INFORMATICA Degree Programme Profile
Basic Information
Qualification awarded
Bachelor Degree in INFORMATICA
Qualification Type/Level
EHEA First cycle; EQF Level 6
Number of Years/credits
3 years; 180 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. GIUSEPPE PRENCIPE
Email giuseppe.prencipe@unipi.it
Department of INFORMATICA
Internationalization Coordinator (CAI):
Prof. Andrea Corradini
Email andrea@di.unipi.it
Language of Teaching
Italian
Admission Requirements
Formal Requirements
Certificate of completion of Italian upper secondary school or equivalent foreign qualification.
Possible assessment prior knowledge and competences
Obligatory entrance exam for orientation purposes (non-selective).
Required knowledge and competences support programmes
Students who do not pass the entrance exam are required to take specific courses and/or complete extra reading to prepare for the programme.
General Information
Programme Profile
The programme prepares the graduate to a quick adaptation as a reliable actor in the ICT sector, fostering his rapid career advancement to high responsibility posts, thanks to the careful blend of a deep understanding of the technologies and of their use in problem solving, on one side, and of a solid scientific/methodological background on the other.
The programme enhances the understanding of the scientific evolution of the ICT field, in order to become able to master its rapid technological evolution and it forms software engineers with a solid scientific background, who specialize in the development of innovative systems.
The characterizing integration of scientific basis and technology also prepares the graduate to enter the higher levels of the university studies.
Key Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the programme will be able to demonstrate:
Advanced knowledge of the scientific basis and of the state-of-the-art technologies of the IC sector, and of their relations to other disciplines like mathematics, physics and economics, which are relevant in the computer-based solutions to many organizational problems of our society;
Ability to understand and formalize complex problems in several application domains, and to design, develop and manage the software systems that concur to their solution;
Ability to integrate and transfer technological innovations, and to understand/produce technical documentation;
Ability to communicate with both specialists and laymen in the course of his professional activities;
Adequate mastering of the scientific and technological facets of the discipline to be granted access to higher levels of university education.
Occupational Profile/s of Graduates
The graduates in Computer Science are employed as analysts, designers or managers of the supportive information systems and ICT infrastructures of public and private enterprises. They work in teams in the larger firms or assume complete responsibility in the small ones.
They also act as independent consultants for the smallest companies, which are found very often in the Italian market place; to this aim, they are entitled to apply and become chartered ICT engineers.
The graduates are also able to design and build web sites for the same kind of enterprises.
Finally, they may be employed in software houses, where they participate in teams working on the development of innovative software systems and tools, and ICT infrastructures.
Access to further study
The Laurea Degree in COMPUTER SCIENCE gives direct access to the corresponding Second Cycle degree programme. It also gives access to some other Second Cycle degree programmes although in some cases extra work may be necessary for admission.
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
See the course structure diagram and the available courses.