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ART. 4 Structure of the Educational Activities and Curricula The Degree Program Regulations and the School Council define the courses activated and the didactic calendar, establishing in particular the number of didactic periods in which the academic year is divided and the location of the courses activated, taking into account that the student's normal activity corresponds to the acquisition of approximately 60 credits (ECTS) per year. The student may obtain the degree when he or she has nevertheless obtained 120 credits by fulfilling the requirements of the relevant Educational Structure. The degree program is divided into three distinct educational tracks: Design, Energy Technologies, Mobility. The first year is predominantly in common among the various curricula. The second year is articulated into dedicated curricula such as to provide specialized level knowledge and skills in some areas of mechanical engineering with close links to related research areas. In the first year of the course, the concept of sustainability is introduced and the regulatory framework presented, the methodological tools for operating in the context of the circular economy and those for carrying out quantitative life-cycle assessments of a product or process are provided as well as basic knowledge on the sustainable and efficient use of energy resources. Some of the subjects will provide cross-cutting knowledge and skills, both technical and non-technical in nature. Among the latter, communication skills will be given special attention. From the very first year, both individual and group laboratory activities will be provided. The student can definitively orient his or her educational path in the second year of study, further deepening specialized knowledge in the target areas of mechanical design, energy and new sustainable mobility systems. Group project activities (project work) are also placed in that year, and almost an entire semester is left for the final exam and possible internships in companies and external institutions. The structure of the course of study, with details of the educational activities planned for the academic year, is set out in Annex 1, the Study Plan.
The Master's Degree Program in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability aims to train high-level professionals on two synergistic and complementary levels. From a technical and engineering perspective, it intends to provide advanced vertical skills in current technologies for designing sustainable products and systems. From a scientific and methodological perspective, it aims to provide horizontal competencies that will allow graduates to evolve, support, and contribute to the massive growth of the sector projected for future decades. Learning Objectives The Master's Degree Program in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability trains high-level professionals equipped with broad, interdisciplinary regulatory and methodological knowledge in the field of sustainability and the circular economy applied to the industrial engineering sector. Graduates will possess mastery of analytical life cycle assessment methodologies, renewable energy sources, and in-depth expertise in numerical simulation and experimental investigation for creating products and services. They will also acquire managerial tools to navigate the ecological transition of businesses and coordinate internal sustainability projects. In addition to technical and management skills, the training aims to provide transversal (soft) skills useful in daily professional life. These include, but are not limited to, the ability to present one's work, work effectively in teams, coordinate small working groups, and write technical documents or project proposals. Finally, the curriculum is designed to provide the necessary skills to independently identify the need for further education and relevant knowledge, and subsequently acquire that knowledge autonomously. Graduates in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability will know how to apply the methods learned during their studies and contribute innovatively to developing sustainable products and services across the engineering fields of machine design and construction, energy, and mobility. In all these application domains, they must be able to grasp the intrinsic multidisciplinarity related to the applications, leveraging the interdisciplinary approach experienced during their training. The Curriculum The program features a common first year of educational activities, followed by differentiation into multiple curricula focused on mechanical design, energy, and new sustainable mobility systems. This structure allows for developing both highly specialized professional profiles within a specific track and profiles capable of combining curriculum-specific knowledge with broader, transversal skills common to various application fields. - First Year: The concept of sustainability is introduced along with the relevant regulatory framework. Methodological tools for operating within the circular economy and those for performing quantitative life cycle assessments of a product or process are provided, alongside basic knowledge on the sustainable and efficient use of energy resources. A portion of the subjects will provide both technical and non-technical transversal skills, with a specific emphasis on communication skills. From the very first year, both individual and group laboratory activities will be included. - Second Year: Specific technical-scientific knowledge will be taught according to the student's chosen specialisation. Each of these areas has a strongly interdisciplinary footprint reflected in the course offerings: Mechanical Design: Advanced numerical design tools, life cycle assessment tools, and methods for geometry reconstruction and processing (with reference to modern production techniques) will be explored in depth. Energy: Specific numerical modelling tools, experimental investigations, generation and management aspects of renewable energy and its integration with conventional systems, thermal and hybrid propulsion systems, and environmental impact assessments of energy systems will be thoroughly examined. Mobility: Both structural numerical design techniques and those related to product end-of-life will be presented, along with main vehicle architectures, functional subsystems, related components, experimental automotive techniques, the mobility system, and vehicle integration within it. In addition to completing academic training, the second year features a path of personal growth and guidance toward entering the labour market. This begins with an interdisciplinary project work specific to each track, carried out in collaboration with companies, and continues with a curricular internship and the master's thesis, which occupy most of the latter part of the final year. Through the thesis, students must demonstrate a high degree of maturity and autonomy by producing a document containing original content. Subject to the submission of a study plan, students can carry out educational activities (exams and thesis) abroad within the framework of Erasmus+ internationalisation programs. Delivering the program in English facilitates these exchanges, attracting international students and helping to achieve balanced numbers in line with the reciprocity currently pursued. Teaching Methods and Tools The expected learning outcomes are achieved through classroom lectures and tutorials; laboratory activities combining lectures with assisted practical group applications (simulations, case analysis, design, IT, instrumental, and experimental work); technical visits; and internships at companies, public bodies, universities, and research centres in Italy or abroad. The program delivers educational activities in a blended format, utilising digital tools. Distance learning will be used for 2/3 of the educational activities for project works, while it will be limited to a maximum of 1/3 of the total educational activities for other courses. This digital format provides numerous benefits, including introducing students to online collaborative industrial work tools, facilitating interaction with the industrial sector, increasing accessibility for working and international students, and involving international guest professors who are experts in specific fields. Assessment Methods Expected learning outcomes are verified through: - Formative assessments (mid-term tests): Aimed at monitoring class progress and the effectiveness of learning processes, carried out through planned individual or group assignments—the latter sometimes utilising innovative Peer-to-Peer (P2P) student evaluation methodologies. - Final examinations: Aimed at assessing and quantifying course objectives with a final grade, certifying the individual level of student preparation while taking into account any formative assessments carried out along the way.
ART. 3 Admission Requirements To be admitted to the Master's Degree Program in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability, applicants must meet the following CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS, which will be assessed by a dedicated Commission appointed by the Council of Industrial Area Study Programs: possession of a Bachelor's Degree in Class L-7 "Civil and Environmental Engineering", L-8 "Information Engineering", or L-9 "Industrial Engineering" according to DM 270/04 (or another foreign qualification recognized as equivalent). Additionally, an assessment of the adequacy of PERSONAL PREPARATION is required, which will be conducted by a dedicated Commission through an oral examination. This assessment ensures proficiency in methods and content related to the foundational disciplines of mechanical engineering and will cover topics such as mechanical design, applied mechanics, industrial design, machinery, and energy systems. For EU citizens, as well as those who have obtained the required qualification for admission to the Master’s degree at an institution located in European Union countries (including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the Republic of San Marino, Vatican City, and the United Kingdom, collectively referred to as "affiliated countries"), the adequacy of personal preparation will be verified through an oral examination conducted by the dedicated Commission. These candidates are exempt from the oral examination if they meet one of the following conditions: - They hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Class L-9 (or an equivalent qualification obtained from an institution located in an EU or affiliated country) with a minimum graduation grade of 102/110 if they graduated on time, or 105/110 if they graduated one year late (or with grades deemed equivalent by the Commission). When assessing the duration of the academic career, any years attended as a part-time student will be taken into account. - They have an academic curriculum that includes a sufficient number of credits in courses related to the aforementioned subjects. For applicants who have obtained the required qualification for admission to the Master's degree from an institution outside the European Union (or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the Republic of San Marino, Vatican City, and the United Kingdom), their preparation will be assessed based on both the following conditions: - The final grade obtained in their degree or, if no final grade is indicated, the weighted average of exam grades, which must exceed a specified threshold. These threshold values can be found on the Study Program webpage and on the website https://apply.unifi.it/. - The presence of an adequate number of exams covering mechanical design, applied mechanics, industrial design, machinery, and energy systems. Additionally, in accordance with new EU directives for second-level university programs, proficiency in the English language is required at a level no lower than B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This proficiency must be demonstrated through a valid certificate issued by the University of Florence Language Center or by other internationally recognized institutions. The certificate must have been obtained within the 5 years prior to the date of enrollment.