Master in Architecture - Regeneration of Built Environment at The University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
Two-year English-taught LM-4 architecture master at Vanvitelli in Aversa on regenerating existing buildings and urban fabric. Entry needs L-17 architecture credits and B2 English; places go by degree grades.
Master
2 years
Naples
English
The University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
ARBE (Architecture, Regeneration of Built Environment) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-4) taught in English at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Aversa. Entry needs an architecture bachelor's (class L-17) or 108 essential L-17 credits, English at B2 and, for foreign applicants, Italian at B2. Places go by degree grades. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Vanvitelli's ARBE master asks for a bachelor's in Architectural Science (class L-17) or a degree with at least 108 credits in the essential L-17 subject areas, English at B2 and, for foreign applicants, Italian at B2. Places are filled by a ranking of degree grades, with no entrance exam. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirement
You need a bachelor's in Architectural Science (class L-17, or the older class 4) from an Italian university, or an equivalent degree obtained abroad. [2] A degree in another class qualifies only if it includes at least 108 credits in the essential L-17 subject areas set by Ministerial Decree 1648 of 19 December 2023: [1][2]
- 44 basic credits: 8 in computer science and mathematics, 8 in technical physics and building services, 16 in architectural history and 12 in representation and surveying.
- 64 core credits: 20 in architectural and urban design, 4 in architectural, interior and landscape design, 4 in restoration, 8 in structures, 12 in urban planning, 12 in technological design and 4 in valuation.
Any missing credits block enrolment. A foreign degree must also give access to the next level of study in its own country, and the programme council checks it with the same criteria used for Italian degrees. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and Vanvitelli compares your subjects with each L-17 area, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Arch, the degree closest to an Italian architecture bachelor's.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering, a B.Planning or a B.Des in interior or spatial design. These can cover structures, planning or technology, but often hold fewer of the 20 design, 16 history and 12 representation credits.
- Often short: a B.Sc., BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, where few subjects fall in the L-17 areas.
Your degree grades also decide your place in the ranking. [2]
English and Italian
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. You can send a certificate from the call's list of recognised certificates by the call deadline, issued within three years before your application. [1][2] The list includes Cambridge First (FCE), Trinity GESE grades 7 to 9, IELTS 6 and TOEFL iBT 87 to 109, but IELTS and TOEFL holders must take at least one oral exam. Without a certificate, you take the university's English test, which in 2026/27 was held online on 30 September 2026. [2][5]
Foreign applicants also need Italian at B2, shown by a certificate or the university's Italian test, held online on the same day in 2026/27. [2][5] Under the regulations, students admitted below B2 follow the university's free Rosetta Stone Italian courses and must pass an exit test. [1]
Selection and ranking
The 2026/27 call was a selection based only on academic qualifications, with no entrance exam. A committee ranked applicants by the grade point average of their L-17 or equivalent foreign degree, or by the final degree grade for degrees in other classes, and a tie went to the younger candidate. [2]
Non-EU applicants living abroad had a separate ranking for their 15 places, out of 65 in total. If applications are fewer than places, every eligible applicant can enrol. [2] After enrolment, a test checks your preparation, and any gaps lead to extra recovery work in the courses concerned. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, applications opened on 22 June 2026 and closed at 23:59 on 28 September 2026, and the €10 application fee was due by the same time. Every requirement, including your degree, had to be met by that deadline. [2] The English and Italian tests took place on 30 September 2026, and the final rankings came out on 6 October 2026. Ranked students enrolled from 7 to 16 October 2026, and vacant places went to the next candidates from 19 October. [2][5]
The 2027/28 call is not yet published, and it will set the new dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
Non-EU applicants living abroad must appear on the list of Universitaly pre-enrolment applications for ARBE and be judged eligible by the department's committee. [1][2] Applicants with a foreign degree also send, by the call deadline: [2]
- Their degree, legalised by the Italian embassy or accompanied by an ENIC-NARIC certificate such as a CIMEA verification certificate.
- A declaration of value from the Italian embassy, an ENIC-NARIC certificate, or a Diploma Supplement where one is issued.
- A legalised transcript of exams with the syllabus for each subject.
- Certified translations of these documents if they are not in Italian or English.
Once ranked, you enrol online by uploading your ID, Italian tax code, signed enrolment application and the receipt for the first instalment. [2]
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 Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Architecture and Industrial Design. Teaching regulations, Master's degree in Architecture, Regeneration of Built Environment (LM-4), approved May 2026 for academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli. Call for applications for admission to the two-year Master's degree in Architecture, Regeneration of the Built Environment, academic year 2026/27, with its table of recognised English certificates and table of L-17 credit requirements. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Architecture and Industrial Design. Architecture, Regeneration of Built Environment programme page (language, access, double degrees, location and career outlets). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Architecture and Industrial Design. ARBE study plan, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli. ARBE admissions page, academic year 2026/27: English and Italian language test notices and final rankings. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Architecture - Regeneration of Built Environment (ARBE) is a two-year laurea magistrale in class LM-4 (architecture and architectural engineering), worth 120 ECTS and entirely taught in English. [1]
It is run by the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design of the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Aversa. [3] Places are limited, and in 2026/27 they were filled by a ranking based only on academic qualifications, with no entrance exam. Attendance of at least 70% is required for every course. [1][2]
The course trains architects to answer climate change and the need to stop land consumption by redesigning, recovering and reusing what already exists, especially buildings and urban fabric from the second half of the twentieth century. [1]
It follows European Directive 2013/55/EU on architecture training and has received European recognition. [1]
What you will study
The plan integrates architectural and urban design, history, structures, energy and environmental design, urban planning and heritage restoration. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [4]
- History of the City in the 20th Century
- Innovative Techniques for Surveying and Representation
- Structural Assessment of Existing Buildings
- Advanced Technologies for Built Environment
- Architectural Design for Building Recovery and Reuse, with a design workshop (12 ECTS)
- Energy and Environmental Design and Control of Built Environment
- Recovery and Preservation of Built Heritage
- Planning Strategies for Sustainable Urban Regeneration, and Urban Law and Regeneration Policies
- Economic Evaluation in Building and Urban Regeneration, and Architectural Design for Built Environment Regeneration (12 ECTS)
The second year also includes 6 ECTS of computer skills and an 8 ECTS optional exam, which must be taught in English. [1][4]
How the programme is taught
Teaching mixes lectures, design workshops and seminars, held in person, and online delivery is capped at 20% of credits, excluding practical and workshop activities. Attendance is compulsory for at least 70% of hours. [1] The second year includes a 6 ECTS training course with an approved host organisation in Italy or abroad, and closes with an 8 ECTS final exam: an original design or research thesis presented in English. [1][4]
The course page lists double degrees with Okan University in Istanbul and East China Normal University in Shanghai. [3] In the 2026/27 call, five places for EU applicants and non-EU applicants living in Italy were set aside to spend the second year at East China Normal University. [2]
Career paths
The degree gives access to section A of the Italian register of architects after the professional state exam. [1]
Graduates can take on senior roles in public institutions, public and private authorities, and design studios working on construction, the recovery and transformation of existing buildings, and urban regeneration. [1]
Fees and scholarships
Vanvitelli's yearly fees manifesto sets tuition and contributions by band, so we check it for your intake. To enrol in 2026/27, students paid a first instalment that included a €16 virtual stamp and the regional tax, which varies with your ISEE family income value. [2]
ADISURC manages regional scholarships and residences in Campania, and the course can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
ARBE has its own yearly call for admission. For 2026/27 it offered 65 places, 15 of them reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad. [2]
For 2026/27, applications opened on 22 June 2026 and closed at 23:59 on 28 September 2026, with a €10 fee. Applicants without language certificates took online English and Italian tests on 30 September 2026, and the final rankings came out on 6 October 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [2][5]
Non-EU applicants living abroad must appear on the list of Universitaly pre-enrolment applications for ARBE and be judged eligible by the department's committee, and they send their legalised degree documents by the call deadline. [1][2] Once the university approves the Universitaly pre-enrolment, you apply for a type D study visa.
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 Vanvitelli's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Universitaly pre-enrolment, the online application with your degree documents and your language certificates.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ADISURC Campania 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 the ARBE master at Vanvitelli?
A bachelor's in Architectural Science (class L-17, or the older class 4) or an equivalent foreign degree. Other degrees need at least 108 credits in the essential L-17 subject areas, and any missing credits block enrolment. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. The 2026/27 call was a selection based only on academic qualifications. Applicants were ranked by the grade average of their architecture degree, or by the final degree grade for other classes, with ties going to the younger candidate. [2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. The 2026/27 call listed IELTS 6 and TOEFL iBT 87 to 109 as B2, but holders of these two certificates must take at least one oral exam. Without a certificate, you take the university's online English test. [2][5]
Do I need to speak Italian?
Foreign applicants must show Italian at B2, by a certificate or the university's Italian test. Under the regulations, students admitted below B2 follow free online Italian courses and must pass an exit test. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, applications ran from 22 June to 23:59 on 28 September 2026, and the €10 fee was due by the same time. Non-EU applicants abroad also needed Universitaly pre-enrolment. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Only if you graduate in time. The 2026/27 call required every admission requirement, including your degree, to be met by the application deadline of 28 September 2026. [2]
I have a B.Tech in Civil Engineering or a B.Planning. Can I apply?
Possibly, but check carefully. You need at least 108 credits across the L-17 areas, including 20 in architectural and urban design, 16 in architectural history and 12 in representation, so engineering or planning degrees often fall short. [2]
Can I earn a double degree?
The course page lists double degrees with Okan University in Istanbul and East China Normal University in Shanghai. In 2026/27, five students from the EU or living in Italy could spend the second year in Shanghai, chosen by ranking. [2][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to ARBE at Vanvitelli?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Vanvitelli's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ADISURC Campania 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 ARBE?
An Indian B.Arch is the closest match, as long as its subjects cover the 108 essential credits of an Italian architecture bachelor's (class L-17). You need English at B2 and Italian at B2, by certificate or test, and your degree grades decide your ranking. The steps are Universitaly pre-enrolment, the committee's eligibility check and the online application. [1][2] 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 ARBE are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Universitaly pre-enrolment, the department committee's eligibility check and the online application, 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 ARBE are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Universitaly pre-enrolment, the department committee's eligibility check and the online application. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: Universitaly pre-enrolment, the department committee's eligibility check and the online application, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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