Master in Physical and Astrophysical Sciences
Florence, Italy
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
NOTICE THAT THE PROGRAM IS THOUGHT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND ITALIAN, FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT.
The Master's degree program in Physical and Astrophysical Sciences, class LM-17, is the natural continuation of the Bachelor's degree in Physics and Astrophysics. The primary goal of the program is to train physicists with a broad spectrum of knowledge in various fields of modern physics through six possible curricula: astrophysics, applied physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear and subnuclear physics, complex systems physics, and theoretical physics.
The Master's degree in Physical and Astrophysical Sciences is a fundamental step for pursuing a Ph.D. in Physics and Astrophysics or related disciplines, specializing in Medical Physics, teaching physics and mathematics in secondary schools, or entering the workforce in research and development, both in public institutions and private companies with a strong scientific and technological focus.
Degree Program
The Master's degree program in Physical and Astrophysical Sciences (Class LM-17) is a natural progression from the Bachelor's degree in Physics and Astrophysics. The primary objective of the program is to train physicists with a broad and deep understanding of various fields in modern physics, particularly astrophysics, applied physics, matter physics, nuclear and subnuclear physics, complex systems, and theoretical physics—disciplines that are at the forefront of physical sciences worldwide. The program equips students for careers in both research (academic and industrial) and professional fields, where physicists, trained in advanced experimental techniques and skilled in modeling and solving complex problems, are ideally suited for high-level experimental and theoretical work.
The degree program is organised into six curricula, each designed to delve into a key area of Physics:
- Astrophysics
- Applied Physics
- Physics of Matter
- Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics
- Physics of Complex Systems
- Theoretical Physics
Each curriculum includes core, related, supplementary, and elective activities. Most study paths incorporate laboratory work, either experimental or computational.
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is currently experiencing a period of intense international activity, as evidenced by the Nobel Prizes awarded in recent years and the recent media attention. In Florence, it has always been one of the most important and developed research fields, both at the Department of Physics and Astronomy and at INAF (National Institute for Astrophysics) – Arcetri Observatory.
Applied Physics
The Applied Physics curriculum is an interdisciplinary study program that aims to provide skills in the applied and technological fields. It can be organized to meet interests ranging from applications of nuclear and subnuclear physics techniques to those more characteristic of condensed matter physics and optics, including courses related to the history and teaching of physics.
It focuses on various research activities in Florence in the fields of medical physics, environmental physics, physics for cultural heritage, muon radiography of large volumes, the development of materials for energy efficiency, and optics and optometry. The research activities students are directed towards are conducted in the laboratories of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the INFN, the CNR, and LENS, and also involve institutions such as LABEC (Laboratory of Nuclear Techniques for the Environment and Cultural Heritage) and laboratories of the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences.
Matter Physics
The Matter Physics curriculum offers a training path focused on preparation in the fields of atomic and molecular physics, solid-state physics, complex systems physics, disordered systems, living systems, laser physics, and classical and quantum optics, from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. The research activities related to these fields of physics, to which students are directed, take place in the Florence area at the Department of Physics and Astronomy and in national and international research centers such as LENS, INO, and other CNR institutes. Students are required to deepen both technical and experimental knowledge as well as theoretical knowledge, participating, particularly in the context of their thesis work, in ongoing research. The courses related to condensed matter physics provide solid preparation in the relevant sectors, which forms an essential foundation for continuing studies in the PhD program in Physics or for entering industrial activities with high technological content or research activities in public and private research institutions. Potential career opportunities can also be found in structures dedicated to the study and conservation of cultural or environmental heritage, healthcare institutions, or in the field of computer science and its numerous applications.
Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics
The Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics curriculum provides a specialized education in experimental nuclear and subnuclear physics and, more generally, in fundamental interactions. The study program aligns with the research activities conducted in these fields at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Florence and in the Sections and Laboratories of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics and at national and international research centers. Students will deepen their knowledge of the experimental methods used in nuclear and subnuclear physics, as well as acquire solid phenomenological and theoretical foundations in the field. The knowledge gained prepares students both for continuing studies in the PhD program in Physics and for entering the workforce, where expertise in radiation detection devices, ionizing radiation, particles, and electronic and computer systems is valuable, for example, in industrial sectors, public bodies responsible for environmental monitoring, and research institutes.
Complex Systems
The Physics of Complex Systems curriculum has an explicitly interdisciplinary and theoretical-computational approach, focused on acquiring important tools to tackle open problems in various disciplines beyond physics, such as biology, medicine, cognitive sciences, and artificial intelligence. In the spirit of education through research, special attention will be given to selecting, where possible, teaching materials that integrate examples and experimental data from the numerous active laboratories in the Florence area (and beyond) in physics and other disciplines. Students choosing this curriculum are strongly encouraged to get in touch early with research groups at the Department of Physics and Astronomy or other institutions based on their interests, allowing for a gradual approach to research. These activities may take the form of small ad hoc projects, in-depth studies of various course topics, bibliographic reviews, and more. In this regard, it is highly recommended to use elective courses and possible Erasmus periods to deepen the interdisciplinary aspects of the curriculum.
The curriculum in the physics of complex systems provides training that develops skills in analyzing, structuring, and modeling open problems in various fields, helping students build the critical thinking necessary to address complex topics, which is valuable both in fundamental research and applied research.
Theoretical Physics
The Theoretical Physics curriculum offers a training path aimed at providing students with all the theoretical tools needed to tackle a wide range of topics in modern physics: from quantum field theory to the fundamental interactions of elementary particles, from gravity to cosmology, and from matter in its fundamental states to matter at extreme temperatures and densities.
In the courses recommended to students, currently vibrant research areas at the international level will be presented, such as primordial cosmology, string theory, relativistic matter, and black hole physics, as well as their interconnections.
Research activities are carried out not only in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Florence but also at the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the Galileo Galilei Institute for Theoretical Physics in Arcetri.
The Theoretical Physics curriculum provides training that hones mathematical analysis and modeling skills of problems, both analytically and numerically, and fosters a general attitude to approach complex topics. This skill set proves valuable for future careers in both academia and research institutes, as well as in private companies.