Master in Civil Engineering at University of Bologna

Detailed entry requirements

Bologna's Civil Engineering master asks for a three-year degree in civil engineering, or one with set credits in civil engineering, maths and physics, a final grade of at least 83/110 and English at B2 shown by a certificate. Access is open, with no cap on places. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree and credit requirements

You need a three-year university degree, or a qualification obtained abroad that is recognised as suitable under Italian law and gives access to a similar master's in the country where it was issued. [1]

For Italian degrees, a bachelor's in civil engineering (class L-7, or L-8 under the older rules) meets the subject rule. A degree in another class must include at least: [2]

• 51 credits in civil engineering sectors ICAR/01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11 and 17: hydraulics, hydraulic works and hydrology, roads and railways, transport, surveying, geotechnics, structural mechanics, structural engineering, building technology, building production and technical drawing.
• 39 credits in the core sectors ICAR/01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 09.
• 24 credits in maths and physics (MAT and FIS sectors).

For a foreign degree, an admission board applies these criteria where it can identify an equivalent degree class, subject sectors or credits. Otherwise it evaluates your whole curriculum. If you do not meet the curricular requirements, you cannot enrol. [1][2]

What this means for your transcript

Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the board looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:

• Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering, which normally covers structures, geotechnics, hydraulics, transport, surveying and the maths and physics block.
• Check carefully: a B.Tech in Environmental, Construction or Infrastructure Engineering, or a B.Arch, which may cover drawing and building technology but fall short of the 39 core credits in structures, hydraulics, geotechnics and transport.
• Often short: a B.Sc. in Physics, Mathematics or Geology, or a B.Tech in Mechanical, Electrical or Computer Engineering, which usually covers maths and physics but lacks the civil engineering sectors.

Grade check by the admission board

There is no test or interview. An admission board examines the documents you upload, including your CV, and judges your personal preparation from your academic merit: [1][2]

• Graduates: a final grade of at least 83/110. Foreign grades are converted to the Italian scale.
• Students not yet graduated: at least 165 CFU with an average mark of 22/30.

For 2026/27, applicants not admitted in intake 1 could apply again in a later intake. From intake 2 onwards, applicants who are not admitted cannot take part in later intakes. [1]

English

English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by a certificate uploaded with your application. [1] Accepted certificates include IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 59, Duolingo 100, Cambridge First, Advanced or Proficiency, Trinity ISE II, LanguageCert International ESOL and B2 certificates from Italian university language centres. [2]

A degree taught fully in English, lasting at least two years (120 ECTS) and awarded in a country on the university's list, such as the EU or EEA, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, Guyana or Switzerland, replaces the certificate, with English as the medium of instruction stated on the transcript. Degrees from other countries do not count. [2] An English-medium degree from India or elsewhere in South Asia is therefore not enough on its own, so you need a certificate.

2026/27 deadlines

The 2026/27 notice set eight intakes on Studenti Online. Intake 1, reserved for non-EU citizens, ran from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026, with results by 10 February 2026. Intakes 2 to 5, open to all applicants, closed on 25 February, 9 April, 28 May and 2 July 2026. [1]

Non-EU applicants living abroad could apply only until 2 July 2026. Intakes 6 to 8 are for EU and equivalent applicants, and the last one closes on 28 October 2026. Enrolment runs until 19 November 2026, with a late fee after 30 October 2026. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]

Applying before you graduate

You can apply before graduating if you have at least 165 CFU with an average of 22/30. [2] Degrees from outside Europe are assessed case by case to decide whether they can be evaluated. If admitted for 2026/27, you must graduate by 31 December 2026 or your enrolment is cancelled. [1]

Documents and non-EU steps

• Your degree certificate translated into Italian or English, with your transcript and Diploma Supplement where available, or your transcript of exams if you have not graduated yet. [1]
• Your B2 English certificate, CV and passport. [1]
• Non-EU applicants living abroad also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa. [1]
• At enrolment, foreign qualifications must be translated and their authenticity and value verified where required, and originals are shown on arrival at the international student office. For 2026/27, careers had to be activated 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.

1. University of Bologna, Departments of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering (DEI), Civil, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM) and Computer Science and Engineering. Admission notice for second cycle degree programmes including Civil Engineering (class LM-23, code 6708), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Bologna, Civil Engineering programme website, How to enrol page (curricular requirements, personal preparation criteria and accepted English certificates), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. University of Bologna, Civil Engineering programme home page (degree class, places of teaching, language and curricula). Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for Civil Engineering at Bologna?

A three-year degree in civil engineering, or a degree with at least 51 credits in civil engineering sectors, at least 39 in the core structural, hydraulic, geotechnical and transport sectors, and 24 in maths and physics. Foreign degrees are mapped to these rules where possible. [2]

Is there an entrance test?

No. Access is open, with no cap on places. An admission board checks your documents and grades: a final grade of at least 83/110, or at least 165 credits with an average of 22/30 if you have not graduated yet. Foreign grades are converted. [1][2]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at CEFR B2, shown by a certificate when you apply. Accepted options include IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 59 and Duolingo 100. Only two-year English-taught degrees from listed countries, such as the UK, US or Australia, are exempt. [1][2]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply until 2 July 2026. Intake 1, reserved for non-EU citizens, ran from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026. From intake 2 onwards a rejection is final for that year. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes. Applicants not yet graduated need at least 165 credits with an average of 22/30. Degrees from outside Europe are assessed case by case. If admitted for 2026/27, you must graduate by 31 December 2026 or your enrolment is cancelled. [1][2]

I have a B.Arch or a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. Can I apply?

Possibly. A B.Arch often covers technical drawing and building technology but may lack the 39 core credits in structures, hydraulics, geotechnics and transport. A Mechanical B.Tech usually covers maths and physics but rarely the civil sectors. We map your transcript before you apply. [2]

Which curricula are offered?

Four: Structural Engineering, Water Engineering, Climate Change Adaptation, and Sustainable Mobility in Urban Areas. The programme is taught entirely in English, with teaching in Bologna, Imola and Ravenna, and double or multiple degree options. [3]

Do I need to speak Italian?

No. Teaching is entirely in English and you can be admitted without an Italian certificate. The notice says students without one fulfil the Italian language requirement later, during the degree. [1][3]

Can someone handle my whole application to Civil 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 Civil Engineering?

A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering can meet the rule if it has the required civil engineering, maths and physics credits and a final grade the board converts to at least 83/110. You also need an English certificate at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the study visa. [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 Civil Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application, admission result 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 Civil Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application, admission result 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 Civil 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, admission result 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.