA students choose their main supervisor at the 2nd-year partner university, but at the same time they are required to choose a supervisor at UCSC. Students submit their thesis to both supervisors and both of them must approve it. 

UCSC AFEPA students can defend their thesis in one of the following modalities: 

• during the AFEPA Summer School;
• in another AFEPA session at their second-year university; 
• during graduation day at UCSC.

Anyway, students will have to follow the Cattolica procedures to register for a Cattolica official Graduation Day (i.e. in terms of steps, deadlines and fees).
 

Students are expected to pay a general administrative fee to the Coordinating Institution for managing and coordinating their involvement in the AFEPA Master’s programme. This general administrative fee amounts to €300,00 per year, but may be adjusted based on the development of management and coordination costs as well as the future development of the AFEPA Master’s programme.

Note that Université Catholique de Louvain requires an annual regular tuition fee of €835,00 to be paid.

Students involved in the AFEPA Master’s programme will may benefit from the standard Erasmus Exchange scholarships for the period they spend abroad. Scholarships will be confirmed during the month of July 2027 and are assigned with priority to students who have officially been selected through the Cattolica call for applications period.

The following documents could be requested:

• ISEE Universitario
• Receipts of payment (e.g. accommodation, transport, flights, etc.)
• Online Learning Agreement, duly filled in with courses attended
• Period of Study Statement, duly filled in (instructions will be provided)

Selected students will benefit from the health insurance provided by AXA in collaboration with Cattolica. In addition, the “Student Safety Package” will be activated, and the students will be able to download the Safety Check Students app for geolocation and instant communications in case of emergency. More information about the activation procedure will be provided to the selected students.

AXA insurance policy activation is compulsory for all Cattolica students doing an international experience.