Master in Data Science and Engineering at Polytechnic University of Turin
Two-year English-taught LM-32 master at Politecnico di Torino training data scientists and data engineers in machine learning, big data architectures, statistics and optimisation, with a 22-credit thesis. Entry needs 100 subject credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Turin
English
Polytechnic University of Turin
Data Science and Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-32) taught in English at Politecnico di Torino in Turin. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 40 credits in maths, physics and computing and 60 more in information engineering, maths or statistics, your course syllabus and English at B2, with IELTS 5.5 as the minimum. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Data Science and Engineering asks for a bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 40 credits in maths, physics and computing and 60 more in information or industrial engineering, maths or statistics, a suitable academic record checked by the programme's professors, your course syllabus, and English at B2 with IELTS 5.5 as the listed minimum. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirement
You need a bachelor's degree or three-year university diploma, or a foreign academic qualification from an accredited or recognised university, earned after at least 15 years of total education, counting primary school, secondary school and university. [1]
Italian degrees in classes L-8 (Information Engineering) and L-35 (Mathematical Sciences) meet the curricular requirements automatically. For every other degree, the programme lead or a delegate checks that you have: [1]
- At least 40 credits in physics (FIS/01, FIS/03), computer science and computer engineering (INF/01, ING-INF/05), and algebra, geometry, mathematical analysis and numerical analysis (MAT/02, MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/08).
- At least 60 credits in computer science (INF/01), information engineering, covering electronics, electromagnetic fields, telecommunications, automatic control, computer engineering, bioengineering and electronic measurements (ING-INF/01 to ING-INF/07), industrial engineering sectors in manufacturing, electrical engineering, electrical machines and drives, and electrical power systems (ING-IND/16, 31, 32 and 33), statistics (SECS-S/01), and geometry, mathematical analysis, probability, numerical analysis and operations research (MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/06, MAT/08, MAT/09).
Credits in sectors shared by both groups count first towards the 40-credit group, and one course can count partly towards each group. The programme lead can recognise credits in other sectors as equivalent, with reasons, and decides on gaps of up to 10 credits; a larger gap needs final approval from the Collegio Coordinator or Vice Coordinator. Missing credits must be made up before enrolment, through single courses for gaps of up to 60 credits, or by enrolling in a bachelor's programme with credit transfer for larger gaps. [1]
PoliTo's 2026/27 course table recommends a background in any field of engineering, mathematics or computer science. Students in a five or six-year single-cycle degree who have not graduated need at least 15 years of total education, 3 of them at university, and at least 180 ECTS. Preparatory or foundation years do not count. [1][3]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT, Electronics and Communication or Electrical Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Computer Science, Mathematics or Statistics with some physics or computing, because the 60-credit group includes maths and statistics as well as engineering and computing.
- Check carefully: a BCA or B.Sc. IT, which usually covers computing but can be light on the maths and physics in the 40-credit group; a B.Sc. in Physics, where physics counts only towards the 40-credit group; and a B.Tech in Mechanical, Civil or Chemical Engineering, where only the maths, statistics, computing and listed industrial engineering credits count.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or BA, or a life sciences degree, unless it includes substantial maths, statistics and computing.
The programme's professors assess how well your previous studies fit the degree, and the syllabus of your courses is a required upload, so a full and clear syllabus matters for this programme. [1][3]
English
Certified English at CEFR level B2 or higher, with IELTS 5.5 as the listed minimum for this programme. Other certificates are accepted under PoliTo's certificate table, and no Italian is required for admission. [1][2][3]
- Exemption: a qualification earned after an English-medium path at a school or university in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and other listed countries, or a qualification from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or another country on the university's list, replaces the certificate. You upload an official statement that English was the medium of instruction. [2]
- Sharing scores: TOEFL and TOEIC results are sent with code C285, and Cambridge results are shared online with your Candidate ID. [2]
Selection
For applicants with a foreign qualification, the regulations set no admission test. The Recruitment and Admissions Unit first checks your requirements and documents, then professors from the programme, appointed by the Collegio Coordinator, assess your academic performance and how well your previous studies fit the degree on Apply@polito. [1][2]
- Syllabus: required for Data Science and Engineering. [3]
- GRE: optional but highly valued; you can upload the GRE General Test score report as your one optional extra document. [2][3]
The result is eligible, a conditional offer (eligible, but you still need to finish your bachelor's), or not eligible. A not-eligible decision on curricular or academic grounds rules out every PoliTo master's for that year. A positive evaluation is valid only for the academic year you apply for, and deferrals are not possible. [1][2]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, the first call for foreign qualifications ran from 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026, with results on 15 April 2026. The second call ran from 18 March to 20 April 2026, with results on 22 June 2026. [2]
Eligible non-EU applicants living abroad were asked to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026 (first call) or 15 July 2026 (second call). Online enrolment ran from 31 July to 5 October 2026, and the type D visa had to be uploaded by 30 November 2026. A third call, from 3 to 17 November 2026, is reserved for EU applicants and non-EU applicants living in Italy. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply online on Apply@polito with one application per call, choosing up to two master's programmes in order of preference. [2]
- Required uploads: passport, CV, bachelor's degree certificate or an official document with your expected graduation date, an official transcript showing the grading and credit systems, the syllabus of your courses, and your English certificate or exemption statement. [2][3]
- Syllabus source: issued by your university. PoliTo does not accept documents downloaded from the website of an accreditation authority, such as HEC in Pakistan. [2]
- Format: documents on letterhead, stamped and signed, or digitally signed and verifiable online. Documents not in Italian, English, French or Spanish are merged with an official English or Italian translation. [2]
- No changes after submission: incomplete applications are rejected and cannot be resubmitted in the same academic year. [2]
- For enrolment: a declaration of value, CIMEA statement of comparability or Diploma Supplement, plus the type D study visa and an Italian fiscal code. [2]
Non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which PoliTo validates only once you are eligible and have uploaded your bachelor's degree. [2]
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.
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Control and Computer Engineering. Academic regulations, Master's degree in Data Science and Engineering (LM-32), academic year 2026/27, issued by Rector's Decree no. 525 of 28 May 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Admissions and Enrolment. Applicants with a non-Italian qualification, Master's degree programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino. Course-specific requirements for Master's degree programmes, applicants with a non-Italian qualification, academic year 2026/27, updated 19 December 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Data Science and Engineering programme pages: overview, what you will learn, programme curriculum, Twin Track, FAQs and after graduation, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Data Science and Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-32 Computer Systems Engineering) taught in English at Politecnico di Torino's main campus in Turin. It is run by the Department of Control and Computer Engineering within the Collegio of Computer, Cinema and Mechatronics Engineering, and admission is uncapped, subject to an evaluation of your requirements. [4]
The programme trains data scientists and data engineers who can collect, process, analyse and interpret large and complex datasets and turn them into value for decisions in companies and research. All courses are taught in English. [1] PoliTo describes graduates who can manage the whole life cycle of data analysis: requirements, data collection and storage, mathematical and statistical models, machine learning, visualisation and the use of results in decision-making. [4]
What you will study
The first year is compulsory and covers data-driven processes, methods and technologies to acquire, store, analyse and visualise data, predictive models and machine learning, mathematical, probabilistic and statistical modelling, stochastic models and optimisation, and data ethics and protection. [1] The 2026/27 first year includes: [4]
- Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence, Machine and Deep Learning (10 CFU)
- Data management and visualization (8 CFU)
- Data science and machine learning lab (8 CFU)
- Distributed architectures for big data processing and analytics (8 CFU)
- Mathematical and statistical methods for Artificial Intelligence (8 CFU)
- Data Ethics and Data Protection (6 CFU)
- Statistical methods in data science, or Computational linear algebra for large scale problems (8 CFU)
- Decision making and optimization, Information theory for data science, or Numerical optimization for large scale problems (8 CFU)
In the second year you choose specialist courses in application areas such as information engineering, industrial engineering, finance or life science, and take a compulsory course on innovation management and extracting value from data. [1] Options in the 2026/27 plan include Applied data science project, Computer-aided simulations lab, Geometric learning, time-variant data analysis and anomaly detection, Network dynamics and learning, Deep natural language processing and Efficient computing for artificial intelligence, plus 12 free-choice credits or a Challenge project set by a company. [4]
How the programme is taught
Teaching combines face-to-face lectures, classroom practicals, computer and experimental labs, and individual or group work, with chances to connect with private companies. PoliTo's programme FAQ says most courses use Python, which is introduced in the first lessons of the first-semester lab, and that basic Java is useful for the big data course. [4]
The degree ends with a 22-credit thesis, about one semester of full-time work, which can be carried out at Politecnico or with a company or research body in Italy or abroad. The thesis and its public defence must be in English. [1]
You can take part of your courses abroad and earn a double degree. Through the Twin Track scheme, you can also obtain a second master's degree, in Mathematics Engineering, with one extra year of study. [4] Mathematics Engineering (Ingegneria Matematica) is taught partly in Italian and asks for Italian B2. [3]
Career paths
The 2026/27 regulations describe two professional profiles: [1]
- Data scientist: analyses the requirements of complex data analysis, designs analysis processes with machine learning and mathematical models, extracts knowledge and value from data and communicates the results, with awareness of the ethical impact of the analysis.
- Data engineer: designs systems and processes to extract, store and analyse large volumes of heterogeneous data, builds data analysis workflows and applies machine learning algorithms.
Both profiles work in the IT departments of medium and large companies, IT and non-IT consulting firms, and public and private research and development centres. [1] PoliTo adds that graduates mainly join companies in the ICT, manufacturing and services sectors, or continue to a PhD in Italy or abroad. [4]
Fees and scholarships
Politecnico di Torino sets tuition in its yearly fee regulations, and students can apply for a reduction based on family income, using an ISEE parificato when the family lives abroad. EDISU Piemonte, the regional body for the right to study, runs the regional scholarship and university housing, and international students can apply through its annual call. EDISU decides awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply through PoliTo's general calls for foreign qualifications on Apply@polito, choosing up to two master's programmes in one application. Data Science and Engineering requires the syllabus of your bachelor's courses, and a GRE score is optional but highly valued. [2][3]
For 2026/27 the first call ran from 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026 and the second from 18 March to 20 April 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2]
After a positive evaluation, and once your bachelor's degree is documented, we submit your Universitaly pre-enrolment. You then apply for a type D study visa and enrol with a declaration of value, CIMEA statement of comparability or Diploma Supplement. [2]
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 PoliTo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Apply@polito application, supporting documents and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your EDISU Piemonte 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 Data Science and Engineering at PoliTo?
A bachelor's or recognised foreign degree earned after at least 15 years of education. Italian L-8 and L-35 degrees qualify directly; other degrees need at least 40 credits in maths, physics and computing and 60 more in information or industrial engineering, maths or statistics. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No admission test for applicants with a foreign qualification. Professors on the programme assess your academic record and how well your studies fit the degree. You must upload your course syllabus, and a GRE score is optional but highly valued. [1][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher, with IELTS 5.5 as the listed minimum. A qualification earned through English in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other listed countries can replace the certificate, with an official medium-of-instruction statement. [1][2][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the general calls for foreign qualifications ran from 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026 and from 18 March to 20 April 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You upload an official document with your expected graduation date and can receive a conditional offer. PoliTo validates Universitaly pre-enrolment only once your degree is uploaded, and for 2026/27 enrolment closed on 5 October 2026. [2]
I have a BCA or a B.Sc. in Statistics. Can I apply?
Possibly. A statistics or maths degree can fill both credit groups, because the 60-credit group includes maths and statistics, but it still needs some physics or computing. A BCA usually covers computing but can be light on maths and physics. The programme lead decides on gaps of up to 10 credits, and missing credits are made up before enrolment. [1]
Do I need to know Python before I start?
No. PoliTo's programme FAQ says most courses use Python and that it is introduced in the first lessons of the first-semester lab, so prior experience is not required. Basic Java is also useful for the big data course. [4]
Is the whole programme taught in English?
Yes. The 2026/27 regulations state that all courses are taught in English, and the thesis and its public defence must also be in English. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Data Science and Engineering at PoliTo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against PoliTo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the EDISU Piemonte 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 Data Science and Engineering?
A recognised Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT or Electronics, or a B.Sc. in Mathematics or Statistics, can meet the rule if it includes at least 40 credits in maths, physics and computing and 60 more in information or industrial engineering, maths or statistics. You also need English at B2 and your course syllabus. The steps are the Apply@polito application, confirmation of eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][3] 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 Data Science and Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Apply@polito application in a general call, confirmation of eligibility 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 Data Science and Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Apply@polito application in a general call, confirmation of eligibility 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 Data Science and 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: Apply@polito application in a general call, confirmation of eligibility 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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