Course overview
The Master’s Degree in Computer Science (LM-18 class) at the University of Catania offers an advanced programme designed for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of the most innovative areas of computer science and acquire highly specialised skills, which are now in demand in the most dynamic sectors of industry, research, and digital transformation. The course combines solid theoretical and methodological training with practical and laboratory experiences, enabling students to develop design skills, operational autonomy, and mastery of cutting-edge technologies, from artificial intelligence to machine learning, from cybersecurity to distributed and cloud systems, up to quantum computing and bioinformatics.
The LM-18 is set in a rapidly expanding academic context: the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is recognised nationally and internationally for the quality of its research, with significant results in the CSRankings ranking, which places UniCT among the top Italian universities in AI, Machine Learning, and Computer Vision. AlmaLaurea data also confirm the high level of student satisfaction and the training effectiveness of the programme, characterised by high teaching quality, excellent relationships with lecturers, extensive use of laboratories, and strong attention to professional guidance.
Thanks to its close connection with the research world and highly innovative industrial sectors, the LM-18 prepares professionals who can enter the job market quickly, with excellent employment prospects in the most advanced ICT sectors. The course is therefore the ideal choice for those who want to build a competitive and up-to-date profile, capable of facing the technological challenges of the present and the future.
Advanced training for the future computer scienceThe Master’s Degree in Computer Science offers advanced training that integrates solid theoretical foundations with cutting-edge methodological and technological skills. The programme covers the main areas of modern computer science — from artificial intelligence to machine learning, from cybersecurity to distributed and cloud systems, from software engineering to high-performance computing, up to emerging technologies such as IoT, blockchain, bioinformatics, and quantum computing. Alongside technical and scientific preparation, the programme develops essential transversal skills: the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, decision-making autonomy, communication skills, and awareness of the ethical, social, and economic implications of digital transformation. The LM-18 prepares professionals capable of designing, implementing, and managing complex computer systems, contributing to innovation in high-technology contexts and pursuing further studies through advanced research activities or doctoral programmes. |
Career opportunitiesThe Master’s Degree in Computer Science trains highly qualified professionals able to work in the most innovative sectors of ICT, from the design of complex software to the management of distributed systems, from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. Our graduates find employment in strategic fields such as industry, finance, digital healthcare, bioinformatics, public services, and high-innovation companies, taking on specialist roles such as software analyst and designer, cybersecurity expert, AI systems developer, and cloud architect. The programme also prepares students for access to PhD programmes and advanced international training paths, providing a solid basis for contributing to digital transformation and the development of advanced technological solutions in a constantly evolving job market. |
LM-18 in the national Top 10According to the 2025/26 Censis ranking dedicated to Master’s Degrees in Computer Science and ICT Technologies, the Master’s Degree in Computer Science at the University of Catania ranks 9th at the national level out of 35 degree programmes. This result confirms the overall strength of the educational path and the quality of our University’s teaching offer in the Italian ICT degree landscape. This achievement places Catania among the leading institutions in Southern Italy in the ICT sector, confirming the quality and attractiveness of the programme in a field of study which, at national level, is among those that have recorded the most significant growth in enrolments in recent years. View the Censis ranking |
100% employment one year after graduationAlmaLaurea 2024 data show that graduates of the LM-18 at the University of Catania achieve full employment (100%) one year after graduation, entering the job market very quickly: on average within three months of graduation. Most employed graduates hold highly specialised positions in the ICT sector and in private companies. The type of contract also reflects strong stability: 85.7% work on permanent contracts, while the remaining 14.3% are employed through research grants or scholarships. From a geographical point of view, most graduates work in the Islands (71.4%), followed by Central Italy (14.3%) and abroad (14.3%), confirming the degree’s strong ability to generate professional opportunities both in the regional area and beyond national borders. View the data AlmaLaurea |
A valued, high-quality learning experienceAlmaLaurea 2024 data confirm that students of the LM-18 in Catania enjoy a highly positive learning experience: over 94% declare themselves satisfied with the programme, thanks to the quality of teaching, the availability of lecturers, and the good provision of classrooms, laboratories, and study spaces. The programme encourages active participation — more than half of the students attend regularly — and offers numerous internship opportunities, taken up by almost 80% of students during the two-year period. Most students consider the workload adequate and well organised, and nearly 80% would choose to enrol again in the same LM-18, which is a very strong indicator of the perceived quality of the programme. The linguistic and IT skills acquired are high, with over 80% of students reaching at least B2 level in written English and possessing excellent technical and professional competences. Overall, the AlmaLaurea profile depicts a solid, welcoming, and well-structured programme, capable of guiding students towards advanced training and successful professional integration. View the data AlmaLaurea |
Studying in one of the most advanced departmentsAn important strength of the LM-18 in Catania is the scientific excellence of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, which is recognised internationally as well. In the CSRankings list, one of the main global indicators based on publications in top conferences and journals, the University of Catania ranks eighth in Italy in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Computer Vision. This result is particularly significant considering that all the contributions placing UniCT at the top national levels come from the DMI and that the ranking does not normalise for the number of researchers per university: this makes the Department’s performance even more remarkable, confirming it as one of the most active and competitive Italian centres in the areas of greatest interest for academic research and industry. Studying in the LM-18 therefore means joining a highly dynamic, up-to-date, and growing environment, in direct contact with research groups operating at the most advanced levels of international computer science. View CSRankings data |
