Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnic University of Turin
Three-year L-9-R bachelor at Politecnico di Torino, taught fully in English or Italian, covering maths, physics, materials, thermofluid dynamics, machine design, manufacturing and industrial plants. Entry is through the TIL-I test or SAT, with English at B2.
Bachelor
3 years
Turin
English
Polytechnic University of Turin
Mechanical Engineering is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree (class L-9-R) at Politecnico di Torino in Turin, taught fully in English or fully in Italian. 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 for the English edition, with exemptions for English-medium schooling.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliTo's Mechanical 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 have 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 or science 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.
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]
English
The degree runs fully in English and fully in Italian. 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]
- 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.
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] An English B2 certificate is also needed to graduate, worth 3 ECTS. [2]
Selection: the TIL-I test or the SAT
The programme has a capped number of places. For 2026/27 there were 710 places across the Italian and English editions: 110 for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa and 600 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]
- 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, cleared by passing a Year 1 maths exam or 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.
Universitaly pre-enrolment for the visa was due by 30 June 2026. [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]
- 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.
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]
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 Mechanical Engineering, academic year 2026/27. 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.
About the programme
Mechanical Engineering is a three-year bachelor's degree in class L-9-R (Industrial Engineering), run by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering on the main campus of Politecnico di Torino in Turin. The degree has an English-taught edition next to the Italian one, and entry is capped with a compulsory admission test.
The university describes the degree as a strong technical and scientific foundation that lets graduates keep growing inside modern industry. It suits students who like mathematics and physics and want to understand how machines and industrial systems are designed, made and run.
What you will study
The course combines the core knowledge and methods of industrial engineering with the specific skills of a mechanical engineer, with the aim of preparing graduates who can keep learning as industry changes. The programme page names the fields where this preparation is applied:
- Design
- Production
- Industrial management
- Automation
- Aerospace
The 2026/27 regulations group the course into three areas: basic science (mathematics, chemistry, physics and computer science), basic industrial engineering (technical drawing, thermodynamics, electrical engineering, materials science, applied, structural and fluid mechanics, and measurement) and specialised mechanical engineering (machine design, thermal and fluid machinery, manufacturing technologies and industrial plants). Year 1 is mostly basic science, and the specialised courses come in Year 3. [2]
Students choose 12 ECTS of electives, at least 6 of them on topics such as sustainability, digitalisation, safety and the ecological transition. The other 6 can be replaced by an internship. The final examination is a written project of about thirty pages, presented to the committee in up to 15 minutes. [2] The detailed list of course units for each year is published in the university's online course catalogue.
How the programme is taught
Besides lectures and exams, the programme page points to student teams, industrial internships and study abroad. Students can also apply for international mobility schemes such as PoliTong, with partner universities in China, and SEC, with universities in the United States.
Career paths
Graduates are prepared to take part in the transformation of industry in design, production, management, automation and the aerospace sector. The academic regulations describe junior mechanical engineer roles in product and process design, production, the design and maintenance of industrial plants, and technical and commercial services. [2] Many continue to a master's degree: Politecnico di Torino also runs an English-taught Master in Mechanical Engineering, whose English pathway focuses on energy and design.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition at Politecnico di Torino depends on your citizenship or residence, and students can apply for a reduction based on family income; the university publishes the yearly amounts in its fee rules. EDISU Piemonte, the regional right-to-study body, offers scholarships and accommodation to eligible students in Turin, international students included. If your family lives abroad, we help you send its income and asset documents to EDISU, which works out an equivalent ISEE (ISEE parificato).
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 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, and English B2 had to be proven by 22 May 2026. Across the Italian and English editions, 110 of the 710 places were reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa. [1]
Admitted students then reserve their place, complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment (by 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 Mechanical 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?
The degree runs fully in English and fully in Italian. The English edition 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. 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 did Class 12 without maths or physics. 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 matters. [1]
What can I do after this degree?
The regulations describe junior mechanical engineer roles in product and process design, production, industrial plant design and maintenance, and technical and commercial services. Graduates can also continue to a master's in mechanical or industrial engineering. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Mechanical 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 Mechanical Engineering?
Indian Class 12 results from CBSE, ISC or a state board come after 12 years of schooling, which matches 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 for the English edition, 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 Mechanical 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 Mechanical 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 Mechanical 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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