Master in Architecture at Iuav University of Venice
Two-year English-taught LM-4 master's at Iuav University of Venice, with design studios in sustainable urban design, interiors and exhibition design, and the regeneration of historic buildings. Entry needs 108 architecture credits, B2 English and a video.
Master
2 years
Venice
English
Iuav University of Venice
Architecture is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-4) taught in English at Iuav University of Venice. Entry needs a degree in class L-17 or one covering 108 set architecture credits, English at B2, and at least 60 of 100 points for degree class, grade and a personal video. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Iuav's English-taught Architecture master asks for a degree in class L-17, or a degree that covers 108 set credits in architecture subjects, plus English at B2 and a selection score of at least 60 out of 100 based on your degree class, graduation grade and a personal video. For 2026/27 there were 40 places for non-EU applicants living abroad. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 108-credit rule
You need one of these degrees, or must obtain it by 31 July 2026 for a foreign degree (15 December 2026 for an Italian one): [1]
- An Italian degree in class L-17 (Architecture Sciences).
- The Iuav degree in Scienze dell'architettura (class 4, older regulations).
- Any other university degree or diploma, including a foreign one, that the selection board judges to cover 108 compulsory credits in the areas below.
The 108 credits are split as follows: [1]
- 24 CFU in architectural and urban composition (ICAR/14)
- 16 CFU in history of architecture (ICAR/18)
- 12 CFU in drawing, topography and cartography (ICAR/17, ICAR/06)
- 12 CFU in urban planning (ICAR/20, ICAR/21)
- 12 CFU in technical architecture, construction production and architecture technology (ICAR/10, ICAR/11, ICAR/12)
- 8 CFU in physics or technical physics (FIS/01, ING-IND/10, ING-IND/11)
- 8 CFU in mathematics or computer science (MAT/03, MAT/05 to MAT/09, INF/01, ING-INF/05)
- 8 CFU in geotechnics, building science or construction technique (ICAR/07, ICAR/08, ICAR/09)
- 4 CFU in restoration (ICAR/19)
- 4 CFU in estimo, the valuation of buildings and land (ICAR/22)
If your degree is not from Iuav, or is a foreign degree, the selection board assesses your university career from the documents you upload. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for 25 hours of student work, and the board looks at your subjects, not just your total. [2] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Arch with design studios, history of architecture, drawing, structures, building technology and planning across its years.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering often covers the maths, physics and structures blocks but can fall short on the 24 design credits and 16 history of architecture credits. A B.Planning or a B.Des in interior design may cover design or planning but miss structures, physics or history.
- Often short: a B.Sc., BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely includes architectural design, history of architecture or building technology.
English
English at CEFR level B2. You can prove it with: [1]
- A certificate from a body on the Italian Ministry of University and Research's accredited list.
- A certificate from a university language centre.
- University exams that state the CEFR level reached in all skills.
- A university degree from a course taught entirely in a foreign language, such as English.
Certificates are valid for five years, and self-declarations are checked before they count. [1] The call does not set minimum IELTS or TOEFL scores. In its table of recognised certificates, Iuav's 2026/27 study manifesto places IELTS 5.6 to 7.0 and TOEFL 72 to 94 at level B2. [2]
Selection and ranking
There is no written test. The selection board checks your eligibility, then scores you out of 100: [1]
- Degree class, up to 30 points: L-17 Architecture Sciences 26 to 30, L-7 Civil and Environmental Engineering 21 to 25, L-4 Industrial Design 16 to 20, L-21 Spatial Planning 11 to 15, L-23 Building Sciences 6 to 10, other degrees 1 to 5.
- Graduation grade, up to 20 points: bands on the Italian 110-point scale, from 20 points for 110 with honours down to 1 to 4 points for 66 to 80. Applicants not graduated by 23 February 2026 scored no points here.
- Personal video in English, up to 50 points: up to 3 minutes and 50 MB, with about 1 minute on your motivation and your reasons for choosing Iuav and Venice, then about 2 minutes presenting three projects from your studies, workshops, internships or professional work. It is scored on consistency with the call (up to 20), technical competence (up to 15) and argumentative effectiveness (up to 15).
You need at least 60 points to be considered. Ties go to the younger applicant, then to the higher video score. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27 there were 60 places: 40 for non-EU applicants living abroad and 20 for EU applicants and non-EU applicants legally living in Italy. Applications were due by 13:00 on 23 February 2026. The ranking was published on 13 March 2026, and admitted applicants pre-enrolled and paid the first instalment by 19 March 2026. Vacant places were offered from 23 March 2026. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 April 2026 and show by 31 July 2026 that their visa application had started. Foreign degrees had to be completed by 31 July 2026, and classes started on 28 September 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][3]
Documents and non-EU steps
With the application, applicants with a foreign degree upload: [1]
- An identity document, the B2 English proof and the video.
- The final diploma, or an enrolment certificate with the expected graduation date.
- The transcript of records, which can be partial, or the Diploma Supplement.
- An English or Italian translation if the originals are in another language.
A Declaration of Value or CIMEA verification is not needed to apply. Foreign-degree holders enrol between 1 August and 15 October 2026, and non-EU applicants living abroad also need the study entry visa and a residence permit or its application receipt. At that stage Iuav may request a Declaration of Value, a Statement of Comparability and CIMEA verification, or legalisation or apostille. [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.
- Iuav University of Venice. Rectoral decree: selective procedures for admission to the master's degree programme in Architecture (class LM-4), academic year 2026/27, English translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Iuav University of Venice, Department of Culture of the Project. Study manifesto, master's degree programme in Architecture (class LM-4), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Iuav University of Venice. Master's degree in Architecture programme page, admission requirements page and admission procedures page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Iuav University of Venice. Tuition fees and contributions, and fee reductions and exemptions pages, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
The Master in Architecture is a two-year laurea magistrale in class LM-4 at Iuav University of Venice, taught entirely in English and worth 120 ECTS. It has 60 places, and the coordinator is Luca Velo. Iuav also runs a separate Italian-taught architecture master, so the application needs to be for the English one.
The course trains architectural designers and thinkers who can work as independent, inventive practitioners. It treats design and planning as readings of space and its history, with attention to landscape conservation and environmental, economic and social sustainability.
What you will study
The 2026/27 study plan follows a single common path over four semesters, built around large design studios:
- Sustainable Urban Design and Performance (18 ECTS)
- Architecture, Interior and Creative Exhibition Design (16 ECTS)
- Regeneration and Conservation of Historic Buildings (18 ECTS)
- Theories of the City and History of Contemporary Architecture
- Theory and History of Representational Methods
- Heritage and Project, and Analysis and Theory of Architecture
- Sustainable Property Investment and Valuation, and City Dynamics and Economics
How the programme is taught
Attendance of at least 70% is required. The plan includes a 4-credit internship of 100 hours, in-house, with partner organisations or abroad, 8 credits of electives such as workshops or study trips, and 14 credits for the thesis, including a visual and narrative thesis seminar.
Career paths
Graduates work at national and international level in:
- Architecture firms
- Public institutions
- Construction companies
- Urban and regional planning
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, Iuav fees follow family income (ISEE). An ISEE of €26,000 or less with the merit requirement gives full exemption from tuition, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. With income abroad we help you request an ISEE parificato or, if that cannot be calculated, a flat rate based on your country's World Bank group. [4] Study@Iuav offers 10 fee waivers for this master.
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply on the Iuav Online Desk with a personal video in English. For 2026/27 the deadline was 23 February 2026 and the ranking was published on 13 March 2026. Admitted applicants then pre-enrolled and paid the first instalment by 19 March 2026. Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 30 April 2026, followed by the study visa application, and proof that visa procedures had started was due by 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 call is not published yet. [1][3]
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 Iuav's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your personal English video, pre-enrolment after the ranking and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional 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 bachelor's degree do I need for Iuav's Architecture master?
A degree in class L-17, or another degree, including a foreign one, that the selection board judges to cover 108 set credits, including 24 in architectural and urban composition and 16 in history of architecture. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. You are scored out of 100 on your degree class (up to 30), graduation grade (up to 20) and a personal video in English (up to 50), and you need at least 60 points to be considered. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. The call accepts certificates from accredited bodies, university exams that state the CEFR level, or a degree taught entirely in a foreign language. It sets no IELTS score, though Iuav's study manifesto places IELTS 5.6 to 7.0 at B2. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, every applicant had to apply by 23 February 2026, and non-EU applicants living abroad then completed Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 April 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You apply with an enrolment certificate showing your expected graduation date, and for 2026/27 foreign degrees had to be completed by 31 July 2026. Applicants not graduated by 23 February 2026 scored no points for graduation grade. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Civil Engineering or a B.Des. Can I apply?
Possibly. The board checks whether your courses cover the 108 credits. Civil engineering degrees often cover maths, physics and structures but can fall short on architectural design and history, and design degrees can miss structures and physics. We check your transcript against each block. [1]
What goes into the application video?
Up to 3 minutes in English: about 1 minute on why you want to be an architect and why you chose Iuav and Venice, then about 2 minutes presenting three projects from your studies, workshops, internships or work, with images. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 there were 60 places: 40 for non-EU applicants living abroad and 20 for EU applicants and non-EU applicants legally living in Italy. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Architecture at Iuav?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Iuav's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional 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 Architecture?
A B.Arch, or another degree whose courses cover Iuav's 108 set credits in architectural design, history, drawing, planning, building technology and structures, can meet the degree rule, and you also need English at B2. Engineering and design degrees need a careful credit check. The steps are the online application with your video, pre-enrolment after the ranking 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 are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application with a personal English video, pre-enrolment after the ranking 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 are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application with a personal English video, pre-enrolment after the ranking 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 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: online application with a personal English video, pre-enrolment after the ranking 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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