Master in Physics at University of Calabria
Two-year English-taught LM-17 master's at the University of Calabria with five curricula, from astrophysics and nuclear physics to materials and meteorology, and a 36-credit thesis. Entry needs a physics-based degree and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rende
English
University of Calabria
Physics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-17) taught in English at the University of Calabria in Rende, with five curricula. Entry needs a physics bachelor's or a degree with at least 24 maths and 50 physics credits, plus English at B2 and a remote oral exam. For 2026/27, 9 of the 20 non-EU places came with a scholarship, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniCal's Physics master has limited places. Non-EU applicants living abroad need a foreign bachelor's that gives access to master's study and matches an Italian physics degree, or at least 24 credits in maths and 50 in physics, sound preparation in maths and in classical and quantum physics, English at B2, a positive CV review and a remote oral exam. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You can apply with: [2]
- A bachelor's in physics (Italian class L-30) or an equivalent qualification.
- A bachelor's in another subject with at least 24 CFU in mathematics (sectors MAT/01 to MAT/08, now MATH-01 to MATH-06) and at least 50 CFU in physics (sectors FIS/01 to FIS/08, now PHYS-01 to PHYS-06).
- A degree obtained abroad that gives access to second-cycle study in the country where it was awarded. The admission committee judges whether it is suitable from your study record, and its subjects must correspond to those of the Italian degree required for entry.
The committee also checks logical reasoning and your preparation in: [2]
- Mathematics: linear algebra, geometry, and analysis in one or more variables.
- Physics: the basics of classical physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism) and of quantum physics.
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 your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. Honours in Physics, or a B.Sc. with physics and mathematics as main subjects that includes quantum physics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Electronics, or a B.Tech or B.E. in Engineering Physics or Electrical Engineering. These often cover the maths block but may fall short of 50 physics credits or lack quantum physics.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, or a B.Tech in Computer Science, which rarely include 50 credits of physics.
The application lets you upload the syllabus of all your courses, so the committee can see what each course covered. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. The 2026/27 call assesses language proficiency through an online interview. Under the programme regulations, applicants who already hold a matching certificate can be exempted from the English check by uploading it on Esse3 with their application. Neither document lists a specific test or score. [1][2]
Selection
Admission depends on a committee assessment of your CV and qualifications, and places are limited.
- CV score: the committee scores your file out of 100 from your exam average, your final degree mark if you have graduated, and other relevant university qualifications. A score of 60 or more makes you eligible, 20 to 59 leads to an online interview on the subject areas, and under 20 means you are not eligible. [2]
- Remote oral exam: in the 2026/27 call for non-EU applicants living abroad, at least twice as many candidates as places were invited to a remote oral exam in English, which was mandatory for admission. It checks your subject knowledge, cultural background and English. [1]
- Rankings: two merit rankings are drawn up, one for scholarship places and one for places without a scholarship. In a tie, the younger candidate ranks higher. [1]
Places and scholarships in 2026/27
The 2026/27 call offered 20 places to non-EU applicants living abroad: 9 with a scholarship and 11 without. [1]
- Scholarship places: for applicants whose household income is below €26,500 if independent or €41,500 for a two-person family. For a family of three or more, the income limit is €54,000. Winners show this with an ISEE parificato by 30 October 2026. Students from particularly poor countries use a certificate from the Italian mission instead.
- Places without a scholarship: for applicants whose household income is above those limits.
- What the scholarship covers: the enrolment fee, free accommodation, campus canteen meals and pocket money of about €3,600.
- Keeping it: winners who earn fewer than 20 ECTS by 30 November 2027 must repay what they received, and renewal for 2027/28 needs at least 30 ECTS by 10 August 2027.
2026/27 deadlines
Applications closed at 11:59 pm Italian time on 30 March 2026. The deadline for conditional enrolment was 10 June 2026, later extended to 17 June 2026, and places left vacant were reallocated by 16 July 2026, with enrolment by 31 July 2026. Enrolment is finalised in person at UniCal's Welcome Office, by 30 October 2026 for this intake. [1][3]
UniCal expects to publish the 2027/28 call around January 2027. [4]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on UniCal's Esse3 portal, choosing the call for extra-EU students, for one master's degree only. You can upload the first page of your passport, your CV, your bachelor's degree, your transcript of records, the syllabus of all your courses and any English certificate. [1]
Scholarship winners receive UniCal's acceptance letter through the Universitaly portal. After enrolment you hand in your foreign degree with an official Italian translation, legalised or with an Apostille, plus a declaration of value or CIMEA certificates of comparability and verification, by 28 February 2027 for the 2026/27 intake. [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 Calabria, Internationalisation Area. Unicaladmission call for applications for non-EU students residing abroad, two-year master's degree programmes, academic year 2026/27, with the How to apply guide. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Calabria, Department of Physics. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Physics (LM-17), in force from the 2026/27 cohort, with the 2026/27 study plans (in Italian). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Calabria. Rector's decree reallocating scholarship places for non-EU master's applicants, academic year 2026/27 (in Italian). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Calabria, Unicaladmission page for international students, academic years 2026/27 and 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Physics is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-17, 120 CFU) taught entirely in English by the Department of Physics of the University of Calabria (UniCal) on its campus in Rende. [2]
The course completes a first degree in physics and adds advanced training in one area of modern physics, with theoretical, experimental and applied work. It ends with a 36-credit thesis on an open research problem, inside one of the department's research groups or a linked research centre. [2]
What you will study
All students share common units in physics, mathematics, computer science and chemistry, mostly in the first year. Units found in every 2026/27 study plan include: [2]
- Advanced Mathematical Methods for Physics (6 CFU)
- Scientific Data Acquisition and Processing (6 CFU)
- Bonds, Molecules, Phases and Phase Transitions (6 CFU)
- Advanced Computer Science for Physics and Machine Learning for Physics (3 CFU each)
You then follow one of five curricula: [2]
- Astrophysics, Geophysics and Plasma Physics: space physics, solar physics and the Sun-Earth connection, plasma astrophysics, advanced computational physics and an astrophysics laboratory.
- Matter Physics: advanced quantum mechanics, a choice among solid state physics, biophysics, quantum condensed matter, surface physics and physical methods in bio-medicine, laboratory work and linear and non-linear spectroscopies.
- Physics and Technology of Materials: optics and photonics, solid state and surface physics, a laboratory, microscopy and molecular spectroscopy.
- Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics: quantum field theory I and II, a nuclear and particle physics laboratory and particle physics phenomenology.
- Physics of the Atmosphere, Meteorology and Climatology: dynamics of the atmosphere, chaotic behaviour of geophysical flows, space weather, synoptic and mesoscale meteorology and a geophysics laboratory.
How the programme is taught
The plan totals 120 CFU: 72 CFU of exams, 12 CFU of electives and the 36 CFU thesis. Teaching combines lectures, exercise classes and laboratory work, and labs can run as open-ended experiments. Attendance is compulsory, at least 70% of each unit's hours. Exams are oral, written or practical. An internship is not compulsory but can be added as an elective, and strong second-year students can join a 50-hour Path of Excellence. [2]
Career paths
The regulations name four reference profiles: physicist, astrophysicist, meteorologist and physics researcher. Graduates can continue to a PhD or a second-level master's, or work in: [2]
- Optics, precision mechanics and electronics companies
- Health services and laboratories that handle radiation protection and ionising-radiation equipment
- Research bodies such as INAF, CNR, ASI, ESA and INGV, and astronomical observatories
- Meteorology and climate research and forecasting services
- Banks, insurers and consultancies that use data analysis and stochastic modelling
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, nine of this course's 20 places for non-EU applicants living abroad came with a UniCal scholarship, open to applicants whose household income was below the call's limits, shown with an ISEE parificato. The scholarship covers the enrolment fee and adds free accommodation, campus canteen meals and about €3,600 in pocket money, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [1]
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply through UniCal's Unicaladmission call on the Esse3 portal, for one master's degree only. A departmental committee reviews your CV and qualifications, then holds a remote oral exam in English for a shortlist of at least twice as many candidates as places. [1]
For 2026/27, applications closed at 11:59 pm Italian time on 30 March 2026. UniCal expects to publish the 2027/28 call around January 2027. [1][4]
Scholarship winners receive UniCal's acceptance letter through the Universitaly portal. After enrolment you hand in your degree with an official Italian translation, plus a declaration of value or CIMEA certificates of comparability and verification; for the 2026/27 intake the deadline is 28 February 2027. [1]
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 UniCal's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Esse3 application with your CV, transcript and course syllabus, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU 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 UniCal's Physics master?
A physics bachelor's or an equivalent, or a degree in another subject with at least 24 credits in maths and 50 in physics. A foreign degree must give access to master's study where it was awarded and cover subjects matching an Italian physics degree. [2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores your CV and qualifications. In the 2026/27 call for non-EU applicants, at least twice as many candidates as places were invited to a remote oral exam in English, which was mandatory for admission. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. The 2026/27 call checks it in an online interview, and a matching certificate can exempt you from the English check. No specific test or score is listed, so we check which proof your file should include. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had until 11:59 pm Italian time on 30 March 2026. UniCal expects to publish the 2027/28 call around January 2027. [1][4]
How many places and scholarships are there?
For 2026/27, 20 places for non-EU applicants living abroad: 9 with a scholarship covering the enrolment fee, free accommodation, canteen meals and about €3,600 pocket money, and 11 without a scholarship. [1]
I have a B.Tech or a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Can I apply?
Possibly. Graduates outside physics need at least 24 maths credits and 50 physics credits, plus preparation in classical and quantum physics. Engineering and maths degrees often meet the maths block but can fall short on physics, so we check your transcript first. [2]
What curricula can I choose?
Five: Astrophysics, Geophysics and Plasma Physics; Matter Physics; Physics and Technology of Materials; Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics; and Physics of the Atmosphere, Meteorology and Climatology. All share common units in maths, computing, chemistry and data processing. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Physics at UniCal?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniCal's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU 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 Indian bachelor's with strong physics, such as a B.Sc. Honours in Physics or a B.Sc. with physics and maths as main subjects, can fit if it covers classical and quantum physics, linear algebra and analysis. You also need English at B2. The steps are the Esse3 application, the CV review, the remote oral exam 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 Physics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: the Esse3 application, the CV and qualifications review, the remote oral exam 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: the Esse3 application, the CV and qualifications review, the remote oral exam 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: the Esse3 application, the CV and qualifications review, the remote oral exam 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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