Application Procedure

Master and PhD Degrees

Interested applicants are asked to enter their email address on the application start page (IUSS on-line application):

Master application

PhD application start page(IUSS on-line application)

A message will then be sent to the provided address, supplying you with a verification link, clicking on which you will reach again the application start page. At this stage you will receive a second message providing you with a password. At the end of this security procedure, you have username (i.e. your email address) and password to actually access the application form and start your application.

You do not need to compile the application form all at once, since, as long as you 'Update your application form', any new information introduced will remain stored in our database and thus be fully accessible for the next time you log in, when you will be able to delete, edit or modify any previously entered data.

In order to complete the application form you must upload the following documents (see Application Requirements for more detailed instructions):

  • Curriculum vitae et studiorum
  • copy of the diploma certificate (in Italian or English)
  • transcript of the attended courses and professional qualifications (in Italian or English)
  • copy of the passport or the identity card
  • English language test certificate (or waiver referring to previous courses, work experience in English speaking countries, etc...)                

When you have finished providing all the requested data, you can 'Submit your Application'.

Please note that once you have submitted your application you will no longer be able to make changes.

Master Degree

Please refer to the specific website.

PhD Degree

Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (ROSE) is one of the two curricula of the doctoral programme in Understanding and Managing Extremes, the other being Weather, Geological, Chemical and Environmental Risk. When filling in the application form, applicants will have to specify to which curriculum they are applying.

When you will have finished providing all the requested data, you will be able to 'Submit your Application', and in this way confirm officially your interest in applying to a place in the UME PhD programme for the next academic year which begins in October. The applications for the academic year 2018/2019, which will start on October 1, 2018, will close on March 9, 2018, at 13:00, Italian time (CET).

Application for admission to a PhD Degree is based on an oral examination, following prior selection on the basis of the academic qualifications and experience submitted in the application form. The candidates selected for the oral examination will be contacted by the Admission Board to schedule the examination that will take place on 17 April 2018. Upon request by the candidate, the oral examination may take place via remote interview (e.g. using Skype).

Up to eight applicants in total will be admitted to the two curricula of the UME doctoral programme (provided that all demonstrate a level of knowledge compliant with the minimum standards set by the Admission Board).

MEEES Programme

The MEEES programme is an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course, that aims to provide higher-level education in the field of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology. Graduate students involved in this Erasmus Mundus Masters course have the possibility of following an 18-month Master programme on either Earthquake Engineering or Engineering Seismology or Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology.

Students must follow courses and/or carry out dissertation research projects in at least two of the following institutions: IUSS Pavia, University of Patras, University of Grenoble 1 "Joseph Fourier" and Middle East Technical University.

Different taught modules will correspond to equally varying credits, defined according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), depending on the number of work/study hours (each credit is equivalent to 25 hours of work). Masters dissertations, required for the attainment of the degree, correspond to 30 credits that can be acquired either through original research work or through a professional internship.