Bachelor in Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development at University of Trieste
Three-year English-taught geology bachelor (L-34) at the University of Trieste on georesources, geohazards and sustainable development, with field mapping, lab work and an internship. Open admission with a non-selective CENT-S test and English at B2.
Bachelor
3 years
Trieste
English
University of Trieste
Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree (class L-34) taught fully in English at the University of Trieste. Admission is open to holders of a recognised school-leaving diploma, with a non-selective CENT-S test and English at B2. Students resident abroad pay a flat reduced fee, and ARDiS scholarship winners are exempt, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Trieste's Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development bachelor has open admission: you need a recognised upper secondary school diploma, the non-selective CENT-S test and English at B2, and non-EU applicants also need a qualification assessment and one of the places for visa applicants. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
The course has open access. You need an Italian upper secondary school diploma or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable. The course regulations set no minimum grade and no required school subjects. [1]
What this means for your school results
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a completed Class 12 or Higher Secondary certificate, or A levels, with maths and science subjects such as physics and chemistry. These match the first year, which opens with maths, physics and chemistry.
- Check carefully: a Class 12 in commerce or humanities. The rule sets no stream, but a CENT-S score below 18 brings extra tutoring in your first year.
- Often short: a Class 10 or Secondary School Certificate on its own, because entry needs a final upper secondary diploma.
English
You need English at CEFR B2 or higher. You can show it with a language certificate on the university's accepted list, or by passing the University Language Centre test. That test can only be taken after enrolment, at any point before graduation. The page names no specific IELTS or TOEFL scores. [2]
CENT-S test
Every new first-year student takes a knowledge test. For 2026/27 this is the CENT-S by CISIA, and it is not selective: you can enrol with any score. [1][2]
- A score below 18 brings an additional learning requirement (OFA), met by attending at least 50% of the first-year tutoring.
- The test should be taken before classes start. UniTS ran CENT@UNI sessions on 23 April, 21 May and 9 June 2026, and English TOLC-I tests taken in 2025 were also valid.
- You do not need to sit it again if you already reached the minimum score at another university, or if you hold another science degree.
2026/27 deadlines
Non-EU applicants with a foreign qualification first request a qualification assessment on apply.units.it. For 2026/27 there were two rounds open to them: 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, and 15 February to 30 April 2026. A third round, until 2 October, was for EU applicants and equivalents only. One request covers up to three programmes. [3]
Enrolment for 2026/27 ran from 20 April to 2 October 2026, with an extension until 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [2]
Non-EU applicants and visa places
Visa applicants can only enrol on courses with fixed intake quotas, which are set at national level. UniTS lists 50 places for visa applicants on its Earth Science bachelor's. [2][4]
After the qualification assessment, visa applicants follow UniTS's pre-enrolment procedure for visa applicants. At enrolment, non-EU citizens upload a residence permit or proof of application. If you have trouble getting your entry visa, the course regulations let you follow lessons remotely for the first semester of the first year only. [1][2][3]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Trieste, Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences. Course regulations, Bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development (L-34), 2026/27 cohort. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. How to apply, Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. International degree seekers: application for qualification assessment, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Quotas and reassignments for students applying for a visa, updated January 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Students fees notice, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development (ESSD) is a three-year bachelor's degree (laurea, class L-34, Geological Sciences) worth 180 ECTS. It is run by the Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences (MIGe) of the University of Trieste, taught fully in English and held in classrooms, labs and the field in Trieste.
The degree trains geoscientists around two themes linked to the UN 2030 Agenda: georesources, including minerals, energy and water, and geohazards such as landslides, earthquakes and floods. It takes a broad view of how these issues affect emerging and developing countries. It suits school leavers with a solid base in maths and science who want a field based science career.
What you will study
The first year builds foundations in mathematics, physics and chemistry alongside general geology. From the second year the focus on georesources and geohazards grows, with integrated courses that link disciplines. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include:
- General Geology and Physical Geography, Sedimentary Geology and Paleontology, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Planet Earth
- Petrography, Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics, and Geophysics
- Digital Geologic and Thematic Mapping (15 ECTS) and Geological Surveying (15 ECTS)
- Earth Surface Processes, Landforms and Climate Change
- Engineering Geology and Applied Geophysics
- Georesources and Elements of Petrogenesis, and Hydrogeology and Management of Water Resources
- Geohazards and Sustainability, Environmental Geochemistry and Mineralogy, and Introduction to Data Science for Geoscience
How the programme is taught
Laboratory activities and fieldwork make up a significant part of the degree, as is typical for geology courses in Italy, and some assessments use geological maps, reports and field notebooks. Students also choose 12 ECTS of electives. A mandatory internship with a public or private body in Italy or abroad is required, and the degree ends with a written dissertation in English, with an abstract in Italian, discussed in public. It can build on the internship. [1]
Career paths
The degree prepares geologists specialising in georesources and geohazards for technical, operational and coordination roles. The university lists employers such as national public bodies (for example Civil Protection, ISPRA, INGV and CNR), equivalent institutions abroad, supranational bodies such as UNESCO, companies in energy, civil engineering, mining and environmental remediation, consultancies and geological analysis laboratories.
- Geohazard assessment, prevention and mitigation
- Finding and characterising georesources, including water
- Geotechnical, geognostic and geophysical site investigations
- Environmental impact assessment and remediation
In Italy graduates can sit the state exam for Junior Geologist. Many continue to a master's degree in classes LM-74 or LM-79, then to a PhD.
Fees and scholarships
UniTS charges the same fees for every degree. Students resident in Italy pay by ISEE, while students resident abroad are charged automatically at a flat, reduced rate under the 2026/27 fees notice. [5] Winners of an ARDiS scholarship from Friuli Venezia Giulia are exempt from tuition and regional tax, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
ESSD has non-competitive admission. Visa applicants can only enrol on courses with national intake quotas, and UniTS lists 50 places for visa applicants on its Earth Science bachelor's. [2][4] You will also need a CENT-S result before classes start; it does not decide admission but sets any extra tutoring. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants requested a qualification assessment on apply.units.it between 15 December 2025 and 15 January 2026 or between 15 February and 30 April 2026, and one request covers up to three programmes. [3]
Next come Universitaly pre-enrolment and a type D study visa, then enrolment on Esse3. For 2026/27, enrolment ran from 20 April to 2 October 2026, with an extension until 30 November 2026. If your visa is delayed, the course regulations let students from non-European countries follow lessons remotely for the first semester of the first year only. [1][2]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your school results against Trieste's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your qualification assessment on apply.units.it, Universitaly pre-enrolment and CENT-S registration.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What school results do I need for Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development at Trieste?
An upper secondary school-leaving diploma, or a foreign qualification UniTS recognises as suitable. Admission is open, the course regulations set no minimum grade, and every new student also sits the non-selective CENT-S knowledge test. [1][2]
Is there an entrance test?
Yes, but it is not selective. The CENT-S by CISIA is mandatory and any score allows enrolment. A score below 18 adds first-year tutoring, met by attending at least half of the sessions. [2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. You can show it with a certificate on the university's accepted list, or by passing the Language Centre test, which is taken after enrolment and can be done any time before graduation. No specific IELTS score is named. [2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants requested a qualification assessment on apply.units.it from 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026 or from 15 February to 30 April 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [3]
I studied commerce in Class 12. Can I apply?
Possibly. The course regulations set no school stream: entry needs a recognised upper secondary diploma. Without strong maths and science you may score below 18 on the CENT-S, which adds first-year tutoring rather than blocking enrolment. [1][2]
Can I start online if my visa is delayed?
Only for a short time. The course regulations let students from non-European countries who have trouble getting an entry visa follow lessons remotely, but only for the first semester of the first year. [1]
How much fieldwork is involved?
A lot. Lab work and fieldwork are a major part of the degree, with 15 ECTS units in digital geological mapping and geological surveying, plus a compulsory internship with a public or private body. [1]
What can I do after graduating?
Graduates work on geohazards, georesources and site investigations for public bodies, companies and consultancies. In Italy they can sit the Junior Geologist state exam, and many go on to a master's in class LM-74 or LM-79.
Can someone handle my whole application to Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development at Trieste?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against Trieste's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development?
You need a recognised Class 12 or Higher Secondary certificate that UniTS accepts for bachelor's entry. The steps are a qualification assessment on apply.units.it, pre-enrolment as a visa applicant and the CENT-S test, which is not selective. English at B2 can be shown with a certificate or later through the Language Centre test. [1][2][3] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: qualification assessment on apply.units.it and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: qualification assessment on apply.units.it and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Earth Sciences for Sustainable Development are the same whatever your nationality, and your school results are assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: qualification assessment on apply.units.it and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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