Bachelor in Civil Engineering at Polytechnic University of Milan
Three-year L-7 civil engineering bachelor at Politecnico di Milano's Milano Leonardo campus, with an English-taught International Track in structures, hydraulics, geotechnics and transport. Entry needs a school diploma, a TOL score of 30 or an alternative test, and proof of English.
Bachelor
3 years
Milan
Multiple
Polytechnic University of Milan
Civil Engineering is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree (class L-7) at Politecnico di Milano's Milano Leonardo campus, with an International Track taught in English. Entry needs a high school diploma and a TOL score of at least 30 out of 100, or a converted TOLC-I, CEnT-S or SAT score, plus proof of English before enrolment. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliMi's Civil Engineering bachelor asks for a high school diploma, a TOL score of at least 30 out of 100 or an accepted alternative (TOLC-I, CEnT-S or SAT), proof of English before enrolment for the English-taught track, and a place in the ranking phases, with Universitaly pre-enrolment for non-EU applicants. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving qualification
You need a high school diploma. For 2026/27 the standard enrolment phase was open to candidates with a diploma from an earlier school year and to those finishing school at the end of 2025/26. [1]
Enrolment is only complete once you record the completion of your secondary education in PoliMi's Online Services, which had to be done by 10 September 2026 for 2026/27. [1]
What this means for your school results
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: Class 12 or Higher Secondary results with mathematics and physics, or A levels including mathematics and physics. The TOL gives up to 65 of its 100 points to logic, mathematics and statistics, and it also tests physics.
- Check carefully: results still pending in your final school year. You can take the test before you finish school, but enrolment needs your completed diploma recorded by the deadline.
- Often short: Class 12 without mathematics. The call lists no required school subjects, but admission rests on a test score of at least 30 out of 100 and a ranking by score, so weak mathematics makes a place harder to reach.
PoliMi ranks candidates on their best registered test score, not on school marks. [1]
English
For bachelor's degrees taught in English, proof of English is an entry requirement that you must show before enrolment. You need a certificate from PoliMi's recognised list; the call does not set scores itself. [1]
You are exempt if you are a citizen of a country where English is the official language, such as the United Kingdom, the USA, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or Malta, or if you hold a qualification, at least at high school level, obtained in English. [1]
Italian
Italian is not needed to start an English-taught programme. Without proof of Italian you are given an Italian OFA, an additional learning requirement that you must clear before the degree exam, with a CLIQ B2 certificate or by passing the final test of a free PoliMi Italian course after attending at least 75% of the lessons. A TOLC-I score of at least 30 out of 100 exempts you. [1]
Entrance test: TOL or an alternative
You need PoliMi's Online Test (TOL) with at least 30 out of 100, or one of three alternative tests that PoliMi converts to a TOL score: [1]
- TOL, taken online from home and set in Italian. It has 65 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes: English (30), logic, mathematics and statistics (25), verbal comprehension (5) and physics (5). A wrong answer costs 0.25 points. In 2026 you could sit it once in each of two windows.
- TOLC-I from CISIA, set in Italian.
- CEnT-S from CISIA, set in English.
- SAT from the College Board, set in English.
Alternative test scores count only if you register them in PoliMi's Online Services by the deadline. Places are given by ranking on your best registered score, and the logic, mathematics and statistics section breaks ties. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
- 1 February to 10 March and 11 March to 31 May 2026: the two standard TOL windows, one attempt in each.
- 4 May to 11 June 2026: early enrolment for candidates with a high early score, such as a SAT taken from 1 January 2025 with at least 620 in each section.
- 4 June 2026: last date to register a SAT (taken 1 January 2025 to 4 May 2026) or another alternative test score.
- 18 June 2026: last date to set or change your preferences for the standard phase.
- 22 to 24 June 2026: first standard ranking and enrolment, followed by rankings on 29 June, 6 July and 13 July.
- 20 July to 5 August 2026: third phase, for remaining places.
- 24 August to 9 September 2026: fourth phase, for further remaining places.
- 10 September 2026: last date to record your completed secondary education.
You enrol in Online Services by paying the first tuition instalment within your ranking's deadline. These were the 2026/27 dates. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad
Non-EU candidates resident abroad compete for the reserved quota of places, through the same tests, phases and deadlines as other candidates. [1]
If you win a place, you complete the study visa application through the Universitaly portal, under the Ministry's yearly rules for international students. [1]
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 Milano. Call for applications for the Engineering Bachelor degree programmes, academic year 2026/2027, with the early entrance test for 2027/2028 (English information version of the Italian call, 19 November 2025). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, Civil Engineering bachelor's programme page (campus, degree class and teaching language). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Civil Engineering is a three-year bachelor's degree (laurea) in class L-7, worth 180 ECTS and run by the School of Civil, Environmental and Land Management Engineering at the Milano Leonardo campus. The degree is bilingual: alongside the Italian track, its International Track is taught entirely in English across all three years, and this is the route for students who do not speak Italian.
The programme covers the planning, design, construction, management and maintenance of structures and infrastructures such as bridges, buildings, transport systems and water facilities. It suits school leavers who are strong in mathematics and physics and want a broad engineering base before choosing a specialism.
What you will study
The first year builds the scientific base in mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science. The second year moves to core civil engineering subjects, and the third applies them to structures, soils, water and transport. Course units of the International Track include:
- Mathematical Analysis and Geometry 1 and 2
- Construction Materials
- Structural Mechanics
- Hydraulics and Hydraulic Engineering
- Surveying and Data Processing
- Soil Mechanics and Principles of Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Analysis and Design
- Construction of Roads, Railways and Airports
How the programme is taught
The third year adds applied units such as Structural Monitoring and Non Destructive Testing, alongside Environmental Engineering, and the degree ends with a final exam. Graduates can continue to two-year master's degrees at Politecnico di Milano such as Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering for Risk Mitigation or Management of Built Environment.
Career paths
Graduates earn the title of Dottore in Ingegneria Civile. They can work as independent professionals or as employees in public and private organisations on civil, building and environmental engineering projects. To practise as an engineer in Italy they must pass the state professional exam.
- Planning and design of structures and infrastructures
- Construction, management and maintenance of civil works
- Building and environmental engineering projects
- Roles in public bodies and private companies
Fees and scholarships
Tuition follows Politecnico di Milano's own fee rules, which the university publishes each year on its tuition fees page; fees are set by family income, and we check the current amounts before you plan a budget. The Politecnico manages the DSU right-to-study scholarship itself, for students who meet its merit and financial-need conditions, and it decides the awards, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad compete for a reserved quota of places through the same tests, phases and deadlines as everyone else. You take the TOL online (minimum 30 out of 100) or register a TOLC-I, CEnT-S or SAT score, which PoliMi converts to a TOL score, then join the ranking phases. [1]
For 2026/27, standard TOL sessions ran from 1 February to 31 May 2026, alternative test scores had to be registered by 4 June 2026, and the standard phase opened on 15 June 2026, with later phases for remaining places running until 9 September 2026. [1]
If you win a place, you complete the study visa application through the Universitaly portal, then apply for the visa at the Italian consulate. Before enrolment you also need proof of English, unless you are exempt. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
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 PoliMi's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your TOL or alternative test registration, ranking preferences, enrolment and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your Politecnico di Milano DSU 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 Civil Engineering at PoliMi?
A high school diploma. For 2026/27 the standard phase was open to diploma holders from earlier years and to students finishing school in 2025/26. You also need a TOL score of at least 30 out of 100 or an accepted alternative test. [1]
Is there an entrance exam? Can I use the SAT?
Yes. You need PoliMi's online TOL with at least 30 out of 100, or a TOLC-I, CEnT-S or SAT score that PoliMi converts to a TOL score of 30 or more. The TOL and TOLC-I are in Italian, while the CEnT-S and SAT are in English. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
Proof of English is needed before enrolment, through a certificate on PoliMi's recognised list. The call does not set scores itself, so we check which proof your file can use. Citizens of English-speaking countries and holders of a school qualification obtained in English are exempt. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
Non-EU applicants follow the same phases as everyone else. For 2026/27, standard TOL sessions ran until 31 May 2026, SAT and other alternative scores had to be registered by 4 June 2026, and the first standard ranking came out on 22 June 2026. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Can I apply before I finish Class 12?
Yes. For 2026/27 the call admitted students finishing school at the end of 2025/26, as long as they recorded their completed diploma in PoliMi's Online Services by 10 September 2026. You can take the TOL or an alternative test before your final results. [1]
I did Class 12 without mathematics. Can I still apply?
Possibly. The call lists no required school subjects, but admission rests on a test score of at least 30 out of 100, and logic, mathematics and statistics give up to 65 of the TOL's 100 points. Without mathematics a place is harder to reach, so we check your profile first. [1]
Is the Bachelor in Civil Engineering taught in English?
PoliMi lists the teaching language as Italian or English. [2] Students who do not speak Italian follow the International Track, which is taught in English across all three years at the Milano Leonardo campus.
What can I do after graduating?
Graduates can work on the design, construction and maintenance of structures and infrastructures in companies or public bodies, after the state exam to practise as engineers, or continue to a PoliMi master's such as Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering for Risk Mitigation. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Civil Engineering at PoliMi?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against PoliMi's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the Politecnico di Milano DSU 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 Civil Engineering?
A Class 12 or Higher Secondary certificate is the high school diploma this call asks for, and you also need a TOL score of at least 30 out of 100 or a converted CEnT-S, TOLC-I or SAT score. A school qualification obtained in English exempts you from an English certificate. The steps are test registration, the ranking phases 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 Civil Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: a TOL score of 30 or a converted CEnT-S, TOLC-I or SAT score, a place in the ranking phases 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 Civil Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: a TOL score of 30 or a converted CEnT-S, TOLC-I or SAT score, a place in the ranking phases 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 Civil 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: a TOL score of 30 or a converted CEnT-S, TOLC-I or SAT score, a place in the ranking phases 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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