Master in Geophysics and Geodata at University of Trieste
Two-year English-taught LM-79 R master's at the University of Trieste in seismology, exploration and computational geophysics and geophysical data, with lab and field work. Entry needs set physics, maths and geosciences credits, English at B2 and an admission interview.
Master
2 years
Trieste
English
University of Trieste
Geophysics and Geodata is a two-year, 120 CFU master's degree (class LM-79 R) taught in English at the University of Trieste. Entry needs a bachelor's with set credits in physics or geosciences, maths and related science or engineering sectors, plus English at B2 and an admission interview. Fees follow residence and family income, and with an ARDiS scholarship it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Trieste's Geophysics and Geodata master asks for a bachelor's degree with set credits in physics or geosciences, in maths, physics or chemistry, and in a wider group of science and engineering sectors, plus English at B2 and an admission interview with a three-member committee. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a bachelor's degree, or a foreign qualification checked under the university's international rules, with credits in three groups of subject areas: [1]
- 12 CFU in physics or geosciences: PHYS or GEOS sectors.
- 18 CFU in maths, physics or chemistry: MATH, PHYS or CHEM sectors. Computer science (INFO-01/A and IINF-05/A) can count for up to 6 of these.
- 60 CFU in a wider list of sectors: information engineering (IINF-01/A to IINF-05/A and IMIS-01/B), physics (PHYS-01/A to PHYS-06/A), mathematics (MATH-01/A to MATH-06/A), geosciences (GEOS-01/A to GEOS-04/C), civil and environmental engineering (CEAR-01/A to CEAR-07/A) and two industrial engineering sectors (IIND-01/F and IIND-07/B).
The 2026/27 admission page does not set a minimum degree mark. [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 about 25 hours of student work, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. [4] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Physics or Geology, or a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil, Environmental, Electronics or Telecommunication Engineering with solid maths and physics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Chemistry or Environmental Science, or a B.Tech in Computer Science, which may cover the maths credits but be light on the 12 CFU in physics or geosciences. Computer science counts for only 6 of the 18 CFU.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which usually lacks the physics, geosciences and maths credits.
The 2023/24 regulations named Italian bachelor's degrees in geology, environmental sciences, physics, civil and environmental engineering, telecommunications engineering and electronic engineering as the usual routes in. [4]
English
English at CEFR level B2. You can show it through your academic record or a language certificate: a statement from your university giving the level reached during your bachelor's, or one of the certificates on the AICLU list. The admission page does not list specific test scores. If you do not have certified B2, you can reach it after enrolment through the University Language Centre. [1]
Committee review and admission interview
Admission is not competitive, but your preparation is assessed before you enrol. A committee of three members of the Board of Studies checks the curricular requirements from your academic record and an admission interview. [1]
- The interview covers your exams and credits, your bachelor's thesis, other experience such as internships, your skills, a proposed master's study plan and your career plans.
- To request the assessment, you upload a self-declaration of your qualification listing completed exams and a self-assessment questionnaire.
- The outcome is admission, non-admission or admission with a specific study plan.
2026/27 deadlines
- Visa applicants, qualification assessment on apply.units.it: 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, or 15 February to 30 April 2026. [2]
- EU and equivalent applicants with foreign qualifications: a third round until 2 October 2026. [2]
- Programme assessment requests: 20 April 2026 to 29 January 2027. [1]
- Enrolment: 20 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, a firm deadline. [1]
Students still finishing a degree can request the assessment if they expect to graduate by the deadlines, and can start enrolment with a self-declaration of completed and pending exams. [1] The 2027/28 dates are not yet published, and the next rounds set them. [1][2]
Non-EU applicants and visa places
- Visa applicants can enrol only on courses with places for them, and the quotas are set nationally. The university's quota page, updated January 2026, lists 15 places for Geophysics and Geodata. [1][3]
- The qualification assessment on apply.units.it covers up to three programmes. [2]
- Only after a positive assessment, you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and upload the required documents. The university replies through Universitaly, and you then submit your enrolment application and pay the fees by the deadlines. [2]
- At enrolment, non-EU applicants must provide a residence permit or proof of application. [1]
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. How to apply: Master's degree in Geophysics and Geodata (class LM-79 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste, International Students. Degree seekers pages: qualification assessment rounds for academic year 2026/27 and pre-enrolment procedure for visa applicants. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Quotas for students applying for a visa, updated January 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Teaching regulations, Master's degree in Geophysics and Geodata (class LM-79), with the plan of study for students enrolling in academic year 2023/24. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Fee notice for bachelor's and master's degrees, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste, Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences. Geophysics and Geodata programme pages: overview and course description. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Geophysics and Geodata is a two-year master's degree in class LM-79 R (Geophysics), worth 120 CFU and taught in English in Trieste. It is run by the Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences (MIGe), in collaboration with the departments of Physics and of Engineering and Architecture, the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. Lessons are mainly in the classroom. [6]
The degree trains specialists in geophysical methods who study the structure, physical properties and processes of the Earth with techniques such as seismic imaging and data analysis. It suits graduates in physics, geosciences, mathematics, engineering or related sciences with a solid quantitative base. [1][6]
What you will study
The programme builds skills in four areas: geology, geophysics, mathematics and computer science, and physics and engineering. You learn seismological, electrical, electromagnetic, gravimetric, magnetometric and ground-penetrating radar methods, plus data science, scientific computing, signal processing and modelling. [6]
The 2023/24 plan of study shows the structure. First-year units include: [4]
- Exploration Seismology (6 CFU)
- Potential Methods (6 CFU)
- Seismology (6 CFU)
- Introduction to Machine Learning (6 CFU)
- Fluid Dynamics (6 CFU)
You then choose geology, geophysics and physics units, with at least 12 CFU in each area, plus related units and electives such as Seismic Imaging, Well-logging, Geothermics, Applied Hydrogeology and Statistical Methods. Year 2 includes a 6 CFU internship and a 36 CFU thesis. For further study, the university's PhD in Earth Science, Fluid-Dynamics and Mathematics covers exploration, solid Earth and computational geophysics, seismology and natural hazards, and geophysical fluid dynamics. [4][6]
How the programme is taught
Courses include laboratory exercises, field practice and hands-on work with geophysical survey instruments. There are internship opportunities with industry and research bodies, and the thesis must include field or laboratory work and a critical analysis of the results. Attendance is compulsory for laboratory and field activities. [4][6] The programme also has a wide network of Erasmus+ exchanges with foreign universities. [6]
Career paths
Graduates work as geophysicists in energy, environmental consulting and natural resource management. The university names oil and energy companies, mineral exploration and extraction, water resource management, design and engineering firms, public administrations, geological surveys and research bodies, along with natural hazard assessment and sustainable energy. After registering in Section A of the Register of Geologists, graduates can take on planning, design and technical coordination roles. [6]
Fees and scholarships
At UniTS, fees depend on where you live and on family income (ISEE), and eligible students can be exempt. ARDiS scholarship winners are exempt from tuition and regional tax, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]
How to apply from outside the EU
Admission is not competitive, but a three-member committee reviews your academic record and holds an admission interview before you enrol. It can admit you, refuse you or admit you with a specific study plan. [1]
Non-EU applicants first request a qualification assessment on apply.units.it (up to three programmes). For 2026/27 the rounds were 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026 and 15 February to 30 April 2026. After a positive assessment, you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, apply for a study visa and enrol. The university's quota page, updated January 2026, lists 15 places for visa applicants on this programme. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [1][2][3]
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 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, programme assessment request and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ARDiS 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 the Geophysics and Geodata master at Trieste?
A bachelor's degree with 12 CFU in physics or geosciences, 18 CFU in maths, physics or chemistry (up to 6 of them in computer science), and 60 CFU across physics, maths, geosciences, information engineering and civil or environmental engineering sectors. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
There is no competitive test. A three-member committee checks your academic record and holds an admission interview on your exams, thesis, experience and a proposed study plan. It can admit you, refuse you or admit you with a specific study plan. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2, shown by your academic record, a statement from your university giving your level, or a certificate on the AICLU list. The admission page does not set specific test scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, visa applicants had two qualification assessment rounds: 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, and 15 February to 30 April 2026. Enrolment runs to 31 March 2027 at the latest. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [1][2]
How many places are there for visa applicants?
The university's quota page for visa applicants, updated January 2026, lists 15 places for Geophysics and Geodata. Visa applicants can only enrol on courses that have places for them. [3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can request the assessment as a graduating student if you expect to finish by the deadlines. You can start enrolment with a self-declaration of completed and pending exams, and add your degree details once you graduate. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Computer Science or a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees often cover the maths credits, but computer science counts for only 6 of the 18 CFU, and you also need 12 CFU in physics or geosciences. We map your subjects against all three credit groups first. [1]
Does the degree include fieldwork?
Yes. Teaching combines lectures, laboratory work and field practice with geophysical survey instruments, the thesis must include field or laboratory work, and internships with industry and research bodies are available. [6]
Can someone handle my whole application to Geophysics and Geodata at Trieste?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Trieste's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ARDiS 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 Geophysics and Geodata?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Sc. in Physics or Geology, or a B.Tech in Civil or Electronics Engineering, can meet the rule if it covers the three credit groups, and you need English at B2. The steps are the qualification assessment within the visa rounds, the committee review and admission interview, Universitaly pre-enrolment and 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 Geophysics and Geodata 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, programme assessment 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 Geophysics and Geodata are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: qualification assessment on apply.units.it, programme assessment 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 Geophysics and Geodata 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: qualification assessment on apply.units.it, programme assessment 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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