Università degli Studi di Pisa

The University of Pisa strives to expand upon its internationalisation; its goal is to attract more international students to experience Pisa and the campus. This is why a series of courses is also offered in English !
The University has a special budget for foreign students. Therefore the University guarantees cheap housing facilities and free Italian Language courses to foreign students who register with assistance of Italstudio.

N.B. In order to register and get these facilities you have to contact Italstudio as soon as possible, so we can get you a registration number that entitles you to these facilities.

About the University of Pisa

The University of Pisa is one of the most renowned educational institutions in Italy and one of the oldest in the world (formally founded in 1343).
and it has been extraordinarily successful in updating its structures and human resources in order to meet the new challenges of international research and education at the highest level.

It has an excellent international reputation in all areas – not only in natural sciences and mathematics, but also for example in humanities, social sciences, medicine, engineering, agricultural and other applied sciences. It leads important international research and education networks, and incorporates their findings into its programmes. The University of Pisa is committed to promoting quality in all areas of research and teaching, and to making all its programmes available to an increasing number of international students and researchers.

Nowadays the University of Pisa represents a prestigious modern centre for teaching and advanced research. Almost all of its departments are located in the heart of the city in both the historical centre and the outer districts. Most facilities can be reached on foot within 20 minutes from the centre of Pisa.
For general information, read a short presentation or contact Italstudio!

Foundation courses – in English

The University of Pisa offers two Foundation courses.
Deadline for application: 1st of June 2018

What is the foundation course?

The Foundation Course is a study programme composed of two fields of study:
Humanities (Foundation Course in Humanities-FCH) and
Sciences (Foundation Course in Science-FCS),
taught in English and primarily aimed at candidates who do not possess the minimum schooling requirements outlined in current legislation for enrolment at Italian universities (like a HAVO-diploma).
Attendance of the Foundation Course is mandatory and students must accumulate all the credits provided by the course in order to obtain the final qualification.
The modules available within the Foundation Course are taught in English and a certificate of knowledge of the English language at a B2 level is required.

Two Foundation course study options

1. Foundation Course in Humanities (FCH) – 60 FC cr
The modules are divided in the following way:
– Italian Literature: an introduction – 12 cr
– Modern European History – 9 cr
– Greek and Roman Archaeology – 6 cr
– History of Art: an introduction – 6 cr
– Introduction to Philosophical Thought – 3 cr
The remaining 24 credits will consist of courses in the Italian Language and Culture to make up a total of 60 credits.
2. Foundation Course in Sciences (FCS) – 60 FC cr
The FC prepares students interested in studying a degree programme in Agriculture, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Maths, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Pharmacy and Physics. The content of the courses takes into account the admission exam to Medicine and the evaluation tests students must take in order to access a degree programme.
Courses are divided in the following way:
– Basic Mathematical Language, Modelling and Reasoning – 12 cr
– Physics – 9 cr
– Chemistry – 6 cr
– Biology – 6 cr
– Principles of Economics and Management – 3 cr
The remaining 24 credits will consist of courses in the Italian Language and Culture to make up a total of 60 credits.

Structure of the foundation course

The academic year is structured in two terms for which attendance is obligatory.
Each term lasts for 12 weeks and corresponds to the already existing academic semesters.
The terms are organized in the following way:
• 1 week of orientation (which happens once the students arrive)
• 9 weeks of classes
• 1 week of exam preparation (winter break)
• 1 week for exams

Please note that in order to activate the FCH and the FCS for the 2018/2019 academic year at least 4 students must be registered in each of these.
Once a student has finished the FC programme, s/he will receive a certificate which will allow the student to request enrolment in a Bachelor’s or long single-cycle degree programme at the University of Pisa.
Once a student has obtained the FC certificate, should the student be interested in pursuing a degree programme at another Italian university, it will be the student’s responsibility to contact the university of interest in order to request information about the procedure and timetable for a pre-evaluation and possible enrolment.

Admission requirements

Candidates interested in pursuing the FC must meet the following requirements:
• Certified knowledge of the English language at a B2 level
• High school diploma (min. 11 years of education), like Havo-diploma.

Download Foundation course brochure 2018-19.

Please contact us for further information.

International Programme in Humanities (IPH) – in English

The University of Pisa offers the International Programme in Humanities (IPH).
The IPH is a one-year program taught exclusively in English.
And it is also the first year of a three-year Bachelor’s Degree program in either

– History or
– Cultural Heritage Studies or
– Sciences of Communication and Performing Arts

You will experience a full immersion into Italian language and culture which will then prepare you to study years 2 and 3 mainly in Italian.
During the IPH you will develop your knowledge in various subject areas by attending a range of classes, visiting historical sites in central Italy, discovering local culture and meeting other students and people from all over the world.
Courses offered in this programme: Classical Civilizations, Classical Achaeology, Medieval Art, The Renaissance in Italy, Modern and Contemporary Art, Introduction to Philosophy, Modern Italian History, Italian Literature, Italian Cinema, Italian Music.

Who can enrol in the IPH?

The programme is open to all students, but it is specifically aimed at international students who are interested in studying for a Bachelor’s degree in the area of Humanities.

This programme allows you to study for the time period which suits you (1 year or 3 years), giving you the possibility to integrate into the life and culture of Italy. All courses will be taught by professors who have experience teaching at prestigious universities around the world.
At the same time you will be given the opportunity to learn Italian at the University’s language center. After studying for a full year in English, you will have the option to continue your studies in Italian for 2 more years and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities.

Download IPH brochure 2018-19.

Please contact us for further information.

Study Abroad – International Semester in Humanities (IPH) – in English

The International Semester in Humanities is an opportunity for International (Bachelor) students who want to spend one or two terms at the Department of Civilisations and Forms of Knowledge, attending courses which are taught completely in English.

During this exciting and challenging period, participants can attend either one or two terms (5 months long each) in Pisa, visit historical sites in Tuscany and in Italy, discover the local culture and establish networks with students and people around the world.

Students can choose either one single term (Spring or Fall), or one year programme (two terms). Each term, students can obtain up to 30 ECTS credits by choosing from a selection of courses.

Download IPH Semester Study Abroad brochure 2018-19.

Please contact us for further information.

Master courses held in English

The University of Pisa strives to expand upon its internationalisation; its goal is to attract more international students to experience Pisa and the campus. This is why it has established 11 Master’s degree programmes and an MBA taught exclusively in English.
In addition, the University also offers 2 PhD programmes taught in English, as well as some courses within the Master’s degree programme in “Storia e Civiltà” (History and Civilisation) and the single-cycle Degree Programme in “Chimica e Tecnologia Farmaceutiche” (Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology).
The catalogue with a full description of each Master’s degree programme we offer is available and provides details of the admission requirements and an overview of the programmes including the professional prospects after graduation.|
An extraordinary contribution will be offered to international students enrolled in a Master’s degree programme.

2-YEAR MASTER PROGRAMS

• Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
  This Master’s program lasts 2 years with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned. This program has only one intake (September). Graduates of Aerospace Engineering will have the chance to continue their studies into higher education as well as pursue careers in the aerospace industry, public and private aerospace research institutions, the Air Force, and other industrial enterprises where the application of aerospace technology is especially relevant.
• Master of Science in Business Informatics
  This Master’s program lasts 2 years with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned. This program has been designed to meet the growing demand for professionals with an interdisciplinary skill both in informatics and in business to satisfy the increasing demand by companies to compete using analytics methods. The graduate program is focused on Business Intelligence techniques to support decision-making.
  The Program offers a wide range of courses taught in English. Some of the courses are taught in Italian.
• Master of Science in Bionics Engineering
  The M.Sc. in Bionics Engineering is characterized by a limited enrolment (20-40 students). This program has only one intake (September). Bionics engineering is a new frontier of biomedical engineering. Bionics indicates the research area which integrates the most advanced robotics and bioengineering technologies with life sciences, such as medicine and neuroscience, materials science, etc. One of the primary goals of the M.Sc. in Bionics Engineering is to challenge a selected core of very highly qualified students that, besides acquiring high-level professional skills, will also foster the progress of the research activities in the bionics field.
• Master of Science in Computer Engineering
  This Master’s program lasts 2 years with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned. This program has only one intake (September). Master of Science in Computer Engineering provides students with a solid, in-depth scientific and technical background, in line with the innovation needs of the informatics field. The course further advances the student knowledge portfolio, in both the fundamental sciences and the engineering disciplines. This allows graduates to interact with engineering professionals from all different backgrounds, as well as to complete their mastering of computer engineering.
• Master of Science in Computer Science
  This Master’s program lasts 2 years with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned. This program has only one intake (September). The Master Degree in Computer Science aims at educating specialists with solid foundations in computer science and high qualification in information technologies. The program covers all the fundamental topics for a master graduate in computer science.
  From a professional perspective, graduates will be experts in the design and development of innovative information systems and of modern global communication infrastructures.
• Master of Science in Computer Science and Networking
  This Master’s program lasts 2 years with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned. This program has only one intake (September). The Master Program in Computer Science and Networking has been designed to meet the growing demand for an emerging kind of professionals with high-level expertise in both computer and information science and technologies, and communication networking science and technologies in a strongly integrated manner. This expertise is needed in the design and implementation of both innovative software-hardware distributed infrastructures and service-based distributed applications in several areas of industry, e-business, research, social and citizen services, public administration.
• Master of Science in Embedded Computing Systems
  This Master’s program lasts 2 years with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned. This program has only one intake (September). This program is orientated towards teaching students how to design, develop and analyze complex computer systems while helping them enter in the professional world. Over the past thirty years, embedded computing systems have become increasingly important in the different areas including industrial automation, avionics, automotive systems, telecommunications, consumer
  electronics and robotics.
• Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering
  This Master’s program lasts 2 years with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned. This program has only one intake (September). The Master of Science program in Nuclear Engineering is based on the long tradition in teaching Nuclear Engineering at the University of Pisa, started in 1960. The study matters cover all the important areas necessary for acquiring high-level competences in the field, including Reactor Physics, Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics, Structural Mechanics, Radiation Measurement and Health Effects, Nuclear Reactor Power Plant Technology, Nuclear Materials, Nuclear Reactor Control and Operation, Nuclear Reactor Safety and Reliability.

For Natural Sciences and Mathematics, for Physics and for Computer Science  the University of Pisa is among the top 100 institutions in the world according to the 2011 ARWU.
For Mathematics, the University of Pisa is among the top 50 universities in the world.

Please contact Italstudio for additional information (we speak English, Dutch and Italian).
At request we can send you more detailed information about every single master program!