Master in Automation and Systems Engineering at University of Palermo
Two-year English-taught LM-25 master's in Palermo on smart automation, robotics and Industry 4.0, with units in robotics, digital control, sensors, system identification and industrial IoT. Entry needs an L-8 or L-9 engineering degree, English at B2 and an interview.
Master
2 years
Palermo
English
University of Palermo
Automation and Systems Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-25) taught in English at the University of Palermo, replacing Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering for Industry. Entry needs an industrial or information engineering bachelor's with 33 credits in maths and physics and 48 in listed engineering areas, English at B2 and an interview. Non-EU students pay a fixed fee by country list or an income-based fee.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Palermo's Automation and Systems Engineering master asks for a bachelor's in industrial or information engineering (class L-9 or L-8) or a recognised foreign equivalent, with at least 33 credits in maths and physics and 48 in listed engineering areas, English at B2, and an interview on your technical preparation. There is no written test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
These rules come from the course regulations for the 2025/26 cohort. You need all of the following: [1]
- An engineering bachelor's: industrial engineering (class L-9, or class 10 under the older Italian system) or information engineering (class L-8, or class 09), or an equivalent engineering degree. A foreign degree must be recognised as suitable under the university's teaching regulations.
- At least 33 CFU in maths and physics.
- At least 48 CFU in industrial and information engineering sectors: electronics (ING-INF/01), telecommunications (ING-INF/03), automatic control (ING-INF/04), computer engineering (ING-INF/05), electrical and electronic measurement (ING-INF/07), mechanical and thermal measurement (ING-IND/12), manufacturing technologies (ING-IND/16), industrial plants (ING-IND/17) and management engineering (ING-IND/35).
Graduates of UniPa's bachelor's in Cybernetic Engineering have direct access with no credit gaps. [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 committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. [1] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Electrical, Electronics and Communication, Instrumentation and Control or Mechatronics with solid maths and physics, which usually covers both credit blocks.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or IT, which often meets the 48 engineering credits through computing but can be light on physics, or one in Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering, where only measurement, manufacturing, industrial plant and management courses count toward the 48.
- Often short: a BCA, or a B.Sc. in Computer Science, Physics or Mathematics, since the rule asks for an engineering degree. A B.Com, BBA or BA does not meet it.
English
English at CEFR B2, written and spoken, with subject vocabulary. You can show it with a B2 certificate; without one, the university tests your English under its own procedures. B2 can also be reached during the course through language credits, but it is a prerequisite for the English-taught units. [1]
Non-EU applicants upload a B2 or higher certificate, or a Medium of Instruction certificate from their university. [4] The department's presentation adds that you need a B2+ certificate before sitting exams in English. The regulations do not list specific tests or scores. [1][2]
Interview and personal preparation
Access is open and there is no written test. A bachelor's final grade of at least 90/110 normally shows adequate preparation, and for final-year students the threshold is an exam average above 24/30. [1]
Every applicant also sits an interview with a committee appointed by the course council, on the technical and scientific basics of the field: [1]
- electrical and electronic circuits
- telecommunication networks
- automatic control and robotics
- computing and programming
- electrical and electronic measurement systems
- management economics
- maths and physics
- industrial mechanical systems
For non-EU applicants, the course coordinator evaluates your documents, can issue an admission letter and holds a personal knowledge interview on your preparation, motivation and English. Your application is on hold until the outcome is confirmed. [4]
Applying before you graduate
The regulations allow conditional enrolment, even after the academic year has started, for final-year students on an industrial or information engineering bachelor's who have at least 140 credits and will graduate by the extraordinary session of the previous academic year. [1] The non-EU procedure asks for a copy of your bachelor's degree, so we check the timing for your case. [4]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had to create their UniPa portal application by 20 July 2026 and their Universitaly application by 4 August 2026. All visa procedures for that intake must be completed by 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [4]
Documents and non-EU steps
On the UniPa Student Portal and Universitaly you upload: [4]
- a valid passport and a passport photo
- your bachelor's degree and transcript of records
- an English certificate at B2 or higher, or a Medium of Instruction certificate
- your CV
To finalise enrolment you need a declaration of value from the Italian consulate, or a CIMEA statement of comparability, Diploma Supplement or ARDI, each with a CIMEA statement of verification. You also need your original degree and transcript with a legalised Italian or English translation, and proof that you requested a residence permit. The admission letter does not by itself give you a visa: the Italian embassy or consulate decides. [4]
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 Palermo, Department of Engineering. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Automation and Systems Engineering (class LM-25), 2025/26 cohort, with the annex on access requirements (in Italian). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Automation and Systems Engineering. Programme presentation for the master's degrees Welcome Day, 6 May 2025 (in Italian). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Department of Engineering. Automation and Systems Engineering (course 2332) programme page, undated (class, active years and coordinator). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, International Office. Enrolment procedure for non-EU students living abroad, master's degree courses, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, International Office. Tuition fees for non-EU students residing abroad, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Automation and Systems Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree in class LM-25, run by the Department of Engineering of the University of Palermo and taught in English in Palermo. It replaces the former master's in Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering for Industry, has open access, and both years are active under course code 2332, coordinated by Professor Adriano Fagiolini. [1][2][3]
The degree trains professionals to design, control and manage complex systems in industrial and information engineering, with a focus on smart automation, robotics and Industry 4.0. It suits graduates in industrial or information engineering who want to work on robots, control systems and connected production. [1]
What you will study
The first year builds the core in robotics, control and measurement, and the second year adds estimation and industrial IoT, with a wide choice of electives in cybersecurity, AI, IoT and manufacturing technologies. Units in the study plan presented for the 2025/26 cohort include: [2]
- Mobile and Industrial Robotics (Mobile and Distributed Robotics, Industrial Robotics)
- Digital Control
- Power Electronics
- Automatic Measurement Systems and Sensors
- Advanced and Additive Manufacturing
- Estimation, Filtering and System Identification
- Electronics for Industrial IoT
- Electives such as Advanced Machine Learning, IoT and Cloud Security, Cybersecurity, Industrial Electrical Drives and Supply Chain Management in Industry 4.0. Two elective options, Dinamica dei Sistemi Meccanici and Tecniche di Modellazione e Visualizzazione Avanzate, are taught in Italian.
How the programme is taught
The first year carries 54 credits and the second 66. The second year includes 9 credits of stage, laboratories and other activities, with labs such as the Distributed Robotics and Motion Control Lab, the Control of Electromechanical Systems Lab, the Measurement Chain Prototyping Lab and the Quantum Optimization Lab, and ends with a 21-credit thesis, which you can write in English or Italian. [1][2] In May 2025 the degree listed Erasmus+ agreements with UTBM and INP Toulouse in France, UPC Barcelona and UPV Valencia, with agreements with NTNU Trondheim and the University of Vienna being signed. [2]
Career paths
The department's presentation of the degree points graduates to four settings: [2]
- Large industry
- Small and medium-sized industry
- Public administration
- Professional practice and engineering design firms
Fees and scholarships
Engineering degrees follow the general UniPa fee rules. For 2026/27, non-EU students living abroad can choose a fixed amount set by country list or an income-based fee worked out through an ISEE parificato. [5] Details are on the tuition fees page. ERSU Palermo awards scholarships on merit and family income, with a tuition fee waiver listed among the benefits.
How to apply from outside the EU
You need a bachelor's degree in engineering class L-8 or L-9 or an equivalent foreign degree, with at least 33 credits in maths and physics and 48 in listed engineering areas. [1] Graduates of UniPa's Cybernetic Engineering bachelor have direct access. [2] We apply on the UniPa student portal with your passport, a photo, degree and transcript, a CV and an English B2 or Medium of Instruction certificate. The coordinator evaluates the file, can issue an admission letter and holds a personal knowledge interview. [4]
For 2026/27 the portal application had to be created by 20 July 2026 and the Universitaly application by 4 August 2026, and the 2027/28 dates are not yet published. The consulate then decides the type D study visa. [4] Enrolment documents are in the non-EU master's procedure.
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 Palermo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your UniPa portal application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ERSU Palermo 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 Automation and Systems Engineering at Palermo?
An engineering bachelor's in industrial or information engineering (Italian classes L-9 or L-8) or a recognised foreign equivalent, with at least 33 credits in maths and physics and 48 in listed areas such as electronics, automatic control, computing, measurement and manufacturing. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test, and access is open. A final bachelor's grade of at least 90/110 normally shows adequate preparation, and every applicant also has an interview on topics such as circuits, control, programming, maths and physics. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2, written and spoken. Non-EU applicants upload a B2 certificate or a Medium of Instruction certificate from their university, and the regulations name no specific test or score. The department asks for a B2+ certificate before you sit English-taught exams. [1][2][4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had to create their UniPa portal application by 20 July 2026 and their Universitaly application by 4 August 2026, with visa procedures done by 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
The regulations allow conditional enrolment for final-year students with at least 140 credits who graduate by the extraordinary session of the previous academic year. The non-EU procedure asks for a copy of your bachelor's degree, so we check the timing for your case. [1][4]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a BCA. Can I apply?
A Mechanical B.Tech can fit if 48 of its credits fall in the listed areas, such as measurement, manufacturing, industrial plants or management engineering, and 33 in maths and physics. A BCA is usually short, because the rule asks for an engineering degree. [1]
Is this the former Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering degree?
Yes. Automation and Systems Engineering is the new LM-25 degree that replaces Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering for Industry, and its programme page links back to the former course. Both years of the new degree are active. [2][3]
Is the whole programme taught in English?
Almost. The core units are taught in English, while two elective options, Dinamica dei Sistemi Meccanici and Tecniche di Modellazione e Visualizzazione Avanzate, are taught in Italian. You can write your thesis in English or Italian. [1][2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Automation and Systems Engineering at Palermo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Palermo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ERSU Palermo 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 Automation and Systems Engineering?
A recognised Indian B.Tech or B.E. in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Mechatronics or Computer Science can meet the rule if it covers 33 credits in maths and physics and 48 in the listed engineering areas. You need English at B2 or a Medium of Instruction certificate. The steps are the UniPa portal application, the coordinator's evaluation and interview, then Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][4] 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 Automation and Systems Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: UniPa portal application, admission letter, coordinator interview 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 Automation and Systems Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: UniPa portal application, admission letter, coordinator interview 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 Automation and 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: UniPa portal application, admission letter, coordinator interview 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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