Mathematics

Following the official guidelines for Degree Classes in Mathematical Science, the degree programme combines the teaching reform measures already being implemented within this degree programme in mathematics, the expectations of the working world as experienced by Bologna University maths graduates, and the material and human resources that our University possesses. The proposal is to seize the opportunity of the present organizational changes to bring in a reform of maths teaching, serving two educational needs: to train young researchers, future teachers (after completion of a teacher-training programme and passing the selection processes as per current law) and popular science writers; and to meet the demand for personnel possessing a solid grounding in mathematics which is increasingly being expressed by public and private research institutes, industry, banks, insurance and finance firms, and more generally the high-tech service sector. The new plan for the degree programme prioritizes the qualities of a maths graduate that are most appreciated by the world of work: a capacity for synthesis and abstraction, and hence for proposing new solutions to problems, backed by high-grade calculating and ICT skills. To equip graduates with such qualities the degree programme in mathematics includes:
- training in basic algebra, mathematical analysis, geometry, mathematical physics, numerical analysis, computer science and general physics;
- a newly opened option for training in basic Mathematical Statistics, Mathematical Logic and Operations Research;
- laboratory work in ICT and computational mathematics, as well as practice in the English language.

To be accepted on this degree programme you need to have a five-year secondary school diploma or equivalent qualification obtained abroad, or a four-year secondary school diploma and diploma for the relative supplementary year, or, where no longer active (e.g. teaching high school), will be assigned additional learning credits.
You also need the following learning background: good general knowledge; ability to reason logically and understand written texts; good knowledge of basic mathematics.
The knowledge requirement will be assessed by a test given to all newly registering students. To pass this test you need to score above a pass-mark set from year to year and published on the University Portal. Should you fail, you will be assigned an additional learning requirement (known as an OFA) which you can fulfil by taking the test again after performing the catch-up activities organized by the School and including an E-learning system. This OFA needs to be fulfilled in the course of the first year and by the deadline set by the University.
If a student has passed at least one of the exams scheduled for the first-year study plan and marked out of 30, the OFA will be deemed to be fulfilled.
Students who fail to pass the OFA by the deadline will enrol next a.y. to repeat the first year and in the course of that year will have to go through the OFA procedure again.
Students who already have a degree or university diploma may enrol in the degree programme without sitting a knowledge test. Those who enrol following withdrawal, loss of student status, option as per previous systems, switch from another Bologna University degree programme or transfer from another university, may do so without having to sit a knowledge test, provided they have passed at least one exam (marked out of 30) or have already passed the national access test to degree programmes in the Science School.
In the case of foreign students, the knowledge assessment may take the form of an appraisal of their CV.
If they are judged wanting in this assessment, they will be assigned an OFA to be fulfilled under the same conditions as all other students by the deadline set by the University, during the first year of the programme.