Department of Physics and Earth Sciences - University of Ferrara

The Master’s Degree in Physics at the University of Ferrara is a two-year program designed to provide students with both a solid academic foundation and practical, hands-on experience. The curriculum offers flexibility, allowing students to tailor their studies to individual interests and career goals. Specializations include astrophysics and cosmology, theoretical physics, condensed matter physics, fundamental interactions, and physics applied to health, energy, and the environment. These career paths ensure a wide array of opportunities, from deep theoretical exploration to solving practical challenges in applied physics. Students gain access to cutting-edge research facilities and work alongside professors engaged in international collaborations with renowned institutions such as CERN, NASA, and ESA.

The program emphasizes the integration of theory and practice, preparing students for diverse careers in high-tech industries, academic research, or teaching. Graduates are also well-equipped to pursue doctoral studies globally, thanks to the program's strong focus on scientific rigour and innovation. The department’s ties to major international research projects mean students can engage with groundbreaking developments, from particle physics experiments to advancements in renewable energy technologies. Opportunities for internships and thesis projects in collaboration with leading research centres and industries further enhance the program’s practical orientation.

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Ferrara, the university provides an inspiring backdrop for academic pursuits. Known for its vibrant student life, rich cultural heritage, and excellent gastronomy, Ferrara combines academic rigour with an enriching lifestyle. The city offers a student-friendly environment where historical landmarks like the Castello Estense and Ferrara Cathedral coexist with modern amenities. This program is not only a gateway to a fulfilling career but also an invitation to immerse oneself in a unique academic and cultural experience, making the University of Ferrara an ideal choice for physics students worldwide.

Documents and qualifications for university admission

A student with foreign qualifications must uploaded the below mentioned documents on the university application platform:

1. The original hard copy of the secondary school diploma achieved abroad (after at least 12 years of school attendance) translated into Italian and duly legalised (see Legalization and Apostille of the hague).
2. Only for the Admission to a Master's Degree: The original hard copy of the bachelor's degree achieved abroad, including a transcript of records, (after at least 15 years of school attendance) translated into Italian and duly legalised (see Legalization and Apostille of the Hague).
3. Only for the Admission to a Master's Degree: Syllabus or Diploma Supplement (only for countries where this is issued). The document must include a stamp of the university where the bachelor has been obtained and can be either in English or Italian.
4. Highly recommended but not mandatory: a Dichiarazione di Valore in Loco or statements of comparability and verification issued by CIMEA.
5. Proof of Italian or English language knowledge, if required in the admission procedure.

N.B.: Only for countries in which students are required to pass a national selection after leaving secondary school is it necessary to provide a certificate proving the student passed the national exam of academic suitability, (i.e. the Gaokao in the Peoples’ Republic of China, the Vestibular in Brazil, the Veveossi Prosvassis in Greece, the Prueba de Selectividad in Spain, the Prova de Aferiçao in Portugal etc.)

Any certificate issued in a foreign language must be accompanied, if not further specified, by an official translation in the Italian language. The official translation can be performed either in the student’s home country or in Italy. The Italian institutions allowed to carry out such translations are either the local Courts or legally recognised translators. As well as being duly translated, all certificates must be legally recognised by the Italian Diplomatic Authority located in the country where the student achieved his/her Diploma/Bachelor. Exceptions to this requirement shall be made in case of other specific.

Entrance visa request

All non-EU citizens living abroad wishing to apply for admission to a degree course at the University of Ferrara, have to register on the university platform that enables them to both apply to the University and to request a visa for study purposes.

The pre-enrolment procedure is mainly divided into two steps:

• the registration on the platform in order to create a personal account;
• the application for admission to a degree course at the University of Ferrara

The University shall evaluate all requests and the eligible applicants shall be "provisionally admitted" upon their arrival in Ferrara, when it shall be necessary to hand in their original school and/or academic qualifications as proof of authenticity.

Facilities and centres

• 13 Departments
• 1 Faculty
• 1 Institute for Advanced Studies
• 38 Research Centres
• 4 Tecnopolo laboratories