Master in Data Science at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year English-taught LM-Data master's at Sapienza University of Rome, shared by four departments, covering data management, statistical modelling, learning techniques and large-scale computing. Entry needs 90 subject credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
Sapienza University of Rome
Data Science is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-Data) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 90 credits in maths, computing, science, economics, statistics, engineering or related areas, English at B2, and a committee review of your grades and your maths, probability and programming knowledge. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Data Science master asks for a bachelor's degree or suitable foreign qualification with at least 90 credits in set subject areas, English at B2, a positive eligibility check and a personal preparation assessment of your grades, the relevance of your degree and your knowledge of maths, probability and computer science. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
The 90-credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree, a three-year university diploma or a foreign qualification judged suitable, with at least 90 credits across these subject areas: [1]
- Mathematical and computer sciences (MAT and INF/01)
- Physical sciences (FIS)
- Economic and statistical sciences (SECS-P and SECS-S)
- Industrial and information engineering (ING-IND and ING-INF)
- Biological sciences (BIO)
- Legal sciences (IUS)
- Earth sciences (GEO)
- Civil and environmental engineering (ICAR)
- Logic and philosophy of science (M-FIL/02)
If you do not meet the rule, you can acquire the missing credits by passing single examinations, under Sapienza's single-examination rules. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Sapienza looks at the subjects on your transcript, not just your credit total, and the personal preparation stage then checks maths, probability and programming. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in any engineering branch, or a B.Sc. in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics or Physics.
- Check carefully: a BCA, B.Sc. IT, B.Com, BBA or a B.A. in Economics. Computing, economics and statistics subjects sit in the listed areas, but the knowledge check still needs calculus, linear algebra, probability and programming.
- Often short: a B.A. in humanities or languages, where few subjects fall in the listed areas.
The maths, probability and computing knowledge counts as met if your transcript has 12 credits in geometry or mathematical analysis, 6 in probability and 6 in computer science or data processing systems, or equivalent subjects. [2]
English
English at B2 level or higher. The programme call and the admission page ask for the level and do not list specific test scores. [1][2]
Eligibility check and personal preparation
The eligibility check is requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33519). The personal preparation assessment is compulsory and open only to applicants who meet the degree rule. A committee looks at your whole academic history, with particular attention to your knowledge and marks in mathematics, probability and computer science. [1][2]
- Grades and relevance: your bachelor's final grade and grade average, and how relevant your curriculum is.
- Mathematics: differential and integral calculus in one or more variables, linear algebra and analytic geometry in the plane.
- Probability: random variables, distributions and expected values, the main parametric families, and convergence of sequences of random variables.
- Computer science: programming principles and at least one language among C, C++, C#, Java and Python.
You can enrol only after the student office confirms by email that both checks were successful. [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 could choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 was reserved for Sapienza graduates and students about to graduate there. [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, and Chinese students in the Marco Polo programme, must hold a pre-acceptance letter. Applicants with a foreign qualification then complete Sapienza's enrolment procedure for two-year master's degrees after a positive eligibility check or on receipt of the pre-acceptance letter. [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 Data Science (LM-Data), academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33519. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Data Science course catalogue, admission requirements (curricular requirements and personal preparation), academic year 2026-2027; the university notes that the catalogue is being updated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Data Science programme page (degree class, language, duration, faculty, department and teaching mode). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Data Science is a two-year master's degree in class LM-Data, worth 120 ECTS, taught in English and in person in Rome. It is a joint initiative of Sapienza's Faculty of Information Engineering, Informatics and Statistics (i3S) that combines four departments: Computer Science; Computer, Control and Management Engineering; Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications; and Statistical Sciences. The course catalogue lists the Department of Computer Science as its home, and access is by verification of requirements and personal preparation.
The university starts from the growth in the volume and complexity of data, which calls for a multidisciplinary approach to turning data into useful information. The degree gives a modern preparation for running a complete data analysis, from acquisition and management to statistical analysis. It suits graduates in quantitative subjects who can already write code.
What you will study
The university names the key ingredients of a data strategy as the backbone of the degree. Teaching in the first semester of 2026/27 opened with the course Fundamentals of Data Science. Areas covered include:
- Fundamentals of Data Science
- Data acquisition and data management
- Data manipulation and visualisation
- Large-scale computing
- Statistical modelling and statistical analysis
- Learning techniques
- Algorithmic thinking
How the programme is taught
Classes are held in person at Sapienza's Rome sites. Before term the degree runs crash courses for incoming students: in September 2026 there was a crash course in probability (15 to 18 September) and one in Python (18, 21 and 22 September), at the Castro Laurenziano site. Lessons of Fundamentals of Data Science began on 25 September 2026.
Career paths
The university's programme description focuses on skills rather than job titles. Graduates learn to design an overall strategy for turning data into useful information, and to handle the many aspects of a complete data analysis, from acquisition and data management to statistical analysis, drawing on computer science, engineering and statistics together. The official career profiles are published on the degree's professional opportunities page.
Fees and scholarships
Sapienza does not use an ISEE for students whose income is abroad: they pay a flat yearly amount by country band. In the latest published rules (2025/26), India, Nigeria and Pakistan are in Band A, the lowest band; the 2026/27 rules follow after 30 September 2026. Winners of a DiSCo Lazio grant, and students who meet its requirements, pay only a token amount.
How to apply from outside the EU
Admission has two parts. First, an eligibility check of your degree: at least 90 credits in the listed subject areas and English at B2. Then a committee assesses your personal preparation: your degree grades and the relevance of your curriculum, with particular attention to mathematics, probability and computer science, and your knowledge of these three areas. That knowledge counts as met with 12 credits in geometry or analysis, 6 in probability and 6 in computer science or data processing systems. [1][2]
Visa applicants apply through MoveIn (two applications at most per intake). For 2026/27 the window ran from 22 December 2025 to 15 May 2026, and Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 30 June 2026, before the type D study visa. Sapienza accepts CIMEA statements. Visa applicants must hold a pre-acceptance letter, and for 2026/27 their only eligibility-check date was 15 September 2026. [1]
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 pre-acceptance request, eligibility check 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 Data Science master?
A bachelor's degree, three-year university diploma or suitable foreign qualification with at least 90 credits across maths, computing, physics, economics, statistics, engineering, biology, law, earth sciences, civil engineering or logic, plus English at B2. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
The 2026/27 call names no written test. A committee assesses your grades, the relevance of your degree and your knowledge of maths, probability and computer science. That knowledge counts as met with 12 credits in geometry or analysis, 6 in probability and 6 in computer science. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher. The 2026/27 programme call and admission page ask for the level and do not list specific test scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1][2]
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, with requests open on Infostud from 2 July. They also need 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 B.Com, BBA or BCA. Can I still apply?
Possibly. The 90 credits can include economics, statistics and computing subjects, so parts of these degrees may count, but every credit must sit in the listed areas. You also need knowledge of calculus, linear algebra, probability and programming, which we check against your transcript. [1][2]
Which programming skills are expected?
The admission page lists programming principles and at least one language among C, C++, C#, Java and Python, alongside calculus, linear algebra and probability. Six credits in computer science or data processing systems count as meeting the computing part. [2]
Is the Data Science master taught in English?
Yes. Data Science is taught in English and in person in Rome, in Sapienza's Faculty of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics. You need English at B2 or higher. [1][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Data Science 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 Data Science?
A suitable three-year Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc. or B.Com, can meet the degree rule if at least 90 credits sit in the listed maths, science, economics, statistics, engineering or law areas, and you also need English at B2. The steps are a pre-acceptance letter, the eligibility check 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 Data Science are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: pre-acceptance letter, eligibility check 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 are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: pre-acceptance letter, eligibility check 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 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: pre-acceptance letter, eligibility check 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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