Master in Sciences of Aerospace Systems for the Defence at University of Naples Federico II

Detailed entry requirements

This is a reserved military officer pathway. The academic degree, officer/Academy status, required military activities and defence-specific language preparation must all be considered. The official course record was reviewed on 6 October 2026. [1-3]

Reserved access: military pathway

Access is reserved to successful candidates in the Ministry of Defence competition for permanent Italian Air Force officers, selected three years earlier, who attended the Air Force Academy and completed the L/DS bachelor’s in Gestione dei Sistemi Aerospaziali per la Difesa. The university also states that the required military activities must have been passed. An ordinary civilian engineering bachelor’s does not by itself create access to this pathway. [1, 2]

Alternative route remains for officers of the armed forces

The course record describes access for armed-forces officers with earlier qualifications in the same L/DS class or degrees in other classes who wish to broaden their professional preparation. This route still concerns officers, rather than unrestricted admission for civilian or overseas engineering applicants. [1]

Curricular conditions for the alternative officer route

The published minima are 49 CFU across MAT/05, FIS/01, M-STO/02, M-STO/04, IUS/08, IUS/13, SECS-P/01, SECS-S/01, SPS/06 and SPS/07; and 45 CFU across ING-INF/05, ING-IND/03 to ING-IND/07, ING-IND/35, M-GRR/02, IUS/06, IUS/07, SPS/03, SPS/04, GEO/12 and ICAR/06. Each is a combined block, not the stated number in every individual subject. The officer’s recorded academic career must substantiate the relevant subjects. [1]

English and teaching language

Entry English competence must be at least JFLT level 2 under NATO STANAG 6001. The university describes this defence-oriented competence as between CEFR B1 and B2 and states that it is obtained during the Academy bachelor’s pathway, with further Air Force language training. It does not publish a civilian IELTS conversion. The first semester of year one is delivered in English; the course should be described as having an English semester, rather than being verified as entirely English-taught. [1]

Academic and military assessment

Personal-preparation verification is governed by the programme’s teaching regulations. The School confirms a reserved pathway under the university and Air Force agreement. The Academy identifies it with the Navigating and Weapons officer roles, integrating scientific, management, legal/international and practical military preparation. Programme access, officer status and military training therefore need to be checked together. [1-3]

Application documents and dates

The course record still mentions an attached 2020 officer competition. That historical reference is not a current 2026 or 2027 civilian admission call. The reviewed sources do not establish a public international application deadline, universal civilian GPA, GRE requirement or scholarship entitlement for this programme. Eligible officers should use their Academy/armed-forces academic instructions and current governing competition or service rules. Civilian applicants should select a programme that explicitly admits them before preparing a study-visa application. [1-3]

Sources and verification

1. University of Naples Federico II, Scienze dei Sistemi Aerospaziali per la Difesa (LM/DS), official course record, Conoscenze richieste per l’accesso and Orientamento in ingresso; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
2. University of Naples Federico II, Polytechnic and Basic Sciences School, master’s engineering catalogue, aerospace systems for defence entry; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.
3. Italian Air Force Academy, Università, GeSAD/SSAD programme description; publication date not stated; reviewed 6 October 2026.

Entry requirements: short questions and answers

Can a civilian engineering graduate apply normally?

The official course record reserves access to the military officer pathway and identifies a separate route for armed-forces officers. An ordinary civilian engineering degree alone does not meet those access conditions. [1, 2]

What is the normal qualifying degree?

The L/DS bachelor’s in Gestione dei Sistemi Aerospaziali per la Difesa, completed through the Air Force Academy after selection in the Ministry of Defence officer competition and the required military activities. [1]

Can officers with other degrees be considered?

Yes. The official record describes a route for armed-forces officers with earlier L/DS or other-class degrees, subject to the specified 49-CFU and 45-CFU curricular blocks. [1]

What English standard is stated?

At least JFLT level 2 under STANAG 6001, described by the university as between CEFR B1 and B2 with defence-specific preparation. No civilian IELTS equivalence is published there. [1]

Is the entire degree taught in English?

The university specifically identifies the first semester of year one as English-delivered. It does not substantiate the earlier claim that every semester is entirely in English. [1]

Is there a current civilian international call?

No such call was established by the reviewed official sources. The programme’s military access conditions must be met; the record’s 2020 competition reference is historical. [1-3]

About the programme

Sciences of Aerospace Systems for the Defence is a two-year LM/DS degree offered under the University of Naples Federico II and Italian Air Force Academy agreement. It develops the scientific, management and military preparation of officers in the Navigating and Weapons roles. The official university record identifies an English semester in the first year and specific military access restrictions. [1-3]

Planning a suitable application

Confirm the reserved military eligibility conditions before including this programme in a civilian international shortlist. ApplyAZ can help compare alternative university programmes that explicitly accept the applicant’s academic and nationality/residence category. See how ApplyAZ works.