Master in Computer Science at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year English-taught LM-18 master's at Sapienza University of Rome in algorithms, AI, data science, networks, security and software engineering, with a 36-credit thesis. Entry needs 90 subject credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
Sapienza University of Rome
Computer Science is a two-year, 120 CFU master's degree (class LM-18) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 90 credits in computing, maths, physics, statistics or information engineering, 72 of them in core subjects, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Computer Science master asks for a bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 90 CFU in computing, information engineering, maths, physics or statistics (72 of them in core subjects), English at B2, a positive eligibility check and a personal knowledge assessment, which can include an interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
The 90-credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree, a three-year university diploma or a suitable foreign qualification recognised as equivalent. [2] Your first degree must include at least 90 CFU in these sectors, or equivalent fields for a foreign degree: [1]
- Computer science: INF/01.
- Information engineering: ING-INF/01, 02, 03, 04 and 05.
- Physics: FIS/01, 02 and 07.
- Mathematics: MAT/01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 09.
- Statistics: SECS-S/01 and SECS-S/06.
At least 72 of these 90 CFU must be in basic subjects (mathematics, physics, computer science) and core computer science subjects, such as ICT, data science and information engineering. You also need to know the fundamentals of programming languages, algorithms and data structures, computer architectures, databases, computer networks, operating systems, and the theory of computability and complexity. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for about 25 hours of student work, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. [2] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT or Electronics and Communication, or a B.Sc. in Computer Science with solid maths.
- Check carefully: a BCA or B.Sc. IT is mostly computing, but it must reach 90 credits in the listed fields and cover architecture, networks, operating systems and computability.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Physics, or a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering, counts toward the 90 credits but can fall short on the core computer science topics.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or BA rarely holds enough maths, physics or computing credits.
Missing credits can be made up by enrolling in single courses and passing their exams before you enrol on the master's. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown with a suitable certificate. Applicants without one take an interview set by the admissions committee. The 2026/27 call does not list specific tests or scores. [1]
Eligibility check and personal knowledge assessment
The eligibility check is requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33508). If you meet the entry requirements, a committee assesses your personal knowledge from your degree class, final degree mark and marks in computer science exams. [1]
- Holders of an Italian degree in class L-31 or L-8 with at least 100/110 are approved.
- Otherwise, if the committee does not judge your background fully adequate, you must pass an admission interview on algorithms and data structures, programming languages, computer architectures, databases, computer networks and operating systems.
Sapienza advises applying early, so you receive guidance on preparing for the interview in good time. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Eligibility checks opened on 2 July 2026. Non-EU applicants who need a student visa had one date: 15 September 2026. Other applicants can choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 is reserved for Sapienza graduates. [1]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduate by 19 December 2026 (other Italian or international universities) or 23 January 2027 (Sapienza). [1]
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad also had to submit their Universitaly study visa request by 30 June 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
Non-EU applicants who live abroad and need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's online pre-selection on the MoveIN platform. For 2026/27 the order was: pre-selection, the Universitaly study visa request, the eligibility check, then the enrolment documents. [1][3]
For a foreign bachelor's, the enrolment documents include: [3]
- A valid passport and the university enrolment study visa.
- Your degree certificate and transcript of records, with official sworn translations into Italian or English (not needed if they were issued in English).
- For countries in the ARDI database: a Statement of Correspondence, plus a CIMEA Statement of Verification or legalisation or Apostille.
- For other countries: a CIMEA Statement of Comparability and Statement of Verification, or a Declaration of Value from the Italian mission with legalisation or Apostille.
- Sapienza also lists a legalised or Apostilled Diploma Supplement, where it holds all the information needed to evaluate the degree.
- The receipts of your residence permit request, which is due within 8 days of arrival in Italy.
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 Information Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics. Admission procedure for the Master's degree programme in Computer Science (LM-18), academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33508. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Computer Science (LM-18) course catalogue pages, academic year 2026-2027: presentation, study plan, career outcomes and Didactic Regulations; the university notes that the 2026-2027 catalogue is being updated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, International Student Office. Admission and enrolment procedures for international students, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Computer Science is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-18) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. It is run by the Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics, with teaching in person in Rome. [1][2]
The degree trains you to specify, design, build, verify and maintain complex computing systems, and to keep pace with new techniques as the field changes. Many courses include project work, often in the lab, on problems close to those found in real applications. [2]
What you will study
The 2026 study plan has a single curriculum and totals 120 CFU: [2]
- Core curriculum (54 CFU): nine 6 CFU courses from a list that includes Advanced Algorithms, Advanced Machine Learning, Big Data Computing, Cloud Computing, Computer Vision, Cryptography, Distributed Systems, Natural Language Processing, Quantum Computing and Security in Software Applications.
- Supplementary courses (12 CFU): two further courses from the programme's list.
- Free-choice electives (12 CFU), which can come from any Sapienza course.
- Additional educational activity (6 CFU), chosen from options the teaching council sets each year.
- Master's thesis (36 CFU), written in English.
You shape your plan by combining two recommended completion plans, each focused on one area: Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Models for Systems Design, Data Science, Multimedia Computing and Interaction, Networks and Security, Software Engineering, and Systems. You can also submit an individual study plan for approval. Sapienza notes that its 2026/27 catalogue is still being updated. [2]
How the programme is taught
Teaching runs over four semesters in Rome. The first teaching period runs from late September to late December and the second from late February to early June. Attendance is recommended but not compulsory. Exams are marked out of 30, with 18 as the pass mark, and can be written, oral, project-based or a mix. [2]
The final exam is the defence of an English-language thesis on an original applied, experimental or research problem, usually prepared in the second year and worth 36 CFU. Your supervisor can be a Sapienza lecturer, a lecturer from another Italian or foreign programme, or a member of a research institution. An Honours Programme for outstanding second-year students runs through a separate yearly call. [2]
Careers and further study
Sapienza links the degree to five career profiles, depending on the areas you choose: computer science specialist; data analyst and expert in artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning; interactive systems designer; networks, security and systems specialist; and software engineer. [2]
Graduates can also apply for PhD programmes, sit the state exam for section A of the Italian register of information engineers, and compete for computer science teaching posts in upper secondary schools if they hold enough credits in the required sectors. [2]
Study abroad
The programme has several Erasmus agreements. Sapienza also offers study periods outside the EU through its Overseas programme and short mobility through the CIVIS European university alliance. [2]
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
Non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's online pre-selection on the MoveIN platform. For 2026/27, they then submitted a Universitaly study visa request by 30 June 2026 and requested the eligibility check on Infostud (code 33508) by 15 September 2026, the only date open to them. [1][3]
After a positive eligibility check and personal knowledge assessment, the enrolment documents go to Sapienza's international student office, and students enrol by paying the first fee instalment. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][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, eligibility check request and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- 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 Computer Science master?
A bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 90 CFU in computer science, information engineering, maths, physics or statistics, 72 of them in basic and core computing subjects, plus knowledge of algorithms, databases, networks and operating systems. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. After the eligibility check, a committee reviews your degree class, final mark and computing exam marks. If it does not judge your background fully adequate, you sit an admission interview on core computer science topics. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher, shown with a suitable certificate. The 2026/27 call does not name specific tests or scores, and applicants without a certificate take an interview instead. We check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who needed a student visa had to submit the Universitaly visa request by 30 June 2026 and request the eligibility check by 15 September 2026, after MoveIN pre-selection. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][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 had to graduate by 19 December 2026. [1]
I have a BCA or a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Can I still apply?
Possibly. Maths and computing credits both count toward the 90 CFU, but the committee also checks for 72 credits in basic and core computing subjects and knowledge of key topics such as operating systems and networks. Missing credits can be made up through single courses and exams. [1]
What can I specialise in?
You combine two recommended completion plans from areas such as algorithms, artificial intelligence, data science, multimedia computing and interaction, networks and security, software engineering and systems, or submit your own plan. The English-language thesis is worth 36 CFU. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Computer Science 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 Computer Science?
A recognised Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc. or BCA, can meet the rule if it holds at least 90 credits in computing, information engineering, maths, physics or statistics, with 72 in core subjects, and you show English at B2. The steps are MoveIN pre-selection, the eligibility check and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] 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 Computer Science 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, the eligibility check 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 Computer Science are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: MoveIN pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, the eligibility check 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 Computer Science 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, the eligibility check 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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