Master in Control Systems and Automation Engineering at University of L’Aquila
Two-year English-taught master's (LM-25) at the University of L'Aquila in control systems, industrial automation, energy systems and electric mobility, with E-PiCo and STIC&A double degrees.
Master
2 years
L'Aquila
English
University of L’Aquila
Control Systems and Automation Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-25) taught in English at the University of L'Aquila. Entry needs a degree of at least three years with 90 credits in information and industrial 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 Control Systems and Automation Engineering master needs a degree of at least three years with at least 90 credits in information and industrial engineering subjects, 36 of them in maths, physics and computing basics and 54 in information and automation engineering, plus English at B2, a place on the ranking of the university's call for foreign-degree holders and an interview to check your preparation. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 90-credit rule
You need a degree of at least three years from a university outside the Italian system that allows admission to the master's you apply for. [1]
The 2026/27 course regulations ask for at least 90 CFU in the basic and core subjects of the information engineering and industrial engineering degree classes, with particular reference to automation engineering: [2]
- At least 36 CFU in basic subjects: mathematics, physics, computer science and information processing systems (MAT, FIS, INF and IINF-05/A).
- At least 54 CFU in information engineering and automation engineering subjects.
The programme council can still admit you if you do not fully meet these rules, when a comparison of course contents, and possibly a check of your actual knowledge, shows that your background is adequate. It then gives guidance on your study plan. [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 the council 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 Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Instrumentation, Instrumentation and Control, or Electrical and Electronics Engineering, which usually cover both the maths and physics block and the control and electronics block.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Computer Science, IT, Electrical, Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering usually has the 36 basic credits but may not reach 54 credits in information and automation engineering subjects such as control, electronics and signals.
- Often short: a BCA, a B.Sc. in Physics, Mathematics or Computer Science, a B.Com, BBA or BA, which usually lack the 54 engineering credits.
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher, written and spoken, including subject vocabulary, because all compulsory units are taught in English. [2]
For the 2026/27 call, proof was a B2 or C1 certificate issued within the last four years, uploaded with the application or sent through ETS (institution code 3676). Applicants who studied in English for one or more years, at university or high school, and native speakers could self-declare instead. The call names no minimum test score. [1]
Selection and interview
There is no written entrance test. After the call deadline, the Rector appoints committees of at least three members, which set their own evaluation criteria. Selection is on documents only or on documents and an interview, with at least five days' notice of any interview. Each committee produces a ranking list of eligible candidates. [1]
The course regulations add that the programme council checks your curriculum against the entry rules and assesses your personal preparation in an interview, after which it may set an individual study path. [2]
Electric Vehicle Propulsion and Control (E-PiCo) curriculum
Entry to the E-PiCo curriculum is always by selection, in one of two ways: [2]
- Through the E-PiCo consortium's own annual selection, run by an international committee.
- Through L'Aquila's own selection for the curriculum. You spend the first two semesters in L'Aquila, then need a positive assessment from the consortium committee, which requires a weighted average of at least 27/30 in first-semester exams and no exam below 24/30. Students who are not approved can continue with an individual study plan or Erasmus+ mobility, without the E-PiCo double degree.
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27 (cohort 2026), the call was published on 7 November 2025 and applications on the PICA portal closed at 1:00 pm Italian time on 25 February 2026. [1]
- Final-year students: could apply if they graduated by 15 August 2026, sending the degree certificate by then or within 10 days of graduating. [1]
- Universitaly pre-enrolment: due by 31 July. [3]
The 2027/28 call is not yet published.
Documents and non-EU steps
One application covers at most two programme rankings in the call. 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-declaration.
- An identity document valid in Italy.
If you are ranked eligible and need a visa, you register on Universitaly for this master's, and the university approves the pre-enrolment without a further academic review. You can enrol only with a study visa. [1]
To enrol you provide your final degree certificate, your transcript, a B2 language certificate, and a CIMEA statement, a declaration of value or an English Diploma Supplement. Documents must be translated and legalised, and the consulate may still require a declaration of value for the visa. [3]
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 selection of students with a foreign bachelor's degree for master's degrees taught in English, cohort 2026 (academic year 2026/27). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila, Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics. Course regulations of the master's degree in Control Systems and Automation Engineering (class LM-25), academic year 2026/27 (in Italian). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila. Enrolment of international students page (Universitaly pre-enrolment, enrolment documents and first instalment), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila. Tuition fees page, academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of L'Aquila, Control Systems and Automation Engineering programme page, academic year 2026/27 (degree class, teaching language, department and access). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Control Systems and Automation Engineering is a two-year master's degree in class LM-25 at the University of L'Aquila, run by the Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics (DISIM). It is an international degree: English is the main teaching language and every compulsory unit is taught in English, though a few optional alternatives have Italian titles. Teaching is in L'Aquila and the degree carries 120 ECTS. [2][5]
The programme builds broad information engineering skills to design and improve automation systems. Depending on the curriculum, graduates specialise in automatic control, industrial automation and the energy transition, or electric mobility. It suits graduates in information, automation, electronic or electrical engineering.
What you will study
There are three curricula: Control Systems Engineering, Intelligent Systems for Automation and Control of Energy Systems, and Electric Vehicle Propulsion and Control (E-PiCo), a double-degree route. Units in the 2026/27 plan include: [2]
- Identification and Machine Learning for Control Systems (12 ECTS)
- Embedded Systems and Nonlinear Systems (6 ECTS each)
- Advanced Control Systems (9 ECTS) and Optimal Control (6 ECTS)
- Hybrid Systems Modeling, Control and Simulation (12 ECTS)
- Analysis and Control of Energy Systems (12 ECTS, energy systems curriculum)
- Power Converters, Electric Machines and Drives I and II (9 and 12 ECTS, energy systems curriculum)
- Machine Learning for Automation (9 ECTS) and Renewable Energy and Storage Systems (6 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Every curriculum includes at least 6 ECTS of internship and a thesis of 12 ECTS, or 18 ECTS in E-PiCo. E-PiCo is run by a consortium with École Centrale de Nantes, Kiel University, University Politehnica of Bucharest and CINVESTAV in Mexico: students follow one of ten mobility paths, some starting in L'Aquila and continuing in Nantes, Bucharest or Kiel. A separate STIC&A agreement offers double degrees with French schools such as CentraleSupélec, ESIEE Paris, ENSEA, Polytech Grenoble and Université Paris-Saclay. [2]
Career paths
The regulation points to technology-intensive industry and describes three designer profiles: [2]
- Designer of automatic control systems, in robotics and embedded devices
- Designer in industrial automation and the energy transition, including smart grids
- Designer in electric mobility, working on motor control, power converters and batteries
- Sectors named include electronics, automotive, aerospace, energy and automation, as well as public administration and finance
Fees and scholarships
The University of L'Aquila sets its contribution by family income (ISEE). Under its 2025/26 fee rules, non-EU students not resident in Italy were assigned automatically to the lowest income band (ISEE up to €23,250), and the contribution was then reviewed against academic progress, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Everyone also pays regional tax and stamp duty as a first instalment. [4] For international students, this is paid after the visa is issued and they arrive in Italy. [3] ADSU L'Aquila runs the regional scholarship call.
How to apply from outside the EU
You need at least 90 credits in information and industrial engineering subjects, including 36 in maths, physics and computing basics and 54 in information and automation engineering, plus English at B2. [2] Applicants with a foreign degree use the university's call for master's degrees taught in English on the PICA portal. For 2026/27 it closed on 25 February 2026 at 1:00 pm Italian time, and committees ranked applicants on documents, possibly with an interview. [1]
Once you are ranked eligible, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which for 2026/27 was due by 31 July, and you apply for a type D study visa. You can enrol only with the visa, and at enrolment you provide a CIMEA statement, a declaration of value or an English Diploma Supplement. The 2027/28 call 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 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 your 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
Is Control Systems and Automation Engineering taught in English?
Yes. It is an international degree, and English is the main teaching language, including every compulsory unit in all three curricula. A few optional alternatives have Italian titles. The thesis can be written and defended in English. [2]
What bachelor's degree do I need for Control Systems and Automation Engineering at L'Aquila?
A degree of at least three years with at least 90 credits in information and industrial engineering subjects: 36 in maths, physics and computing basics and 54 in information and automation engineering. The programme council can accept a close match after checking your knowledge. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee ranks applicants to the call on documents, possibly with an interview, and the course regulations add an interview by the programme council to check your preparation. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. For 2026/27 the call accepted a B2 or C1 certificate issued within the last four years, or self-declaration after a year or more of English-medium study. No minimum IELTS score is named, so we check which proof fits your file. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, applications on the PICA portal closed at 1:00 pm Italian time on 25 February 2026, and Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 31 July. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. For 2026/27, final-year students could apply if they graduated by 15 August 2026 and sent the degree certificate by then, or within 10 days of graduating. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical or Computer Science Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees usually cover the 36 credits in maths, physics and computing basics, but the rule also needs 54 credits in information and automation engineering, such as control, electronics and signals. We check your transcript against the rule first. [2]
Which curricula are offered?
Control Systems Engineering; Intelligent Systems for Automation and Control of Energy Systems; and Electric Vehicle Propulsion and Control (E-PiCo), a double-degree route with partners in France, Germany, Romania and Mexico. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Control Systems and Automation 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 Control Systems and Automation Engineering?
A recognised Indian B.Tech or B.E. in electronics, instrumentation, electrical or computer engineering can meet the rule if it has 90 credits in information and industrial engineering subjects, with 36 in maths, physics and computing basics and 54 in information and automation engineering. 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 Control Systems and Automation Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: the PICA application, the 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 Control Systems and Automation Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: the PICA application, the 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 Control Systems and Automation 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: the PICA application, the 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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