Who can apply
Applications may be submitted by graduate and undergraduate students, provided that undergraduate applicants expect to graduate before the closing date for enrolment (31 December).
An admitted undergraduate applicant can enrol only after graduating.
Visa statement
If a prospective international student will graduate after the deadline for submitting a study visa application, they may request a statement in which the MSE Admissions Committee declares that, at this time, they are eligible for admission; enrolment will remain conditional on obtaining the degree.
General criteria
To be considered for the MSE programme, your curriculum studiorum must satisfy the A) minimal requirements, you must meet the B) personal qualification standards, and you must demonstrate an adequate C) command of the English language.
A) Minimal requirements
During the Bachelor’s degree, applicants must already have obtained at least:
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18 credits in Economics;
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9 credits in Statistics;
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9 credits in Mathematical Methods in Economics, Actuarial Science and Finance;
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45 credits in a broader set of disciplines, including: Economics; Economic Policy; Public Finance; History of Economic Thought; Econometrics; Applied Economics; Accounting; Economics and Business Administration; Economics of Financial Intermediaries; Economic History; Private Law; Public Law; Political Sciences; Contemporary History; Geometry; Mathematics; Probability and Mathematical Statistics; Operations Research; Experimental Physics; Theoretical Physics, Mathematical Methods and Models.
Applicants holding an Italian Bachelor’s degree
Compliance with the minimal requirements is verified using the Scientific Disciplinary Sectors (SSD) of the exams taken in the previous academic career:
SECS-P/01 Economics; SECS-S/01 Statistics; SECS-S/06 Mathematical Methods in Economics, Actuarial Science and Finance; SECS-P/02 Economic Policy; SECS-P/03 Public Finance; SECS-P/04 History of Economic Thought; SECS-P/05 Econometrics; SECS-P/06 Applied Economics; SECS-P/07 Accounting; SECS-P/08 Economics and Business Administration; SECS-P/11 Economics of Financial Intermediaries; SECS-P/12 Economic History; JUS/01 Private Law; JUS/09 Public Law; SPS/04 Political Sciences; M-STO/04 Contemporary History; MAT/03 Geometry; MAT/05 Mathematics; MAT/06 Probability and Mathematical Statistics; MAT/09 Operations Research; FIS/01 Experimental Physics; FIS/02 Theoretical Physics, Mathematical Methods and Models.
Applicants holding a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree
Compliance is assessed by examining in detail the contents of the courses taken in the previous academic career.
If the minimal requirements are not met, admission (if granted) may be conditional on obtaining the missing credits before the start of the Master’s programme.
Please note that meeting the minimal requirements is not sufficient to guarantee admission: applicants are also evaluated against the personal qualification requirements below.
B) Personal qualification requirements
Candidates must possess good undergraduate-level knowledge of the theoretical and quantitative tools (economics, maths and statistics) needed to profitably attend the MSE programme.
Applicants holding an Italian Bachelor’s degree
The requirement is considered met if either:
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the weighted average of the three best marks among the following exams is not below 26/30: “Economia Politica I” (or a similar microeconomics exam), “Economia Politica II” (or a similar macroeconomics exam), “Matematica Generale” (or a similar exam), “Statistica” (or a similar exam); or
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the final mark is at least 98/110.
If these conditions are not met, the student must pass an oral interview on the above subjects.
Applicant holding a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree
Candidates must show, through their overall profile and undergraduate performance, a solid background and inclination towards the subjects and specialisations offered in the programme. The Admissions Committee assesses personal qualifications after carefully reviewing the curriculum vitae and the undergraduate record.
Evaluation — applicants holding a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree
For A.Y. 2025/26, the Admissions Committee will assess applications from holders of non-Italian degrees on a rolling basis and notify outcomes by mid-May, depending on when the application is submitted.
Possible outcomes are:
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Admission
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Conditional admission
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Still to be fully evaluated
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No admission
Conditional admission means the applicant is admitted only after obtaining a specified number of credits in the subjects indicated by the Admissions Committee. These credits can be obtained by taking exams at the University of Pisa with no extra fees before the start of the academic year 2026/27 (end of September).
Still to be fully evaluated indicates that the Committee needs additional time to reach a final decision.
C) Command of English
All candidates must be able to understand and express themselves in English, both spoken and written, at a minimum B2 level of the CEFR. In particular cases, documentary evidence (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, CBT, etc.) may be replaced by a personal declaration.