Master in Pedagogia specializzata e didattica inclusiva

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Master Specialised Pedagogy and Inclusive Didactics

It prepares to take on the role of teacher of pupils with Special Educational Needs (BES) in reduced, inclusive or regular classes.

SUPSI Course Overview

Overview

  • Degree awarded

    Master of Arts SUPSI in Pedagogia specializzata e didattica inclusiva

  • Credits

    90 ECTS

  • Study modes

    Part-time (PT), from 2 years

  • Applications *

    (PT) November 17th, 2025 - February 17th, 2026

  • Start date

    September 2026

  • Language

    Italian

  • Semester fee

    From CHF 800.-

  • Location

    Locarno, stabile A

*For further details see the "Admission and registration" section

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The special education teacher or specialised teacher active in inclusive and regular classes can work with pupils of any age between 4 and 18 years.
 
During the training, the teacher acquires professional and theoretical competences in the field of special pedagogy and inclusive education.

Specifically these include:
  • tools and strategies to understand the functioning of pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) both individually and within the classroom system;
  • designing effective educational pathways for pupils with SEN, both in special education and mainstream school contexts;
  • readiness to develop an inclusive school capable of educating and training pupils with SEN in cooperation with other professionals.

The skills and knowledge related to the profession are contained in the 'Skills Profile (in Italian)' document.

Professional perspectives 
The Master in Specialised Pedagogy and Inclusive Didactics is federally recognised and makes it possible to work as a specialised teacher in services providing special pedagogy measures.
 
Study perspectives 
After obtaining the Master's degree in Specialised Pedagogy and Inclusive Teaching, graduates can access continuing education courses offered by SUPSI or other Swiss or foreign universities.  

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In the two-year Master's programme in Specialised Pedagogy and Inclusive Didactics, teaching-learning takes place in various ways:
  • face-to-face theoretical lectures 
  • small group workshops 
  • professional practice at a Ticino school 

The training is structured around the following main axes:
  • insights into the science of education
  • theoretical and scientific training
  • professional practice 
  • research in education

The teaching subjects are organised into study modules. Each module consists of one or more courses. Various modes of certification are provided.
 
Organisation and related credits

1st year (40 ECTS)
  • Fundamentals of special education (7 ECTS)
  • Fundamentals of special education 1 (6 ECTS)
  • SEN: elements of definition and differential pedagogy (11 ECTS)
  • Professional Module 1 (10 ECTS)
  • Fundamentals of Research 1 (6 ECTS)

2nd year (50 ECTS)
  • Fundamentals of specialised teaching 2 (6 ECTS)
  • Inclusive teaching and disciplinary inclusive teaching (13 ECTS)
  • Professional Module 2 (10 ECTS)
  • Fundamentals of Research 2 (6 ECTS)
  • Master's Thesis (15 ECTS)

One ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit corresponds to 25-30 hours of work for the student (classroom hours, individual study and examination time).

The Master in Specialised Pedagogy and Inclusive Didactics can be done on a part-time (PT) basis.
The weekly commitment generally consists of 1.5 days of theoretical courses and 1 day of professional practice. A minimum attendance of 80% is required for most modules. 

The Master's degree is spread over two years (four semesters) and enables the acquisition of 90 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits.

Course FB Modules List

The contents of the published study plans reflect the structure of the modules and/or courses currently planned and may be subject to change over time, based on the evolution of the educational offering.

SUPSI Course Responsibles

Laura Rusconi

Docente senior / Responsabile corso di laurea Master in pedagogia specializzata e didattica inclusiva - Department of Education and Learning / University of Teacher Education

Course FB Teachers

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In order to attend the Master's Degree Course in Specialised Pedagogy and Inclusive Didactics, the candidate must meet specific formal requirements. 
 
Admission to the course is subject to a numbered admission procedure.
 
Qualifications
Applicants with at least one of the following qualifications are eligible for the Master's degree:
  • Bachelor's degree in Primary Education(school years: 1-2) *
  • Bachelor's degree in Primary Education(school years: 3-7) *
  • Pre-Primary teaching diploma*
    Primary school teaching diploma* 
  • Master's Degree in Secondary Education*
  • Diploma in Upper Secondary Education
  • Bachelor's degree in specialised pedagogy
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree or equivalent qualification in related field, more precisely
    • Psychology
    • Educational sciences
    • Social Education
    • Speech Therapy
    • Psychomotricity
 
(*) Recognised by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK)
 
Disciplinary areas
Applicants with a university Bachelor's or Master's degree or an equivalent qualification in a related field must prove the achievement of at least 110 ECTS credits in the following subject areas:  
  • Developmental psychology;
  • General and special pedagogy;
  • Research training;
  • Practice in psychology or education.
 
Other RequirementsSpecific requirements apply to candidates who are not native Italian speakers and candidates who do not hold a teaching qualification. For detailed information on these requirements, please refer to the document ‘Application guidelines for the Master's Degree in Specialised Pedagogy and Inclusive Didactics’.

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The admission procedure includes ranking examinations and, where required, supplementary examinations.

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The application for admission can only be submitted online by accessing the Student Portal.
 
Candidates are only admitted to the admission procedure if they fulfil the formal requirements verified on the basis of the documentation provided.

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Final registration is required by the deadline. 

Final registration is only confirmed when the candidate has:

  • completed and returned the required documents;
  • paid the six-monthly fee

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Application fee

A fee of CHF 200 must be paid online when applying for admission. This fee is neither refundable nor deductible from the semester fee. 
Semester fee

The semester fee is CHF 1'600, respectively CHF 800 for students benefiting from the application of the Intercantonal Agreement on Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts (Swiss nationality or civil and fiscal domicile in Switzerland or Liechtenstein). Specific agreements apply for students resident in Campione d'Italia.
Contribution for teaching

A flat fee of CHF 80 per semester is also charged by the Department as a contribution to teaching costs.

Scholarships

Various public and private institutions offer support to students in need. More information.

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Frequently asked questions

FAQs List

Open days/evenings are held between January and March each year, during which, for example, the content of the course, professional outlets and the admission procedure are presented. It is also possible to visit the campus and meet directly with students and lecturers.

You can take a semester an maximum one year at another university in Switzerland or abroad through related agreements. Find more information and reference contacts on the dedicated page.

They are a contribution to the costs of teaching (school materials, charges for visits, general administrative and secretarial costs, teaching and IT support, etc.).

Following the Bologna Reform, study courses have been structured into modules and each module is allocated a number of study credits according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One ECTS credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 to 30 hours. 60 credits represent the annual workload in the case of full-time education. A Bachelor's degree requires 180 ECTS and a Master's degree 90 to 120 ECTS.

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Visualizzatore contatto

  • Department of Education and Learning / University of Teacher Education

  • Piazza San Francesco 19
    CH-6600 Locarno

  • Telephone switchboard and InfoDesk

     

    The InfoDesk will be closed from 23 December 2025 to 6 January 2026 inclusive.

     

    Monday - Thursday: 08:00-09:00 / 10:00-12:15 / 14:00-16:15
    Fridays: 08:00-09:00 / 10:00-12:15

     

    Times may be subject to change.
    Please contact the switchboard for verification.

     

  • T +41 (0)58 666 68 00

    dfa@supsi.ch

    www.dfa.supsi.ch

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