Master in Cybersecurity at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year English-taught LM-66 master's at Sapienza in Rome covering cryptography, networks, distributed systems, computer law and penetration testing, then a second-year focus and a thesis. Entry needs 44 subject credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
Sapienza University of Rome
Cybersecurity is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-66) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 44 credits in maths, physics, computing, statistics, engineering, economics or law, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Cybersecurity master asks for a bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 44 CFU in set subject areas, English at B2, a positive eligibility check and a personal knowledge assessment. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
The 44-credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree, a three-year university diploma or a foreign qualification deemed equivalent, with at least 44 CFU across two groups. [1]
- At least 18 CFU in core subjects: mathematics, physics, computer science and statistics (sectors MAT/02, 03, 05 and 06, FIS/01, INF/01 and SECS-S/01).
- At least 24 CFU in any mix of: scientific and technological studies, electrical and electronic engineering, telecommunications engineering, management engineering, computer engineering, economic and social sciences, and law (sectors MAT/08 and 09, INF/01, ING-INF/01 to 05, ING-IND/31 and 35, SECS-P/06, 07, 08 and 10, IUS/01 and IUS/20).
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and Sapienza looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT, Electronics, Electrical or Telecommunications Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Computer Science with maths and statistics.
- Check carefully: a BCA or B.Sc. IT. Computer science counts in both groups, but your file needs enough maths, statistics or physics alongside it to reach the totals. A B.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics or Statistics usually covers the core group but needs 24 credits in computing, engineering, economics or law.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or BA in Economics. Economics and law count toward the 24-credit group, but the 18 core credits in maths, physics, computing or statistics are often missing.
Missing credits can be made up by passing single examinations before enrolment, under Sapienza's single-examination rules. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 is required, and you send proof of it with your application. The 2026/27 call does not list specific test scores. [1]
Eligibility check and personal knowledge assessment
The eligibility check is requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33516). If the academic requirements are met, a committee assesses your personal knowledge within one month of the application. [1]
- The relevance of your bachelor's curriculum.
- Extracurricular activities, including work experience and other training.
- English at B2.
- An interview, which can be held remotely.
By the same deadline you submit a CV, a statement of your degree listing your exams and their subject sectors, proof of the Infostud payment, a valid identity document and proof of English. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Eligibility checks opened on 2 July 2026. Non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa had one date: 15 September 2026. Other applicants can choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 is reserved for Sapienza graduates. [1]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduate by 19 December 2026 (other Italian or international universities) or 23 January 2027 (Sapienza). [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad
Applicants from non-EU countries who live abroad and need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's international admissions process before they can enrol. After a positive check or pre-acceptance, holders of a foreign qualification complete enrolment through Sapienza's international students' procedure. [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.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics. Admission procedure for the Master's degree programme in Cybersecurity (LM-66), academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33516. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Cybersecurity programme page (degree class, duration, faculty and department). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Cybersecurity is a two-year master's degree in class LM-66, worth 120 ECTS, taught only in English and in person in Rome. It is run by Sapienza's Department of Computer Science within the Faculty of Information Engineering, Informatics and Statistics, and access is by verification of requirements and personal preparation. [1][2]
The university describes the offer as interdisciplinary: it brings together computer science, engineering, statistics, law, economics and organisational sciences with specific knowledge of protection against cyber attacks in the main application domains. Teaching in English is meant to prepare students for international work and to attract international students and lecturers. The degree suits graduates with a strong computing background who want to specialise in security.
What you will study
First-year courses are mostly compulsory and give advanced training across the core of the field. In the second year you choose where to go deeper, from the security of infrastructures and cyber-physical systems to secure software design, programming and risk management. Subjects and course units named by the university include:
- Cryptography
- Computer networks and distributed systems
- Statistics
- Computer law and electronic commercial law
- Penetration testing and other ethical methods for testing system security
- Machine Learning Security
- Malware Analysis and Incident Forensics
- Security Governance
How the programme is taught
Many courses include project work in laboratories, where students build and test advanced solutions to problems of real-world complexity. On top of the regular courses, every student attends one of the complementary training activities that the Degree Programme Council proposes each year, designed to build cross-disciplinary skills and ease the move into work.
The second year includes the master's thesis, which presents an original study of an applied, experimental or theoretical nature. In 2026/27 the degree held an orientation meeting for new students on 25 September, and first-semester classes started in late September and early October.
Career paths
The programme aims to train cybersecurity experts through in-depth technical analysis, and its English-only teaching is meant to ease entry into international work environments. The university's programme description does not list job titles; the second-year focus areas show where graduates specialise:
- Security of infrastructures and cyber-physical systems
- Secure design of software applications and secure programming
- Security testing of computer systems
- Security risk management and governance
Fees and scholarships
Sapienza sets tuition by family income. The regional scholarship body for Rome is DiSCo Lazio, and its scholarship winners also get a tuition waiver, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The region decides scholarship awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's international admissions process. For 2026/27, the eligibility check for this group had a single deadline: 15 September 2026. The check is requested through Sapienza's Infostud system using code 33516. [1]
After a positive eligibility check and personal knowledge assessment, or with the pre-acceptance letter, students with a foreign qualification complete enrolment through Sapienza's international students' procedure. [1] Visa applicants also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. Sapienza accepts CIMEA statements, and qualifications from countries outside the ARDI database need a declaration of value. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published.
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 Sapienza's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your eligibility check, pre-acceptance request and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DiSCo Lazio 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 Sapienza's Cybersecurity master?
A bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 44 CFU in set areas: 18 in maths, physics, computer science or statistics, and 24 across computing, engineering, economics or law. You also need English at B2. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. Sapienza runs an eligibility check of your credits, then a committee assesses the relevance of your degree, your extracurricular and work experience and your English, with an interview that can be held remotely. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. The 2026/27 call asks for proof of B2 and does not list specific test scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa had one eligibility-check date: 15 September 2026, and they also needed a pre-acceptance letter. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. For 2026/27, applicants finishing a degree at another Italian or international university had to graduate by 19 December 2026. [1]
I have a BCA or a B.Com. Can I apply?
Possibly. Computer science counts in both credit groups, so a BCA can fit if it also has enough maths or statistics. A B.Com often falls short on the 18 core credits in maths, physics, computing or statistics. Missing credits can be made up through single examinations. [1]
What will I study?
A mostly compulsory first year in cryptography, networks, distributed systems, statistics, computer law and penetration testing, then a second-year focus such as infrastructure security, secure software or risk management, plus lab projects and a thesis.
Can someone handle my whole application to Cybersecurity at Sapienza?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Sapienza's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DiSCo Lazio 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 Cybersecurity?
A recognised Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc. in Computer Science or BCA, can meet the degree rule if its subjects cover the 44-credit groups, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the eligibility check, a pre-acceptance letter 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 Cybersecurity are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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 Cybersecurity are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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 Cybersecurity 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: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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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