Master in Atmospheric Science and Technology for Meteorology and Climate at University of L’Aquila
Two-year English-taught joint master's (LM-17) of the University of L'Aquila and Sapienza in meteorology, climate modelling and remote sensing, with year one in L'Aquila and year two in Rome. Entry needs physics and maths credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
L'Aquila
English
University of L’Aquila
Atmospheric Science and Technology for Meteorology and Climate is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-17) taught in English, jointly by the University of L'Aquila and Sapienza, with year one in L'Aquila and year two in Rome. Entry needs a physics, maths, engineering or Earth science degree, or 12 credits each in physics and maths, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
L'Aquila and Sapienza's Atmospheric Science and Technology master asks for a bachelor's in a listed physics, mathematics, engineering, chemistry or Earth science class, or another degree with at least 12 credits each in physics and mathematics, plus English at B2, assessed through the international call and a review by the course council. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and knowledge requirement
You need a first-level degree, or a foreign degree recognised as suitable, that meets one of these rules. [1]
- An Italian bachelor's in class L-7, L-8, L-9, L-27, L-30, L-32, L-34 or L-35: civil and environmental, information or industrial engineering, chemistry, physics, environmental and natural sciences, geology or mathematics.
- A degree in another class with at least 12 CFU in physics (FIS/01, FIS/02 or FIS/07) and at least 12 CFU in mathematics (MAT).
For foreign degrees, a committee judges equivalence on content: you must have passed exams giving basic knowledge of classical physics and mathematical analysis, and know elements of computing. The expected background covers linear algebra, calculus in one and several variables, classical and modern physics, mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism, plus laboratory and computing skills. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for 25 hours of student work, and the committee looks at the content of your exams. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics, or a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Environmental Engineering with engineering physics and engineering mathematics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Geology or Environmental Science, or a B.Tech in Computer Science, can fall short of 12 credits in physics or lack calculus in several variables.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA rarely includes 12 credits each in physics and mathematics.
If your background has gaps, the course council can add third-year physics or engineering units to your first semester. [1]
English
The course is taught only in English, and you need English at B2 or above. The regulation asks for an official certificate at B2 or higher. [1]
The 2026/27 call asked for proof at B2 or C1, accepted certificates issued within the last four years, including scores sent through ETS (code 3676), and let applicants taught in English for one or more years, or native speakers, self-certify. It does not set minimum test scores. [2]
Selection
There is no written test. Applicants with a foreign degree apply through the university's call for master's degrees taught in English. A committee of at least three members sets its criteria, then ranks eligible candidates on their documents, or on documents and an interview, with at least 5 days' notice of any interview. One application can cover at most two ranking lists, and the rankings can also be used to award possible grants. [2]
The course council then reviews your previous curriculum, with a possible interview, confirms you can enrol and sets your study plan, which cannot repeat exams you have already passed. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
The 2026/27 call closed on 25 February 2026 at 1:00 pm Italian time. Applicants still finishing their degree could take part if they graduated by 15 August 2026, sending their degree certificate by that date or within 10 days of graduating. [2]
Admitted students pre-enrol on Universitaly by 31 July. Type D visa applications for 2026/27 must reach the consulate by 30 November 2026, and the national deadline for 2027/28 is 31 October 2027. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [4][5]
Documents and non-EU steps
The call application needs, in English: [2]
- A CV, preferably in Europass format.
- Degree certificates with transcripts for your entry degree and any other higher education degree.
- Official descriptions of relevant courses, or the call's self-certification form listing contents, hours, books and grades.
- A motivation letter, and up to two reference letters.
- Proof of English at B2 or C1, and an identity document.
After a place in the ranking, you pre-enrol on Universitaly, and the university approves it without a further academic check. You need a study visa to enrol. [2]
At enrolment you bring your degree with a CIMEA statement of comparability and verification, a declaration of value or a Diploma Supplement, your transcript in English or Italian and a B2 language certificate. [4]
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 L'Aquila and Sapienza University of Rome. Teaching regulations of the inter-university Master's degree in Atmospheric Science and Technology for Meteorology and Climate (class LM-17), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila, International Relations Office. Call for selection of students with a foreign bachelor's degree for Master's degree courses taught in English, cohort 2026 (academic year 2026/27). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila. Guide to university fees and contributions, with the list of countries with fee benefits, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila. Enrolment of international students: Universitaly pre-enrolment and enrolment documents, page updated May 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Italian Ministry of University and Research and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Procedures for the entry, stay and enrolment of international students and recognition of qualifications, academic years 2026/27 and 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Atmospheric Science and Technology for Meteorology and Climate is a two-year master's degree in class LM-17 (Physics), taught entirely in English. It is a joint degree of the University of L'Aquila and Sapienza University of Rome, run in L'Aquila by the Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences. The first year is taught in L'Aquila and the second in Rome, and the degree carries 120 ECTS. [1]
The programme trains experts in atmospheric science from both the theoretical and the experimental side. It builds on the classical physics of large systems applied to geophysics and adds advanced work in meteorology, climate modelling and environmental remote sensing. It suits graduates in physics, mathematics, engineering, chemistry or earth and environmental sciences.
What you will study
There is a single curriculum: 69 ECTS of compulsory units, 12 ECTS of guided electives, 12 ECTS of free electives, a 3 ECTS internship and a 24 ECTS thesis. Compulsory units in the 2026/27 plan include: [1]
- Introduction to Atmospheric Physics (6 ECTS, L'Aquila)
- Foundations of Meteorology: Synoptic and Physical Meteorology (9 ECTS, L'Aquila)
- Atmospheric Dynamics: Meteorological and Climate Modelling (12 ECTS, L'Aquila)
- Environmental Meteorology: Modelling and Monitoring Techniques (12 ECTS, L'Aquila)
- Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics (6 ECTS each, Rome)
- Electromagnetics and Radar Meteorology and Satellite Earth Observation (6 ECTS each, Rome)
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics (6 ECTS, Rome)
How the programme is taught
Students move from L'Aquila to Rome for the second year, where teaching is shared by Sapienza's departments of physics, of information, electronics and telecommunications engineering, and of civil, building and environmental engineering. The 3 ECTS internship can be external or tied to thesis preparation, with the course council's approval. The thesis is a piece of research or technological development in atmospheric science, about five months of full-time work, written in English and presented to a panel. [1]
Career paths
The regulation prepares graduates for technical and managerial roles as:
- Meteorologists and climatologists
- Experts in environmental technology and remote sensing
- Researchers in public research centres, national and international laboratories and science agencies
- Specialists in private companies in the technology, environment, space and energy sectors
Graduates with enough credits in the right subject groups can also move towards secondary school teaching.
Fees and scholarships
Because L'Aquila administers the joint degree, its fee rules apply. The 2026/27 fee guide sets fees by family income. Non-EU students who live outside Italy and come from, and earned their entry degree in, a listed country such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Malaysia, or one of the poorest countries named by the ministry, fall in the lowest band (ISEE up to €24,000). That band pays no annual contribution, with a minimum number of credits needed from the second year, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Other non-EU students can apply for a reduction with an ISEE parificato. [3]
Winners and eligible applicants of ADSU L'Aquila regional scholarships are exempt from the annual contribution. [3]
How to apply from outside the EU
You need a bachelor's in one of the listed classes, or at least 12 ECTS in physics and 12 ECTS in mathematics, plus English at B2. Non-EU applicants abroad applied for 2026/27 through the university's call for master's degrees taught in English on the PICA portal, which closed on 25 February 2026 at 1:00 pm Italian time. A committee assessed CV, transcripts and letters, sometimes with an interview. [1][2]
Once you are admitted, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July, and you apply for a type D study visa, due at the consulate by 30 November 2026 for 2026/27. At enrolment you bring a CIMEA statement, a declaration of value or a Diploma Supplement. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [4][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 L'Aquila's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your international call application on PICA and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ADSU L'Aquila 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 bachelor's degree do I need for Atmospheric Science and Technology at L'Aquila?
A bachelor's in class L-7, L-8, L-9, L-27, L-30, L-32, L-34 or L-35, or another degree with at least 12 credits in physics and 12 in mathematics. For foreign degrees, a committee checks that you passed exams in classical physics and calculus and know some computing. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No written test. For 2026/27 the international call ranked candidates on their documents, and each committee could add an interview with at least 5 days' notice. The course council then reviews your curriculum and can add units to your first semester. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or above. The regulation asks for an official certificate, and the 2026/27 call accepted certificates up to four years old, including scores sent through ETS (code 3676). Applicants taught in English for a year or more, and native speakers, could self-certify. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the call for master's degrees taught in English closed on 25 February 2026 at 1:00 pm Italian time. Admitted students then pre-enrol on Universitaly by 31 July. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [2][4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. The 2026/27 call accepted applicants due to graduate by 15 August 2026, with conditional admission. They had to email a copy of their degree certificate by that date, or within 10 days of graduating. [2]
I have a B.Tech or a B.Sc. in Chemistry. Can I apply?
Possibly. A B.Tech usually includes engineering physics and mathematics, while a B.Sc. in Chemistry can be lighter on physics. You need at least 12 credits in each, and if gaps remain the course council can add physics or engineering units to your first semester. [1]
Where is the programme taught?
It is a joint degree of the University of L'Aquila and Sapienza University of Rome. The first year is taught in L'Aquila and the second year in Rome, with Sapienza's physics and engineering departments. [1]
How do fees work?
For 2026/27, non-EU students living abroad who come from, and earned their degree in, a listed country such as India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka fall in the lowest band and pay no annual contribution, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students. Others can apply for a reduction with an ISEE parificato. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Atmospheric Science and Technology at L'Aquila?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against L'Aquila's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ADSU L'Aquila 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 Atmospheric Science and Technology?
A recognised Indian B.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics, or a B.Tech or B.E. with solid physics and maths, can meet the rule of at least 12 credits each in physics and mathematics, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the international call application on PICA, a place in the ranking and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2] 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 Atmospheric Science and Technology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: international call application on PICA, a place in the ranking 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 Atmospheric Science and Technology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: international call application on PICA, a place in the ranking 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 Atmospheric Science and Technology 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: international call application on PICA, a place in the ranking 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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