Master in Computer Science at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-18 master's at the University of Trento with a Computer Science and Technology track (seven specialisation areas) and an ICT Innovation track linked to EIT Digital. Entry needs a computing-related bachelor's and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Computer Science is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-18) taught in English at the University of Trento in Trento. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years in computer science or a related field, with set credits or matching knowledge in maths, physics, statistics and computing, plus English at B2. Non-EU fees follow your admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniTrento's Computer Science master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years in computer science or a related field, with set credits or matching knowledge in maths, physics, statistics and computing, English at B2, and a merit score of at least 50 out of 100. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a first-cycle degree of at least three years, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable. For 2026/27 it had to be awarded by 30 June 2026. You meet the curricular requirements in one of three ways: [1]
- Italian degree class: a degree in class L-8 (information technology engineering) or L-31 (computer science and technologies).
- Credits: at least 30 CFU in mathematics, physics or statistics (MAT, FIS and SECS-S sectors) and at least 45 CFU in information engineering or computer science (ING-INF sectors and INF/01).
- Degrees without CFU or ECTS: the committee checks that your courses match these areas and that you have adequate knowledge of mathematical analysis, geometry and linear algebra, programming, computer architecture, probability and statistics, physics, networking and signal processing.
What this means for your transcript
If your degree is not in CFU or ECTS, as with most degrees from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the committee compares your course content with the subject list above. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering or IT.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication or Electrical Engineering, a B.Sc. in Computer Science or a BCA. These often cover programming or networking but can be light on calculus, physics, computer architecture or signal processing.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Physics, or a B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely covers the computing block.
UniTrento verifies foreign degrees only after admission and Universitaly pre-enrolment, and may ask for a statement of verification or a statement of comparability. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by one of: [1]
- an English language certificate from an internationally recognised body;
- a B2 or higher English exam passed at another university, if it tested reading, writing, speaking and listening;
- a statement from the university that awarded your degree that it was officially taught in English;
- a declaration in the online application that you are a citizen of an English-speaking country.
The call does not list specific tests or minimum scores. [1]
Selection and ranking
There is no entrance test. A committee of at least three DISI teaching staff scores your file out of 100: [1]
- Up to 30 points: coherence between your previous studies and the aims of the master's.
- Up to 65 points: your academic record, including marks, any postgraduate courses and extra academic activities.
- Up to 5 points: English above B2 or knowledge of other languages.
If your documents are not enough to assess you, the committee may call you for an interview, possibly online. You need at least 50 out of 100 to be ranked as eligible, and ties go to the younger candidate. [1]
2026/27 places and deadlines
For 2026/27 there were 60 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, 20 of them reserved for candidates selected under the EIT programme. Applications closed on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET. [1]
Rankings were due by 25 May 2026. Admitted candidates then confirmed their place by the deadline given with the ranking. [1][2]
These are the 2026/27 dates. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs: [1]
- your passport (personal data pages);
- your bachelor's degree certificate, if already awarded, with an official English translation if it is not in English or Italian;
- a full transcript with all courses, exams and marks, the weighted average and the grading scale, translated if needed (students still finishing also list exams not yet passed);
- a CV in English, preferably in Europass format;
- your English proof.
You can apply to more than one DISI master, with a separate application for each. After confirming your place, you pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks. UniTrento issues its admission letter only after this step, and pre-enrolment is needed for the visa. For 2026/27, students delayed by the visa were admitted only if it was issued by 31 October 2026. [1][2]
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 Trento, Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science. Call for applications for admission to the English-taught Master's degree programmes in Computer Science, Information Engineering and Artificial Intelligence Systems, non-European applicants residing abroad, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, Computer Science master's programme page, admission for non-European applicants, 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) worth 120 ECTS and taught entirely in English. It is run by the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science (DISI) of the University of Trento. The university reports that the degree ranked first in Italy in the computer science and ICT group of the 2026/27 Censis rankings.
The course trains professionals and researchers who can plan, design, build, test and manage complex systems for generating, transmitting and processing information. It suits graduates in computer science or computer engineering who want deeper theory alongside hands-on laboratory work.
What you will study
You choose between two tracks. On the Computer Science and Technology track you pick one specialisation area: Computational Foundations, Cyber Security, Data Science, Bioinformatics, Software and Service Architectures, Systems and Networks, or Human-Computer Interaction. The ICT Innovation track covers cybersecurity, data science or financial technology and adds innovation and entrepreneurship training from European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) programmes. Course units in the current plan include:
- Computability and Computational Complexity (6 ECTS)
- Distributed Systems, Machine Learning and Security Testing
- Automated Reasoning and Formal Verification (12 ECTS)
- Deep Learning, Natural Language Understanding and Foundation Models
- Network Security, Ethical Hacking and Applied Cryptography
- On the ICT Innovation track: Business Development Laboratory and ICT Innovation (9 ECTS each)
- 24 ECTS of free-choice units, an internship (6 ECTS) and a final thesis (24 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Theory courses alternate with practical laboratory courses throughout the two years. You can broaden the plan with units from other UniTrento degrees such as biology, economics or mathematics. The second year closes with an internship and a 24 ECTS thesis.
Career paths
Graduates work in the design, organisation, development, management and maintenance of IT systems. The official programme sheet lists roles such as software analyst and designer, systems analyst, web application designer, network specialist, IT security specialist and university researcher. Graduates can also continue to a PhD, for example at UniTrento's ICT International Doctoral School.
Fees and scholarships
Under UniTrento's 2026/27 call, the first-year fee for non-EU students living abroad follows your admission score, with a full exemption at 90 or more. In year two, earning at least 42 ECTS by 10 August brings a full fee waiver. [1] Top-ranked applicants scoring at least 70 may receive a UniTrento scholarship with a fee exemption, and Opera Universitaria di Trento runs income-based grants, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27 there were 60 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, 20 of them reserved for candidates selected under the EIT programme. The committee scored coherence with the degree (30 points), your academic record (65) and extra language skills (5).
You applied online by 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, and rankings came out by 25 May 2026. Admitted students then confirm their place, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment within two weeks and apply for a type D study visa. For 2026/27, students delayed by the visa were admitted only if it was issued by 31 October 2026. [1][2] The 2027/28 call is not published yet.
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 UniTrento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU 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 the Computer Science master at UniTrento?
A degree of at least three years in computer science or a related field. Italian L-8 or L-31 graduates qualify directly. Others need 30 credits in maths, physics or statistics and 45 in computing or information engineering, or matching knowledge if their degree has no ECTS. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores your file out of 100: up to 30 points for fit with the degree, 65 for your academic record and 5 for extra languages. It may hold an interview, and you need at least 50 to be ranked. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. You can show it with an internationally recognised certificate, a B2 university exam covering all four skills, a statement that your degree was taught in English, or English-speaking citizenship. The call sets no minimum scores, so we check which proof fits your file. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had until 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, and rankings were due by 25 May 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27 you could apply while finishing your bachelor's, listing the exams not yet passed, as long as the degree was awarded by 30 June 2026. [1]
I have a BCA or a B.Sc. in Computer Science. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees do not use ECTS, so the committee compares your courses with its subject list: calculus, linear algebra, programming, computer architecture, probability and statistics, physics, networking and signal processing. BCA and B.Sc. graduates often cover programming but can be light on maths, physics or signals. [1]
How do tuition fees work for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, fees for non-EU students living abroad followed the admission score, with a full waiver at 90 or more. In year two, at least 42 ECTS by 10 August brings a full waiver. [1]
What jobs does the degree lead to?
Graduates design, develop and manage IT systems as software analysts, systems analysts, network or IT security specialists, and researchers. Graduates can also continue to a PhD, for example at UniTrento's ICT International Doctoral School.
Can someone handle my whole application to Computer Science at UniTrento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniTrento's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU 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 of at least three years, such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or IT, can meet the rule if its courses cover the required maths, physics, statistics and computing content, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, the merit ranking, place confirmation 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: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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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