Student's Guide Master in Physical Sciences, a.y. 2025/26

Main objective of the Master’s Degree in Physical Sciences (Class LM-17 – Physics) is to provide students with the cultural and methodological background necessary for research activities, for immediate employment in traditional sectors of the physics profession, and for teaching in secondary schools. The program also naturally leads to doctoral studies in physics and other post-graduate specialization schools.

As in the case of the Bachelor’s Degree in Physics, the teaching activities are regulated by the Teaching Council of Physical Sciences and Technologies, which includes tenured professors, adjunct lecturers, and researchers responsible for courses, course modules, or other educational activities activated within the affiliated study programs, as well as elected representatives of the students enrolled in these programs. The Teaching Council is chaired by the President, elected by the Council itself.

• Head of the Education Board: Andrea Negri (Andrea.Negri@unipv.it)
• Responsible of the Course: Dario Gerace  (Dario.Gerace@unipv.it)
• Responsible of Erasmus activity: Lorenzo Maccone (Lorenzo.Maccone@unipv.it)
• Education Office of the Physics Department: Anna Rita Mangia (segreteriadidattica.fisica@unipv.it)

The teaching regulations of the Degree Programme are updated and approved for each new cohort and are available at the following link. However, these regulations do not include the academic calendar for the current academic year or the guidelines for the awarding of the final degree grade. The latter are provided in the following section.

The Examination Committee, having heard the opinion of the thesis supervisor and following collegial discussion, assigns the final degree grade according to the following criteria:

1. The average of the grades obtained by the student in the examinations—excluding any surplus courses—expressed on a scale of one hundred and rounded to the nearest whole number, constitutes the base score.
2. The base score is increased as follows:
   a) by 1 point if the student has obtained at least four honours (“lode”) in the graded examinations;
   b) by 3 points if the Master’s Degree is obtained by 31 October of the second year of the programme;
   c) by 2 points if it is obtained by 31 January of the following year;
   d) by 1 point if it is obtained by 30 April of the following year.
3. For students enrolled in the LM Plus track, the dates indicated in points 2b, 2c, and 2d are extended by x months if the student has completed an internship lasting 6 + x months. The same deadlines (points 2b, 2c, 2d) are proportionally adjusted for part-time students, based on the year of enrolment indicated in their transcript.
4. The score is further increased by up to a maximum of 12 points, assigned by each member of the Committee using a dedicated evaluation form. The voting takes place in the absence of the thesis supervisor. The average of the examiners’ votes is rounded to the nearest whole number. The points are distributed as follows:
   a) up to 6 points for the candidate’s thesis work, as illustrated by the thesis supervisor;
   b) up to 3 points for the originality, clarity of content, and accuracy of the thesis;
   c) up to 3 points for the thesis presentation and discussion.
5. The final score, obtained by summing the points described above, represents the final degree grade on a scale of 110, with a maximum grade of 110.
6. Honours (cum laude) may be awarded by open and unanimous vote of the Committee if both of the following conditions are met:
   a) the final score is at least 110/110;
   b) the student has obtained at least three honours (“lode”) in the examinations.

The study plan, which depends on the student’s cohort of enrolment, is available in the Teaching Regulations and on the dedicated webpage. The available curricula are:

• Fisica della materia;
• Fisica nucleare e subnucleare;
• Fisica teorica;
• Biomedical physics;
• Didattica e storia della fisica, comunicazione scientifica;
• Fisica delle tecnologie quantistiche

The Master’s Degree Programme in Physical Sciences participates in the Laurea Magistrale Plus (LM+) programme of the University of Pavia. This programme offers a training pathway that integrates academic knowledge with the expertise provided by companies and other organisations operating in the professional world.

Further information is available on the dedicated webpage and in the Teaching Regulations.

The Master’s Degree Programme in Physical Sciences offers a double degree agreement with Université Paris Cité in Paris (France). The selection of eligible students, the admission criteria and procedures, the content of the study plan, as well as all other aspects related to the programme, are governed by specific bilateral agreements.

Further information is available on the dedicated webpage and in the Teaching Regulations.

Students in the Scientific Area have access to three main libraries:

• Library of Sciences, located in the Institutes area (Physics and Chemistry sections);
• Library of Science and Technology, located in the Nave area (Tamburo and Botta 2 sections) and in the city centre (Botanical Garden section);
• Medical Area Library, located within the Policlinico San Matteo.

The three libraries operate in coordination to provide a comprehensive and consistent range of services, including:

• access to printed resources (monographs, journals) and digital resources (e-journals, e-books, databases, EndNote Web, etc.);
• consultation and loan of available materials;
• interlibrary loan requests to obtain volumes not held by the library;
• document delivery services to obtain articles or book chapters not owned by the library;
• photocopying, printing, and scanning services;
• specialised bibliographic assistance to support users in conducting methodological research on specific topics using academically validated tools (catalogues, databases, bibliographic repertories, etc.);
• multi-level user training courses (Information Literacy).

The Physics Section is normally open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m.; continuous opening hours are observed from Monday to Thursday until 7:00 p.m., and on Friday until 5:00 p.m.

Address: via A. Bassi, 6 - Tel. 987510 - fax 987262
E-mail: biblioteca.dellescienze@unipv.it

University Language Centre

The Centro Linguistico di Ateneo (CLA) of the University of Pavia offers a range of services related to language teaching and learning. These services are available to students, academic staff, technical and administrative personnel of the University of Pavia, as well as to anyone interested in learning or improving their knowledge of foreign languages.
Detailed information on the services offered is available on the website: http://cla.unipv.it

Erasmus Programme

Erasmus is a European Union programme that allows university students to spend a study period (from 3 to 12 months) at a Higher Education Institution in one of the participating countries. It offers the opportunity to attend courses, access university services and facilities (without paying additional tuition fees beyond those already paid in Italy), and to obtain recognition of the exams taken abroad.
Since 2007, Erasmus has been part of the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP), the EU framework programme designed to promote the European dimension of lifelong learning.

At the University of Pavia, the programme is managed by:
International Relations Service – International Mobility
Via S. Agostino 1, 27100 Pavia
E-mail: outgoing.erasmus@unipv.it
Tel.: +39 0382 984004
Website: https://web.unipv.it/internazionale/studiare-allestero/erasmus-eu/erasmus-europa/

University Orientation Centre (C.O.R.)

The Centro Orientamento Universitario (C.O.R.) is a University Service Centre that implements initiatives aimed at ensuring continuous and dynamic student guidance — from the moment of choosing a degree programme, through the entry phase into university life, to supporting academic progress and providing advice and assistance during the study period. It also supports students in their transition to employment by offering services and organising initiatives related to placement and interaction with companies.

Address: Corso Carlo Alberto 5, Pavia
Tel.: +39 0382 984218 / 296 / 210
E-mail: corinfo@unipv.it
Website: http://www-orientamento.unipv.it/

S.A.I.S.D. – Support Service for Students with Disabilities

Since the 1999–2000 academic year, pursuant to Law No. 17 of 28 January 1999 (amending the framework law No. 104 of 5 February 1992 on assistance, social integration, and the rights of persons with disabilities), the University of Pavia has established the Servizio di Assistenza e Integrazione Studenti Disabili (S.A.I.S.D.), a service dedicated to providing integrated support, assistance, and inclusion for students with disabilities within the university environment.

Further information is available on the website: http://saisd.unipv.it