Master in Physics at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year English-taught LM-17 physics master at Sapienza University of Rome with five curricula, from fundamental interactions to advanced technologies, and a 41 ECTS thesis. Entry needs 65 physics credits, 20 in maths or computing and 5 in chemistry.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
Sapienza University of Rome
Physics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-17) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. Entry needs a three-year bachelor's with at least 65 physics credits, 20 in maths or computing and 5 in chemistry, plus a good command of English, with a B2 certificate or an interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Physics master asks for a three-year bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 65 credits in physics, 20 in maths or computer science and 5 in chemistry, a good command of English, a positive eligibility check and an assessment of your personal preparation. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
The credit rule
Your first degree must be a three-year university degree, or a recognised foreign equivalent, that includes at least: [1]
- 20 credits in mathematics or computer science (sectors MAT/01 to MAT/08, INF/01 and ING-INF/05).
- 5 credits in chemistry (CHIM/01 to 03 and CHIM/06).
- 65 credits in physics (FIS/01 to FIS/08), of which at least 40 in experimental physics (FIS/01), 12 in theoretical physics and mathematical methods (FIS/02) and 8 in the physics of matter or nuclear and subnuclear physics (FIS/03, FIS/04).
The programme also expects a good knowledge of classical and modern physics, the basics of chemistry and the necessary mathematical and computing tools. Holders of a three-year Physics degree from Sapienza with 8 credits in FIS/03 or FIS/04 meet the academic requirements automatically. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and Sapienza looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics with laboratory courses, mathematical methods, some chemistry and units in condensed matter or nuclear physics.
- Check carefully: a general B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, where physics is one of three subjects and may fall short of 65 physics credits or 40 experimental physics credits, or a B.Tech in Engineering Physics.
- Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in other branches, a BCA, a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Computer Science, or a B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely include 65 physics credits.
Missing credits can be made up by passing single examinations before enrolment, under Sapienza's single-examination rules. [1]
English
You need a good command of written and spoken English, particularly the technical vocabulary of the subject. Applicants who meet the entry requirements, hold a three-year Italian degree in class L-30 and have an English certificate at CEFR B2 or equivalent are admitted automatically. The call does not list specific test scores. [1]
Eligibility check and personal preparation
The eligibility check is requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33602), and the result is sent by email. If you meet the academic requirements, a committee assesses your knowledge. Applicants who do not qualify for automatic admission have an interview. The call sets no written entrance test. You can enrol only after Sapienza confirms both checks by email. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Eligibility checks opened on 2 July 2026. Non-EU applicants who need a student visa had one date: 15 September 2026. Other applicants can choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 is reserved for students who have graduated or are about to graduate from Sapienza. [1]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduate by 19 December 2026 (other Italian or international universities) or 23 January 2027 (Sapienza). [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad
Applicants from non-EU countries who live abroad and need a student visa, and Chinese students in the Marco Polo programme, must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's international admissions process. After a positive eligibility check or a pre-acceptance letter, holders of a foreign qualification complete Sapienza's enrolment procedure for two-year master's degrees. [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.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences. Admission procedure for the Master's degree programme in Physics (LM-17) with assessment of entry requirements and personal preparation, academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33602 (Italian-language document). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Physics programme page (degree class, language, duration, department and 2026-2027 semester dates). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Physics (Fisica in Italian) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-17 worth 120 ECTS, run by the Department of Physics in Sapienza's Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences. All five curricula are taught in English, in person in Rome, and there is no cap on enrolment: admission depends on a check of your curricular requirements and preparation.
The degree gives a shared grounding in relativistic quantum mechanics and condensed matter physics, with advanced mathematical, computing and numerical skills, then specialised training in one area of modern physics. The university stresses mastery of the scientific method, modern instruments and experimental techniques, and the latest developments in the field. It suits physics graduates aiming at research, a doctorate or a quantitative role in industry.
What you will study
The first year covers the core material and the second is mostly optional courses and the thesis. You choose one of five curricula:
- Fundamental Interactions: Theory and Experiment (nuclear, subnuclear and astroparticle physics, gravitation)
- Condensed Matter Physics: Theory and Experiment (including photonics)
- Physics of Biological Systems (theoretical, computational and experimental biophysics)
- Statistical Physics and Complexity (complex systems and mathematical physics)
- Physics for Advanced Technologies
In the 2026/27 plan for the Fundamental Interactions and Condensed Matter curricula, first-year units include Introduction to Quantum Field Theory I and II, Condensed Matter Physics, and Physics Laboratory I and II, plus 4 ECTS of further English. Electives on offer include General Relativity, Particle Physics, Neural Networks, Advanced Machine Learning for Physics, Gravitational Waves, Physical Cosmology and Medical Applications of Physics.
How the programme is taught
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended, and exams are normally oral. The thesis, worth 41 ECTS, takes up a large part of the second year, and students join a research group to prepare it. The course catalogue lists two multiple-degree paths, Italian-French-Portuguese and Italian-French-Spanish-Swedish. For 2026/27 the first semester runs from 28 September 2026 to 15 January 2027 and the second from 25 February to 11 June 2027. [2]
Career paths
The course catalogue describes three professional profiles:
- Researcher in basic and applied physics, in universities, public research bodies, national and international laboratories and private facilities
- Researcher, analyst or manager in industry and services, for example electronics, IT, medical physics, financial analysis and data management
- Science communicator in journalism, television and digital media
Graduates can also go on to a PhD, secondary school teaching or technical roles in the public and private sectors.
Fees and scholarships
Sapienza sets tuition by family income, and students whose family income is abroad pay a yearly amount set by country rather than through an Italian ISEE, under the fee rules Sapienza publishes each year. The regional scholarship body for Rome is DiSCo Lazio, and its scholarship winners also get a tuition waiver, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The region decides scholarship awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's international admissions process. For 2026/27, the eligibility check for this group had a single deadline: 15 September 2026. The check is requested through Sapienza's Infostud system using code 33602. [1]
If your credits meet the rule, a committee assesses your preparation, with an interview unless you qualify for automatic admission. You can enrol only after Sapienza confirms both checks by email. [1] Students then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published.
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 Sapienza's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your eligibility check, pre-acceptance request and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DiSCo Lazio 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 Sapienza's Physics master?
A three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 65 physics credits (40 in experimental physics, 12 in theoretical physics and 8 in matter or nuclear physics), 20 in maths or computer science and 5 in chemistry. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. Sapienza first checks your credits, then a committee assesses your preparation. Italian L-30 graduates with a B2 English certificate are admitted automatically, and other eligible applicants have an interview. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
You need a good command of written and spoken English. A CEFR B2 certificate counts towards automatic admission for Italian L-30 graduates. The 2026/27 call does not list specific test scores, so we check which proof of English your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who need a student visa had one eligibility-check date: 15 September 2026, and they also need a pre-acceptance letter. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. For 2026/27, applicants finishing a degree at another Italian or international university had to graduate by 19 December 2026. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
Possibly. A general B.Sc. splits time across three subjects and may fall short of 65 physics credits or 40 experimental physics credits, and B.Tech branches other than Engineering Physics are often short on physics. Missing credits can be made up through single examinations before enrolment. [1]
Which curricula can I choose?
Five: Fundamental Interactions, Condensed Matter Physics, Physics of Biological Systems, Statistical Physics and Complexity, and Physics for Advanced Technologies. All start from shared training in relativistic quantum mechanics and condensed matter physics.
What careers does the degree lead to?
The university lists research in basic and applied physics, analyst and manager roles in industry and services such as electronics, IT, medical physics and finance, science communication, a PhD and teaching.
Can someone handle my whole application to Physics at Sapienza?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Sapienza's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DiSCo Lazio 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 Physics?
A recognised three-year Indian bachelor's in physics, such as a B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics, can meet the rule if it covers at least 65 physics credits, 20 in maths or computing and 5 in chemistry. You also need a good command of English, and the committee can assess your preparation in an interview. The steps are the eligibility check, a pre-acceptance letter 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 Physics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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 Physics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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 Physics 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: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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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