Welcome to a policy oriented international Master's programme focused on economic analysis that gives you international experience in a global network resulting in extensive career opportunities. The courses included in the programme give you the in-depth knowledge required to understand and assess the socio-economic and environmental effects of agricultural, food and environmental policies.
Afepa is a two-year double degree programme held in collaboration between SLU and three other renowned European universities, as well as three associated partner universities in Europe, Africa and South America. As a student in this programme you will spend your first year at one of the partner universities and your second year at another, gaining a degree from two universities.
The Master’s programme provides you with a thorough understanding of economics and policy analysis, the possibilities of an extensive international network, and good career opportunities. Graduates take on careers in international, national and regional agencies, non-governmental organisations, national and multinational firms, or continue their studies towards a PhD.
The period for the submission of applications for the AFEPA programme by non-Europeans for the 2025 cohort has come to an end. Applications from Europeans can still be sent until 30 June 2025 CET.
For further details about Afepa and information about application and scholarships, please visit http://www.afepa.eu/.
Tuition Fees: Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees.
Admission to the Master’s programme Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis requires a first-cycle qualification comprising 180 credits and including specialised studies comprising 90 credits within Economics.
Applicants with the equivalent qualifications obtained by means of a degree from another country, or with the equivalent knowledge obtained in some other way, may also be regarded as fulfilling the specific entry requirements.
This programme is taught in English. The applicant must further have a level of English equivalent to upper secondary school English, called English 6. An applicant with a first-cycle qualification from SLU comprising 180 credits automatically fulfils this requirement. Special rules apply for applicants with qualifications from one of the Nordic countries and some English-speaking countries.
Specific requirements apply for admission to the individual courses included in the programme.
To be admitted to the Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis – Master’s programme, the student has to apply through the AFEPA Consortium. For more information on how to apply, please see the AFEPA website, https://www.ilr1.uni-bonn.de/afepa/en.
Specific requirements apply for admission to the individual courses included in the programme.
Degree awarded on completion of the programme
Upon completion of the programme, the degree of Master of Science is awarded. Other general qualifications may be awarded, provided that the requirements for them are fulfilled. More information can be found in SLU´s degree regulations.
Students who fulfil the qualification requirements for a degree will be issued a degree certificate upon request. The degree certificate will specify the qualification as Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a Major in Economics.
In addition to a degree from SLU, the student has the possibility to apply for a degree (double degree) from one of the other participating universities: Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, Germany, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy.
Degree requirements
A degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a major in economics is awarded to students who fulfil the course requirements (courses with a Pass grade) of 120 credits, of which at least 90 credits at second-cycle level, according to the following:
In addition, the student must hold a degree of Bachelor or professional qualification of at least 180 credits or an equivalent qualification.
More information about what supporting documentation is required: https://www.slu.se/en/education/application-and-admission/supporting-documents/
This European Master’s is a two-year programme with integrated and advanced theoretical and applied courses in economics and quantitative methods as well as in agricultural and trade policy, environmental and natural resource policy and rural development policy.
In the final semester, students will connect theory and methodology with practice by developing a problem-solving project which they will use as the basis of their Master’s dissertation. Students will study at two of the partner universities and be awarded a double degree.
The AFEPA programme is organised by four European main partner universities: the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC), Milan, Italy, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), the Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn (UBonn), Germany, and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Belgium. There are also three associated partners: the Pontifica Universidad Catolica (PUC), Chile, the University of Alberta (UAlberta), Canada and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain.
These seven partner universities are internationally renowned for their scientific achievements and quality of their programmes.
Graduates of this European Master’s programme will have the qualifications necessary for designing and assessing public policies oriented towards the agricultural and food sectors, rural areas and natural resources. They will also have the necessary knowledge for providing informed and relevant policy recommendations for increased sustainable development. They will be able to assume responsibility in international, national and regional authorities, non-governmental organisations, consultancy firms, professional organisations and companies.
Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in Business and Economics with a Major in Economics
Programme Code: NM030
Finalized by: Utbildningsnämnden, 2017-10-11
Revised: 2025-01-22
Revised By: Programnämnden för utbildning inom naturresurser och jordbruk
SLU ID: SLU.ua.2025.3.1.1-114
Education plan valid from: Autumn 2025
Responsible programme board: The programme board for education in natural resources and agriculture
Admission to the Master’s programme Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis requires a first-cycle qualification comprising 180 credits and including specialised studies comprising 90 credits within Economics.
Applicants with the equivalent qualifications obtained by means of a degree from another country, or with the equivalent knowledge obtained in some other way, may also be regarded as fulfilling the specific entry requirements.
This programme is taught in English. The applicant must further have a level of English equivalent to upper secondary school English, called English 6. An applicant with a first-cycle qualification from SLU comprising 180 credits automatically fulfils this requirement. Special rules apply for applicants with qualifications from one of the Nordic countries and some English-speaking countries.
Specific requirements apply for admission to the individual courses included in the programme.
To be admitted to the Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis – Master’s programme, the student has to apply through the AFEPA Consortium. For more information on how to apply, please see the AFEPA website, https://www.ilr1.uni-bonn.de/afepa/en.
Specific requirements apply for admission to the individual courses included in the programme.
Programme description
The Master’s programme in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis (AFEPA) aims at providing high quality education in designing and assessing public policies targeted at the agricultural and food sector as well as the rural environment to excellent students from all over the world. This Master’s programme responds to the increasing need to better understand and anticipate the various and often complex socio-economic and environmental effects of these policies.
The AFEPA programme offers a two-year academic curriculum with advanced theoretical and-, methodological courses in economics and quantitative methods as well as applied courses in different thematic fields. At the end of the two-year curriculum a Master’s thesis is developed and presented.
The AFEPA programme is jointly organised by four European main partner universities: the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) in Milano, Italy, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Sweden, the Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn (UBonn) in Germany, and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) in Belgium. These partner universities are recognised worldwide for the quality of their degree programmes and scientific achievements.
Students on the program study one year at one university, one year at another, and meet in between to participate in the mandatory summer schools. More information about the programme is available at the homepage of AFEPA at https://www.ilr1.uni-bonn.de/afepa/en.
Courses in the programme
Main fields of study FÖ=Business administration, NA=Economics, LB=Agricultural science, MX=Environmental science, ÖÄ=Other subject
Year 1
Microeconomic theory, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N
Analytical methods, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N
Production economics, 15 credits, NA/FÖ, A1N
Econometric theory, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N
Applied econometrics, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N
Environmental policy, 7,5 credits, NA/MX, A1N
Policy for food system sustainability, 7,5 credits, NA, A1F
Year 2
Corporate finance, 15 credits, FÖ/NA, A1N
Cost benefit analysis of agricultural and environmental projects, 7,5 credits, NA/MX, A1N
Management of biological resources, 7,5 credits, NA/MX, A1N
Economic growth and sustainable development, 7,5 credits, NA, A1F
Experimental methods for economics and business studies, 7,5 credits, FÖ/NA, A1N
Agricultural economics, policy and trade, 7,5 credits, NA, G1F
Topics in agricultural economics for sustainable development, 7,5 credits, NA, A1F
Analysis of productivity and efficiency of food system firms, 7,5 hp, NA, A1N
Master thesis in economics, A2E, 30 credits, NA, A2E
Summer school, 3 credits
Additional courses
AFEPA internship, 7,5 credits, ÖÄ, AXX
The courses offered may change during the course of the programme. Decisions on the courses offered are taken well in advance of the next academic year.
For each course, there is a course syllabus providing more detailed course information. Information on when courses are offered is available on the SLU student web.
General objectives
The general objectives for first- and second-cycle courses and programmes are specified in the Swedish Higher Education Act (Chapter 1, Sections 8–9).
Objectives for a Degree
In accordance with the annex to the Ordinance for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, for a degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Degree awarded on completion of the programme
Upon completion of the programme, the degree of Master of Science is awarded. Other general qualifications may be awarded, provided that the requirements for them are fulfilled. More information can be found in SLU´s degree regulations.
Students who fulfil the qualification requirements for a degree will be issued a degree certificate upon request. The degree certificate will specify the qualification as Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a Major in Economics.
In addition to a degree from SLU, the student has the possibility to apply for a degree (double degree) from one of the other participating universities: Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, Germany, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy.
Degree requirements
A degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a major in economics is awarded to students who fulfil the course requirements (courses with a Pass grade) of 120 credits, of which at least 90 credits at second-cycle level, according to the following:
In addition, the student must hold a degree of Bachelor or professional qualification of at least 180 credits or an equivalent qualification.
General regulations for first- and second-cycle courses and programmes
For more information on semester dates, examination and credit transfer, see the Regulations for education at Bachelor´s and Master´s level available on the SLU student web.
Possibilities for further studies
Students who complete the programme and are awarded a degree of Master have the option to continue their studies at doctoral level.
Uppsala is Sweden’s fourth largest city, and the hub of SLU’s educational activities. Located just outside of the city centre, SLU’s Uppsala campus is spacious, leafy and picturesque. It is a fitting setting for Sweden’s only agricultural university, and possibly the most research-intensive of all universities. With two universities located in Uppsala, students can enjoy a lively, dynamic and stimulating atmosphere.
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