The Master’s Degree Course in Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing aims to train professionals who fit the profile recently set out in the LEGISLATIVE DECREE of 28 February 2021, No. 36, under the title of ‘Kinesiologist specialising in Preventive and Adapted Physical Activities’, capable of working with broad decision-making powers and autonomy, and utilising cultural, methodological and technical-practical tools to:

• the design and implementation of physical activity programmes and functional assessments aimed at achieving, restoring/consolidating and maintaining, through physical exercise, a level of motor ability that can serve as a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, for the maintenance and restoration of physical efficiency across different age groups and stabilised clinical conditions, with the aim of enabling the practice of physical activities that promote inclusion and socialisation; physical activities that must be ‘adapted’ to each population, including vulnerable groups, for whom the physical activity programme is intended;
• the organisation and planning of specific activities and lifestyles useful for disease prevention and improving quality of life through physical exercise;
• the prevention of postural problems and post-rehabilitation motor recovery aimed at maintaining physical fitness;
• taking personal responsibility for projects and facilities.
• being eligible to sit competitive examinations for teaching posts in categories A49 and A48 for the teaching of physical education in secondary and primary schools.

Admission may be granted to those who hold:

- a degree in Physical Education belonging to class L22 or equivalent qualifications;

- a degree in another classification, provided they have at least 60 credits in the following sectors: MEDF-01/A (formerly M-EDF/01), MEDF-01/B (formerly M-EDF/02), BIOS-06/A (formerly BIO/09) and BIOS-07/A (formerly BIO/10); BIOS-12/A (formerly BIO/16).

Admission is subject to a minimum level of English proficiency equivalent to B1.

Candidates’ prior knowledge is assessed via a test.

The course lasts two years and comprises a total of 120 credits.

Kinesiologist specialising in Preventive and Adapted Physical Activities

Role within a work context

Promoting and educating people on the practice of exercise as an essential element for achieving healthy lifestyles, including amongst populations with stabilised medical conditions that limit full motor ability, with the aim of prevention and improving functional independence through:

a) Designing and implementing educational, rehabilitative and recreational physical activity programmes aimed at achieving and maintaining optimal physical and mental wellbeing for individuals of various age groups and in different physical conditions;

b) Organising and planning specific physical activities to be integrated into individualised lifestyle goals;

c) Prevention of postural problems and post-rehabilitation functional recovery (aimed at optimising physical efficiency);

d) Planning, coordination and evaluation of adapted physical activities for people with disabilities or for individuals with clinically managed and stabilised health conditions;

e) Training;

f) Research.

Skills associated with the role

In particular, the graduate:

i) understands how to promote a culture of combating inactivity syndrome and, consequently, its contribution to the increasing social cost of chronic, degenerative, non-communicable diseases within the community and for individuals;

ii) designs and implements, outside medicalised settings, individualised or group interventions for individuals with stabilised chronic conditions, with a view to introducing them to physical activity for secondary and tertiary prevention, thereby enhancing the individual’s social inclusion and adherence to appropriate lifestyles;

iii) carries out functional assessments of the motor abilities of individuals undergoing adapted kinesiological intervention;

iv) collaborates in the promotion of physical activity within the relevant local community;

v) drawing on their knowledge in the psycho-socio-pedagogical field, plays a key role as part of the pool of teachers and educators who dedicate their training efforts to various formal and non-formal contexts;

vi) carries out research aimed at generating new knowledge for the continuous improvement of quality;

vii) fosters professional collaboration with relevant medical professionals (sports and exercise medicine specialists, physiatrists, general practitioners) and other healthcare professionals with whom they may collaborate (physiotherapists, dietitians).

Career opportunities

Health and fitness centres;

Private gyms with areas dedicated to preventive and adapted physical activity;

Health promotion programmes through exercise and physical activity organised by local authorities or social cooperatives providing support to vulnerable groups;

Sports associations (for post-traumatic rehabilitation);

Public and private care homes for the elderly (RSA), public and private facilities providing care for people with disabilities affecting their mobility.

In this regard, the Lombardy Region (by Regional Council Decision of 23 July 2004 – No. 7/18334 – Definition of the new service unit ‘Day Centre for People with Disabilities’ (CDD): requirements for authorisation to operate and for accreditation) has included graduates in Sports Science among the professional roles required to meet the prescribed standards.

Graduates who have sufficient credits in the relevant subject areas will, as provided for by current legislation, be eligible to sit the entrance examinations for training programmes leading to secondary and primary school teaching qualifications (points 329 and 331 of the 2022 Budget Law (Law No. 234 of 30 December 2021)).

The Master’s Degree Programme in Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing aims to train professionals with:

- multidisciplinary skills drawn from disciplines that study the morphological, functional and clinical changes in people with exercise-sensitive or chronic degenerative conditions, as well as the physical adaptations of individuals undergoing specific processes such as those associated with childhood and ageing.

Graduates will therefore be able to promote exercise as a means of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention and as a component of a lifestyle appropriate to their target population.

This multidisciplinary approach will enable the proposed professional to possess a cultural framework with the necessary breadth to work effectively in teams comprising medical, healthcare, educational, psychological and sociological professionals.

- psycho-socio-pedagogical skills to be utilised in the role of educator and teacher of physical and sporting activities – including adapted activities – which graduates will be able to carry out in both formal and informal settings.

This objective is set out in accordance with the specifications of competences and skills indicated in the section ‘Qualifying educational objectives for the degree class: LM-67’ and is pursued by structuring a comprehensive training programme across eight major areas relating to functional adaptations, functional assessment and the pathophysiology of exercise-sensitive conditions.

The module covering psycho-socio-pedagogical subjects will build on the previous ones, establishing the educational and communicative foundation for engaging with service users and the local community.

The programme will therefore be characterised by learning through lectures and experiential sessions in the following areas:

Motor and sports disciplines: Kinesiology of preventive, adapted and sporting motor activities in exercise-sensitive conditions, with regard to the process of functional assessment, the prescription and practice of exercise in individuals with physical-motor, sensory and intellectual-relational disabilities; Biomedical field: Morphological and functional adaptations across different age groups and their determinants; pathophysiology of exercise-sensitive conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, as well as internal medicine, geriatric and neurological conditions; epidemiology of exercise-sensitive conditions and lifestyle factors; pedagogy and teaching methods for physical activity in relation to physical and psychosocial well-being across different populations.

Practical and experiential activities will be offered to students through work placements (20 CFU) aimed at achieving the professional training objectives, optional technical-practical and laboratory activities (8 CFU), and the extensive scope for creative expression related to the activity to be undertaken for the final assessment (10 CFU).

The regulatory framework governing the professional orientation of the degree programme is set out in Legislative Decree No. 36 of 28 February 2021, which establishes the professional role of ‘Kinesiologist specialising in Preventive and Adapted Physical Activities’ (points 41.1 and 41.3), specifying that an essential requirement is the award of a Master’s degree (LM-67) (point 41.3); the same requirement is set out in point 331 of the 2022 Budget Law (Law No. 234 of 30 December 2021), which, in point 329, introduces the teaching of physical education in primary schools.

Required qualifications for admission

To be admitted to the Master’s degree programme in Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing, applicants must hold a three-year degree or university diploma.

Applicants must also pass an assessment of their academic suitability in accordance with the procedures set out in the Programme’s Academic Regulations.

Curricular requirements

Admission to the Master’s degree programme in Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing is open to graduates in Sports Science from class L-22 (Ministerial Decree 270/2004) and class 33 (formerly Ministerial Decree 509/1999); ISEF diploma holders; or graduates with other qualifications obtained abroad, provided these are recognised as equivalent. Graduates from other degree classes may be admitted provided they have acquired a total of at least 60 CFU in the core/specialist subject areas for the L-22 degree programme, such as: M-EDF/01, M-EDF/02, BIO/09, BIO/10, BIO/16.

Admission to the degree programme is subject to a level of English proficiency equivalent to at least B1.

Admission procedures

Admission to the Master’s degree programme will be based on a written examination consisting of a questionnaire of 50 multiple-choice questions, each with only one correct answer from those provided, covering the following topics: Anatomy, Physiology, Methods and Pedagogy of Physical Activity, and Methods and Pedagogy of Sport.

The call for applications for admission to the Master’s degree programme in Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing sets out the admission criteria for each academic year. For the 2026/27 academic year, these were approved by the Academic Coordination Committee (CCS) on 25 May 2026.

Information on the various administrative procedures relating to enrolment, fees and services can be found on the University website.

Initial and ongoing student guidance

The degree programme participates in the initial and ongoing student guidance initiatives organised at both the macro-area and University levels, which are detailed on the relevant page of the University portal; this page also provides access to the specific initiatives for each macro-area. These initiatives are coordinated by a working group comprising the Rector’s Representative for Guidance, the Departmental Guidance Representatives and staff from a dedicated organisational unit. The design and delivery of guidance activities, developed by the specific organisational unit, are certified to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard. Routine activities, news and the latest initiatives can be found on the dedicated page of the University website.

Student Guidance

Tutoring

Tutoring initiatives are organised at University level in accordance with the annual tutoring plan, which is drawn up each year by the University Commission for Tutoring – chaired by the Rector’s Delegate for Teaching – and approved by the Academic Senate. The Tutoring Service contributes to ongoing student guidance with the aim of ensuring students progress smoothly through their studies and identifying the critical issues that contribute to drop-out rates. The administrative management of the student tutoring service is certified to the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard and is delivered as part of the services supporting the right to education by a dedicated organisational unit.

Tutoring

Characteristics of the final examination

The final examination is worth 10 CFU. The final examination consists of the presentation and defence of a written dissertation prepared by the student, in Italian or English, under the supervision of a supervisor, before a panel of lecturers, composed in accordance with the provisions of the Degree Programme Regulations.

The topic of the final examination will reflect the content of the practical experience gained by the student during their work placements, thereby establishing a direct link with the professional focus of the degree programme and highlighting the practical application of the skills acquired in the fields of both Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing and the Methodology and Teaching Techniques of physical activity, adapted to the specific areas of interest of the degree programme.

The aforementioned placement may be undertaken at a research laboratory at the University of Brescia or, on the basis of specific agreements, at companies or public and private organisations where the student may undertake a period of training consistent with their future career path.

Procedures for the final examination

From Article 14 – Final Examination of the Programme’s Academic Regulations

Admission to the final examination

Students completing the Master’s degree in Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing are allocated 10 CFU to be devoted to the preparation of their dissertation at university facilities, including those abroad, and to the defence of the dissertation.

For the preparation of a dissertation abroad, reference should be made to the relevant University Regulations and Calls for Applications published on the institutional website.

To be admitted to the final examination, students must have successfully passed all the examinations required by the Academic Regulations of the Master’s Degree Programme, including those relating to work placement activities, and must have earned the relevant credits, excluding those obtainable through the final examination itself.

However, only students who have certified their compliance with the teaching assessment procedures will be admitted to the final examination.

Final examination

The final examination consists of the presentation and defence of a written thesis prepared by the student, in Italian or English (in the latter case, the student must include a summary in Italian in the final thesis file), under the supervision of a supervisor, before a panel of lecturers, constituted in accordance with the University’s Academic Regulations. The defence of the thesis may take place only in Italian.

T The topic of the final examination will reflect the content of the practical experiences undertaken by the student during their work placements and practical training periods, thus establishing a direct link with the professional orientation of the degree programme and highlighting the applied nature of the skills acquired in the fields of both Movement Science for Health and Wellbeing and the Methodology and Teaching Techniques of physical activity, adapted to the specific areas of interest of the degree programme.

The aforementioned placement may be undertaken at a research laboratory at the University of Brescia or, on the basis of specific agreements, at companies or public and private organisations where the student may undertake a period of training consistent with their future career path.

The supervisor may be a member of the teaching staff responsible for teaching on the degree programme, as well as tenured teaching staff and research staff at the University.

When assigning the thesis topic, the supervisor may designate a lecturer from the degree programme or other degree programmes, a researcher, a tenured lecturer at another university, an external expert or a subject specialist to act as co-supervisor.

The assignment of a degree thesis may under no circumstances be conditional upon achieving a particular average mark in examinations.

Degree examination sessions take place in accordance with the calendar approved annually by the Programme Council and are normally held in July, September/October and March.

To be admitted to the final examination, the student must, via an online procedure:

• have submitted the thesis title and the names of the Supervisor and Co-supervisor (if applicable) at least 6 months before the start date of the session in which they intend to sit the final examination;

• have submitted the application for admission at least 30 days before the start date of the session in which they intend to sit the final examination;

• have obtained official confirmation of completion of all the study activities required by the study plan at least 15 days before the final examination takes place.

The Examination Board for the final examination is constituted and operates in accordance with the University’s Academic Regulations.

The assessment criteria include the quality of the thesis and the candidate’s demonstrated mastery of the learning outcomes expected of the degree programme.

The Degree Award Committee, when determining the final overall mark, will take the following criteria into account

a) weighted average of examination results

b) additional marks for honours: 0.2 per honour, up to a maximum of 2 marks

c) duration of the degree programme: 1 mark for those graduating on time;

d) participation in international exchange programmes: 0.2 points per month, up to a maximum of 2 points;

e) quality of the thesis, based on an assessment of the student’s mastery of the subject and the Committee’s overall judgement; points awarded: from 0 to 8.

The awarding of honours, in the case of a mark of 110/110, is at the discretion of the Committee and is granted only if the opinion of the Committee members is unanimous.

At the end of the discussion, the Examination Board awards the final mark. The decision is taken without the student or any persons outside the Board being present and is reached by a majority vote. In the event of a tie, the Chair’s vote prevails. The final mark is expressed out of 110. The examination is passed with a mark of at least sixty-six out of 110 (66/110).

An honourable mention (commendation) may be awarded if the following requirements are met:

- initial mark (mark derived from points a – b – c – d) ≥ 107/110;

- a commendation score of 3;

- being a student in good standing and on track to graduate;

- a proposal by the Supervisor, subject to the unanimous approval of the members of the Degree Examination Board.

At the end of the assessment, the Chair of the Committee publicly announces the result of the final examination and the corresponding mark.