Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

NG1 Admission requirements
NG2 Assessment of admission requirements
NG3 Transitions, transfers, degree course shortening, credit recognition
NG4 Completion plans and individual study plans
NG5 Didactic activities
NG6 Attendance, courses sequence, transition to successive years
NG7 Part-time study
NG8 Students who have failed to graduate within the prescribed time and validity of earned credits
NG9 Tutoring
NG10 Honours programmes
NG11 Final exam
NG12 Application of par. 6 of Students’ Regulation (R.D. 4.6.1938, N. 1269)
NG1 Admission requirements
Students who wish to register for the Masters Degree in Computer Science should hold a Bachelors
Degree or other suitable degrees acquired abroad. Knowledge is required of key aspects of
computer science related to processors architecture, algorithms and data structures, programming
languages, data bases, processors networks, operating systems and the related necessary
mathematical tools.
In any case, in order to register for the Masters Degree, candidates shall have acquired at least 90
university credits in the whole set of following academic sectors:
•    INF/01
•    ING-INF/01, ING-INF/02, ING-INF/03, ING-INF/04, ING-INF/05
•    FIS/01, FIS/02, FIS/07
•    MAT/01, MAT/02, MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/06, MAT/07, MAT/08, MAT/09
Students who do not possess such curricular requirements can register for single courses, as
indicated in the “Manifesto”- General Regulations for Sapienza Students, and sit for the related
exams before enrolling in the Masters Degree.
Students who have not yet graduated will be able to register for the Masters Degree, subject to the
completion of their degree within the deadline indicated in the General Regulations for Sapienza
Students of the related academic year.
Good knowledge of both written and oral English is required (Level B2 or higher). 

NG2 Assessment of admission requirements
The prospective students’ requirements will be assessed by an ad-hoc Committee appointed by the
Area Educational Board, that will automatically approve (or consider possible affinity between
academic sectors) the admission to the Masters Degree in Computer Science of those students who
will have acquired at least:
•    70 credits in the academic sectors INF/01 and/or ING/INF-05.
The Committee will arrange interviews with the students who do not possess the credits mentioned
above, for the assessment of the required knowledge.
NG3 Transitions, transfers, degree course shortening, credit recognition
NG3.1 Transitions and transfers 
Transition from Computer Science degree programmes in the former Academic system.
Following the changes and foundation of the Masters Degree in Computer Science, the M.D.
270/04 guarantees that students who have already registered for the following degree programmes
at Sapienza University will acquire the academic degree:
¥ Second cycle degree course in Computer Science.
Students who have registered for the degree programme mentioned above can move to the Masters
Degree in Computer Science without paying transition fees, as per clause 8 of par. 32 of the General
Regulations for Sapienza Students. Applications for transition are assessed by the Area Educational
Board in the following way:
• by deciding which exams, among those passed by the student, are recognised in the current
academic system and the related grades, in accordance with the regulations on the subject approved
by the Area Educational Board and referred to on the degree programme website;
• by indicating the year of the course on which the student will be registered;
• by determining any additional learning requirements;
• by formulating a completion plan for the obtainment of the degree.
Applications for transition to the Masters Degree in Computer Science must be submitted within the
deadlines and as indicated in the General Regulations for Sapienza Students, and can be considered
only if the year in which the student is admitted is active.
Applications for transition submitted by students proceeding from other Sapienza Masters Degrees,
applications for transfer by students proceeding from other Universities, Military Academies or
other military higher education institutions are subject to the Area Educational Board’s approval:
• by assessing the possibility for total or partial recognition of the student’s academic career through
the validation of some or all passed exams, acquired credits, and related grades; in the case of
transition between former M.D. 270 degree courses of the same class, at least 50% of credits
acquired in each academic sector will be recognised (Par. 3, clause 9 of M.D. regulating Masters
Degrees classes);
•    by indicating the year in which the student will be registered;
•    by establishing any additional learning requirements;
•    by formulating a completion plan for the obtainment of the degree.
In case students, on the grounds of their academic career, can be admitted to a year following all
those that are active in the current academic system, they can choose to enrol in the year
corresponding to the one in the previous academic system or in the most advanced programme that
is active in the current system (par. 33, clause 5 of the University Programme Regulations).
Applications for transfer to the Masters Degree in Computer Science are to be submitted within the
deadlines and as indicated in the General Regulations for Sapienza Students.
NG3.2 Degree course shortening
Graduates holding a four-year, five-year, or second-level degree obtained within a previous
academic system, or a Masters Degree obtained within the current academic system, who want to
register for another degree can apply to the Area Educational Board for enrolment in a year
following the first.

Applications are assessed by the Area Educational Board as follows:
• by evaluating the option of overall or partial recognition of the student’s previous academic
career, with the validation of part or all the passed exams and the acquired credits, if any, and
related grades;
• by indicating the year in which the student will be registered;
• by deciding upon any additional learning requirements;
• by formulating a completion plan for the obtainment of the degree.
In case students, on the grounds of their recognised academic career, can be admitted to a year
following all those that are active in the current system, they can choose to enrol in the
corresponding year of the old academic system or in the most advanced year that is active in the
current system (par. 33, clause 5 of the University Programme Regulations).
Students cannot register for a Masters Degree belonging to the same class of a previously acquired
Masters Degree.
Applications are to be submitted within the deadlines and as indicated in the General Regulations
for Sapienza Students.
NG3.3 Criteria for credit recognition
All acquired credits will be recognised if related to courses dealing with contents documented
through the courses syllabi, that are consistent with one of the study plans encompassed by the
Masters Degree. In the case of transitions from courses of the same class, a minimum 50% of
credits for each academic sector will be recognised.
The Area Educational Board can approve the equivalence between academic sectors (SSD) for
credit awarding on the basis of courses syllabi and in accordance with the academic system of the
Masters Degree.
The credits that have already been acquired through courses that, albeit differently named, show a
clear equivalence with the courses offered by the Masters Degree, will be recognised as related to
the courses bearing the names of the Masters Degree for which students apply. In this case, the Area
Educational Board approves recognition in the following way:
• if the number of credits of the course for which recognition is applied for coincides with that of
the course recognised, credits are directly awarded;
• if the number of credits corresponding to the course for which recognition is applied for is
different from that in the recognised course, the Area Educational Board will examine the student’s
curriculum and will decide on the allocation of credits after supplementary interviews;  the Area
Educational Board can approve specific correspondence between sets of courses in the Second-
cycle degree course in Computer Science as provided for by Sapienza University M.D. 509 and sets
of courses in the Masters Degree in Computer Science as provided by M.D.270, so as to simplify
students’ transition to the new academic system. The list of corresponding courses is available at
the Educational Affairs Office and on the degree programme website.
The Area Educational Board can recognise as credits also knowledge and professional skills that
have been certified according to current regulations, as well as other knowledge or skills acquired in
post-secondary educational activities that have been planned and carried out by the University
together with other institutions. Such credits will be weighed in the 6 credits related to
supplementary activity.
Activities that have been already recognised as credits-bearing in the Bachelors Degree Programme
cannot be recognised again in the Masters Degree.
NG4 Completion plans and individual study plans
Students are to obtain the Area Educational Board’s official approval of their overall study plan
before they can record exams related to courses that are not compulsory for all students; if they fail
to do so, the related exams records will be invalidated.
Students can obtain such approval by two different procedures:

1. By adhering to one of the completion plans of the study plan that are annually arranged by Area
Educational Board; there is a completion plan for each of the curricula outlined in paragraph OF5.3;
2. By presenting an individual study plan. In both cases students are to submit their proposal
exclusively on-line following the specific procedure available in the University “Infostud”
information system.
Deadlines and procedures for submission are detailed in the entry “Completion plans and study
plans” in the website www.studiareinformatica.uniroma1.it
NG4.1 Completion plans
Adhesion to a completion plan entails:
1. Selection of one of the four curricula;
2. Selection of 9 courses within the set of two groups of core courses, as indicated by each
curriculum. 
3. The possibility to choose two supplementary courses among those that are automatically
suggested by the procedure;
4. The possibility to choose one or more courses related to 12 credits. The latter can be chosen by
students among all those that are available in the overall course catalogue of Sapienza University.
Once filled in, the completion plan is submitted by students, so as to check that the courses chosen
in point 4 are consistent with the study plan. In case they are, the completion plan is approved by
the Area Educational Board and becomes part and parcel of the student’s academic career. In case
courses are not consistent, the student is invited to modify the list of courses related to the 12 credits
of his/her choice.
From the day following the Area Educational Board’s approval, students are authorised to record, in
addition to those exams which are compulsory for all students, also those related to the non-
compulsory courses listed in the adopted completion plan.
NG4.2 Individual study plans
In case students do not intend to adhere to any of the completion plans suggested, they are expected
to submit an individual study plan.
In order to submit an individual study plan, students are expected to:
1. choose nine courses among those indicated as core courses in at least one of the four curricula;
2. Choose two supplementary courses among those that are automatically suggested by the
procedure;
3. Choose one or more courses related to 12 credits. The latter can be chosen among all those
available in the complete Sapienza course catalogue.
Once filled in, the individual study plan is submitted by students, so as to check that the choices
made form a valid study plan. If this is the case, the individual study plan is approved by the Area
Educational Board and becomes part and parcel of the student’s career. In case choices are not
deemed valid, students will be invited to modify them. The validity and consistency of the
curriculum will be assessed on the grounds of its proximity to at least one of the four curricula
suggested.
From the day following the Area Educational Board’s approval, students are authorised to record, in
addition to the exams which are compulsory for all students, also those related to the non-
compulsory courses listed in their individual study plans.
NG4.3 Changes to completion plans and individual study plans
Students who have already adopted a completion plan can choose a different one in a following
academic year, or submit an individual study plan. Likewise, students whose individual study plan
has already been approved, can decide to adopt a completion plan in a following academic year, or
submit a different individual study plan.
In any case, the exams that have already been recorded cannot be replaced.
NG5 Didactic activities
Didactic activities are of a conventional type and are distributed on a term basis.

Academic courses are taught through lectures, workshops and laboratory activities, with the
schedule arranged so as to allow students to devote sufficient time to individual study.
The expected duration of the Masters Degree is 4 terms, equal to two years.
NG5.1 University credits
The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) measures the amount of work carried out by students
in order to achieve a learning outcome. Credits are acquired by students by passing exams or by
obtaining eligibility, where applicable.
In the credit system adopted by Italian and European universities, one credit corresponds to 25
hours of students’ commitment, including group educational activities officially scheduled (for
example lectures, workshops, laboratory activities) and individual study.
In the Masters Degree in Computer Science, in accordance with par. 23 of the University
Programme Regulations, one credit corresponds to a number of hours depending on the following
activities:
• one lecture credit: from 6 to 10 hours
• one workshop credit: from 9 to 12 hours
• one laboratory activity credit: from 20 to 25 hours
The Area Educational Board decides the number of hours assigned to each single course, according
to the activities mentioned above.
Individual information sheets for each course unit, that can be found on the Masters Degree
programme website, indicate the number of credits and the hours encompassed by the different
activities, together with prerequisites, learning outcomes and syllabi.
The overall workload for the obtainment of a Masters Degree is 120 credits.
Within the framework of the Masters Degree in Computer Science, the number of hours available to
students for autonomous study or other individual educational activities is 50% minimum of the
total number of hours.
NG5.2 Programme calendar
The programme calendar is arranged in two periods of didactic activities and three exam sessions,
according to the following general scheme:
• first period of didactic activities: from late September to late December; 
• second period of didactic activities: from late February to early June; 
• first session of exams: from early January to late February; 
• second session of exams: from early June to late July; 
• third session of exams: September. • extra-session of exams: April and November (only for
students who have failed to graduate within the prescribed time or are repeating the year, or those
who work in the Student Affairs Office, or for regular students who wish to graduate in the
following graduation sessions (January and July respectively), and who apply to do so by
submitting a certificate of their status as graduands.
For each course, the following exam sessions are available:
• two exams dates in the session immediately following the end of the course (January-February for
courses of the first period of didactic activities, June-July for courses of the second period of
didactic activities).
• three exam dates in the remaining sessions: one in September and two in the other session.
• Two further exam dates in November and April will be reserved for students who have failed to
graduate within the prescribed time, are repeating the year or are students-workers, according to the
terms and conditions detailed on the Masters Degree website.
The initial and final dates of the periods of didactic activities and exam sessions are available on the
Masters Degree programme website.
NG5.3 Exams
Students’ individual achievement in each course is assessed through a grading scale expressed in
30eths, being 18/30 the minimum pass grade, or eligibility.
The following elements can contribute to the final assessment:

• A written exam, usually divided into several written tests carried out during the degree course and
at the end of it;
• a viva voce exam;
• autonomous work done by the student.
NG6 Attendance, courses sequence, transition to successive years
Full attendance of lectures is strongly recommended, although not compulsory.
There is not a compulsory sequence of courses in the Masters Degree in Computer Science;
expected knowledge prerequisites, if any, are detailed in each course. The sequence of courses is a
clear indication of the ideal order for their attendance and exams. In particular, students are advised
as follows:
• to sit for the exams of the courses delivered during the second period of didactic activities of each
academic year only after having passed all the exams of the courses delivered in the first period of
didactic activities;
• to sit for second-year exams only after having passed all first-year exams.
The Masters Degree in Computer Science does not encompass restrictions for enrolment in the
second year.
NG7 Part-time study
Terms and conditions to apply for part-time study and the related provisions are provided in par. 13
of General Regulations for Sapienza Students and can be found on the Sapienza University website.
NG8 Students who have failed to graduate within the prescribed time and validity of acquired
credits
In accordance with par. 32 of the General Regulations, students are considered to have failed to
graduate within the prescribed time when, after attending all educational activities provided by the
current programme regulations, have not passed all the exams and therefore have not acquired the
number of credits needed to obtain the degree within 2 years.
In accordance with par. 33 of the General Regulations for Sapienza Students: 
• full-time students who have failed to graduate within the prescribed time need to pass all exams
required to complete their university career within a period corresponding to the double of the
regular duration of the degree programme;
• part-time students who have failed to graduate within the prescribed time need to pass all exams
that are needed for the completion of their university career within a period corresponding to the
double of the duration agreed upon in their part-time status.
If the aforementioned requirements are not met, the Area Educational Board establishes that the
validity of acquired credits will be evaluated case by case, and will only be considered for
foundation courses. In order to be reinstated, in all cases students will have to submit adequate
application to the Student Affair Office, by the terms and conditions provided in the General
Regulations for Sapienza Students.
NG9 Tutoring
Tutoring activities are available for students in the Masters Degree in Computer Science, and are
given by lecturers indicated by the Area Educational Board. Available lecturers and tutoring
activities will be advertised for each Academic year on the notice board in the Educational Affairs
Office and on the Masters Degree programme website. Tutoring activities consist of individual and
collective services and are subject to a specific regulation that can be found online.
NG10 Honours programmes
An Honours programme is active for the Masters Degree in Computer science, and students
registering for the second year of the course can apply.
Terms and conditions for applying to the Honours programme are indicated on the Masters Degree
programme website, where calls for applications can be found and the application form can be
downloaded.
NG11 Final exam
In order to be admitted to the final exam, students will have acquired all the credits required by the

course planning concerning activities differing from the final exam and will have fulfilled all
administrative requirements provided by the General Regulations for Sapienza Students.
The final exam is the discussion of a Masters Degree dissertation, i.e. a written document,
preferably in English, expounding the results of an original study conducted on a problem of
applicative, experimental or research nature.
The final written dissertation will be submitted for assessment to verify that it is an original work.
In case of a negative outcome of such assessment, students will not be admitted to the final exam.
Students will work on their final thesis under the guidance of a supervisor (who can be a lecturer in
the Masters Degree, or in other Italian or foreign degree programmes, or in an Italian or foreign
research institute) and they normally do so during the second year of the course, usually devoting to
their thesis half of its total time.
Final grades are based on the assessment of students’ academic curriculum, their dissertation and
final exam, as well as on additional elements aimed at encouraging students to pass their exams in
the time established by the course planning. The dissertation panel expresses final grades on the
basis of 110 points and can unanimously award the candidate with the highest grades with honours.
NG12 Application of par. 6 of Students regulations (R.D. 4.6.1938, N. 1269)
In order to enrich their academic curriculum, students who have registered for the Masters Degree
in Computer Science, as provided by Par. 6 of the R.D. N.1239 of 4/6/1938, can attend two courses
from other Faculties and sit for the related exams every year, by submitting to the Educational
Affairs Office an application addressed to the Area Educational Board by the month of January.
Given the scientific and cultural significance of this provision, the Area Educational Board has
established that such application can only be submitted by students who have acquired at least 36
credits in the Masters Degree in Computer Science.