Master in Construction Management and Safety at University of Catania
Two-year English-taught master's in safety engineering (LM-26 R) at the University of Catania, training site directors and project managers in construction safety, BIM, public procurement and infrastructure management, with a 300-hour traineeship. Entry needs a civil, building or industrial engineering degree and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Catania
English
University of Catania
Construction Management and Safety is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-26 R, safety engineering) taught in English at the University of Catania in Sicily. Non-EU applicants living abroad need a bachelor's of at least three years in civil, building or industrial engineering, plus English at B2 such as IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 60. For 2026/27, the five best-ranked candidates were offered a university scholarship of €2,000 a year for two years.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Catania's Construction Management and Safety master asks non-EU applicants living abroad for a bachelor's of at least three years in civil, building or architectural, or industrial engineering, a grounding in core construction subjects, English at B2, and at least 50 out of 100 in the committee's ranking. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a bachelor's degree or higher, obtained abroad, that lasts at least three years and gives access to master's study in the country where it was awarded. It must show an academic background in one of these fields: [1]
- Civil engineering
- Building or architectural engineering
- Industrial engineering
Graduates from other fields are considered only if they are seconded to international organisations and have professional experience relevant to the programme. [1]
You also need adequate knowledge of basic subjects such as technical drawing, structural mechanics, sanitary and environmental engineering, materials technology, building construction, building physics and services, transport engineering, geotechnics and hydraulics. The call does not set minimum credit numbers or a minimum grade. [1]
The course regulation gives the Italian equivalents as degrees in civil engineering (class L-7) or industrial engineering (class L-9), or at least 180 credits, or another qualification, including one obtained abroad, that the degree council judges suitable. [2]
What this means for your transcript
The committee scores the relevance of your previous studies, so your courses matter as much as the name of your degree. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering, or in Construction or Building Engineering, with courses in structures, materials, geotechnics, hydraulics and transport.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Mechanical, Industrial or Production Engineering sits under industrial engineering but is often light on structural mechanics, geotechnics, hydraulics or transport. A B.Arch covers drawing and building construction but is not an engineering degree.
- Often short: a B.Sc., BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, or an engineering degree in Computer Science or Electronics, falls outside the three listed fields, unless you are seconded to an international organisation with relevant experience.
English
English at B2 or higher, shown by one of: [1]
- IELTS overall 5.0 or higher
- TOEFL 60 or higher
- Cambridge Preliminary (PET) or Business Preliminary (BEC), or higher
- A statement from the university that awarded your bachelor's or master's degree that its official language was English
- Citizenship of a country whose official language is English
These scores are lower than the IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 72 that several other programmes in the same call ask for. [1]
Selection and ranking
A committee of at least three lecturers checks your file and scores it out of 100. You need at least 50 to be eligible, and ties go to the younger candidate. For non-EU applicants living abroad, the committee may ask for an online interview or test. [1]
- Academic record: up to 50 points
- Relevance of your previous studies: up to 40 points
- Reference letter: up to 5 points
- Motivation: up to 5 points
The course regulation describes the interview as covering basic topics in the programme's core subject areas, with English checked at B2 at the same time. [2]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied on the university's Smartedu portal from 10 February 2026 (12:00) to 17 March 2026 (23:59), Italian time. Rankings were due by 6 May 2026. [1]
Final-year students could apply if they graduated by 31 July 2026. Admitted students had 15 days from the admission notice to confirm their place. The 2027/28 call will set new dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
The application needs: [1]
- Passport pages with your personal details
- Degree certificate, or an enrolment certificate showing your expected graduation date
- Transcript with exams, marks, the grading scale and, where possible, your GPA
- Official syllabi of every course in your degree, on your university's letterhead or stamped by it
- A reference letter written for this application, preferably by a university lecturer
- A Europass CV in English and your English certificate
- A motivation letter in English of up to 4,000 characters, spaces included
- A signed summary form, plus any other useful documents, such as a declaration of value or statement of comparability
Documents not in Italian or English need an official translation. After you confirm your place, you receive an admission letter for Universitaly pre-enrolment, which is needed for the study visa. Admitted students who confirmed and applied through Universitaly, but whose visa came too late, can ask to enrol in the following year without applying again. [1]
On arrival in Catania you hand in your passport with the study visa, your Italian tax code, an ENIC-NARIC statement of comparability or declaration of value, and a copy of your residence permit application. [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 Catania, International Relations Office. Public selection for the admission of non-EU students living abroad to English-taught Master's degree programmes, including Construction Management and Safety (class LM-26 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Catania. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Construction Management and Safety (class LM-26 R, safety engineering), 2026/27 cohort, approved by the Academic Senate on 22 July 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Construction Management and Safety is a two-year master's degree in class LM-26-R (safety engineering), run by the Department of Civil-Industrial Engineering and Architecture (DICAR) of the University of Catania. It is taught entirely in English, carries 120 ECTS and is based at the Cittadella universitaria on Via Santa Sofia in Catania. It is a recent degree: its current course structure was approved in 2024, and teaching follows the 2026/27 regulation.
The programme trains engineers who manage building sites and infrastructure projects from tender to maintenance, with safety as a common thread. It suits graduates in civil, building or industrial engineering who want to move into project and site management, public works or infrastructure monitoring.
What you will study
The 2026/27 regulation sets out a single curriculum over four semesters. The first year covers procurement law, digital design, safety and decision analysis, with 9 ECTS of electives; the second year turns to infrastructure management, planning and supply chains, and ends with a 12 ECTS traineeship and a 12 ECTS thesis.
- Public Procurement Law (6 ECTS)
- Fundamentals and Applications of Building Information Modeling (BIM) (9 ECTS)
- Design and Project Management in Constructions (6 ECTS)
- Performance and Safety Control of Structural Materials and Members and Safety Engineering (9 ECTS each)
- Decision Analysis (6 ECTS)
- Management of Transport Infrastructures and Management of Hydraulic and Maritime Infrastructures (9 ECTS each)
- Damage Monitoring of Structures and Infrastructures (6 ECTS)
- Spatial Planning of Infrastructure, Urban Facilities and Landscape and Procurement and Supplier Management (9 ECTS each)
How the programme is taught
The last semester combines a compulsory 12 ECTS traineeship of 300 hours, at a company that has an agreement with the university, with a 12 ECTS master's thesis, which can also be carried out at a university or research body abroad. Attendance is strongly recommended, and at least 12 ECTS earned abroad add a bonus to the final grade. According to the regulation, students build skills in construction safety management, BIM-based project digitalisation, cost and specification analysis, production process control and infrastructure monitoring.
Career paths
The regulation names site director, project manager, works manager and infrastructure manager as the main roles. Graduates can work for construction companies, for firms that monitor and maintain structures and infrastructure, and in the technical departments of public administrations that handle public procurement and major infrastructure. The profiles match the Italian professional codes for building and environmental engineers and for industrial and management engineers.
Fees and scholarships
Catania runs a dedicated call for non-EU applicants living abroad. The five best-ranked candidates in each programme were offered a university scholarship of €2,000 a year for two years. ERSU Catania also awards regional scholarships on merit and family income, so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
We apply on the university's Smartedu portal. The board scores your file out of 100 (CV 50, relevance of previous studies 40, reference letter 5, statement of purpose 5) and needs at least 50 to declare you suitable; it may add an online interview or test. For 2026/27 the window ran from 10 February to 17 March 2026, with results by 6 May.
If admitted, you confirm your place within 15 days, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment with your admission letter and apply for a type D study visa. If the visa arrives too late, you can ask to enrol in the following year without applying again.
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 Catania's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Smartedu application, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ERSU Catania 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 Catania's Construction Management and Safety master?
A bachelor's of at least three years in civil, building or architectural, or industrial engineering, with a grounding in drawing, structural mechanics, materials, hydraulics, geotechnics and transport engineering. Other degrees count only for applicants seconded to international organisations with relevant experience. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a B.Arch. Can I apply?
Possibly. Industrial engineering, which includes mechanical, is a listed background, but the committee also looks for structural mechanics, geotechnics, hydraulics and transport engineering. A B.Arch covers drawing and building construction but is not an engineering degree, so we check your courses first. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No fixed written exam. Non-EU applicants living abroad are scored out of 100 on their academic record (50), relevance of studies (40), a reference letter (5) and motivation (5), and need 50 to qualify. The committee may add an online interview or test. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. Accepted proof is IELTS 5.0 overall, TOEFL 60, Cambridge PET or BEC Preliminary or higher, a statement from your university that your degree was taught in English, or citizenship of an English-speaking country. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied on the Smartedu portal from 10 February to 17 March 2026, and rankings were due by 6 May 2026. The 2027/28 call will set new dates. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. For 2026/27, final-year students could apply if they graduated by 31 July 2026, uploading an enrolment certificate that shows the expected graduation date. [1]
Is there an internship?
Yes. The final semester includes a compulsory 12 ECTS traineeship of 300 hours at a company that has an agreement with the university, alongside a 12 ECTS master's thesis. [2]
What jobs does the degree lead to?
Site director, project manager, works director and infrastructure or services manager, in construction companies, monitoring and maintenance firms, and the technical departments of public administrations that handle public procurement and major infrastructure. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Construction Management and Safety at Catania?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Catania's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ERSU Catania 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 Construction Management and Safety?
A three-year or longer Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering, can meet the rule if your transcript covers structures, materials, hydraulics, geotechnics and transport engineering. Mechanical and other industrial engineering degrees need a closer look. You also need English at B2, for example IELTS 5.0. The steps are the Smartedu application, the ranking, the 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 Construction Management and Safety are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Smartedu application and 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 Construction Management and Safety are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Smartedu application and 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 Construction Management and Safety 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: Smartedu application and 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.
More English-taught programmes at this university
Other public universities in this city
They began right where you are
