Master in Physics at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-17 physics master's at the University of Trento with a flexible plan across fundamental interactions, matter, applied physics and science teaching. Entry needs a physics bachelor's or equivalent, English at B2 and a physics interview.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Physics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-17) taught in English by the Department of Physics at the University of Trento. Entry needs a bachelor's in Physics or a qualification the committee judges equivalent, English at B2 in all four skills, and a score of 50 out of 100 after a file review and physics interview. Non-EU fees follow your admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniTrento's Physics master asks non-EU applicants for a bachelor's in Physics or a foreign qualification the committee judges equivalent, English at B2 in all four skills, a one-page statement of purpose, and a merit score of at least 50 out of 100 after a file assessment and a physics interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a bachelor's degree in Physics (Italian class L-30), a degree in another class that meets the course regulations, or a bachelor's in Physics or other qualification awarded abroad and recognised as equivalent under those regulations. The selection committee judges whether a foreign degree is eligible from your full academic record. [1]
The programme pages describe this as a bachelor's of at least three years in Physics or a related field, with a matching study plan. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants had to hold the degree by 30 June 2026. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
The call does not set credit blocks. Instead, up to 40 of the 100 points go to how well your previous studies fit the aims of the master's, so physics depth on your transcript matters most. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics with courses in classical and quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, mathematical methods and physics laboratories.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. with Physics as one of three main subjects, such as Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, or a B.Tech in Engineering Physics. These can count as related degrees but may show less advanced physics, which lowers the coherence score.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Electronics, which may be judged related only if the transcript shows substantial physics.
- Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely show the physics content the committee looks for.
UniTrento verifies foreign degrees only after admission and Universitaly pre-enrolment, and may ask for a statement of verification or a statement of comparability. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher in all four skills, held by the application deadline and shown by one of: [1]
- an international English certificate;
- a B2 or higher English exam passed at another university, if all four skills were tested and certified;
- a bachelor's degree taught entirely in English, with proof;
- citizenship of a country whose official language is English.
The call does not list specific minimum scores. [1]
Selection and interview
There is no written test. A committee of at least three Department of Physics teaching staff scores you out of 100: [1]
- Up to 40 points: coherence between your previous studies and the aims of the Physics master.
- Up to 10 points: your academic record, including marks, any postgraduate courses, extracurricular activities and languages above the minimum.
- Up to 10 points: your statement of purpose.
- Up to 40 points: an interview on your preparation in physics.
Only candidates with at least 25 points from the first three criteria are invited to the interview, by email at least three days ahead. Missing the interview means exclusion. You need a final score of at least 50 out of 100 to be ranked, and ties go to the younger candidate. [1]
2026/27 places and deadlines
For 2026/27 there were 10 places for non-EU applicants living abroad. Applications closed on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with a €30 fee for each application paid by the same deadline. [1]
Rankings were due by 25 May 2026. Admitted candidates then paid a non-refundable €100 confirmation fee by the deadline given with the ranking, and pre-enrolled on Universitaly within two weeks of confirming. [1][2]
These are the 2026/27 dates. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs: [1]
- your passport (personal data pages);
- your bachelor's degree certificate, if already awarded, with an official English translation if it is not in English or Italian;
- a full transcript with all courses, exams and marks, the weighted average and the grading scale, translated if needed (students still finishing also list exams not yet passed);
- a CV in English, preferably in Europass format;
- your English proof;
- a statement of purpose in English of no more than one page on your interests and what you expect from the master's.
After confirming your place, you pre-enrol on Universitaly. This is needed for the visa, and UniTrento issues its admission letter only after it. You must be in Italy for the start of classes. For 2026/27, students delayed by the visa were admitted only if it was issued by 31 October 2026. [1][2]
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 Trento, Department of Physics. Call for applications for admission to the Master's degree in Physics (LM-17), non-European applicants residing abroad, academic year 2026/2027 (English courtesy translation; the Italian call is binding). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, Physics master's programme pages: programme overview and admission for non-European applicants, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
The Master's degree in Physics is a two-year laurea magistrale in class LM-17, worth 120 ECTS and taught in English by the Department of Physics of the University of Trento. It offers advanced training in modern physics, its theoretical, experimental and applied sides, and a strong command of the scientific method.
You study nuclear and subnuclear physics, the physics of matter and theoretical physics, with an emphasis on quantum mechanics and advanced experimental techniques. It suits physics graduates who want a research-oriented degree with room to specialise.
What you will study
The plan is highly flexible. The department suggests plans in four areas: Physics of Fundamental Interactions; Physics of Matter; Physics Applied to Life Sciences, Environment and Cultural Heritage; and Physical Science Communication and Teaching Methods. Units include:
- Advanced Quantum Mechanics and Experimental Methods (compulsory, 6 ECTS each)
- One of Computational Physics, General Relativity, Quantum Field Theory I or Statistical Mechanics
- Atomic Physics, Condensed Matter Theory, Particle Physics and Solid State Physics
- Quantum Computing and Quantum Simulation, Quantum Optics and Quantum Information
- Relativistic and Multimessenger Astrophysics, Astroparticle Physics and Modern Cosmology
- Laboratories in photonics, condensed matter, nuclear and subnuclear physics, and optics for quantum technologies
- A final project worth 39 ECTS
How the programme is taught
You work in teaching and research laboratories, take part in seminars, practical workshops and research projects, and can collaborate with nearby research institutions such as INFN, ECT*, FBK and CNR. Study abroad options include a dual degree with Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Erasmus+ and 14 outgoing mobility programmes in 10 non-European countries.
Career paths
Graduates promote and manage scientific and technological innovation in industry, the environment, health and public administration, transfer know-how from basic research to business, and build complex models in sectors such as banking, finance and consulting. Others work in science communication or, with the right credits, prepare for secondary school teaching. Many go on to a PhD in physics or related sciences.
Fees and scholarships
Under UniTrento's 2026/27 call, non-EU students living abroad pay at most €6,000 a year, and first-year fees follow the admission score: a full exemption at 90 or more, then €1,000, €2,000 or €4,500. In year two, earning at least 42 ECTS by 10 August brings a full fee waiver. [1] Top-ranked applicants scoring 70 or more may win a UniTrento scholarship, which also exempts them from tuition. [1] Opera Universitaria di Trento has income-based grants, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27, the call offered 10 places for non-EU students living abroad. The file was scored on coherence with the master's (40 points), academic record (10) and statement of purpose (10); candidates with 25 or more then had an interview on physics worth 40 points, and 50 out of 100 was needed to be ranked. [1]
Applications closed on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with a €30 fee, and rankings were due by 25 May 2026. Admitted students pay a non-refundable €100 to confirm, pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks of confirming and apply for a type D study visa. For 2026/27, students delayed by the visa were admitted only if it was issued by 31 October 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1][2]
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 UniTrento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, place confirmation 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 the Physics master at UniTrento?
A bachelor's in Physics, or another degree or foreign qualification the committee judges equivalent under the course regulations. The programme pages describe it as at least three years in Physics or a related field, and up to 40 of the 100 points go to how well your studies fit the master's. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test, but there is an interview. Your file is scored first on fit, academic record and statement of purpose, up to 60 points. Candidates with at least 25 are interviewed on physics for up to 40 points, and you need 50 out of 100 to be ranked. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 in all four skills by the application deadline. You can show it with an international certificate, a B2 university exam covering all four skills, a degree taught entirely in English, or English-speaking citizenship. The call sets no minimum scores, so we check which proof fits your file. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had until 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, and rankings were due by 25 May 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27 you could apply while finishing your bachelor's, listing the exams not yet passed on your transcript, as long as the degree was awarded by 30 June 2026. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
Possibly. The committee judges whether your degree is equivalent to a physics bachelor's and scores its fit with the master's out of 40. A three-subject B.Sc. or a B.Tech in Engineering Physics can work if the transcript shows enough advanced physics. Most other B.Tech branches rarely do. [1]
How much are tuition fees for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, fees for non-EU students living abroad followed the admission score, up to €6,000 a year: a full waiver at 90 or more, otherwise €1,000, €2,000 or €4,500. Top-ranked applicants scoring at least 70 may also win a scholarship with a fee exemption. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
The 2026/27 call offered 10 places for non-EU citizens living outside Italy. Places freed by withdrawals go to the next candidates on the ranking. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Physics at UniTrento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniTrento'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 in Physics, or another degree the committee judges equivalent, can meet the rule, and up to 40 of the 100 points go to how well your studies fit the master's. You also need English at B2 in all four skills. The steps are the online application, file assessment and a physics interview, the merit ranking, place confirmation 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: online application, file assessment and interview, merit ranking, place confirmation 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: online application, file assessment and interview, merit ranking, place confirmation 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: online application, file assessment and interview, merit ranking, place confirmation 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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