[WGF-LM] Exploration and Applied Geophysics (MSc) (40)
Academic Calendar 2025-2026
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First Semester Classes Begin: September 22, 2025
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First Semester Classes End: December 19, 2025
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Christmas Break: December 22, 2025 – January 6, 2026
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Second Semester Classes Begin: February 23, 2026
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Easter Break: April 2, 2026 – April 7, 2026
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Second Semester Classes End: May 29, 2026
Exam Sessions
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1st and 2nd Exam Session: January 7, 2026 – February 20, 2026
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3rd Exam Session: April 13, 2026 – April 17, 2026
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4th Exam Session: June 3, 2026 – June 30, 2026
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5th Exam Session: July 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026
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6th Exam Session: September 1, 2026 – September 18, 2026
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1st Extraordinary Session: November 10, 2025 – November 14, 2025
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2nd Extraordinary Session: March 9, 2026 – March 13, 2026
Extraordinary sessions are reserved for: working students, single course attendees, students taking a gap year, parents, repeating students, and students with certified disabilities or specific learning disorders.
Graduation Exam Calendar
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Academic Year 2024-2025
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Friday, September 19, 2025
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Friday, October 17, 2025
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Friday, December 12, 2025
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Friday, February 20, 2026
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Academic Year 2025-2026
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Friday, April 10, 2026
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Friday, May 15, 2026
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Friday, July 10, 2026
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September 2026 (to be confirmed)
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October 2026 (to be confirmed)
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Academic Year Regulations for 2024/2025 Graduation Sessions
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End of Academic Year 2024-2025: March 2, 2026.
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You may submit a declaration of intent to graduate by March 2, 2026, on www.studenti.unipi.it (using the "attesa laurea" application) without renewing your enrollment for the 2025/2026 academic year or paying the first installment. The system will issue a receipt.
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If you do not graduate by March 2, 2026, the graduation waiting application allows you to regularize your enrollment for the 2025/26 academic year by March 31, 2026, without paying late fees.
Tuition Fee Deadlines for A.Y. 2025/2026
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University Website with Tuition Deadlines: [https://www.unipi.it/didattica/iscrizioni/tasse/tasse-per-i-corsi-di-laurea/]
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First Installment: September 30, 2025
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Second Installment: March 2, 2026
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Third Installment: April 15, 2026
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Fourth Installment: June 1, 2026
Each year, students generally have the opportunity to apply for Traineeships with international companies.
In such cases, a notice is published on the MSc News page.
Students wishing to take advantage of this opportunity must apply by following the rules indicated in the notice or on the websites of the collaborating companies.
To register this activity and obtain the related ECTS credits, the procedure described on the Training Activities page must be followed.
Tutoring and Guidance Activities
Tutoring services encompass three main areas of student support:
a) Incoming Guidance
This service focuses on strategies to promote the Degree Program to prospective students (all faculty members).
b) Ongoing Guidance
This is provided through an Academic Front Office located at the Didactic Secretariat (didattica@dst.unipi.it).
The Front Office is open every working day from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, excluding Thursdays. It provides advice and indications to students regarding the Degree Program.
c) Outgoing Guidance
This service is overseen by the Degree Programme Coordinator, with the collaboration of individual faculty members.
Internationalization
Responsible: Prof. Adriano Ribolini and Prof. Simone Capaccioli (as Secretary of the MSc)
Focus: Manages relations with foreign universities concerning student mobility (e.g., Erasmus) and international cooperation agreements.
Contact: Email: adriano.ribolini@unipi.it and simone.capaccioli@unipi.it
The library
The library for the Degree Program is affiliated with the Library of Natural and Environmental Sciences [http://www.bibsna.unipi.it]
Services: Provides access to articles and books required for exam preparation and final thesis work, as well as internet stations for bibliographic research.
Wi-Fi Service (Wireless Internet Access)
A Wi-Fi Internet connection service has been activated, providing access to students, research fellows (borsisti), research associates, and PhD candidates. Currently, the coverage area includes student common spaces and the Department's garden gazebos.
University of Pisa credentials are required to access the service
For assistance and support, working students or students with special needs are kindly requested to contact the Didactic Staff.
Contact details are available at the Help desk and contacts page.
Please refer to the following link for the comprehensive and official list of all courses offered by the Degree Program, including detailed syllabi and faculty assignments, as registered in the CINECA GDA portal:
Courses and their syllabi for the 2025/2026 academic year: https://unipi.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/corsi/2025/11497
If you're interested in transferring from another master's degree program to the M.Sc. in Exploration and Applied Geophysics, you'll need to send your Curriculum Vitae and Transcript of Records (ToR) to the following email address: gea@dst.unipi.it
The program's teaching committee will then evaluate your documents to determine if you meet the admission requirements and which of your exams can be validated for credit.
Application and Enrollment procedures for Italian Students
Italian students holding an Italian Bachelor Degree can apply to our Master’s Degree by sending an email to gea@dst.unipi.it and attaching a CV and the transcript of records of the Bachelor degree. If the requirements are met, an interview will be scheduled. Following a positive outcome, candidates must apply through the Alice portal.
Application and Enrollment procedures for EU and Non-EU Students
All EU and Non-EU students wishing to apply to the Master's Degree program in Exploration and Applied Geophysics must submit their application through the official ApplyMScEnglish portal. Following the application review, an interview will be scheduled, and you will receive an email with the date and time.
The tutorial for the application procedure is available at: Application Tutorial
Procedure for EU Citizens
Following a successful interview, you will receive an Admission Letter and a Guidance Letter. You are then required to follow the enrollment steps outlined in the video tutorial below:
Procedure for Non-EU Citizens (Visa Required)
Non-EU citizen applications are subject to different rules and deadlines due to the time required to obtain the Student D Visa. Following a successful interview, you will receive an Admission Letter and a Guidance Letter with the specific steps required for the Visa and final enrollment procedure. The next and mandatory step after the interview is:
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Pre-Enrollment: All non-EU citizens requiring a Visa must pre-enroll on the UniversITALY portal. More information about the pre-enrollement process for Non-EU students can be found here: Pre-enrollement.
You are then required to follow the enrollment steps outlined in the video tutorial below:
Orientation activities are conducted in coordination with the general orientation programs of both the Department and the University of Pisa.
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Departmental Orientation: https://www.dst.unipi.it/open-days.html
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University Orientation: https://www.unipi.it/en/campus-e-servizi/
In addition, an annual event is dedicated to illustrating the MSc activities specifically to students in the Bachelor's programs in Physics and Geology, but it is open to every student.
Internal Operating Rules of the Degree Program
This is the most characteristic part of the Academic Regulation section.
It contains provisions approved by the Degree Program Board, which specify:
- Organization of Teaching Activities: How modules are activated and coordinated, whether prerequisite constraints exist, and how elective credits (ECTS) are managed.
- Attendance Requirements: If foreseen (even if only recommended).
- Learning Assessment Methods: Referring to the types of examination (oral, written, project work, etc.).
- Rules on Internships, Laboratories, or Field Activities: If mandatory, and how they are evaluated.
In brief: This section contains the operational rules, not the general description.
The general description can be found on the Program Overview page and the details of the curricola on the Study Plan page.
For the detailed course offerings (including all courses and their syllabi) for the M.Sc. in Exploration and Applied Geophysics, please refer to the 2025/2026 academic year information at GDA Cineca website.
General Information
The Didactic Unit oversees the educational and training activities for all Degree Programs belonging to the Department of Earth Sciences.
Specifically, the Unit manages activities related to student academic careers, incoming and ongoing; it handles the organization, management, and monitoring of curricular internships, Master's Degree theses, and admission processes to these programs. The Unit also manages the promotion of the degree programs, their evaluation and self-evaluation activities, and provides support for the Department’s internationalization activities.
Didactic Unit Contact
Address Via S. Maria 53 - 56126 - Pisa
Email didattica@dst.unipi.it
Office Hours Monday to Friday, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Staff
Head of the Didactic Unit
Dr. Giuseppina SINISCALCO
Tel: 050 2215814
Email: giuseppina.siniscalco@unipi.it
Personnel
Dr. Melissa DINELLI (Internationalization)
Tel: 050 2215816
Email: melissa.dinelli@unipi.it
Dr. Silvia MORELLI
Tel: 050 2215743
Email: silvia.morelli@unipi.it
For specific questions related to the MSc, please contact: gea@dst.unipi.it
Additional contacts:
President of the Msc: Prof. Eusebio Stucchi eusebio.stucchi@unipi.it
Vice President: Prof. Andrea Tognarelli andrea.tognarelli@unipi.it
Secretary: Prof. Simone Capaccioli simone.capaccioli@unipi.it
Internationalization: Prof. Adriano Ribolini adriano.ribolini@unipi.it
More...
Dates for interviews are the following ones:
1) 14 June 10:00 a.m. (Italian time);
2) 28 June 10:00 a.m. (Italian time);
3) 12 July 10:00 a.m. (Italian time);
4) 30 August 10:00 a.m. (Italian time);
5) 14 September 10:00 a.m. (Italian time);
During the interview, teachers of the MSc will provide detailed information about the Msc programme, about why studying Geophysics at the University of Pisa and will be available for questions. Book your interview by sending an email to gea@dst.unipi.it and attaching a CV and the transcript of records of the Bachelor degree. Positively evaluated applications in the first round will be considered for a scholarship granted by the University of Pisa (see below).
Eni and Eni Corporate University offer to students enrolled in the Msc in Exploration and Applied Geophysics up to 3 stages
Duration and Aim of the stages - The stages are 3-month long and are aimed at preparing the MSc thesis.
The thesis tutors (an internal tutor from Unipi and an external tutor from Eni) define the thesis topic.
Who can apply? - Students who satisfy the following requirements can be selected:
- To be regularly enrolled at the second year of the MSc in Exploration and Applied Geophysics of the University of Pisa.
- Not to be over 26 years old on the date of December 31, 2022
- To have a weighted average of marks equal or higher than 27/30
- To have passed at least three of the following exams: Applied Geophysics; Exploration Seismology and Introduction to Well-Logs; Laboratory of Geophysical Data Processing; Laboratory of Seismic Acquisition and Processing; Signal Processing for Physics.
The application must include:
- Curriculum vitae;
- Certificate (art. 46 and 47 of D.p.r. 28.12.2000 n. 445) reporting the list of passed exams (with marks and ECTS) provided by the University
- Certificate (art. 46 and 47 of D.p.r. 28.12.2000 n. 445) of enrollment to the second year of the MSc provided by the University
- Self-certification of degree of knowledge of written and oral English and any supporting documentation
Deadline for application - This documentation must be sent strictly within January 26, 2023 to the following email account: application@eni.com and, in cc, to gea@dst.unipi.it
In the email subject must be reported the wording “Candidatura stage – Progetto Geologia 2023”.
After a positive evaluation of requisites, candidates will be examined via oral and practical tests (distance mode) that will take place from the 30th of January to the 1st of February 2023.
Job Opportunities for MSc in Exploration and Applied Geophysics Graduates
Our graduates are equipped with advanced knowledge and practical skills in geophysics, making them highly requested by the job market. Since the fundation of our MSc degree our former students have consistently secured rewarding positions in various industries and in academia worlwide. Currently more than 90% of our graduates is stably employed both in the industry or academia (see figure at the bottom of the page). Our comprehensive MSc program prepares you for a diverse range of exciting career paths including:
1. Georesources exploration:
As geophysicists specialized in energy exploration, our graduates will play a crucial role in the identification and assessment of subsurface georesources (including mineral exploration) providing support to conventional and renewable energy projects. exploration geophysicists will be responsible for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of geophysical data, conducting geophysical surveys, and contributing to the overall understanding of subsurface structures. This role is essential for optimizing the exploration and production processes within the energy sector and for the responsible and sustainable extraction of georesources. About 40% of graduates currently works in different energy and mining industries and geophysical service companies around the world.
2. Environmental monitoring:
As Environmental Geophysicists, our graduates will apply a wide range of geophysical techniques to assess and monitor environmental conditions of the soil and groundwater. They will play a key role in understanding subsurface characteristics, identifying potential environmental risks, and contributing to remediation efforts. This role is crucial for ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and mitigating the impact of human activities on the environment. about 20% of our graduates work in environmental consulting companies or geovernmental agencies.
3. Geophysical engineering:
As applied geophysicists, our graduates will use geophysical techniques to solve engineering challenges across various sectors. Your role will involve using advanced geophysical methods to investigate subsurface conditions (e.g. to evaluate soil stability and foundation conditions), assess structural integrity, and support the design and construction of infrastructure projects. Their work will also focus on the monitoring of landslides and soil subsidence. This position is essential for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of civil engineering projects. About 15% of our graduates work in the engineering sector.
5. Research and Development:
About 25% of our graduates continue the career path pursuing a PhD in Geophysics contributing to the development of new geophysical technologies and methodologies. As researchers, our graduates will be at the forefront of research in geophysics to better understand the physics of earthquakes and volcanic processes. Their work will involve analyzing geophysical data, developing new methods for data analysis, conducting research, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to advance our understanding of Earth's dynamic processes (such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions). Many former students of our master currently work in important academic institutions, research centres and governative organizations performing seismic and volcanic surveillance.
Join us in shaping the future of geophysics and making a meaningful impact on industries and the environment. Explore the possibilities, and embark on a fulfilling journey with the skills and knowledge gained from our Exploration and Applied Geophysics program.
