Master in Automation Engineering at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught master at the University of Bologna in control, robotics, mechatronics and real-time systems, with two curricula and double degree options with Tongji University and the University of Stuttgart.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Automation Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-25) taught in English at the University of Bologna. Entry needs an engineering, physics, computer science or maths degree with set credits in maths, physics, automatic control and mechanics or computing, a final mark of 94/110 (or 90/110 with extra core credits) and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Automation Engineering master asks for a degree in engineering, physics, computer science or mathematics with set credits in maths and physics, automatic control and mechanics, drives or computing, a final mark of at least 94/110 (or 90/110 with extra core credits) and English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a first-cycle degree in Italian classes L-7, L-8, L-9, L-30, L-31 or L-35 (engineering, physics, computer science and mathematics) or a recognised foreign qualification, with at least: [2]
- 36 CFU in mathematics and physics (sectors MAT/02, 03, 05, 06, 07 and 08, FIS/01 and FIS/03)
- 6 CFU in automatic control (ING-INF/04)
- 12 CFU in applied mechanics, electric drives or computer engineering (ING-IND/13, ING-IND/32 and ING-INF/05)
For a foreign degree, the same rule applies if the Degree Programme Board can identify the subject area and credits of each exam. Otherwise it assesses your whole academic career and expects in-depth knowledge of automatic control, mechanics, computer science and electric drives. [2]
Grades
A committee checks that your preparation is adequate. Graduates need at least one of the following: [2]
- a final mark of at least 94/110
- a final mark of at least 90/110, plus at least 42 ECTS in ING-IND/13, ING-IND/32 and ING-INF/04, 30 ECTS in ING-INF/01, ING-INF/04 and ING-INF/05, and 24 ECTS in MAT/07, ING-IND/14, ING-IND/31 and ING-IND/35
Applicants still finishing their degree need at least 150 ECTS and a weighted average of at least 25/30, or at least 24/30 with the same three credit blocks. Foreign marks are converted to the Italian scale where the systems are comparable; otherwise the Board assesses the transcript case by case. [2]
What this means for your transcript
Foreign credits are not CFU, so the Board maps each exam to a subject area. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation or Mechatronics Engineering with a control systems course, solid maths and physics, and a strong final average.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Computer Science or IT, or a B.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics, which often lack the 6 credits in automatic control; a Mechanical B.Tech, where control and computing credits decide; and averages close to the 94/110 line.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which usually lack the maths, physics and control credits.
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher. The programme lists IELTS (5.5 to 6.5), TOEFL iBT (72 to 94), PTE Academic (59 to 75), Cambridge First, Trinity ISE II, TOEIC with set section scores, and a B2 result from the University of Bologna language centre or another Italian university language centre. English or MOI certificates issued by foreign universities are not accepted. [2]
You are exempt if you hold a degree of at least two years (120 ECTS) taught fully in English in an EU or EEA country, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland or another country on the university's list, with English shown on the transcript. [2]
Assessment and Italian
There is no entrance test and no cap on places. A committee checks your documents and gives a result of admitted or not admitted. An Italian certificate is optional and encouraged: without one, your study plan includes a learning activity taught in Italian. [1][2]
2026/27 deadlines
- Intake 1 (non-EU applicants only): 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026, results by 10 February 2026.
- Intake 2: 15 January to 25 February 2026, results by 24 March 2026.
- Intake 3: 26 February to 9 April 2026, results by 12 May 2026.
- Intake 4: 10 April to 28 May 2026, results by 30 June 2026.
- Intake 5: 29 May to 2 July 2026, results by 21 July 2026.
Non-EU applicants living abroad could apply until 2 July 2026, and intakes 6 to 8 were for EU and equivalent applicants only. Applicants not admitted in intake 1 could try again later, but from intake 2 on a refusal was final for the year. Graduating applicants had to graduate by 31 December 2026. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
On Studenti Online you upload your degree certificate or transcript, translated into Italian or English, with the Diploma Supplement where available, plus your passport, English certificate and CV. The call does not mention an application fee. [1]
Admitted non-EU applicants living abroad pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa. At enrolment they upload their qualification and visa, foreign documents are checked for translation, authenticity and value where required, and originals are shown on arrival. Career activation had to be completed by 26 February 2027. [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, Engineering and Computer Science departments. Admission notice for second cycle degree programmes including Automation Engineering (LM-25, code 6711), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Automation Engineering programme website, How to enrol page: curricular requirements, admission assessment and English certificates, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Automation Engineering is a two-year master's degree in class LM-25, taught entirely in English in Bologna by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi" (DEI).
It is worth 120 ECTS and has open access, so admission depends on meeting the curricular requirements and passing a committee's check of your grades, rather than a ranking.
The degree builds interdisciplinary skills where automatic machines, autonomous systems, robotics, mechatronics and mechanical engineering meet.
It combines systems theory, optimisation, distributed computing, computer vision, real-time software and artificial intelligence, and suits engineering, physics, computer science or maths graduates who want to design complex automated systems.
What you will study
Students choose one of two curricula: Automation Engineering, or Autonomous Systems and Intelligent Robots.
The Automation Engineering curriculum ends with a 21 ECTS final examination that can be combined with an internship; the robotics curriculum includes a 6 ECTS internship. Units in the 2026/27 study plans include:
- System Theory and Advanced Control
- Industrial Robotics
- Learning and Estimation of Dynamical Systems
- Real Time Systems and Programming
- Mechanics of Machines for Automation
- Modeling and Simulation of Mechatronic Systems
- Optimal Control and Reinforcement Learning
- Project Management and Entrepreneurship (Autonomous Systems and Intelligent Robots)
How the programme is taught
The course works closely with high-tech industrial companies.
It offers double degrees with Tongji University in Shanghai (AlmaTong programme, second year in China) and with the University of Stuttgart, where up to five selected students a year spend their second year on the Engineering Cybernetics master's.
The robotics curriculum is also linked to the SPECTRO double degree within EIT Digital.
Career paths
The official profiles describe two roles: a senior automation engineer expert in processing and control systems, and a senior automation engineer expert in industrial automation who leads projects on automated mechanical systems. Employers listed include:
- Automation component and robotics manufacturers
- Automotive and energy production companies
- Food processing and packaging machinery firms, strong in Emilia-Romagna's Packaging Valley
- Engineering firms and research centres
Graduates can also move on to a PhD.
Fees and scholarships
Master's fees follow the same income rule as the rest of the university.
Students with a family ISEE of €27,000 or less are in the lowest band, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Family income abroad is declared through ER.GO, the regional body that also awards scholarships.
Non-OECD citizens can choose a flat fee instead, with a lower rate for citizens of particularly poor countries.
How to apply from outside the EU
Applications run on Studenti Online in several intakes, with no application fee in the call.
For 2026/27, intake 1 was reserved to non-EU applicants (27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026, results by 10 February 2026), and non-EU applicants living abroad could apply until the end of intake 5 on 2 July 2026.
We upload your transcript, English B2 certificate, CV and ID. The 2027/28 call is not yet published.
After admission we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you apply for a type D study visa. An Italian certificate is not needed to apply; students without one fulfil the Italian requirement during the degree.
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, English certificate and CV, 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 bachelor's degree do I need for Automation Engineering at Bologna?
A degree in engineering, physics, computer science or mathematics, or a recognised foreign equivalent, with at least 36 credits in maths and physics, 6 in automatic control and 12 in applied mechanics, electric drives or computer engineering. [2]
What grades do I need?
Graduates need a final mark of at least 94/110, or 90/110 with large credit blocks in control, mechanics, electronics and computing. Graduating applicants need 150 ECTS and an average of 25/30. Foreign marks are converted where comparable, otherwise assessed case by case. [2]
Is there an entrance test?
No. Access is open with no cap on places. A committee checks your degree, credits and grades from the documents you upload and marks you admitted or not admitted. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. The programme lists IELTS (5.5 to 6.5), TOEFL iBT (72 to 94), PTE Academic (59 to 75) and Cambridge First, among others. MOI letters from foreign universities are not accepted, so most applicants from India need a test certificate. [2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply in intakes 1 to 5, from 27 November 2025 until 2 July 2026. Intake 1 was reserved for non-EU applicants and allowed a second try if refused. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, with at least 150 ECTS and a weighted average of at least 25/30, or 24/30 with the required credit blocks. Non-European degrees are assessed case by case. For 2026/27 you had to graduate by 31 December 2026. [1][2]
I have a B.Tech in Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. A Computer Science B.Tech often covers the computing credits but may lack the 6 credits in automatic control, and a Mechanical B.Tech may lack control or computing credits. We map each exam against the credit rule before you apply. [2]
Which curricula can I choose?
Two: Automation Engineering, and Autonomous Systems and Intelligent Robots. Both cover control, robotics and learning for dynamical systems; the second adds project management, production optimisation and a compulsory 6 ECTS internship.
Can someone handle my whole application to Automation Engineering 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 Automation Engineering?
A B.Tech or B.E. in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation or Mechanical Engineering can meet the rule if it includes 36 credits in maths and physics, a control systems course and 12 credits in mechanics, drives or computing, with a strong final mark. MOI letters do not count for English. The steps are the Studenti Online application, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [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 Automation Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in an intake open to non-EU applicants, committee 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 Automation Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in an intake open to non-EU applicants, committee 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 Automation Engineering 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 an intake open to non-EU applicants, committee 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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