Master in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering at University of Naples Federico II
Two-year LM-23 master's at Federico II in Naples with an English-taught pathway in structural, earthquake and geotechnical engineering, and a double degree option with IST Lisbon. Entry needs set civil engineering credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Naples
Multiple
University of Naples Federico II
Structural and Geotechnical Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-23) at the University of Naples Federico II, with a pathway taught entirely in English. Entry needs a bachelor's with minimum credits in maths, physics and civil engineering subjects, a preparation check based on your average mark, and fluent English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Federico II's Structural and Geotechnical Engineering master asks for a bachelor's degree or recognised foreign qualification with minimum credits in maths, physics and civil engineering subjects, a compulsory personal preparation check based on your average mark, and documented fluent English at B2. These rules come from the course regulations in force since 2024/25. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a university degree, or a qualification obtained abroad that is recognised as suitable. Graduates of Italian class L-7 (Civil and Environmental Engineering), or the older class 8, who followed the general curriculum usually meet the credit rule automatically. [1]
Other applicants are checked against minimum credits (CFU) by subject sector: [1]
- Geometry and mathematical analysis (MAT/03, MAT/05): 18 CFU
- Physics (FIS/01): 6 CFU
- Hydraulics and hydrology (ICAR/01, ICAR/02): 9 CFU
- Roads, railways and transport (ICAR/04, ICAR/05): 9 CFU
- Geotechnics (ICAR/07): 9 CFU
- Mathematical physics and structural mechanics (MAT/07, ICAR/08): 18 CFU
- Structural engineering (ICAR/09): 15 CFU
- Surveying, building technology and drawing (ICAR/06, ICAR/10, ICAR/17): 9 CFU
If you already have 6 CFU in hydraulics (ICAR/01, ICAR/02) or 6 CFU in geotechnics (ICAR/07), a 3 CFU supplementary oral exam can close that gap. [1]
If you are short of credits
The regulations set limits on how many missing credits can be made up: [1]
- Up to 27 CFU short in total: you can propose a study plan that includes exams to fill the gap within the master's 120 CFU.
- Up to 18 CFU more: extra exams are agreed with the study plan committee and added on top of the 120 CFU.
- A larger gap: the missing credits must be earned before enrolment, through single courses or a shortened route in Federico II's Civil Engineering bachelor's.
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. [1] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering that includes maths, physics, fluid mechanics or hydraulics, transport engineering, soil mechanics, structural analysis and structural design courses.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering with few hydraulics, transport or surveying courses, or a degree in construction or environmental engineering that may be light on structural mechanics or geotechnics.
- Often short: a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, a B.Arch or a B.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics usually covers the maths and physics blocks but lacks most of the civil engineering credits.
Personal preparation check
Checking your personal preparation is compulsory, and only applicants who meet the credit rule can be admitted. Admission is automatic if your weighted average mark, out of 30, is high enough for how long your degree took: [1]
- Graduates of other universities: an average of at least 24 out of 30, whatever the duration.
- Federico II graduates: at least 21 if you finished on time, 22.5 with one extra year and 24 with two or more.
If you do not meet the automatic criterion, the coordination committee reviews your curriculum and, if the review is positive, sets a further assessment of your preparation. It may assign additional training obligations (OFA) to complete in the first year. The regulations set no general entrance exam and do not say how foreign grades are converted to the 30-point scale. [1]
English
Admission requires documented fluent English, written and oral, including technical vocabulary. The regulations set the level at B2 and include 1 CFU of English in the degree. [1]
- You can present a B2 certificate at enrolment, which the degree programme reviews and can recognise.
- Without one, you can take a B2 test at the university language centre (CLA), and if you do not pass, an ad hoc course with a final test.
The regulations do not list specific certificates or minimum scores. [1]
Deadlines
The course regulations do not set application dates. Each year's admission and Universitaly pre-enrolment dates come from Federico II's notices for that year, and the next notices set the 2027/28 dates. [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 Naples Federico II, Polytechnic and Basic Sciences School, Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture. Course regulations, Master's degree in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering (class LM-23), in force from academic year 2024/25. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Naples Federico II, Structural and Geotechnical Engineering programme page (teaching language, admission summary, internship, thesis and double degree). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Structural and Geotechnical Engineering (STReGA) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-23) worth 120 ECTS at the University of Naples Federico II.
The degree is bilingual and includes a track taught entirely in English, the MSc in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, which is the path this page covers.
It is run by the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture (DiSt) in the Polytechnic and Basic Sciences School, with teaching venues including Via Claudio 21 and Via Forno Vecchio 36 in Naples.
The course trains experts in the design and construction of load-bearing structures and in the geotechnical problems linked to them: buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, hydraulic and maritime works, foundations and underground construction.
It suits civil engineering graduates who want to specialise in seismic design and structural safety.
What you will study
The English track's first year combines three compulsory courses with a choice among concrete, steel and retrofit design. The second year is built from two groups of electives, an internship and a 12 ECTS thesis. The thesis can be written in English, with an Italian summary attached. [1][2]
- Earthquake Engineering and Structural Control (9 ECTS)
- Limit Analysis of Structures (9 ECTS)
- Static and Seismic Foundation Design (9 ECTS)
- One of Theory and Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Theory and Design of Steel Constructions, Assessment and Retrofit of Structures or Advanced Metallic Structures
- Second-year options such as Theory and Design of Bridges, Structural Reliability and FEM in Nonlinear Structural Analysis
- Geotechnical Modelling and Tunnels and Underground Structures
- Innovative Building Materials and Mechanics of Composite and Advanced Materials
How the programme is taught
The internship can be done inside the university with an academic tutor or at a company with a company tutor.
A double degree with Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon lets you take the first year in Naples and the second year, including the thesis, at IST in English, earning both master's degrees.
A Minor in Smart Infrastructures Developer is also offered, and Erasmus and bilateral agreements cover partners such as University College London, KAIST and California State University, Long Beach.
Career paths
According to the university, graduates work as consulting engineers, designers, project managers and technical experts in structural design firms, engineering consultancies, public administrations and construction companies.
- structural design of buildings and infrastructure
- seismic risk assessment and retrofit
- geotechnical and foundation engineering
- heritage structure restoration
Fees and scholarships
Federico II sets tuition by family income, English track included, with each year's amount worked out from your ISEE under the rules in the university's student guides. The regional DSU scholarship comes from ADISURC.
In 2026/27 its ISEE limit was €25,500 and off-site winners could receive up to €7,171.11; that call closed on 10 September 2026. Families abroad use the ISEE universitario parificato. Eligible students can apply, and the region decides awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
Access requires a bachelor's degree or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable, with minimum credits in maths, physics and civil engineering subjects, a compulsory check of your personal preparation and documented fluent English at B2. Graduates of Italian class L-7 in civil and environmental engineering usually meet the credit rule automatically. [1]
From abroad, we pre-enrol you on Universitaly for Federico II and this degree and choose your consulate, then we send your qualification with a Diploma Supplement, CIMEA certificate or declaration of value for evaluation.
For 2026/27 pre-enrolment closed on 15 June 2026 and visa applications on 30 November 2026; 2027/28 dates are pending.
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 Federico II's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application for the credit and personal preparation review, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ADISURC Campania 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 Federico II's Structural and Geotechnical Engineering master?
A bachelor's or recognised foreign qualification with minimum credits by subject: 18 in maths, 6 in physics, and set blocks in hydraulics, transport, geotechnics, structural mechanics and structural engineering. Italian class L-7 civil engineering graduates usually meet this automatically. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No general entrance exam. Your personal preparation is checked from your weighted average mark: graduates of other universities are admitted automatically with an average of at least 24 out of 30. Below that, a committee reviews your curriculum and may set a further assessment. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
You need documented fluent English at B2. The regulations do not list specific certificates or scores: you can present a B2 certificate at enrolment or take a B2 test at the university language centre. We check which proof your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
The course regulations do not set application dates. Each year's admission and Universitaly pre-enrolment deadlines come from Federico II's notices for that year, and the 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. We track the dates for you. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a B.Arch. Can I apply?
Possibly, but check carefully. These degrees often cover the maths and physics credits but fall short on geotechnics, hydraulics, transport or structural engineering. Up to 27 missing credits can be made up inside the master's, and larger gaps need extra exams, some before enrolment. [1]
Is the programme taught in English?
The degree is bilingual, with a pathway taught entirely in English, the MSc in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, built from courses equivalent to the Italian ones. The thesis can be written in English, with an Italian summary attached. [1][2]
Is there a double degree?
Yes. With Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, you take the first year (60 ECTS) in Naples and the second year at IST, where the 30 ECTS thesis must be written in English. Successful students receive both master's degrees. [1][2]
What jobs do graduates do?
The regulations list professional practice as an engineer after the state exam, engineering firms, public bodies and infrastructure operators such as railways, motorways and port authorities, construction companies, and research centres such as universities and CNR. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Structural and Geotechnical Engineering at Federico II?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Federico II's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ADISURC Campania 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 Structural and Geotechnical Engineering?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in civil engineering, such as a B.Tech or B.E., can meet the credit rule if it covers maths, physics, hydraulics, transport, geotechnics and structural subjects. You also need fluent English at B2. The steps are the credit and personal preparation review, then 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 Structural and Geotechnical Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: credit and personal preparation review 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 Structural and Geotechnical Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: credit and personal preparation review 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 Structural and Geotechnical Engineering 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: credit and personal preparation review 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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