Academic year 2017/2018

INFORMATICA Degree Programme Profile

Basic Information

Qualification awarded

Master Degree in INFORMATICA

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. GIUSEPPE PRENCIPE
Email giuseppe.prencipe@unipi.it

Department of 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

Assessment of competences acquired in First Cycle studies (both in related or un-related subject areas) to determine admission by Degree Programme Council. The Council may require extra work to be done before admission.

Required knowledge and competences support programmes

Students whose curricula lacks some required knowledge may need to take extra first-cycle course before admission.

General Information

Programme Profile

The master Degree in Computer Science aims at educating specialists with solid foundations in computer science and high qualification in information technologies. It provides a high level of scientific preparation and specialization in the design of innovative software systems and evolving information and communication technologies.
The scientific and methodological approach of the master will allow graduated students to manage the complexity of modern information systems and to contribute to the progress of computer science both in its basic foundations and in its different applicative areas.
This integration between technology and scientific foundations is a distinctive feature of the Degree in Computer Science.
The programme of studies is organized into for currculum:
1) Artificial Intelligence
2) Data and Knowledge: science and technology
3) ICT solution architect
4) Software: programming, principles and technologies
Each curriculum has characterizing and elective courses and, at the end of the studies, grants a supplement diploma that states the specialization reached by the student in one of the four curriculum.

Key Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Program in Computer Science will be able to demonstrate:
- ability to easily acquire new technologies in the rapidly evolving ICT area and critical awareness of their behaviour.
- deep knowledge of programming systems and formal tools for the specification of those systems.
- deep ability to build new algorithmic solutions for specific problems.
- deep knowledge of networked systems.
- deep knowledge of data management systems.
- knowledge of mathematical methodologies required to model and analyse ICT systems
- specialized knowledge of one specific area of ICT within one of the four curriculum
- ability to communicate in English in addition to Italian.

Occupational Profile/s of Graduates

The main professional skills of the student graduated in Computer Science are the design, development and management of information systems. In particular, the degree in Computer Science prepares students for different professions:
- management of computer systems and production of software systems both in public administrations and in public/private companies.
- researcher in public/private institutes in every field of Computer Science.

Graduation opens to further possibilities for professional training, such as PhD courses and schools of specialization.

Access to further study

The Master degree in COMPUTER SCIENCE allows to graduate students to compete for the access to 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

see course structure diagram and available courses

Course structure diagram

Available courses, 2017/2018