Arqus Joint Master’s Degree in Food, Nutrition and Health receives ACCUA accreditation

Arqus is proud to announce that the Joint Master’s Degree in Food, Nutrition and Health has successfully obtained accreditation from the Agency for Scientific and University Quality of Andalusia (ACCUA), a prestigious recognition that celebrates the power of European academic collaboration.

A truly European programme

This Master’s programme, coordinated by the University of Padua (UNIPD), brings together five world-class institutions:

• University of Padua (UNIPD) – Italy (coordinating institution)
• University of Agriculture in Krakow (UAK) – Poland
• University of British Columbia (UBC) – Canada
• Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL) – France
• University of Granada (UGR) – Spain

This unique consortium reflects a truly international spirit, combining complementary expertise across food science, nutritional sciences, and public health from some of Europe’s – and the world’s – leading research universities.

What ACCUA accreditation means

Achieving ACCUA accreditation is a rigorous process that evaluates the quality, structure and outcomes of joint degree programmes at the highest European level.

The accreditation of this joint programme sets a compelling example for future collaborative degrees within the Alliance and beyond, demonstrating that European universities are stronger together.    

This recognition confirms that the Food, Nutrition and Health Master’s meets the most demanding standards in terms of:

• Academic quality and curriculum design
• Institutional cooperation and governance
• Student experience and learning outcomes
• Research integration and innovation
• Alignment with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)

This Joint Arqus Programme is more than a degree – it is proof of concept for the future of European higher education. It demonstrates that university alliances can go far beyond student mobility, building truly integrated academic experiences that are greater than the sum of their parts.

In the Prof. Francesco Marinello, Programme Coordinator, University of Padua (TESAF Dept.), own words:

“This accreditation is a testament to the extraordinary commitment of all partner institutions and the strength of what we can achieve in the Arqus Alliance. The Food, Nutrition and Health programme embodies everything that European academic cooperation stands for – shared knowledge, mutual trust, and a common vision for the future of education and research. We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to all the faculty, administrative staff, and leadership at UNIPD, UAK, UBC, UCBL, and UGR whose dedication and tireless effort made this accreditation possible. This success belongs to the entire consortium.”

About the programme

The Master’s Degree in Food, Nutrition and Health offers students a rich, interdisciplinary education at the crossroads of food systems, human nutrition and public health policy – addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

With a maximum of 30 places per year (15 EU and 15 non-EU), applicants must hold a minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Animal Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Biology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Forest Science, Agricultural Science, Medicine or related fields, with proven competencies in the agri-food or bio-medical-health disciplinary areas is required.

Graduates are prepared for diverse careers across the food industry, public health, international organisations, and academia. Their interdisciplinary training equips them to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions addressing food quality, dietary health and public well-being – or to pursue doctoral programmes.

Moreover, hands-on internships in the fourth semester, supervised by UCBL or UBC faculty, further strengthen their professional profile and industry connections.