Master in Mathematics at University of Pisa
Two-year LM-40 R mathematics master's at the University of Pisa, taught in English or Italian by agreement, with Applied, Education, General, Modelling and Theoretical curricula. Open access: a maths degree or 30 maths credits, English at B1, and a review of your preparation.
Master
2 years
Pisa
English
University of Pisa
Mathematics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-40 R) at the University of Pisa, taught in English and Italian. Entry needs a bachelor's in mathematics or another degree with at least 30 maths credits, English at B1 or higher, and a review of your preparation. With a DSU Toscana scholarship, it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Pisa's Mathematics master asks for a bachelor's in mathematics, another degree with at least 30 credits in mathematics, or a suitable foreign qualification, plus English at B1 or higher and a review of your preparation by the degree council. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirements
To apply you need one of the following: [1]
- A bachelor's degree in mathematical sciences (class L-35, or class 32 under the earlier system).
- A bachelor's degree in another class with at least 30 CFU in mathematics subject areas (MAT sectors).
- A specialist or master's degree outside mathematics with at least 30 CFU in mathematics subject areas.
- A three-year diploma or four-year degree in mathematics, physics or computer science.
- A qualification from abroad that the degree council deems suitable.
The regulations ensure a place for holders of a mathematics bachelor's (class L-35 or 32), possibly with set courses to add to their study plan. [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 what you studied, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.A. in Mathematics, or a B.Sc. with mathematics as a main subject throughout the degree.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E., a B.Sc. in Physics, Statistics or Computer Science, or a BCA. These often include several maths papers, but the total can fall near or below the 30-credit line, and the committee may set extra courses.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or BA without mathematics papers.
The programme is explicitly open to graduates in physics, computer science, engineering and philosophy, as long as the mathematics rule and the preparation review are met. [1]
English and teaching language
You need English at CEFR level B1 or higher to enrol. If you enter at B1, you add English credits to your study plan, and anyone without B2 on entry must certify at least B2 before graduating, through the university language centre's B2 exam or a B2 or higher certificate from an accredited body. The rules do not list specific test scores. [1][3]
Courses are taught in English or Italian, as agreed between the lecturer and the attending students, and any exam can be taken in English. The regulations set no Italian requirement for admission, but Pisa's visa pre-enrolment rules ask Italian-taught master's applicants for a B2 Italian certificate, so we confirm which rule applies to this programme for your application. [1][4]
Review of your preparation
There is no entrance test. The degree council's careers committee reviews your previous studies, with your course syllabi if needed, and may hold an oral interview. The review ends within one month of your application, with one of three outcomes: [1]
- Your application is not accepted, with suggestions on how to gain the missing requirements.
- You are admitted with no conditions.
- You are admitted on condition that you accept set courses in your study plan, which you must sign to accept or else withdraw.
2026/27 deadlines
Access is open, with no fixed number of places and no single call window: the committee assesses each application within a month. You submit your study plan by 30 November of your first year. [1]
For 2026/27, the admission portal for Italian-taught master's opened on 8 July 2026, Universitaly pre-enrolment for visa applicants closed on 30 September 2026, and the university accepted only visas issued by 30 November 2026. The next cycle sets the 2027/28 dates. [4]
Documents and non-EU steps
Non-EU applicants who need a visa complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for this programme and upload: [4]
- A passport-size photo and a valid passport.
- Your bachelor's degree certificate and transcript of records, each with an official Italian translation.
- The programme of each course you completed, with a translation. A Diploma Supplement can serve this purpose where it applies.
- Your admission decision or admission letter from the University of Pisa.
A Declaration of Value from the Italian mission, or a CIMEA certificate of comparability and verification, is optional at upload but required by Italian missions for the type D study visa. The university can also assess your qualifications in advance from your degree and the syllabi of your exams, and we prepare that file for you. [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 Pisa, Department of Mathematics. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Mathematics (class LM-40 R), 2026/27 cohort. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, Mathematics (class LM-40 R) programme page: teaching language, admission requirements, curricula and 2026/27 study plan. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, Department of Mathematics. Master's degree web pages: presentation, scholarships and enrolment with English certification, academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, International Office. Pre-enrolment on Universitaly for non-EU citizens, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa. Tuition fees for degree courses, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Mathematics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-40 R) at the University of Pisa, run by the Department of Mathematics. Teaching is in English and Italian, and access is open, with no fixed number of places. [1][2]
The degree is built around the flexibility of mathematics, with routes towards research, applications and teaching. It is aimed at graduates in mathematics and also at graduates in physics, computer science, engineering, philosophy and other subjects with enough mathematics. [1]
What you will study
You choose one of five curricula: Applied, Education, General, Modelling or Theoretical. Every student takes at least three core courses, called Istituzioni: [1]
- Theoretical: Algebra, Geometry and Mathematical Analysis. Every student takes at least one.
- Applied: Numerical Analysis, Mathematical Physics and Probability. Students outside a purely theoretical route take at least one.
- Education: Mathematics Education.
In the 2026/27 Applied curriculum, the first-year compulsory units are Principles of Numerical Analysis and Fundamentals of Mathematical Physics, 11 CFU each. [2] Advanced electives cover logic and set theory, algebra and number theory, geometry and topology, analysis and partial differential equations, probability, mathematical physics, numerical analysis, mathematics education and the history of mathematics, plus related subjects such as physics and computer science. [1] Two free-choice courses can come from other Pisa master's or PhD programmes or from the Scuola Normale Superiore. [3]
How the programme is taught
Each course is taught in English or Italian, as agreed between the lecturer and the attending students. Courses linked to Italian school law and the history of mathematics are normally taught in Italian. You can take any exam in English, and teaching materials are provided in English where possible. [1]
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended. You submit your study plan by 30 November of the first year. The degree ends with a thesis written in Italian or English and an oral presentation, worth 27 CFU, and the thesis can be prepared during an internship or a study period at another university. [1]
Careers
About half of the programme's graduates go on to a PhD. Others work as applied mathematicians, building and analysing models in areas such as the environment and meteorology, banking, insurance and finance, logistics and transport, health and publishing, or in science communication. Teaching in Italian schools needs a separate teaching qualification. The degree council keeps regular contacts with employers such as Accenture, UniCredit and Zanichelli. [1]
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, the University of Pisa sets fees for international students with income abroad by their country's income group. Students can request a reduction based on an ISEEU parificato. [5]
The DSU Toscana scholarship gives full exemption from tuition, along with accommodation and meals, so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The region decides awards. In 2025/26 the programme also offered six INdAM scholarships, at least three of them reserved for women. [3][5]
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants who need a visa apply for admission first, then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for this programme. For 2026/27, the University of Pisa set 30 September 2026 as the pre-enrolment deadline and accepted only visas issued by 30 November 2026. [4]
Pisa's pre-enrolment rules differ for Italian-taught and English-taught master's: Italian-taught programmes ask for an admission decision from the degree council and a B2 Italian certificate, English-taught ones for an admission letter. This programme is taught in English and Italian, so we confirm which rule applies to your application. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][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 Pisa's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your admission application, admission decision 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 Pisa's Mathematics master?
A bachelor's in mathematics, another bachelor's with at least 30 credits in mathematics, a three-year diploma in maths, physics or computer science, or a foreign qualification the degree council deems suitable. A committee then reviews your preparation. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. The careers committee reviews your previous studies, with syllabi if needed, and may hold an oral interview. It decides within a month: not accepted, admitted, or admitted with set courses you must add to your study plan. [1]
Is the Mathematics master taught in English?
Partly. Each course is taught in English or Italian, as agreed between the lecturer and the attending students, and courses on Italian school law and the history of mathematics are normally in Italian. You can take any exam in English and write your thesis in English. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B1 or higher to enrol. If you start at B1, you add English credits and must certify at least B2 before graduating, through the university language centre or an accredited certificate. The rules do not name specific IELTS scores, so we check which proof your file can use. [1][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
There is no single call window: the committee assesses each application within a month. For 2026/27, visa applicants had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 September 2026, with visas issued by 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1][4]
I have a B.Tech or a B.Sc. in Physics. Can I apply?
Possibly. The programme is open to graduates in physics, computer science and engineering if their degree includes at least 30 credits in mathematics and their preparation passes the committee review, which may add set courses. We check your maths papers first. [1]
Which curricula can I choose?
Five: Applied, Education, General, Modelling and Theoretical. Every student takes at least three core Istituzioni courses from algebra, geometry, analysis, mathematical physics, numerical analysis, probability and mathematics education, then chooses advanced electives. [1]
What do Mathematics graduates from Pisa do?
About half go on to a PhD. Others work as applied mathematicians in areas such as finance and insurance, the environment, logistics, health and publishing, or in science communication. Teaching in Italian schools needs a separate teaching qualification. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Mathematics 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 Mathematics?
A three-year Indian B.Sc. or B.A. in Mathematics, or another bachelor's with at least 30 credits of mathematics, can fit if the degree council deems it suitable and your preparation passes its review. You need English at B1 or higher. The steps are the admission application, the admission decision and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] 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 Mathematics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: admission application, review of your studies with a possible interview, admission decision 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 Mathematics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: admission application, review of your studies with a possible interview, admission decision 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 Mathematics 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: admission application, review of your studies with a possible interview, admission decision 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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