Master in Automotive Engineering at Polytechnic University of Turin
Two-year English-taught LM-33 master's at Politecnico di Torino in vehicle propulsion, electrification, driver assistance, product development and automotive manufacturing, with four second-year tracks. Entry needs 100 subject credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Turin
English
Polytechnic University of Turin
Automotive Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-33) taught in English at Politecnico di Torino in Turin. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 40 credits in maths, physics, chemistry and computing and 60 in listed mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering subjects, plus English at B2 (IELTS 5.5). Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliTo's Automotive Engineering master asks for a three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign degree after at least 15 years of education, with at least 40 credits in maths, physics, chemistry and computing and 60 in listed mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering subjects, plus certified English at B2, your course syllabus and a positive academic evaluation. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the two credit groups
You need a three-year bachelor's degree or university diploma, or a qualification earned outside Italy and recognised as suitable. A foreign degree must come from an accredited or recognised university after at least 15 years of total education, counting primary school, secondary school and university. Your previous studies must also include: [1]
- At least 40 credits in basic subjects: chemistry fundamentals (CHIM/07), physics (FIS/01 and FIS/03), computer engineering (ING-INF/05) and mathematics (MAT/02, MAT/03 and MAT/05).
- At least 60 credits in engineering subjects: fluid machines (ING-IND/08), applied thermodynamics (ING-IND/10), mechanical and thermal measurements (ING-IND/12), applied mechanics (ING-IND/13), mechanical design and design methods (ING-IND/14 and 15), manufacturing technologies (ING-IND/16), metallurgy and materials science (ING-IND/21 and 22), electrical engineering and electrical machines and drives (ING-IND/31 and 32), management engineering (ING-IND/35) and electronics (ING-INF/01).
Credits in a subject area that appears in both groups count first towards the basic group, and the rest count towards the second group. The rule is unchanged from the 2025/26 regulations. [1][5]
Students in a five or six-year single-cycle degree who have not graduated can apply if they have at least 15 years of total education, 3 of them at university, and at least 180 ECTS. For 2026/27, the recommended background is automotive, mechanical or electrical engineering, or another industrial engineering field such as aerospace, biomedical, chemical, materials, energy or industrial engineering and management. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian credits and the credits on a foreign transcript are not always the same unit, and PoliTo's professors judge your subjects from your transcript and course syllabus, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Automobile, Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering, which usually carries maths, physics, chemistry and programming plus many credits in thermal, design, manufacturing and applied mechanics subjects.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Electrical, Aerospace, Metallurgical and Materials or Mechatronics Engineering. Electrical, aerospace and materials degrees are on the recommended list, but the 60 credits in the listed subjects need checking course by course.
- Often short: a B.Tech in Computer Science, IT, Electronics and Communication or Civil Engineering, a BCA or a B.Sc., which can cover the basic group but rarely reach 60 credits in the listed mechanical, electrical and industrial subjects.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely carries the maths, science or engineering credits for either group.
If you lack up to 10 credits, the programme lead can still admit you; beyond that, the Collegio coordinator or vice coordinator gives final approval. Missing credits must be made up before enrolment, through single courses for gaps of up to 60 credits or, above 60, through a shortened career in a PoliTo bachelor's that offers them. [1]
English
Certified English at CEFR level B2 or higher. [1] For 2026/27, the minimum listed for this programme is IELTS 5.5, and no Italian is needed. [2] TOEFL and TOEIC results are shared with PoliTo using code C285, and Cambridge results with your Candidate ID. [3]
You can be exempt if your degree came from an English-taught path at a university in one of the listed countries, which include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore, or from the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. You then upload an official statement that English was the medium of instruction. Some consulates may still ask for a language certificate for the visa, so we check what your file needs. [3]
Evaluation and selection
Admission is based on an evaluation of your file, with no entrance test. PoliTo's admissions unit first checks that you meet the admission requirements and have uploaded every required document. Professors from the programme then assess your academic performance and how consistent your previous degree is with the programme. The result is eligible, a conditional offer if you have not yet graduated, or not eligible. [1][3]
The regulations set no minimum grade for degrees earned outside Italy. For Automotive Engineering the syllabus of your bachelor's courses is required. A GRE General Test score, recommendation letter, motivation letter or proof of relevant training or work is optional but may support a favourable assessment. A positive evaluation is valid only for the academic year you applied for, and deferrals are not possible. [1][2][3]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, applicants with a non-Italian qualification had two calls, both extended by 15 days: [3]
- First call: 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026, results on 15 April 2026, Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026.
- Second call: 18 March to 20 April 2026, results on 22 June 2026, Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July 2026.
Online enrolment ran from 31 July to 5 October 2026, and the type D visa must be uploaded by 30 November 2026. A third call, from 3 to 17 November 2026, is open only to EU applicants and non-EU applicants already living in Italy. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Apply@PoliTO with one application per call, choosing up to two master's programmes in order of preference. Compulsory uploads are your passport, CV, bachelor's degree certificate or an official document with your provisional graduation date, transcript of records showing the grading and credit systems, and English certificate or exemption statement. For this programme the syllabus is also required. Incomplete applications are rejected and cannot be resubmitted in the same academic year. [2][3]
Non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment with PoliTo's confirmation of eligibility letter. PoliTo validates it only once you are eligible and have uploaded proof of your bachelor's degree, and you then apply for a type D study visa. To enrol you need a declaration of value, a CIMEA statement of comparability, an ARDI certificate of correspondence or a Diploma Supplement, and PoliTo may also ask for a CIMEA statement of verification. [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.
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Academic regulations, Master's degree programme in Automotive Engineering (LM-33), academic year 2026/27, issued by Rector's Decree no. 525 of 28 May 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino. Course-specific requirements for master's degree programmes, applicants with a non-Italian qualification, academic year 2026/27, updated 19 December 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Admissions and Enrolment. Applicants with a non-Italian qualification, master's degree programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Teaching Portal. Automotive Engineering study plan and course list, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Academic regulations, Master's degree programme in Automotive Engineering, academic year 2025/26, issued by Rector's Decree no. 910 of 25 July 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Automotive Engineering is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-33) at Politecnico di Torino, taught entirely in English in Turin. It is run by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering within the Collegio of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering. [1][4]
The programme responds to how the car industry is changing: electrification, connected and autonomous vehicles built on fast connectivity, advanced sensors and computing power, and production reshaped by additive manufacturing and Industry 4.0. It trains engineers who understand the whole vehicle, its main subsystems and how it is made, and who can work in interdisciplinary teams inside a company. [1]
What you will study
The first year is largely common to all students and covers engines, electric and hybrid traction systems, energy management, vehicle dynamics, driver assistance systems and car-body aerodynamics. First-year courses offered in 2026/27 include: [1][4]
- Propulsion systems and their applications to vehicles (10 CFU)
- Driver assistance system design (12 CFU)
- Car body design and aerodynamics (8 CFU)
- E-powertrain components (8 CFU)
- Numerical modelling and simulation (8 CFU)
- Energy management in hybrid and electric vehicles (6 CFU)
- Project management and cost/value analysis or Electrical drives for eMobility (8 CFU), depending on your track
In the second year you follow one of four tracks: [1][4][5]
- Autonomous and Connected Vehicles: connectivity and autonomous driving with artificial intelligence, with courses such as Data analysis and artificial intelligence, Electronic systems for vehicles and Communication and network systems.
- Sustainable Propulsion Systems: electric, hybrid and combustion propulsion with lower consumption and emissions, with courses such as Engine emissions control, Motor control algorithms for e-powertrains and Powertrain components design.
- Advanced Product Development: methods and tools to design and develop vehicles and their components, with courses such as Vehicles dynamics simulation and Vehicle noise and vibration.
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineering: developing and managing vehicle production processes, with courses such as Additive and design for additive and Competitive excellence in manufacturing and logistics.
The second year also includes elective courses or a Challenge@PoliTo project set by firms or student teams. Electives offered in 2026/27 include Racing vehicle engineering, Body and interiors design, Cognitive ergonomics and HMI, Automotive fluid power systems, Materials for sustainable car-body and powertrain design and Advanced automotive logistics. [4]
How the programme is taught
All courses are taught in English. The degree ends with a thesis carried out at the university or in a company: you choose a 20-credit thesis, or a 12-credit thesis with an 8-credit company internship. More than half of theses are done with automotive companies, and the regulations note that a company thesis frequently turns into a job opportunity. [1]
The regulations also highlight the value of joining student teams, which builds motivation and gives you practical use of what you learn. [1]
Career paths
The regulations describe four professional profiles: [1]
- Vehicle propulsion systems design engineer: specifying and designing hybrid, electric and combustion powertrains, transmissions and their control algorithms, including thermal management.
- Assisted, autonomous and connected driving systems design engineer: driver assistance, stability control and powertrain management systems, mechatronic actuation, sensors and on-board networks.
- Product development engineer: developing and integrating vehicle systems with CAD, CAM and CAE tools, with work on aerodynamics, structures, passive safety and life-cycle impact.
- Production engineer: designing and running production plants and logistics, with lean production, World Class Manufacturing, quality planning and additive manufacturing.
Graduates work for vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers, automotive research and development centres, consulting and training firms, and makers of machines and plants for the automotive industry. They can also go on to a three-year PhD or a second-level master's. [1]
Fees and scholarships
Politecnico di Torino sets tuition in its yearly fee regulations. Students can apply for a fee reduction, up to a full waiver, based on family income through an ISEE or ISEE Parificato, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. EDISU Piemonte, the regional body for the right to study, runs the regional scholarship, and EDISU decides awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
Applicants with a non-Italian qualification apply online on Apply@PoliTO, choosing up to two master's programmes in order of preference in one application per call. For Automotive Engineering you must upload the syllabus of your bachelor's courses. [2][3]
For 2026/27, the first call ran from 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026 and the second from 18 March to 20 April 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [3]
Once you are eligible and hold your bachelor's degree, we submit your Universitaly pre-enrolment with PoliTo's confirmation of eligibility letter. You then apply for a type D study visa and enrol with a declaration of value, a CIMEA statement of comparability or a Diploma Supplement. [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 PoliTo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Apply@PoliTO application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your EDISU Piemonte 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 PoliTo's Automotive Engineering master?
A three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign degree after at least 15 years of education, with at least 40 credits in maths, physics, chemistry or computing and at least 60 in listed engineering subjects such as fluid machines, applied mechanics, mechanical design, manufacturing, materials and electrical machines. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No. Professors from the programme assess your academic performance and how well your degree fits, using your transcript and the course syllabus you must upload. A GRE score, recommendation letter or motivation letter is optional but may support a favourable assessment. [1][2][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
Certified English at B2 or higher, and the minimum listed for 2026/27 is IELTS 5.5. A degree from an English-taught path in a listed country, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, can be exempt with an official medium-of-instruction statement. [1][2][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the first call ran from 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026 and the second from 18 March to 20 April 2026, with Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June or 15 July 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You upload an official document with your provisional graduation date and can receive a conditional offer. PoliTo validates your Universitaly pre-enrolment only once you hold your bachelor's degree and have uploaded proof of it. [3]
I have a B.Tech in Electrical or Electronics Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. Electrical engineering is on the recommended list and its electrical engineering and machines credits count, but the 60 credits in the listed subjects need checking. Electronics is not on the list and only its electronics credits count, so it is often short. [1][2]
Which tracks can I choose?
Four, in the second year: Autonomous and Connected Vehicles, Sustainable Propulsion Systems, Advanced Product Development and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. The first year, covering propulsion, electric and hybrid traction, vehicle dynamics, driver assistance and aerodynamics, is largely common to all students. [1][4]
What jobs do graduates do?
The regulations describe propulsion systems design engineers, assisted and autonomous driving systems engineers, product development engineers and production engineers. Graduates work for vehicle makers and suppliers, automotive research centres, consultancies and plant makers, or go on to a PhD. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Automotive Engineering at PoliTo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against PoliTo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the EDISU Piemonte 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 Automotive Engineering?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Automobile, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering can meet the rule if it carries 40 credits in maths, physics, chemistry and computing and 60 in the listed mechanical, electrical and industrial subjects. An English-medium Indian degree can be exempt from IELTS. The steps are the Apply@PoliTO application with your course syllabus, the eligibility letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2][3] 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 Automotive Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Apply@PoliTO application, confirmation of eligibility letter 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 Automotive Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Apply@PoliTO application, confirmation of eligibility letter 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 Automotive 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: Apply@PoliTO application, confirmation of eligibility letter 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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