Master in Aerospace Engineering at University of Pisa
Two-year aerospace master's (LM-20) at the University of Pisa with an English-taught Space Engineering curriculum (MSSE) covering spaceflight mechanics, rocket propulsion, spacecraft structures and space systems.
Master
2 years
Pisa
Multiple
University of Pisa
Aerospace Engineering at the University of Pisa is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's (LM-20) whose Space Engineering curriculum, known as MSSE, is taught fully in English in Pisa. It can be tuition-free for eligible students, and DSU Toscana scholarship winners are exempt from fees.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Pisa Aerospace Engineering has an Italian Aeronautics curriculum and the English Space Engineering curriculum, MSSE. This page focuses on MSSE. Admission requires a suitable first-cycle award, five prior-credit groups totalling 120 CFU, English B2 and the applicable committee preparation review. MSSE uses its own electronic application form. [1-5]
Recognised first-cycle qualification
Hold a suitable three-year degree/university diploma or recognised foreign equivalent. The application must document the award or expected award, complete academic record and relevant course programmes. For foreign qualifications, the Internal Evaluation Committee (CIV) assesses the duration/workload and syllabi of the actual subjects. A broadly named science or engineering degree is considered for suitability, rather than automatically accepted without the academic checks. An official record of the completed undergraduate award is required before final enrolment. [1-4]
Five curricular credit groups: 36 + 30 + 6 + 36 + 12
- Group 1, at least 36 CFU: MAT/02, /03, /05, /06, /07, /08, /09 and SECS-S/02. [1, 2]
- Group 2, at least 30 CFU: FIS/01, FIS/03, ING-INF/01, CHIM/07, ING-IND/21 and /22. FIS/03 appears in the detailed admission section and departmental matrix although omitted in the catalogue’s short summary. [1, 2]
- Group 3, at least 6 CFU: ING-IND/15 Industrial Drawing/Design. [1, 2]
- Group 4, at least 36 CFU: ING-IND/04, /05, /06 and /07 aerospace/flight/propulsion subjects. [1, 2]
- Group 5, at least 12 CFU: ICAR/08 Structural Mechanics. The five minima total at least 120 eligible prior-study CFU. [1, 2]
Preparation assessment and specific Italian-degree routes
The departmental page cites its resolutions admitting holders of an Italian Aerospace Engineering bachelor’s without additional academic requirements. It also describes the L-9 Industrial Engineering route with a weighted examination average of at least 22/30. These specific Italian-award routes do not extend to every foreign industrial/mechanical degree or converted GPA. English and administrative conditions still need clearance. [1, 2]
All other candidates, including foreign-award holders and L-9 candidates below the applicable threshold, are evaluated by CIV with particular attention to Groups 1, 2 and 4. It may propose acceptance, rejection or an admission interview. If an interview is required, the committee gives the candidate its syllabus in advance; at least two sessions are held yearly. It then issues a suitability/non-suitability outcome and identifies missing requirements where applicable. There is no universal 22/30 admission minimum for all categories. [1, 2]
English B2 versus optional score guidance
English at least B2 is required. Suitable certification may waive the language check; without it, English may be evaluated through interview or the academic record. MSSE explicitly lists English test results as optional supporting documents. Its guidance mentions IELTS at least 7 and older TOEFL computer/paper score profiles, but those are presented within optional/preferential evidence, not a universal compulsory IELTS 7 certificate rule. The current curriculum’s B2 condition and university assessment remain necessary. [1-3]
Required application documents and optional recommendations
Applications go through the dedicated MSSE electronic form, with the files attached and the applicant’s certification/signature; we prepare and submit it for eligible students. Required items are official transcripts from every college/university attended, passport identity/expiry pages, a CV and statement of purpose. The current form limits the statement to two pages and the CV to four pages. The statement should explain scientific/professional interests and motivations; complete English translations of academic records are required by the admitted-student stage. [3, 4]
English test scores, GRE scores, a publication list and three recommendations are optional. The general introduction mentions recommendations, but the three letters are not compulsory uploads. PDF is preferred; the form rejects ZIP/RAR files. An English score, GRE or research paper strengthens evidence but does not replace the prescribed curriculum or degree. [3, 4]
2026/27 deadlines, stale-year wording and correct portal
For non-EU nationals, the page states an early-assessment date of 8 February 2026 and final deadline of 3 May 2026. Its opening paragraph also retains “3 May 2025”, an inconsistent older year; the subsequent 2026 wording and current-cycle form identify the 2026 deadline, now closed. EU nationals can apply through 30 September 2026 without the stated administrative surcharge, then 1 October to 31 December with a surcharge whose amount is not specified on that page. [3, 4]
The central university page explicitly directs Space Engineering to its dedicated application route, separate from ApplyMscEnglish for most other English masters. The next call sets the 2027/28 MSSE selection dates. An EU late-application date does not reopen the closed non-EU round. [3-5]
After admission: visa route and final registration
For non-EU applicants needing a study visa, academic acceptance is followed by Universitaly pre-enrolment, the visa application and final enrolment after arrival in Pisa. The central 2026/27 page gives 31 December 2026 as the visa-applicant final enrolment deadline. That deadline does not reopen a course’s earlier selection. [5]
The central final-enrolment list includes the bachelor’s diploma, transcript, Pisa admission letter, valid foreign-qualification verification through a Declaration of Value or CIMEA comparability statement, residence-permit application evidence and official Italian tax code. It asks for high-school qualification details rather than the original school diploma. Academic subject eligibility, foreign-award verification and immigration evidence are separate checks. [5]
Sources and verification
- University of Pisa, Aerospace Engineering official catalogue, cohort 2026/27; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Pisa Aerospace Degree Board, Master admission page; standing page, publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Pisa MSSE, Applications for cycle 2026/27; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Pisa MSSE, electronic Application Form 2026/27; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, English-taught master international enrolment 2026/27; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
About the programme
Aerospace Engineering is a two-year master's degree in class LM-20 (aerospace and astronautical engineering) run by the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering in Pisa. It carries 120 ECTS and has two curricula: Aeronautics, taught in Italian, and Space Engineering, taught in English under the name MSSE (Master of Science in Space Engineering).
This page is about the English path. MSSE suits graduates in aerospace, mechanical or industrial engineering who want to design and analyse spacecraft, launchers and propulsion systems, and who have a solid base in mathematics, physics and structures.
What you will study
The first year builds the core of space engineering, with 12 credits of free electives. The second year moves to propulsion, spacecraft design and systems engineering, and ends with a 24 credit thesis. Units in the 2026/27 study plan of the Space Engineering curriculum include:
- Aerospace Structures
- Spaceflight Mechanics
- Fundamentals of Spacecraft Technology
- Aerospace Control System Design and Aerospace Dynamic Systems Analysis
- Fluid Dynamics of Propulsion Systems I
- Rocket Propulsion
- Spacecraft Structures and Mechanisms
- Space Systems
Electives listed for the first year include Space Communication Systems, Electric Propulsion I and II, and Thermal Management.
How the programme is taught
Teaching is based at the School of Engineering of the University of Pisa. The 24 credit final thesis takes up a large part of the second year, which gives time for a substantial design or research project in space technology.
Career paths
The university lists these outlets for graduates of the degree:
- Aeronautical and space industries
- Public and private bodies for aerospace testing and experimentation
- Air transport companies, air traffic management bodies and the air force
- Machine and equipment manufacturers where aerodynamics and lightweight structures matter
- Mechanical industries, especially in design
Fees and scholarships
Fees follow family income, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students. DSU Toscana runs the regional scholarship, which brings exemption from tuition fees, accommodation or a rent subsidy, meals and a cash allowance; eligible students can apply, and the region decides awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
The English Space Engineering route uses its dedicated MSSE electronic application form, as confirmed by the central university page. The 2026 non-EU application deadline has passed, and the next call sets the 2027/28 dates. We prepare the required transcript, passport, CV and statement of purpose, then take you through academic clearance, Universitaly and visa registration. [2-5]
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 transcript against Pisa's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your MSSE application form and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DSU Toscana 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
Is all Aerospace Engineering taught in English?
The English route is Space Engineering/MSSE. The degree also has an Italian Aeronautics curriculum. [1]
What prior-credit total is required?
At least 120 CFU in five specified groups: 36 mathematics/statistics, 30 physical/material-related, 6 industrial design, 36 aerospace and 12 structural mechanics. [1, 2]
Is 22/30 compulsory for every applicant?
No. It belongs to the named Italian L-9 preparation route. Other categories, including foreign awards, undergo CIV evaluation. [1, 2]
Is IELTS 7 mandatory?
B2 is required and can be assessed by the university. MSSE lists test scores as optional, with IELTS 7 in its supporting-evidence guidance. [1-3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants had an early-assessment date of 8 February 2026 and a final deadline of 3 May 2026. That round is closed, and the next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [3, 4]
Are three recommendations compulsory?
No. The current MSSE form lists them as optional. Transcripts, passport, CV and statement of purpose are required. [3, 4]
Which application portal is used?
The dedicated MSSE electronic form. The central university page distinguishes it from ApplyMscEnglish, which most other English masters use, and we submit through the right route. [3-5]
Can someone handle my whole application to Aerospace Engineering (MSSE) at Pisa?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Pisa's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DSU Toscana 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 Aerospace Engineering (MSSE)?
An Indian B.Tech or B.E. is reviewed by the CIV committee against five credit groups totalling 120 CFU, including 36 in mathematics, 36 in aerospace, flight and propulsion subjects and 12 in structural mechanics [1, 2]. English at B2 is required [1]. The steps are the dedicated MSSE application form, academic acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment [3, 5]. 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 Aerospace Engineering (MSSE) are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: the MSSE online application, academic acceptance 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 Aerospace Engineering (MSSE) are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: the MSSE online application, academic acceptance 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 Aerospace Engineering (MSSE) are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: the MSSE online application, academic acceptance 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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