The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Geology is a first cycle degree programme offered by the University of Pisa and delivered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The programme is in English.

The BSc in Geology will train graduates with strong skills to support professional activities aimed at thematic cartography production, laboratory characterization of geomaterials, exploration for energy, mineral, and water resources.

In addition, the graduate will have skills to collaborate effectively on projects addressed to evaluation and mitigation of geological and environmental risks. The students will be trained in the collection, analysis, and synthesis of data in the fields of geology, geophysics, petrography, mineralogy, paleontology, geochemistry, geomorphology, stratigraphy, and hydrogeology.

The BSc in Geology is three years-long, each year divided into two semesters. To achieve the degree, the student must acquire 180 credits (CFU), 60 for each year.

The student's commitment to acquire 1 CFU is equivalent to 8 hours of lectures, or 12 hours of laboratory activities or 16 hours of practical activity in the field, plus an average number of hours of personal study to contribute to a total of 25 hours for each CFU.

The total of 180 credits is divided as follows:

• 45 CFU for basic formative activities, such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Introduction to Geology.
• 90 CFU for characteristic formative activities, such as Mineralogy, Petrography, Paleontology, Geochemistry, Geomorphology, Geophysics, Geological survey, Georesources, Hydrogeology.
• 18 CFU for affine or integrative activities, such as Regional Geology, Georesources, interdisciplinary field practical activities.
• 12 CFU for activities freely-chosen by the student, which can be obtained by choosing: (i) any formative activity among the courses offered at the University of Pisa, whose correspondence with the formative project is subjected to the approval of the BSc Program Board; (ii) one of the Recommended Formative Activities for which consistency with the formative project is automatically verified; (iii) further 6 CFU to integrate the final exam.
• 6 CFU of internship (industrial practise).
• 3 CFU of written and oral communication skills in English on geological topics.
• 6 CFU of preparation for final exam (Thesis).

In addition to solid theoretical and methodological foundations, the BSc in geology therefore guarantees an outgoing cultural profile characterized by strong applicative aptitudes, especially in the field of research/exploitation of georesources, along with skills for the assessment of geological/environmental risks and possible strategies for their mitigation.

These cultural and professional characteristics represent a novelty compared to those of graduates in most of the first level degree courses in Geological Sciences (L-34).

To access the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Geology delivered by UNIPI in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, students must have attended and passed the Preparatory Year (PY) in Tashkent. Alternatively, they must hold a secondary school diploma or other equivalent qualification obtained abroad following a school course of at least twelve years, recognized as suitable.

For students attending the PY, verification of the mastery of the required initial knowledge will be carried out at the end of the year of study. Those who, despite successfully completing the PY, will have specific deficiencies in Mathematics/Physics/Chemistry will be assigned additional training obligations which will be extinguished upon passing the examination of the corresponding courses. The Degree Program annually organizes educational activities for the fulfillment of such additional training obligations. 

Students who enter the course without attending the PY will have to pass a test of basic knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and fundamentals of geology. If the test results reveal specific deficiencies in this knowledge, the student will be assigned additional educational obligations as indicated above.

A B2 English level is required in any case to access the course.

For informations on admission to the Preparatory Year A.Y. 2025-26, tuition fees and facilities for the students in Tashkent, write to admin@pisa.uz

The preparation for the final exam is conducted under the supervision of a teacher of the Geology course.

The final exam will verify the cultural maturity achieved by the candidate and the ability to produce and process data and observations appropriate to the educational objectives of the study Program.

The student will have to produce and discuss an essay on a subject that falls within a discipline that characterizes the BSc course.

* Choice of two out of these three formative activities

• Francesca Meneghini (francesca.meneghini@unipi.it)
• Luca Pandolfi  (luca.pandolfi@unipi.it)
• Chiara Frassi (chiara.frassi@unipi.it)
• Adriano Ribolini  (adriano.ribolini@unipi.it)
• Matteo Vacchi  (matteo.vacchi@unipi.it)
• Enrico Mugnaioli  (enrico.mugnaioli@unipi.it)
• Sergio Rocchi  (sergio.rocchi@unipi.it)
• Luigi Folco  (luigi.folco@unipi.it)
• Andrea Columbu (andrea.columbu@unipi.it)

President of the Degree Course

prof. Adriano Ribolini 

vice-President of the Degree Course

prof. Francesca Meneghini

Board of the Degree Course

The Board (Council) of the course is active from the 15th of September 2023 and is composed by all the teachers with teaching assignments in A.Y. 2024-25 and coordinated by the President of the Degree Course prof. Adriano Ribolini.

The Board approves, every year, the teaching activities for the next academic year, within the deadlines and following the Rules approved by the University of Pisa and the Italian Ministry.

Academic Calendar 2024-2025

Beginning of lessons: First semester:  September 23,  2024

End of lessons: First semester:  December 20, 2024

Christmas holidays: December 23, 2024 – January 7,  2025

Beginning of lessons: Second semester: January 15,  2025

End of lessons: Second semester:  May 30, 2025

Easter holidays: April 18-April 22, 2025 

Annual holidays in Uzbekistan:

January 1 – New Year
March 8 – Women`s Day
March 21 – Navruz
May 9 – Day of remembrance and honor
September 1 – Independence Day
October 1 – Teacher's Day
December 8 – Constitution day

Extra holidays for 2024 year

September 2 – Extra holiday
October 2 – Extra holiday (reason: October 1 – Sunday)
December 30 – Extra holiday

For information regarding TUITION FEES DEADLINES for the AY 2025/2026 write to admin@pisa.uz

A Preparatory Year specifically intended to access the Geology Bachelor’s Degree Programme of UNIPI is delivered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The Preparatory Year provides courses in Fundamentals of Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Geosciences, and includes English lessons intended to make the students achieve the B2 level required for the Bachelor's Programme in Geology. 

For informations on admission to the Preparatory Year A.Y. 2025-26, tuition fees and facilities for the students in Tashkent, write to admin@pisa.uz

Preparatory Year 2022/2023 - students & teachers

Preparatory Year 2022/2023 - field excursion

Seminar about Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) in the geological and environmental fields.

On Tuesday 28 January Prof. Enrico Mugnaioli held a seminar at the Uzbek University of Geological Sciences (UGS), in which he illustrated the potential of the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) in the geological and environmental fields.

The meeting highlighted once again the interest of Uzbek institutions in the instrumental facilities present at the University of Pisa, many of which werea cquired and managed within CISUP, and in the related know-how. This will favor in the near future the strengthening of relations between Italy and Uzbekistan, also linked to the imminent Joint Call 2025 for scientific cooperation projects between the two nations.

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The visit of the Minister of University and Research of Italy to the Branch of UNIPI

On Tuesday 24 September, as part of the 1st Uzbek-Italian Educational Forum, the Minister of University and Research of Italy Anna Maria Bernini visited the headquarters of the Branch of the University of Pisa within the campus of the University of Geological Sciences (UGS) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Accompanying Anna Maria Bernini on the visit were Prof. Riccardo Zucchi (Rector of the University of Pisa), Prof. Sergio Rocchi (BSc teacher and member of the Managing Committee of the Branch), Prof. Giovanni Federico Gronchi (Vice-Rector for International Cooperation), and Dr. Numonbek Dalimov (Operations Manager of the Branch). 

The visit was also attended by the Ambassador of Italy to Uzbekistan, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Italy, the Deputy Minister of the University of Uzbekistan and a representative of the Ministry of Geology.

Rector Zucchi and Professor Rocchi reminded Minister Bernin that Branch is the seat of the Degree Course in Geology, the first and to date only degree course of an Italian university held abroad and accredited by the Ministry of University and Research. In addition to Branch, the campus of the University of Geological Sciences currently also hosts four research institutes, teaching facilities, the canteen and the dormitory, and the National Museum of Geology and the new headquarters of the Ministry of Geology and Mining Industry of Uzbekistan are ready for inauguration

The day before, Zucchi, together with Rocchi, Gronchi and Dalimov, inaugurated the new academic year in the presence of the students gathered in the Aula Magna. The course has reached its third year of activation, with an annual average of freshmen of over 50. In the afternoon, the rector met with the Deputy Minister of Geology to discuss the developments of the UniPi Branch in Tashkent.

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Unipi branch in Tashkent: the cooperation project with Uzbekistan is growing

With a signature between the rector Riccardo Zucchi, the Uzbek deputy minister of mining and geology, Azam Alisherovich Kodirhodjaev, and the director of the Unipi branch of UGS, Numonbek Rustamovich Dalimov, an agreement was formalized which provides for an expansion of the cooperation project with Uzbekistan. 

The University of Pisa and the University of Geological Science will develop a "Double degree MSc in Geology". The double degree program will be taught in English in accordance with the regulations of the Italian Ministry of University and Research and the Ministry of University of Uzbekistan. the title awarded is recognized as a master's degree valid both in Italy and in Uzbekistan. The two universities also intend to expand the three-year degree program in Geology with the addition of an "environmental curriculum" focused on specific subjects in that sector. The qualification awarded will be the same as the Geology program and will therefore be recognized as valid both in Italy and in Uzbekistan.

 Present at the signing of the agreement in the rectorate were the rector Riccardo Zucchi, Azam Alisherovich Kodirhodjaev, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Geology and Mining Industry, Numonbek Rustamovich Dalimov, Operations Manager of the UniPi Branch at UGS, Antonio Mazzeo, president of the Regional Council of Tuscany, Frida Scarpa, councilor for relations with university institutions of the Municipality of Pisa, Giuseppe Iannaccone, deputy vice-rector, Giovanni Federico Gronchi, vice-rector for cooperation and international relations, Giovanni Paoletti, vice-rector for teaching, Luca Pandolfi, director of the Department of Earth Sciences, professors Sergio Rocchi, Francesco Marcelloni, Marco Abate, Giovanni Sarti, Roberta Moruzzo and the head of the International Cooperation Unit Paola Cappellini.

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Didactic Project: “Pisa Meets Tashkent: a journey between geosciences and cultures”

UNIPI funded a study trip for 12 Italian students and 4 teachers of the MSc in Geological Science and Technologies, Exploration and Applied Geophysics, Environmental Sciences.The topics covered during the field trip are:

- to know the environmental problems related to the exploitation of georesources

- to get knowledge regarding geological processes and the formation and mineral resources

- to facilitate integration and cultural interconnection with Uzbek students

here the flyer

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