Engineering Science Schools and Programs in Italy

Engineering Science Studies in Italy

Engineering in Italy follows the European two-cycle model: a three-year bachelor's degree (laurea) followed by a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale). The master's is where students specialise, and many engineering master's degrees are taught in English. To work as a registered professional engineer, graduates also pass a state qualifying exam.

SpainExchange lists 4 schools in Italy with engineering programmes: the Politecnico di Milano, the Università degli Studi di Genova, the Università degli Studi di Udine and the University of Ferrara (Unife).

How engineering degrees are organised

According to Universitaly, the portal of the Ministry of Universities and Research, a laurea lasts three years and carries 180 CFU, and a laurea magistrale carries a further 120 CFU; 1 CFU equals 1 ECTS credit. A PhD (dottorato di ricerca) lasts at least three years, and most PhD places come with a monthly scholarship.

Each degree belongs to an official class. Mechanical engineering, for example, is a bachelor's in class L-9 (industrial engineering) and a master's in class LM-33. At Genoa, Udine and Ferrara, the bachelor's in mechanical engineering lasts three years (180 CFU) and is taught in Italian.

Teaching language: Italian first, English later

Universitaly notes that most undergraduate programmes in Italy are taught in Italian, while several graduate programmes are in English. Engineering follows this pattern:

• Politecnico di Milano lists 29 Bachelor of Science and 45 Master of Science programmes across architecture, design and engineering; most bachelor's are in Italian, but Engineering Science (Milan) and Industrial Engineering (Piacenza) are in English, and most engineering master's, such as Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering, are in English
• Università degli Studi di Genova: Robotics Engineering, a two-year master's taught entirely in English and linked to the EMARO and JEMARO European and Japan-Europe robotics masters
• Università degli Studi di Udine: Industrial Engineering for Sustainable Manufacturing, a two-year master's in English (120 CFU)
• University of Ferrara: a master's in mechanical engineering in Italian with a double-degree option

Admission

Many engineering bachelor's degrees at state universities have open access, with a test of initial knowledge. Genoa and Udine list their mechanical engineering degrees as open access, and Ferrara refers students to the TOLC-I, an engineering test run by the CISIA university consortium.

The Politecnico di Milano has its own entrance test for engineering, the TOL, given in Italian. It also accepts the TOLC-I, the CEnT-S (an English-language test also run by CISIA) and the SAT. Italian-taught programmes require Italian at level B2, for example through a recognised certificate. Students on English-taught programmes must reach B2 in Italian before they graduate. The Politecnico reserves a number of places for some categories of international students and checks the last three years of secondary-school reports.

Master's programmes usually have open access after a check of the student's bachelor's degree and preparation, as at Genoa and Ferrara. Students from outside the EU pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a student visa at the Italian embassy or consulate; for 2026-27, the deadline for visa applications is 30 November 2026. CIMEA, the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre, gives information on recognition of foreign qualifications.

Careers and the state exam

Career paths depend on the branch of engineering. Genoa lists mechanical and electromechanical industries, manufacturing companies and energy production among the main employers of its mechanical engineers. Its Robotics Engineering master's aims to train professionals in robotics, artificial intelligence, mechatronics and automation.

To practise the profession that matches the degree, Italian law requires a state exam (Esame di Stato). The exams are normally held in two sessions a year, and the Politecnico di Milano and other universities organise them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study engineering in Italy in English?

Yes, especially at master's level. The Politecnico di Milano teaches most engineering master's in English, and Genoa and Udine offer English-taught master's in robotics and industrial engineering. Bachelor's degrees are mostly in Italian, with a few English-taught exceptions at the Politecnico di Milano.

How long does an engineering degree take in Italy?

Three years for the bachelor's (180 CFU) and two more for the master's (120 CFU). A PhD adds at least three years.

Is there an entrance test for engineering?

Usually yes: either the TOLC-I or a university's own test, such as the TOL at the Politecnico di Milano. At many state universities the test checks starting knowledge rather than limiting places.

Do I need to pass an exam to work as an engineer in Italy?

To practise the regulated profession, graduates must pass the Esame di Stato, a state qualifying exam held normally twice a year.