INFORMATICA E NETWORKING Degree Programme Profile
Basic Information
Qualification awarded
Master Degree in INFORMATICA E NETWORKING
Qualification Type/Level
EHEA Second cycle, EQF level 7
Number of Years/credits
2 years; 120 ECTS
Mode of Study
Full-Time/Part-Time*
*All Degree Programmes are planned and organised for full-time students. It is possible, however (without special arrangements), to proceed through the course of study at one's own pace. This makes it possible, if necessary, to accommodate employment or other non-university activities or obligations.
Name of the Course Director and other contact information
President of the Degree Course Council:
Prof. STEFANO GIORDANO
Email stefano.giordano@unipi.it
Department of DIPARTIMENTO DI INFORMATICA
Internationalization Coordinator (CAI):
Prof. Andrea Corradini
Email andrea@di.unipi.it
Language of Teaching
English, English
Admission Requirements
Formal Requirements
Italian First cycle qualification (Laurea) or foreign equivalent in the same or related subject area, with possible extra work if required competences are lacking.
Possible assessment prior knowledge and competences
Obligatory selective/competitive entrance exam (numerus clausus).
Required knowledge and competences support programmes
Students whose curricula show lacuna may need to take extra first cycle course units before admission.
General Information
Programme Profile
The Degree Programme in Computer Science and Networking has the objective of meeting the growing demand for an emerging kind of professionals with expertise in computational and communication technologies in an integrated and interdisciplinary way.
The aim is to have graduates able to design and to develop innovative hardware-software distributed infrastructures, and distributed service-based applications in several areas of industry, e-business, research, social and citizen services, public administration.
Key Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Computer Science and Networking Programme will be able to demonstrate:
a) deep and advanced knowledge of computational and communication methodologies and technologies, including advanced programming, algorithm engineering and search engines, network architectures, optical and photonic technologies, high performance computing, software service engineering, teletraffic engineering, software defined networks;
b) deep and advanced knowledge of laboratory and experimental activities in computing and communication technologies and tools;
c) ability of understanding and evaluating the methodological and technological evolution in computer science, networking and their integration;
d) ability to design innovative distributed systems;
e) ability to design distributed service-based applications in several areas of industry, e-business, research, social and citizen services, public administration;
f) ability to contribute to the scientific advancement in computing systems, communication networks and their integration;
g) ability to model and to formalize properties and structures of distributed systems and applications.
Occupational Profile/s of Graduates
i) Research and Development in small-medium and large enterprises operating in the field of innovative hardware-software infrastructures for processing and communication, distributed systems, service-based architectures, high performance computing, cluster computing, grid computing, cloud computing;
ii) private and public firms and public administrations operating in the field of distributed service-based applications. Notable examples are (but are not limited to): industrial automation, e-business, real-time and mission-critical systems, emergency and disaster prevention and management, ubiquitous health care, intelligent urban sensors, telecontrol, energy source management, vehicular networks;
iii) Research and University employment, starting from PhD Courses in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and related disciplines.
Access to further study
The Laurea Magistrale degree in COMPUTER SCIENCE AND NETWORKING allows the graduate to compete for entry into a Third Cycle programme/doctoral school.
Assessment methods, examination regulations, and grading
Assessment is normally by means of an oral or written examination; in some cases there are intermediate exams during the course; other elements (participation in discussion, written or oral reports, commentary of texts etc. ) are foreseen in specific course units and are described in the Course Unit Profiles.
The grading system for the course units consists of 30 possible points, plus 'lode' (cum laude) in case of excellence. Marks are given by the lecturer based on the performance as ascertained in a public examination by a board of at least two teachers. The main exam sessions are held in June/July; September; and January; students may resit exams**.
Actual grading curves differ in different degree programmes. The University of Pisa provides an ECTS Grading Table, which shows the actual distribution, of the examination and final grades among students for each degree programme, in order to facilitate the comparison with other grading systems. ---> Link to ECTS Grading Table
An overall mark is given on the occasion of the 'Final Exam', when a written research text is presented and discussed. The final overall mark is calculated based on the results of the marks obtained in the single course units and the final exam, and is based on 110 possible points, with the possible further mention of honours ("lode" or cum laude).
**The exam sessions are organised into sessions (the dates vary according to the Department and are published in the Department's academic calendar). In each session there are a certain number of 'appelli' [calls], or dates on which the examination for each course unit may be taken. The 'appelli' are fixed by the teacher. The students choose which of the appelli they wish to respond to. In most cases, it is obligatory to sign up before the specified date.
Requirements (regulations) to obtain the qualification
The final dissertation, to which 15 ECTS are currently allocated, must demonstrate the knowledge of the above mentioned professional skills, as well as the ability to identify and utilize the relevant scientific literature, and to produce a clear and corr