Master in Geoengineering at University of Florence
Two-year English-taught LM-35 R master's at the University of Florence that joins civil and environmental engineering with geology to reduce flood and landslide risk, with paths for engineers and geologists. Entry needs set credits, English at B2, and a 90/110 grade or an interview.
Master
2 years
Florence
English
University of Florence
Geoengineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-35 R) taught in English at the University of Florence. Entry needs a first-level degree with set credits in maths, informatics and statistics and in civil or environmental engineering, English at B2, and a grade of at least 90/110 or an interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Florence's Geoengineering master asks for a first-level degree with minimum credits in maths, informatics and statistics and in civil or environmental engineering, English at B2, and a graduation grade of at least 90/110 or a successful interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a first-level (bachelor's) degree from Italy, or a first-level university degree obtained abroad, plus minimum credits in set groups of subject areas: [1][2]
- At least 36 ECTS in basic subjects, of which at least 18 in mathematics, informatics and statistics.
- At least 45 ECTS in characterising subjects, of which at least 30 in civil or environmental and land engineering.
The regulations' table lists the subject areas that count, from mathematics, informatics, statistics, physics and chemistry to geology, ecology and civil, environmental and industrial engineering. Graduates of the Italian class L-7 (civil and environmental engineering) meet the credit rule automatically. [1][2]
If your credits fall short, or the table cannot be applied to a degree from abroad, the Teaching Committee decides, and may ask for an interview or extra credits. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil or Environmental Engineering, which usually covers the maths block and the civil engineering block.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Geology or Applied Geology, which covers basic science and geology but may be short of the 30 civil or environmental engineering credits, and a B.Tech in Mechanical, Agricultural or Mining Engineering, which may cover maths but little hydraulics, geotechnics or structures.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, as these rarely include civil or environmental engineering.
The course offers a path for geologists that adds engineering subjects, but the Teaching Committee still decides on each degree from abroad. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is mandatory, and you must hold it when you enrol. You can show it in one of three ways: [1]
- A three-year degree taught in English.
- At least 3 ECTS of English at B2 or above in your bachelor's.
- A certificate from the University of Florence Language Centre or another body recognised by the Italian Ministry, obtained in the 5 years before your request.
The regulations do not list specific test scores. [1]
Personal preparation and interview
There is no entrance test. Once your credits and English are checked, a graduation grade of at least 90/110, or the equivalent for a degree from abroad, meets the personal preparation requirement. For students who enrol before graduating, the committee looks at the exam average, which must be at least 22/30 or the equivalent. [1]
In other cases, and whenever the committee sees fit, you have an interview with the Teaching Committee or its delegate, which then decides whether to admit you. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Graduates from abroad applied on Apply Unifi in three rounds: [4]
- Round 1: 10 December 2025 to 6 February 2026, open to all applicants, with outcomes around mid-March 2026.
- Round 2: 16 February to 17 April 2026, open to all applicants, with outcomes around mid-May 2026.
- Round 3: 15 June to 31 August 2026, open only to EU citizens and non-EU citizens already living in Italy.
Holders of an Admission Document completed Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July. Enrolment opened on 1 July 2026 and the ordinary deadline was 18 December 2026. The programme advises requesting admission clearance at least 30 days before a deadline. The next intake notice sets the 2027/28 dates. [3][4]
Documents and non-EU steps
On Apply Unifi you pay a €20 application fee for a master's programme and upload: [4]
- Your passport.
- Your bachelor's degree certificate. Official provisional certificates may be accepted.
- Your transcript of records.
- Course syllabi, if available.
- A language certificate, if you have one.
Documents in English, French or Spanish need no translation; others need an official Italian translation. The committee admits you, admits you subject to single bachelor's-level courses, or rejects the application. Enrolment depends on verifying your degree through a declaration of value or a CIMEA certificate. Non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and the study visa request by 31 July, or by 31 December if admitted to single courses. [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 Florence, School of Engineering. Course regulations, Master's degree in Geoengineering (class LM-35 R), academic year 2026/27, with the table of minimum curricular requirements and the study plan. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Florence, Geoengineering second-cycle degree programme page: degree class, language, access mode, credit structure and admission requirements, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Florence, Geoengineering programme website. Overview and enrollment pages, with 2026/27 enrolment deadlines. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Florence, Apply Unifi. Admission Document for master's degrees, 2026/27 intake rounds, application fee and list of required documents. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Florence. Fees, ISEE and benefits: understanding university costs, and fee reductions, exemptions and refunds, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Geoengineering is a two-year international master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-35 R, environmental and land engineering) run by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICEA) of the University of Florence. Lessons are held only in English, in Florence, and access is open, with no cap on places. [1][2][3]
It trains specialists who monitor, design and manage systems and works that reduce geo-hydrological risk, such as floods and landslides. The curriculum is developed in the framework of the university's UNESCO Chair, and the course suits graduates in civil or environmental engineering, geology or related fields. [1][3]
What you will study
The degree joins engineering with the earth sciences across three learning areas: analysis, representation and modelling of land and the environment; sustainable management and protection of land and natural resources; and assessment and mitigation of hydrogeological risk. It has a single track split into two paths that differ by 18 ECTS: the path for engineers adds mainly geology, and the path for geologists adds mainly engineering. [1]
First-year units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [1]
- Fluvial Hydraulics and Flood Risk (15 ECTS)
- Numerical Methods for Scientific Computing and Statistical Data Analysis (12 ECTS)
- Engineering Geology (9 ECTS)
- Geology II and Engineering Geomorphology (6 ECTS each)
- Path units chosen by background: Geology I or Continuum Mechanics, and Applied Geophysics or Geomatics
The second year includes Watershed Hydrology, Analysis and Mitigation of Geotechnical Risk, Structural Mechanics and Engineering, and either Watershed Management or Fundamentals of Structural Mechanics and Engineering. Suggested electives are Soil Conservation and Coastal Dynamics. [1]
How the programme is taught
Of the 120 ECTS, 90 come from taught subjects (60 in the first year and 30 in the second), 12 from activities you choose freely, 6 from a training internship and 12 from the final exam. Units worth 15 ECTS in total include blended teaching, and attendance is generally not compulsory. [1]
The internship takes place at qualified companies, public bodies or research laboratories, and can be extended to 12 ECTS using free-choice credits. Some courses include individual or group design work. The thesis is written in English and discussed in public, and part of the degree can be taken abroad through mobility programmes. [1]
Double degrees
The 2026/27 regulations list double degree agreements with Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in North Macedonia, the University of Novi Sad in Serbia and the Polytechnic University of Tirana in Albania, with renewal under way since September 2025. Students who earn at least 30 ECTS during at least one semester at the partner can receive both degrees. Up to 5 students a year are admitted, selected on requirements and an interview. [1]
Career paths
The course trains a Geoengineer: an engineer expert in planning, designing and controlling works for land safety, especially the prediction, prevention and mitigation of geo-hydrological risk. According to its educational goals, graduates are prepared to: [1]
- develop land survey methods and analyse data at different scales
- assess geo-hydrological risk and environmental impacts, including through models
- design defences against landslides and floods
- monitor, control and manage land and the environment with sustainability criteria
- restore and conserve the quality of highly built-up land systems
Fees and scholarships
Fees at the University of Florence are a €140 regional tax, €16 stamp duty and a contribution that depends on your ISEE. Students from developing countries pay only the regional tax and stamp duty, and DSU Toscana scholarship winners and eligible students pay only the €16 stamp duty, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]
How to apply from outside the EU
Graduates from abroad apply on the Apply Unifi portal for an Admission Document, with a €20 application fee. The committee then admits you, admits you subject to single bachelor's-level courses, or rejects the application. Enrolment depends on verifying your degree through a declaration of value or a CIMEA certificate. [4]
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had two rounds: 10 December 2025 to 6 February 2026, and 16 February to 17 April 2026. Holders of an Admission Document then completed Universitaly pre-enrolment and the visa request by 31 July. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [4]
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 Florence's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Apply Unifi application 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
What bachelor's degree do I need for Florence's Geoengineering master?
A first-level degree from Italy or abroad with at least 36 credits in basic subjects, 18 of them in maths, informatics and statistics, and at least 45 in characterising subjects, 30 of them in civil or environmental engineering. The Teaching Committee assesses degrees from abroad. [1][2]
Is there an entrance test?
No. A graduation grade of at least 90/110, or the equivalent for a degree from abroad, meets the personal preparation rule. Otherwise, or whenever the committee sees fit, you have an interview with the Teaching Committee or its delegate. [1]
Is Geoengineering taught in English? Do I need IELTS?
Yes. Lessons are held only in English and the thesis is written in English. You need B2 English, shown by an English-taught bachelor's, 3 ECTS of English at B2 or a recognised certificate from the last five years. No specific IELTS score is listed. [1][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied on Apply Unifi from 10 December 2025 to 6 February 2026 or from 16 February to 17 April 2026. The third round was not open to them. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
The regulations cover students who enrol before graduating: the committee then looks at your exam average, which must be at least 22/30 or the equivalent. Apply Unifi may accept official provisional degree certificates, and we confirm the timing for your file. [1][4]
I have a B.Sc. in Geology. Can I apply?
Possibly. The course has a path for geologists that adds engineering subjects, but the credit table asks for 30 credits in civil or environmental engineering. For a degree from abroad, the Teaching Committee decides and may ask for an interview or extra credits. We map your transcript first. [1][2]
Is there a double degree?
The 2026/27 regulations list double degree agreements with Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in North Macedonia, the University of Novi Sad and the Polytechnic University of Tirana, under renewal since September 2025, with up to 5 students a year selected on requirements and an interview. [1]
What careers does it lead to?
Work in geo-hydrological risk and environmental impact assessment, land monitoring and the design of defences against floods and landslides, building on a 6 ECTS internship at a company, public body or research laboratory. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Geoengineering at Florence?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Florence'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 Geoengineering?
An Indian B.Tech or B.E. in Civil or Environmental Engineering is the closest fit, as long as your transcript covers 18 credits of maths, informatics and statistics and 30 of civil or environmental engineering, and your grade is at least the equivalent of 90/110. You need English at B2. The steps are the Apply Unifi application, the Admission Document 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 Geoengineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Apply Unifi application, Admission Document 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 Geoengineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Apply Unifi application, Admission Document and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: Apply Unifi application, Admission Document and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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