The objective of the degree program is to train engineers who, building on their knowledge of cross-disciplinary topics in mechanical engineering, are able to appropriately and optimally utilize various materials for engineering applications—both traditional and innovative—and fully leverage their potential with a view toward product innovation. To this end, the program provides specialized skills for managing and modeling both conventional and innovative processes that transform materials into finished products; selecting the most suitable materials based on the product’s functional, structural, and economic and environmental sustainability requirements throughout its entire life cycle; designing innovative products through the use of new design solutions, materials, and/or technologies; and innovating the production process while ensuring product quality. Professional training is complemented and enriched through educational activities geared toward entering the workforce, such as internships at companies or in design laboratories. The program spans 2 years and requires the completion of a total of 120 CFU, divided among core, related, or supplementary courses and electives chosen by the student, in addition to activities related to preparing for the final exam and acquiring further knowledge useful for entering the workforce. Some of these courses may optionally be taken as part of international exchange programs at partner universities abroad.

Graduates of the Materials and Product Innovation Engineering program are mechanical engineers who must:
- have an in-depth knowledge of mathematics and other basic sciences and be able to apply this knowledge to interpret and describe complex engineering problems or those requiring an interdisciplinary approach;
- possess a broad-based engineering education, with a particular emphasis on mechanical engineering;
- be able to use specialized software for modeling and solving mechanical engineering problems, particularly for modeling both conventional and innovative processes for transforming materials into finished products;
- possess specialized knowledge of traditional and innovative materials, particularly regarding their properties, performance, processability, costs, and environmental sustainability;
- be able to select the most suitable materials in light of the product’s functional, structural, and economic and environmental sustainability requirements throughout its entire life cycle;
- be able to design innovative products through the use of new design solutions and/or materials and/or technologies;
- be able to innovate the production process while ensuring product quality;
- have the ability to independently expand and deepen their knowledge, competencies, and skills for the purpose of effective and fruitful professional development throughout their career;
- be able to use English fluently, both in writing and orally, in addition to Italian, including technical terminology.

The first year of the program is primarily dedicated to consolidating and deepening training in the field of Mechanical Engineering, particularly in the areas of Mechanical Design and Machine Construction, Industrial Mechanical Systems, Energy and Environmental Systems, and Industrial Engineering Design and Methods.
In the second year of the program, students complete their training on more specialized topics related to the scientific disciplines of Manufacturing Technologies and Systems, Metallurgy, and Materials Science and Technology. Courses aimed at acquiring knowledge of economics and business are typically scheduled for the second year, shortly before students enter the workforce. The second half of the year is primarily dedicated to preparing for the final exam and any internships.
Activities chosen independently by the student may be scheduled in either year.
Preparation for the final exam concludes with the drafting of a thesis, which must be presented and discussed before a designated committee. These activities allow students to practice and develop their communication skills, as well as their ability to conduct in-depth analysis and independent research.
With regard to knowledge of disciplinary terminology and the ability to communicate in at least one other European Union language, this will be fostered both by the use of texts and instructional materials in languages other than Italian and by the delivery of courses in English. Study abroad experiences will also be encouraged through student mobility programs.

Admission Requirements

To enroll in the Master’s Degree Program in Engineering for Materials and Product Innovation, applicants must hold a three-year university degree or diploma, or another qualification earned abroad that has been recognized as equivalent. Admission to the program is contingent upon meeting curricular requirements and verification of the applicant’s academic preparedness, which will be conducted as specified below. Any required curricular supplements must be completed prior to the verification of the applicant’s academic preparedness.

Curricular Requirements
Admission to the Master’s Degree Program in Engineering for Materials and Product Innovation is open to graduates who, during their previous university studies, have earned—or must earn by the specified deadlines—at least 81 CFU within the following scientific-disciplinary sector (SSD) groups, subject to the limits specified on a case-by-case basis. The academic requirements that must be met refer to the minimum number of CFU required in sets of SSDs related to the educational activities of the Industrial Engineering degree program.
Core educational activities (all fields): 36 CFU
a) Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics (INF/01, ING-INF/05, MAT/02, MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/06, MAT/07, MAT/08, MAT/09, SECS-S/02): 25 CFU
I) MAT/02, MAT/03, and MAT/05 groups: 15 ECTS
b) Physics and chemistry (CHIM/03, CHIM/07, FIS/01, FIS/03): 10 ECTS
Core Courses (sectors ICAR/08, ING-IND/08, ING-IND/09, ING-IND/10, ING-IND/11, ING-IND/12, ING-IND/13, ING-IND/14, ING-IND/15, ING-IND/16, ING-IND/17, ING-IND/21, ING-IND/22, ING-IND/35): 45 CFU
In addition, the following conditions must be met:
I) Group ING-IND/08, ING-IND/09, ING-IND/10, ING-IND/11: 5 CFU
II) Group ING-IND/14 and ICAR/08: 5 CFU
III) Group ING-IND/15 and ING-IND/16: 10 CFU
IV) SSD ING-IND/21: 5 CFU
V) SSD ING-IND/22: 5 CFU
When verifying curricular requirements and reviewing a student’s prior academic record, the CCSA may assign admitted students specific individual study plans or impose requirements regarding the formulation of their study plan, taking into account the content already acquired during their prior studies and the credits already earned that may be recognized toward a potential shortening of the duration of the Master’s Degree Program.
If a candidate does not meet the required curricular prerequisites, the CCSA will specify the necessary curricular supplements—in terms of university academic credits or specific courses—that must be completed before resubmitting an application for admission.

To be admitted to the Master’s Degree Program in Engineering for Materials and Product Innovation, knowledge of a European Union language in addition to Italian is also required, at least at the B2 level of the CEFR. Students with a B1 level of proficiency may be admitted to the program provided they are assigned a study plan that includes 3 CFU dedicated to acquiring additional language skills. The procedures for assessing foreign language proficiency are set forth in the program’s Academic Regulations.

Adequacy of Prior Academic Preparation
The procedures for assessing the adequacy of prior academic preparation are set forth in the program’s Academic Regulations, based on the student’s previous academic record, taking into account the grades the student earned while pursuing the degree used for admission to the program.

Admission Procedure

To enroll in the Master’s Degree Program in Engineering for Materials and Product Innovation, applicants must hold a three-year university degree or diploma, or another qualification earned abroad that is recognized as equivalent.
Admission to the Master’s program will be determined by a final and binding decision of the CCSA for Industrial Engineering, based on verification of curricular requirements following an evaluation of the applicant’s academic record and an assessment of the applicant’s personal qualifications. The candidate will be admitted only if both assessments yield a positive result. To carry out these assessments, the CCSA may appoint a special Evaluation Committee. The admission procedures are defined in the Regulations for Admission to Master’s Degree Programs in Engineering and are available at the link provided.
Admission procedures for students who are not Italian citizens and do not hold a bachelor’s degree issued in Italy are governed by the Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research’s Regulations for the Admission of Foreign Students to University Programs (Prot. No. 7802 of March 24, 2014).
Information on the various administrative procedures regarding enrollment, tuition fees, and services can be found on the University’s website.
 

Orientation for Incoming Students

Ongoing Support During the Program

Tutoring initiatives are organized at the university level in accordance with the annual tutoring plan, which is established each year by the University Tutoring Commission—chaired by the Rector’s Delegate for Teaching—and approved by the Academic Senate. The Tutoring Service contributes to ongoing academic guidance with the aim of ensuring students stay on track in their academic careers and identifying the critical issues that contribute to dropouts. The administrative management of the student tutoring service is certified according to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard and is ensured within the framework of services supporting the right to education by a dedicated organizational unit.

Tutoring

Final Examination Overview

The final examination consists of the preparation, presentation, and defense—before a special committee established in accordance with the University’s Academic Regulations—of a comprehensive thesis developed independently and in an original manner, with a significant personal contribution. During the preparation for the final examination, the student will be assigned to one or more advisors with whom he or she will agree on the thesis topic. If the student has completed an external internship, the final examination will generally focus on the work performed and the results obtained at the host organization (public or private company, research center, university laboratory, institution, or professional association). The thesis project will involve the preparation of a written report and/or design project, which may also be written in a European Union language other than Italian.

The preparation for the final exam—which may be theoretical, experimental, or project-based—provides an opportunity to apply and deepen, including through interdisciplinary approaches, the knowledge acquired; to demonstrate the ability to learn and use new techniques and tools for investigation and analysis; and to independently develop simplified models for interpreting complex issues.

Final Examination Procedures

The final exam consists of the Master’s degree candidate’s preparation, presentation, and discussion of the Master’s thesis: a written and/or graphic project, carried out in an original manner by the student, resulting from design, study, and research activities, and demonstrating mastery of the subject matter, the ability to work independently to solve highly complex problems, and a high level of communication skills.
Admission to the final examination requires the completion of all credits specified in the academic regulations, with the exception of those earned through the examination itself. However, only students who have certified their compliance with the academic assessment procedures will be admitted to the final examination.
The procedures for submitting a Master’s degree application, the format of the exam, and the relevant evaluation criteria are governed by the documents available on the University’s website, the Regulations for the Master’s Degree Final Exam of the CCSA in Industrial Engineering, and the University’s Academic Regulations.