Master in Computing Systems Engineering at University of L’Aquila
Two-year English-taught LM-32 master's at the University of L'Aquila in computer engineering and information technology: embedded systems, machine learning, databases, algorithms and big data, with a French double-degree option. Entry needs 36 plus 54 engineering credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
L'Aquila
English
University of L’Aquila
Computing Systems Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-32) taught in English at the University of L'Aquila in L'Aquila. Entry needs a degree with at least 36 credits in maths, science and computing and 54 in information engineering subjects, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
L'Aquila's Computing Systems Engineering master asks for a degree of at least three years with at least 36 credits in basic maths, science and computing subjects and 54 in information engineering subjects, English at B2, and a place in the committee's ranking based on your documents and a possible interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 36 plus 54 credit rule
You need a university degree of at least three years, or a foreign degree recognised as suitable. [1][2] Your previous exams must include: [2]
- At least 36 CFU in basic subjects of the Italian information engineering bachelor's class (L-8): computer science and computer engineering, mathematics, statistics, chemistry and physics (sectors INFO-01/A, IINF-05/A, MATH-02/A to MATH-06/A, STAT-01/B, CHEM-06/A, PHYS-01/A and PHYS-03/A).
- At least 54 CFU in the core engineering subjects of class L-8, including at least 24 CFU in computer engineering or automation (IINF-05/A and IINF-04/A) and at least 12 CFU in electronics or telecommunications engineering (IINF-01/A, IINF-02/A, IINF-03/A and IMIS-01/B).
The programme committee checks every application against these rules. Unless you come from L'Aquila's own Information Engineering bachelor's, it holds interviews to assess your preparation and can set specific requirements for your study plan. It can also admit applicants who do not fully meet the credit rules if it judges their preparation equivalent. [2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for 25 hours of student work, and L'Aquila 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 and Engineering, IT, or Electronics and Communication Engineering, which usually combine maths and physics with computing and some electronics.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Electrical or Instrumentation Engineering, which can cover the maths, electronics and automation blocks but may fall short on computer engineering credits, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science or a BCA, which often covers computing and maths but usually lacks the 12 electronics or telecommunications credits.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Physics, a B.Com, BBA or BA, which usually lack the 54 information engineering credits.
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher, written and spoken, is required because all compulsory units are taught in English. [1][2] The 2026/27 call asks for proof at B2 or C1 level, uploaded with the application or sent through ETS (code 3676). Certificates issued more than four years ago are not accepted, and the call lists no minimum test scores. [1]
If you studied in English for one or more years, in a degree or at high school, or English is your mother tongue, you can self-certify it in the application. [1]
Selection and interview
There is no written entrance test. After the deadline, a committee of at least three members checks the admission requirements and sets its own evaluation criteria. Selection is on titles only, or on titles and an interview. If there is an interview, you are told at least 5 days before. Each committee draws up a ranking of eligible candidates, which the university may also use to award financial help or grants. [1]
The programme committee also interviews applicants to check their preparation before setting their study plan. [2]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27 (cohort 2026), the call was published on 7 November 2025 and applications on the PICA portal closed on 25 February 2026 at 1:00 pm Italian time. [1]
Applicants still finishing a degree could take part if they graduated by 15 August 2026. Their admission was conditional until they submitted a copy of the degree certificate by that date, or no later than 10 days after graduating. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
One application covers up to two programme rankings. All documents must be in English: [1]
- A CV, preferably in Europass format.
- The degree certificate and transcript of the degree you apply with, plus those of any other higher education degrees.
- Official descriptions of your relevant courses, or the self-certification form attached to the call.
- A motivation letter, and up to two reference letters if you have them.
- Proof of English at B2 or C1, or the self-certification.
- An identity document valid in Italy.
Ranked applicants who need a visa register on Universitaly for this programme, and the university approves the pre-enrolment without a further academic review. You still complete the regular enrolment for cohort 2026, and you can enrol only with a valid study visa. [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 L'Aquila, International Relations Office. Call for the selection of students with a foreign bachelor's degree for master's degree courses taught in English, cohort 2026, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Computing Systems Engineering (Ingegneria Informatica, class LM-32), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila, Computing Systems Engineering (Ingegneria Informatica) programme page, academic year 2026/27 (degree class, language, department and double-degree partners). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila. Tuition fees page, academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Computing Systems Engineering (Ingegneria Informatica) is a two-year, 120 CFU master's degree in class LM-32 at the University of L'Aquila, offered by the Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics (DISIM). It is an international degree: English is the main teaching language, and all compulsory units are taught in English. Teaching is in person in L'Aquila. [2][3]
The degree trains engineers to analyse, design, build and manage complex computing systems, applications and services, from embedded hardware and software to cloud, web, robotics and artificial intelligence. It suits graduates in computer engineering or another information engineering field. [2]
What you will study
Both curricula share a first year built on Interactive Systems Design, Software Engineering, Digital Electronic Systems, Algorithms and Data Structures, Advanced Computing Technologies and Advanced Database Systems, plus a maths unit chosen from Combinatorics and Cryptography, Data Analytics or Decision Optimization. [2]
- Computer Engineering (CompEng): Systems Identification and Machine Learning, Embedded Systems and Electronic Design Automation, and Digital Signal Processing with Programmable HW Design. Suggested tracks are Cybersecurity, Embedded Intelligence and Cyber-Physical Systems.
- Information Technology (InfoTech): Front-end Engineering, and Algorithm Engineering and Big Data Processing, plus electives in networks, telecommunications and software engineering. Suggested tracks are Cybersecurity, Ambient and Data Intelligence, Internet Engineering, IT Applications and Software Engineering for Complex Systems.
Electives in the 2026/27 plan include Foundations of Machine Learning, Large Language Models and Agentic Artificial Intelligence, Deep Neural Networks, Advanced ICT Security, Cloud Architectures and Services and Industrial Internet of Things. [2]
How the programme is taught
Practical, project and lab work is a core part of the course, with group projects, technical reports and presentations. Every student completes 6 CFU of internship and 6 CFU of activities that prepare for work, and the degree ends with a 12 CFU thesis, written and defended in English or Italian as agreed with the supervisor. The thesis can link to an internship in DISIM labs, at partner companies or research centres, including abroad through Erasmus Placement. [2]
Through an Italy-France double-degree agreement in information and communication sciences, students can also earn a degree from one of nine French institutions, including CentraleSupélec, École Centrale Lille, ESIEE Paris, Université Paris-Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes, on an individual study plan. [2][3]
Career paths
The regulation lists roles such as: [2]
- Systems analyst and systems administrator
- Computer hardware design engineer
- Web application, database and software analyst and designer
- Network and communications specialist
- Cybersecurity specialist
Graduates work in technology companies, in firms and public bodies that run information systems, as freelance professionals or in research centres, and can go on to a PhD. [2]
Fees and scholarships
L'Aquila sets the annual contribution by family income (ISEE). Under its 2025/26 fee rules, non-EU students not resident in Italy went automatically into the lowest income bracket, with the contribution reviewed on academic results, and all students paid a regional tax and stamp duty. [4] This programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. ADSU L'Aquila runs the regional scholarship, and the region decides awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
Computing Systems Engineering is in the university's call for master's degrees taught in English, run on the PICA portal. For 2026/27 the deadline was 25 February 2026 at 1:00 pm Italian time. A committee assessed CV, transcripts, course descriptions, a motivation letter and English proof, on titles only or on titles and an interview. [1]
Ranked applicants who need a visa register on Universitaly for the same programme, which the university approves without a further academic review, and then apply for a study visa. You can enrol only with a valid study visa. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
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 L'Aquila's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your PICA application with CV, transcripts, course descriptions and motivation letter, 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 Computing Systems Engineering at L'Aquila?
A degree of at least three years, or a recognised foreign equivalent, with at least 36 credits in basic maths, science and computing subjects and 54 in information engineering, including 24 in computer engineering or automation and 12 in electronics or telecommunications. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee ranks international applicants on their documents, with an interview if it decides, and the programme committee interviews applicants to check their preparation before setting their study plan. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher. The 2026/27 call accepts B2 or C1 proof issued in the last four years and lists no minimum scores. If you studied in English for at least one year, at degree or high school level, you can self-certify it. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, applications on the PICA portal closed on 25 February 2026 at 1:00 pm Italian time, after the call opened in November 2025. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. The 2026/27 call accepted applicants due to graduate by 15 August 2026, with conditional admission until they submitted the degree certificate. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Computer Science or a BCA. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees often cover the computing and maths credits but usually lack the 12 credits in electronics or telecommunications engineering. The programme committee can admit you if it judges your preparation equivalent, and may set requirements for your study plan. [2]
What is the difference between the two curricula?
Computer Engineering adds systems identification and machine learning, embedded systems, electronic design automation and signal processing. Information Technology adds front-end engineering, algorithm engineering and big data processing, with electives in networks and software engineering. [2]
Can I earn a double degree?
Yes, through an Italy-France double-degree agreement with nine French institutions, including CentraleSupélec, ESIEE Paris and Université Paris-Saclay. The programme committee prepares an individual study plan that meets the rules of both institutions. [2][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Computing Systems Engineering at L'Aquila?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against L'Aquila'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 Computing Systems Engineering?
A recognised three-year Indian B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT or Electronics and Communication usually comes closest, if it covers 36 credits in maths, physics and computing and 54 in information engineering, including 12 in electronics or telecommunications. You also need English at B2. The steps are the PICA application, the committee ranking and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][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 Computing Systems Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: PICA application, committee ranking 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 Computing Systems Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: PICA application, committee ranking 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 Computing Systems 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: PICA application, committee ranking 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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