Master in Architecture and Creative Practices for the City and Landscape at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught LM-4-R architecture master at the University of Bologna on creative, inclusive and sustainable design of cities and landscapes. Entry needs an L-17 architecture degree or equivalent, a portfolio and English at B2; in 2026/27, 35 of 40 places were for non-EU applicants.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Architecture and Creative Practices for the City and Landscape is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-4-R) taught in English at the University of Bologna. Entry needs an architecture degree in class L-17, or one covering its 108 essential credits, plus English at B2 and a selection on grades, portfolio and experience. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Architecture and Creative Practices for the City and Landscape master asks for an architecture degree in class L-17 or a degree that covers its 108 essential credits, English at B2 and a score of at least 60 out of 100 for your academic record, portfolio and other titles. Places are limited, and most are reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need one of the following. [1]
- A degree in class L-17, Architecture Sciences, or the equivalent class under earlier Italian rules.
- A degree in another class that allows recognition of the 108 university credits for the essential training activities of class L-17.
- A degree or university diploma from abroad that, in the judgment of a committee appointed by the degree programme, allows recognition of those 108 credits, as set by the Italian decree on degree classes and in line with EU Directive 85/384/EEC.
A foreign qualification must also give access to a similar degree programme in the country that issued it. The committee judges it on its learning objectives and programme content. The International Student Administration Office in Bologna checks it formally after you pay the first instalment and submit the original documents. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The 108 credits refer to the essential training activities Italy sets for its three-year architecture degree, so the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Arch or another degree in architecture.
- Check carefully: a B.Plan, or a B.E. or B.Tech in Civil Engineering, which may cover only part of the architecture core.
- Often short: a B.Des, BFA, B.Sc. or BA that is not an architecture degree.
English
An English certificate at CEFR level B2 or higher, uploaded with your application. The accepted proofs are: [1]
- IELTS 5.5 or higher
- TOEFL iBT 72 or higher
- PTE Academic from GSE 50
- Cambridge English FCE (B2)
- Pearson English International Certificate, Oxford Test of English, LanguageCert International ESOL, Gatehouse Awards Classic, British Council Aptis ESOL (General or Advanced) or Trinity College London ISE 2, at B2 or the higher levels the call lists
- A B2 certificate from an Italian university language centre
- The International Baccalaureate with English B or English A Language and Literature, with a minimum score of 5
- A university degree of at least two academic years (120 ECTS) fully taught in English, with English as the medium of instruction clearly stated in your documents
Selection and scoring
There is no written test. A committee checks the curricular requirements and scores your documents out of 100: [1]
- Academic record, 20 to 40 points: your CGPA is converted to a 40-point scale using the maximum grade and minimum pass grade of your system.
- Portfolio, 0 to 40 points: texts and images of your own work, judged on originality and consistency of content, formal quality, argument, communication and language.
- Other certified titles, 0 to 20 points: documented research or extracurricular training relevant to an architect, not already used to recognise credits.
You need at least 60 out of 100 to be eligible. Places go by ranking, and on a tie the younger applicant comes first. Eligible applicants who miss a place can join the clearance procedure if places remain after enrolment. [1]
Places and 2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27 there were 40 places: 35 for non-EU citizens living abroad and 5 for Italian, EU and EU-equivalent applicants. [1]
- Intake 1, non-EU applicants living abroad only: 30 places. Applications ran from 9 March to 1 pm on 7 April 2026, with rankings on 7 May 2026.
- Intake 2, open to everyone: 5 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, plus any left from intake 1, and 5 for Italian, EU and EU-equivalent applicants. Applications ran from 8 April to 1 pm on 8 June 2026, with rankings on 7 July 2026.
A later extraordinary selection, held only if places remain, is open only to Italian, EU and EU-equivalent applicants. Each application covers one intake. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Applying before you graduate
For 2026/27, students still finishing their degree could apply if they had at least 145 ECTS credits by the deadline of their intake. They had to graduate by 31 December 2026, or they lost their place, even if already enrolled. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
The application is made on Studenti Online, and one application also covers later selections under the same call. Incomplete applications are not considered. You upload, in PDF: [1]
- A transcript of records in English, with the credits and mark for each exam (or the workload, if your system does not use ECTS), the total years of the course and any exams still to pass.
- A portfolio of your work, stating your own contribution to shared projects.
- Documented internships or extracurricular work, with declarations from the employer in the original language and in English giving your role, main activities and dates.
- A detailed CV in English.
- Your English certificate.
- Your passport, and your residence permit if you already have one.
You also enter your CGPA, the maximum grade of your system and the minimum grade needed to graduate. Winners enrol and pay the first instalment by the dates in the call. Non-EU applicants living abroad then upload their study visa and residence permit receipt, or the permit itself. Holders of foreign qualifications upload their educational documents, by 26 February 2027 for 2026/27, and show the originals in Bologna. [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.
- University of Bologna. Call for applications for the restricted-access Second Cycle Degree Programme in Architecture and Creative Practices for the City and Landscape (class LM-4, course code 6727), academic year 2026/27, courtesy translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Architecture and Creative Practices for the City and Landscape programme page (degree class, teaching language, access, department and degree director). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Tuition fees and exemptions, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Architecture and Creative Practices for the City and Landscape is a two-year second cycle degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-4-R, Architecture and architectural engineering. It is taught entirely in English in Bologna by the Department of Architecture (DA), is worth 120 ECTS and has restricted access, so places are limited: for 2026/27 there were 40, with 35 reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. Ernesto Antonini is the degree director. [1][2]
The university describes an innovative and advanced approach to architecture that responds creatively to the challenges of urban transformation. It suits architecture graduates who want to work on urban transformation and on the city and its landscape, and the selection scores your portfolio alongside your grades. [1][2]
What you will study
The degree's theme is designing creative, inclusive and sustainable cities. It takes on what the university calls the most challenging topics of European cities, from climate change to cultural integration, and treats the city and its landscape together, as the title says. The course units, with credits and teaching periods, are listed in the course structure diagram on the degree website; we read the 2027/28 version before you apply.
Career paths
The degree aims to form professionals able to cope with the main challenges of European cities, from climate change to cultural integration, through creative, inclusive and sustainable design of cities and landscapes. Professional rules for practising as an architect are set by the country where you want to practise. A laurea magistrale also gives access to PhD programmes.
Fees and scholarships
University of Bologna fees follow family income (ISEE). Without an ISEE you pay the full fees for the degree. For 2026/27, a family ISEE of €27,000 or less meant only the fixed part was due, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [1][3]
Students whose family income and assets are only abroad cannot submit an ISEE and follow the university's separate procedure, and citizens of non-OECD countries in that position may qualify for a reduced flat fee. ER.GO, the Emilia-Romagna right-to-study body, publishes its own yearly call for scholarships and housing, separate from admission. [1][3]
How to apply from outside the EU
Applications are made on Studenti Online with your transcript, portfolio, CV, documented experience and English certificate. For 2026/27, intake 1 was reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad, with 30 places, and closed at 1 pm on 7 April 2026. Intake 2 closed at 1 pm on 8 June 2026, with 5 more non-EU places plus any left from intake 1. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Alongside the application, we file your Universitaly pre-enrolment so you can apply for a study visa. Winners enrol on Studenti Online and pay the first instalment by the dates in the call, then upload their study visa, residence permit receipt and educational documents. For 2026/27 this had to be done by 26 February 2027, and the originals are checked in Bologna after arrival. [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 transcript against Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Studenti Online application with your transcript, portfolio, CV and English certificate, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 degree do I need for Bologna's Architecture and Creative Practices master?
A degree in Architecture Sciences (Italian class L-17) or its equivalent, or another degree that lets a committee recognise the 108 essential credits of that class. Foreign degrees are judged on their content and must give access to similar master's study in the issuing country. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores your academic record from 20 to 40 points, your portfolio from 0 to 40 and other certified research or extracurricular titles from 0 to 20. You need at least 60 out of 100 to be eligible, and places go by ranking. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher. IELTS from 5.5, TOEFL iBT from 72, PTE Academic from GSE 50 and Cambridge FCE are among the accepted proofs. A degree of at least two years (120 ECTS) fully taught in English also counts if your documents state it clearly. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, intake 1 was reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad, with 30 places, and closed at 1 pm on 7 April 2026. Intake 2 closed at 1 pm on 8 June 2026, with 5 non-EU places plus any left from intake 1. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you are close to finishing. For 2026/27, applicants needed at least 145 ECTS credits by their intake deadline and had to graduate by 31 December 2026, or they lost their place even if already enrolled. [1]
I have a B.Arch or a B.Plan. Can I apply?
A B.Arch is an architecture degree, so it is usually the closest match to the 108 essential credits of the Italian architecture class. A B.Plan or a civil engineering degree may cover only part of that core, and the committee judges it on its subjects. We check your transcript first. [1]
What does the portfolio need to show?
Your own work as author or co-author, in PDF, stating your individual contribution to shared projects. The committee scores it from 0 to 40 points for originality and consistency of content, formal quality, argument, communication and language. [1]
What is the focus of the degree?
The university describes an innovative approach to architecture that responds creatively to the challenges of urban transformation, and aims to prepare professionals able to cope with the most challenging topics of European cities. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Architecture and Creative Practices at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Architecture and Creative Practices?
A recognised Indian B.Arch is the closest match to the rule that your degree must cover the 108 essential credits of the Italian architecture class, and the committee also scores your grades and portfolio. You need English at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, portfolio and qualifications assessment, 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 Architecture and Creative Practices are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, portfolio and qualifications assessment, 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 Architecture and Creative Practices are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, portfolio and qualifications assessment, 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 Architecture and Creative Practices are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, portfolio and qualifications assessment, 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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