Bachelor in Automotive Engineering at Polytechnic University of Turin
Three-year L-9-R bachelor at Politecnico di Torino, with an edition taught entirely in English, on the vehicle as a system: mechanics, thermal and electric machines, electronics, controls and production. Entry is through the TIL-I test or SAT, with English at B2.
Bachelor
3 years
Turin
English
Polytechnic University of Turin
Automotive Engineering is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree (class L-9-R) at Politecnico di Torino in Turin, with an edition taught entirely in English. Entry needs a school diploma after 12 years of schooling, a ranked place through the TIL-I test or an SAT score of at least 650 per section, and English at B2, with exemptions for English-medium schooling.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliTo's Automotive Engineering bachelor asks for a school-leaving diploma after at least 12 years of schooling, a ranked place through the TIL-I admission test or an SAT score, and, for the English edition, an English certificate at CEFR B2 or above unless your qualification gives an exemption. Places are capped. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
You need a secondary school diploma awarded after at least 12 years of schooling. [1] If your school system is shorter, one of these routes applies: [1]
- 11 years of schooling: plus all first-year university exams passed.
- 10 years of schooling: plus all first and second-year university exams passed.
- 10 or 11 years of schooling: plus a post-secondary qualification from a non-university institution in a related field, or a completed Foundation course at an Italian university or an accepted foreign equivalent.
Some qualifications carry extra rules: [1]
- UK diplomas: at least three A levels in three different subjects from the engineering list: Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Economics, Environmental Management, Information Technology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics.
- US high school diplomas: three Advanced Placement courses passed with a grade from 3 to 5 in related maths, computer science, science or economics subjects.
- International Baccalaureate: at least 24 points in six subjects, 12 of them at Higher Level, plus a pass in Theory of Knowledge, CAS and the Extended Essay.
- National entrance exams: where a country regulates university entry with a national test, you also need proof that you passed it.
Non-EU applicants from school systems that finish before age 18 must be 17 when they obtain the study visa. [1]
What this means for your school results
Places are ranked on the TIL-I or SAT, not on school marks, but your school qualification must still meet the rule above. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: Class 12 or Higher Secondary results after 12 years of schooling, such as CBSE, ISC or a state board in India, or the HSSC or HSC in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Check carefully: A levels from a British-curriculum school. You need three from the engineering list, so a mix that includes subjects outside it, such as Psychology or Sociology, can leave you short.
- Often short: a qualification after 10 or 11 years of schooling on its own, such as an SSC or O levels, unless you add passed university exams, a related post-secondary qualification or a Foundation course.
The call sets subject rules only for UK, Scottish, US and IB qualifications. The TIL-I still tests maths and physics, and a low maths score brings extra first-year obligations. [1][2]
English
The degree runs entirely in English and also in an Italian-language edition. For the English edition you need an English certificate at CEFR level B2 or above from Politecnico's list of accepted certificates. With a non-Italian school qualification, the Italian edition needs an Italian certificate at B2 instead. [1][2]
You are exempt from the English certificate if any of these applies: [1][3]
- An IB Diploma studied entirely in English, apart from foreign languages.
- A qualification from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
- A qualification earned after an English-medium path at a school or university in a listed country, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. The proof is an official statement from your school that English was the medium of instruction.
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa had to enter their language certificate or exemption on Apply@polito by 22 May 2026. [1]
Selection: the TIL-I test or the SAT
The programme has a capped number of places. For 2026/27 there were 214 places across the English and Italian editions: 40 for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa and 174 for EU and equivalent applicants. You can list up to five engineering programmes in order of preference. [1]
- TIL-I format: 42 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, in English or Italian: 16 maths, 10 reading comprehension and logical reasoning, 10 physics and 6 basic technical knowledge. A correct answer scores 1, a wrong answer loses 0.25. [1][2]
- TIL-I scores: 30/100 is the minimum to enter the ranking. A score of 60/100 or more secures a place on your first-choice programme. [1]
- Attempts: up to three in total, one per session, and the highest score counts. [1]
- SAT: at least 650 in both Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math, with the score report sent by the College Board to Politecnico, institution code 7679. A valid SAT score puts you in the ranking but does not secure a place. [1]
- Ranking order: places go first to TIL-I scores of 60 or more, then to SAT applicants by total score, then to TIL-I scores from 30 to 59. [1]
- Maths support: a maths section score below 4.8/16 brings extra first-year obligations. You clear them by passing Mathematical Analysis I or Linear Algebra and Geometry in Year 1, or by scoring at least 10 out of 15 in the final test of the online CIAO course. [1][2]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa had these dates: [1]
- TIL-I sessions: from 19 February to 22 May 2026, in person at the Turin and Mondovì campuses, with further sessions at the Politecnico hub in Uzbekistan.
- SAT scores: entered and submitted on Apply@polito by 30 April 2026.
- Language certificate and programme choices: by 22 May 2026.
- Ranking: published on 28 May 2026, with place reservation by 4 June 2026 at 2 p.m. Updates followed in June, and the ranking closed on 7 July 2026.
- Online enrolment: by 30 September 2026 at 2 p.m.
Politecnico set 30 June 2026 as the indicative date for Universitaly pre-enrolment for the visa. [3] The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
To enrol with a non-Italian qualification you present: [1][3]
- Your passport and type D study visa for university enrolment.
- An Italian tax code (codice fiscale).
- Your school diploma with an official Italian translation. Diplomas in English, French or Spanish need no translation.
- A declaration of value or a CIMEA statement of comparability for your diploma. An ARDI certificate of correspondence can replace the CIMEA statement, but Politecnico may ask for a CIMEA verification certificate.
- Your national entrance exam certificate, if your country has one, and your language certificate.
These documents are uploaded by the enrolment deadline and checked by Politecnico before 11 November 2026 for 2026/27. You can register for the TIL-I in your final school year, as long as you finish school that summer. The TIL-I score is valid only for enrolment in the same academic year. [1][3]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- Politecnico di Torino. Call for applications for admissions to the bachelor's degree programmes of the engineering area, for EU and equivalent applicants and non-EU applicants residing abroad and requiring a visa, academic year 2026/27 (Rector's decree no. 1412/2025). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Academic regulations, bachelor's degree programme in Automotive Engineering (Ingegneria dell'Autoveicolo), academic year 2026/27 (Rector's decree no. 525 of 28 May 2026). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino. Admissions to bachelor's degree programmes for applicants with a non-Italian qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Automotive Engineering bachelor's degree programme page (degree class, languages, campus and student team history). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Automotive Engineering is a three-year bachelor's degree in class L-9-R (Industrial Engineering), offered by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering on the main campus of Politecnico di Torino. The degree has an English-taught edition alongside the Italian one. Places are capped and an admission test is compulsory.
The goal is to give students a solid grounding in the vehicle as a system: its main subsystems and the way it is produced. It suits students with a strong interest in cars and engineering who want to work in the automotive sector.
What you will study
The programme page describes what the course covers, always with current technologies and methods:
- The vehicle as an integrated system
- Its main subsystems
- Vehicle production and the management of production processes
- The design of automotive components
- Research and development methods for motor vehicles
The 2026/27 regulations set out a three-year path. Year 1 is shared by all engineering programmes and gives the scientific basics. Year 2 adds technical drawing, physics and advanced mathematics, then core subjects such as applied mechanics, materials science, electrical engineering and electronics. Year 3 turns to machine design, production technologies, thermal and electric machines and automatic controls. Free-choice credits let you widen your training. [2]
The degree ends with a final project worth 3 ECTS: a written report of about 10 to 20 pages, which can be in English, presented in up to 15 minutes. Members of a student team can present their team work as the final project. [2] The full list of course units for each year is published in the university's online course catalogue.
How the programme is taught
Work in interdisciplinary teams is part of the training. Since 2005 the best students of the programme have taken part in the SAE inter-university competition, designing and building race cars and competing each year at European circuits such as Hockenheim, Barcelona and Varano. Students also have access to internships, student teams and study abroad.
Career paths
The degree trains junior designers who can contribute to the development and management of integrated motor vehicle systems, both in research and development and in the management of production processes. The 2026/27 regulations name two profiles. A junior product design engineer designs parts of powertrain, suspension, steering, braking, body and interior systems for conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles. A junior process engineer defines production processes and equipment, runs quality control and works on plant logistics. Employers include automotive component suppliers, the metalworking and mechanical industry and makers of production machinery for the automotive sector. The degree also prepares you for Politecnico's master's degree in Automotive Engineering. [2]
Fees and scholarships
Your tuition at Politecnico di Torino depends on citizenship or residence, and a reduction based on family income can be requested under the university's yearly fee rules. EDISU Piemonte, the regional body for the right to study, awards scholarships and housing to eligible students, including international students; for a family living abroad, EDISU assesses an equivalent ISEE from the income and asset documents you submit with our help.
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad register on Apply@polito and either sit the TIL-I test or submit an SAT score with at least 650 in each section. For 2026/27 the TIL-I sessions open to visa applicants ran from 19 February to 22 May 2026, in person at the Turin main campus or the Mondovì campus, with further sessions at the Politecnico hub in Uzbekistan. The English B2 certificate or exemption was due by the same date. Of the 214 places across the English and Italian editions, 40 were reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa. [1]
Admitted students then reserve their place, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment (indicative date 30 June 2026 for 2026/27), apply for a type D study visa and enrol online by 30 September 2026. [1][3] The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates.
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your school results against PoliTo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Apply@polito application, TIL-I registration or SAT scores, place reservation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your EDISU Piemonte scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What school qualification do I need for Automotive Engineering at PoliTo?
A secondary school diploma after at least 12 years of schooling. With 10 or 11 years, you also need passed university exams, a related post-secondary qualification or a Foundation course. UK, US and IB qualifications have extra subject rules. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
Yes. You enter the ranking through the TIL-I test, 42 questions in 90 minutes on maths, reading and logic, physics and basic technical knowledge, or with an SAT score. A TIL-I score of 30/100 gets you into the ranking, and 60/100 secures your first-choice programme. [1]
What SAT score do I need?
At least 650 in both Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math, with the score report sent by the College Board to Politecnico, code 7679. A valid SAT score puts you in the ranking but does not secure a place. For 2026/27, scores were due by 30 April 2026. [1]
Is it taught in English, and do I need IELTS?
There is an edition taught entirely in English. It needs English at CEFR B2 or above from Politecnico's accepted list. You are exempt if you studied on an English-medium path at a school in a listed country, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who need a visa could sit the TIL-I until 22 May 2026 and had to enter their language certificate by the same date. The ranking came out on 28 May 2026, and 40 places were reserved for this group. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I take the TIL-I before I finish school?
Yes, if you are in your final school year and will finish that summer. The TIL-I score counts only for enrolment in the same academic year, so a 2026 score was valid only for 2026/27. [1]
I studied Commerce in Class 12. Can I still apply?
The call sets no subject list for Class 12 results, only the 12-year rule. But the TIL-I has 16 maths and 10 physics questions, and a maths section score below 4.8/16 brings extra first-year obligations, so strong maths and physics matter for this degree. [1][2]
Can students take part in Formula SAE?
Yes. Since 2005 students of the programme have taken part in the SAE inter-university competition, designing and building race cars and competing at European circuits such as Hockenheim, Barcelona and Varano. Team members can present their team work as the final project. [2][4]
Can someone handle my whole application to Automotive Engineering at PoliTo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against PoliTo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the EDISU Piemonte scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Automotive Engineering?
Indian Class 12 results from CBSE, ISC or a state board come after 12 years of schooling, which meets the school-length rule. Your place then depends on the TIL-I test or an SAT score of at least 650 in each section, plus English at B2, with an exemption if your school taught in English. The steps are the Apply@polito application, the test or SAT, the ranking, place reservation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Automotive Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Apply@polito application, the TIL-I test or SAT, the ranking, place reservation and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Automotive Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Apply@polito application, the TIL-I test or SAT, the ranking, place reservation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Automotive Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and your school results are assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: Apply@polito application, the TIL-I test or SAT, the ranking, place reservation and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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