Master in Architecture (Conservation) at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year LM-4 architecture master at Sapienza in Rome with a fully English curriculum in conservation: historical research, survey, structural consolidation, design studios and urban regeneration. Entry needs 108 set architecture credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rome
Multiple
Sapienza University of Rome
Architecture (Conservation) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-4) at Sapienza University of Rome, with an English curriculum alongside an Italian one. Entry needs a degree in Italian classes L-17, L-23 or L-7 or a foreign equivalent with 108 set architecture credits, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Architecture (Conservation) master asks for a degree in Italian classes L-17, L-23 or L-7, or a recognised foreign equivalent, with 108 credits in set architecture subjects, English at B2 and a check of your personal preparation. Non-EU visa applicants also need a pre-acceptance letter. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
The 108-credit rule
You need a degree in class L-17, L-23 or L-7 (or classes 4 or 8 under the older Italian system), or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable. Your degree must include 108 CFU in these areas: [1]
- Architectural and urban design: 20 CFU (ICAR/14)
- History of architecture: 16 CFU (ICAR/18)
- Representation: 12 CFU (ICAR/06 or ICAR/17)
- Urban design and territorial planning: 12 CFU (ICAR/20 or ICAR/21)
- Architectural technology: 12 CFU (ICAR/10, ICAR/11 or ICAR/12)
- Computing, information processing and mathematics: 8 CFU (INF/01, ING-INF/05 or MAT/02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08 or 09)
- Physics, building physics and building services: 8 CFU (FIS/01, ING-IND/10 or ING-IND/11)
- Structures: 8 CFU (ICAR/07, ICAR/08 or ICAR/09)
- Architectural, interior and landscape design: 4 CFU (ICAR/14, ICAR/15 or ICAR/16)
- Architectural restoration: 4 CFU (ICAR/19)
- Valuation for architecture and urban planning: 4 CFU (ICAR/22)
The call also lists having passed the compulsory national admission test for degree programmes that train architects, as regulated each year by the Italian Ministry; we check how this applies to a foreign degree. Missing credits can be made up through single examinations, which must be passed before the personal preparation check. [1]
For the 2026/27 MoveIN pre-selection, which visa applicants go through, Sapienza listed a bachelor's degree in architecture of at least three years and a minimum GPA of 70 out of 100. Preferred topics were architectural conservation and restoration, survey and drawing, architectural or building technology, history of architecture and building, and urban design. [2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and Sapienza looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Arch with design studios and courses in history, representation, structures and technology.
- Check carefully: the smaller blocks in a B.Arch, such as 4 credits in restoration, 4 in valuation and 8 in maths or computing; and a B.E. or B.Tech in Civil Engineering, which matches a class the call names but often lacks the design and history credits.
- Often short: a B.Plan, B.Des or interior design degree, which can fall short on the 20 design credits, the 16 history credits or the structures and technology blocks.
English
English at CEFR B2, certified or self-certified, is an entry requirement. [1] For the 2026/27 pre-selection, Sapienza accepted IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge B2 First or Trinity ISE II, or higher. The test was waived for native speakers, for holders of an International Baccalaureate, GCSE or comparable diploma, and for graduates of English-taught degrees from accredited institutions in the EU, EEA or Schengen area, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US or another country on the university's list. [2]
Eligibility check and personal preparation
The eligibility check is requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33430). Sapienza then assesses your personal preparation by analysing your CV and the content of the courses you took, against the knowledge needed to start the degree. You can enrol only after Sapienza emails a positive outcome of both checks. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Eligibility checks opened on 2 July 2026. Non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa had one date: 15 September 2026. Other applicants could choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 was reserved for Sapienza graduates. [1]
Visa applicants also had to apply on the MoveIN pre-selection by 15 May 2026 and complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026. [2][3]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduate by 19 December 2026 (other Italian or international universities) or 23 January 2027 (Sapienza). The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad
Non-EU citizens living abroad who need a student visa and choose the English curriculum must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's online pre-selection. Those choosing the Italian curriculum do not need the letter but must prove Italian at B2. [1]
To enrol, international students send the required documents to Sapienza's International Students Office and pay the fees once the documents are checked. For a foreign bachelor's degree these include the original and an official sworn translation into Italian or English, plus a CIMEA statement of comparability and verification, or a legalised or apostilled declaration of value or Diploma Supplement. [3]
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.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture. Admission procedure for the Master's degree programme in Architettura (Restauro) / Architecture (Conservation) (LM-4), academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33430. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome. Online pre-selection for international students (MoveIN), academic requirements by programme, academic year 2026-2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, International Students Office. Admission and enrolment procedures for international students, academic year 2026-2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Architecture (Conservation) programme page (degree class, languages, duration, faculty and department). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Architecture (Conservation) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-4, worth 120 ECTS, in Sapienza's Faculty of Architecture, run by the Department of History, Representation and Restoration of Architecture in Rome. It has two curricula: Architettura (Restauro) in Italian and Architecture (Conservation), taught fully in English. This page describes the English curriculum. [1][4]
The degree develops a specific sensitivity to how architects intervene on built heritage, together with the quality of new design in existing settings. It combines design, the humanities and technical and scientific subjects. It suits architecture graduates who want to specialise in restoring, reusing and upgrading historic buildings and urban areas.
What you will study
In the Architecture (Conservation) curriculum every unit is taught in English. The first year builds historical research, survey and structural knowledge; the second year centres on conservation design studios, project economics and urban regeneration. Units in the study plan include:
- Tools and Methods for Historical Research
- Architectural Survey
- Structural Engineering of Ancient and Modern Buildings
- Structural Consolidation and HVAC Plant in Historical Buildings
- Technological Design for the Architectural Requalification
- Conservation Design Studio
- Economic Evaluation of Projects
- Urban Regeneration and Cultural Heritage Regulatory Framework
How the programme is taught
Design studios run through both years: Design Studio 1 and 2 and the Conservation Design Studio, each worth 10 ECTS. The course aims to build historical-critical analysis, design and execution skills for both new work and restoration, and fluency in at least one EU language besides Italian. It closes with a final test worth 12 ECTS.
Career paths
The professional profile is the architect, with technical roles based on direct knowledge of a building and its diagnostics, and design roles in structures, architecture, building services and urban planning. The university lists these employers:
- Professional practices and design firms
- Construction companies
- Ministries, regions and local authorities that manage the territory
- Superintendencies for cultural, environmental and archaeological heritage
- Bodies and companies that control environmental impact
Fees and scholarships
Sapienza sets tuition by family income (ISEE). The regional scholarship body for Rome is DiSCo Lazio, and its scholarship winners also get a tuition waiver, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The region decides scholarship awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
There is no entrance test or fixed number of places. Sapienza checks your degree class and your credits by subject, then reviews your CV and the content of your courses. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants needing a visa had to request this check through Infostud between 2 July and 15 September 2026. [1][3]
Before that you need a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's online pre-selection on MoveIN. For 2026/27, visa applicants had to apply there by 15 May 2026, with a minimum GPA of 70 out of 100, and complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026 before requesting a type D study visa. At enrolment Sapienza asks for a CIMEA statement, or a declaration of value or Diploma Supplement, for your bachelor's degree, with an official translation into Italian or English. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2][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 Sapienza's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your MoveIN pre-selection application, Universitaly pre-enrolment and eligibility check request.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DiSCo Lazio 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 Sapienza's Architecture (Conservation) master?
A degree in Italian classes L-17, L-23 or L-7, or a foreign degree recognised as suitable, with 108 credits in set areas, including 20 in architectural and urban design, 16 in history of architecture and 12 in representation. For the 2026/27 MoveIN pre-selection, Sapienza listed a bachelor's in architecture of at least three years. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No entrance test for this master. Sapienza checks your credits, then reviews your CV and the content of your courses to assess your personal preparation. Visa applicants also go through the MoveIN pre-selection, which for 2026/27 set a minimum GPA of 70 out of 100. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. For the 2026/27 pre-selection, Sapienza accepted IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge B2 First or Trinity ISE II, or higher. Native speakers, IB or GCSE holders and graduates of English-taught degrees from the EU, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand or another listed country were exempt. We check whether your documents qualify. [2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, visa applicants had to apply on the MoveIN pre-selection by 15 May 2026, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026 and request the eligibility check by 15 September 2026, their only date. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][2][3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. For 2026/27, applicants finishing a degree at another Italian or international university could request the eligibility check but had to graduate by 19 December 2026. [1]
I have a civil engineering degree or a B.Plan. Can I apply?
Possibly, but check carefully. Civil engineering matches a class the call names, yet you still need 20 credits in architectural design, 16 in history of architecture and 12 in representation, and the 2026/27 MoveIN pre-selection asked for an architecture bachelor's. B.Plan graduates can fall short on design and history. [1][2]
What if I am missing some credits?
You can make them up by passing single examinations at Sapienza, under its rules on single exams. The call says these extra credits must be earned before the check of your personal preparation, so we map any gaps early. [1]
Is the master taught in English?
Sapienza lists the degree in Italian and English. It covers Architettura (Restauro) in Italian and Architecture (Conservation) in English, and non-EU visa applicants who choose the English curriculum need a pre-acceptance letter. Those choosing the Italian curriculum need Italian at B2 instead. [1][4]
Can someone handle my whole application to Architecture (Conservation) at Sapienza?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Sapienza's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DiSCo Lazio 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 (Conservation)?
A recognised Indian B.Arch is the closest fit, provided its subjects cover the 108 credits Sapienza lists, from 20 in architectural design to 16 in history of architecture, and you need English at B2. The steps are the MoveIN pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check. [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 Architecture (Conservation) are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: MoveIN pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check, 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 (Conservation) are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: MoveIN pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check. 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 (Conservation) 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: MoveIN pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check, 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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