Master in Data Science at The University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
Two-year English-taught LM-DATA master's at Vanvitelli's Department of Mathematics and Physics in Caserta, combining statistics, machine learning and software, with an EMOS-labelled official statistics track. Entry needs a STEM degree or 18 credits in maths, statistics and computing, plus English at B2.
Master
2 years
Naples
English
The University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
Data Science is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-DATA) taught in English at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Caserta. Entry needs a bachelor's in engineering, statistics, physics, computer science or maths, or another listed degree with at least 18 credits in maths, statistics and computing, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Vanvitelli's Data Science master asks for a bachelor's degree in engineering, statistics, physics, computer science or maths, or a degree in a set list of other fields with at least 18 credits in maths, statistics and computing, plus English at B2. Foreign degrees are judged through a declaration of value, and unclear cases are checked by a committee. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Accepted degrees and the 18-credit rule
The 2026/27 regulations set two groups of Italian bachelor's classes. Foreign degrees count if they are judged equivalent on the basis of a declaration of value. [1]
- Group 1, direct access: civil and environmental engineering (L-7), information engineering (L-8), industrial engineering (L-9), statistics (L-41), physics (L-30), computer science (L-31) and mathematics (L-35).
- Group 2, at least 18 CFU: biotechnology (L-2), chemistry (L-27), environmental and natural sciences (L-32), business economics and management (L-18), psychology (L-24), economics (L-33), political science and international relations (L-36), social sciences for cooperation and development (L-37) and sociology (L-40). These graduates need at least 18 CFU in total across mathematics, statistics and computer science, with at least 6 CFU in each.
- Other degrees: a bachelor's in any other class, or a foreign first-cycle degree whose equivalence is unclear, first goes through an assessment of the knowledge and skills needed for the course.
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 and syllabi, 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, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Statistics, Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science, as these are closest to the group 1 classes.
- Check carefully: a BCA or B.Sc. IT is close to computer science but may still go to the committee check. A B.Com, BBA or BA in Economics sits nearer group 2, so you need at least 6 CFU each in maths, statistics and computing.
- Often short: a BA in humanities or social sciences, or a B.Com without a statistics or computing course, often lacks one of the three 6-credit blocks.
The department's programme page still quotes an older figure of 24 credits for group 2. The 2026/27 regulations set 18, and we check which figure the committee applies to your file. [1][2]
Committee assessment
A committee of lecturers checks the entry requirements for group 2 graduates and for other or foreign degrees whose equivalence is not declared. It works from your CV and the list of exams in your bachelor's, with their syllabi. There is no written entrance test in the regulations. [1]
- Possible outcomes: unconditional admission, or a reasoned non-admission that sets out how to gain the missing requirements.
- Missing requirements: these must be made up before enrolment, for example by enrolling in single university courses and passing their exams, and must show on your record when your entry requirements are assessed.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. A certificate recognised by the Italian ministry meets the requirement, and the regulations name ESOL, TOEFL and TIE as examples. Without one, you take an interview with a university English lecturer before your enrolment is completed. The regulations do not list minimum test scores. [1]
Italian is not required for admission. Non-native speakers are expected to reach Italian at B2 during the course, and 2 CFU of the study plan are set aside for it. [1]
Deadlines
Neither the 2026/27 course regulations nor the programme page set application dates. We track the 2027/28 dates and the Universitaly pre-enrolment window for eligible students. [1][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.
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mathematics and Physics. Course regulations of the international Master's degree in Data Science (class LM-DATA), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mathematics and Physics. Master's degree in Data Science programme page (admission requirements and location), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Data Science is a two-year laurea magistrale in the new class LM-DATA, worth 120 ECTS and delivered entirely in English by the Department of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli. Teaching takes place at the department on Viale Lincoln in Caserta, and the course is closely tied to the department's research.
It deepens statistics, computer science and mathematics for data-driven problem solving, pairing computational methods with rigorous statistical reasoning. It suits graduates in statistics, mathematics, physics, engineering or computer science, and graduates from other fields with a solid quantitative base.
What you will study
The first year is shared and builds skills in statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and software engineering. In the second year you choose one of two tracks: Data Science for Official Statistics and Business Analytics, or Data Science for Scientific Applications. Units in the 2026/27 plan include:
- Calculus for Data Science and Numerical Methods for Data Science
- Time Series and Sequential Data Analysis
- Machine Learning and AI (12 ECTS)
- Elements of Software Engineering and Information Systems
- Network Analysis
- Advanced Clustering and Prediction Methods for Structured Data
- Statistical and Machine Learning Methods for Information Technologies, and Business Performance Analytics
- Law, Ethics and Privacy in Information Management
Biostatistics is also part of the first year, and you choose one of Advanced Operational Research or Stochastic Models and Simulation.
How the programme is taught
The second year combines specialised modules with an 8 ECTS, three-month internship (open once you have at least 72 ECTS), seminars, language skills and a 10 ECTS master's thesis on an original research topic. Students on the official statistics and business analytics track earn the European Master in Official Statistics (EMOS) label, an initiative of Eurostat, the European Statistical System and the European System of Central Banks that links master's courses with producers of official statistics.
Career paths
The department expects demand for data scientists to keep growing across marketing, healthcare and banking, and prepares graduates for roles of high responsibility such as:
- Data analyst, data scientist or data manager
- Statistician in national or international statistical institutes such as ISTAT and Eurostat, and in public administration
- Analyst in industry and business, supporting information systems and decision making
- Data specialist in scientific and biomedical research teams
Fees and scholarships
Tuition at Vanvitelli follows the University Fees Manifesto published each year; for 2026/27 it was adopted on 29 June 2026, with an option to pay in instalments. Amounts depend on your band, so we read the manifesto before you plan. Regional scholarships, grants and student housing in Campania come from ADISURC, and this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Foreign applicants ask for their entry requirements to be assessed through Universitaly, the ministry's platform, which also handles pre-enrolment for non-EU students living abroad. Foreign degrees are judged against the accepted Italian classes on the basis of a declaration of value, so prepare your degree certificate and transcript with a clear list of statistics, maths and computing credits.
Once the university accepts your pre-enrolment, you apply for a type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate.
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 Vanvitelli's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application, degree assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ADISURC Campania 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 the Data Science master at Vanvitelli?
A bachelor's in engineering, statistics, physics, computer science or maths (classes L-7, L-8, L-9, L-30, L-31, L-35 or L-41), or a foreign degree judged equivalent through a declaration of value. Some other fields qualify with at least 18 credits in maths, statistics and computing. [1]
I have a B.Com, BBA or BCA. Can I apply?
Possibly. Economics and business degrees sit in the second group, which needs at least 18 credits across maths, statistics and computer science, with at least 6 in each. For a BCA, or any foreign degree whose equivalence is unclear, a committee reviews your CV, exam list and syllabi first. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No written test is set in the 2026/27 regulations. Where your degree is not directly accepted, a committee of lecturers reviews your CV, exams and syllabi, then either admits you or explains what is missing and how to make it up. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. A ministry-recognised certificate meets the rule, and the regulations name ESOL, TOEFL and TIE as examples. Without one, you take an interview with a university English lecturer before enrolment. IELTS is not named, so we check which proof your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
The 2026/27 course regulations do not set application dates, and the programme page does not list them. We track the 2027/28 dates and the Universitaly pre-enrolment window for eligible students. [1][2]
What if my degree is missing some credits?
The committee sets out which requirements are missing and how to gain them. They must be made up before enrolment, for example by taking single university courses and passing their exams. [1]
What are the two tracks?
In the second year you choose Data Science for Official Statistics and Business Analytics, which carries the European EMOS label for official statistics, or Data Science for Scientific Applications. [1]
Do I need to speak Italian?
No. Italian is not an admission requirement, but non-native speakers are expected to reach B2 in Italian during the course, and 2 credits of the study plan are set aside for it. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Data Science at Vanvitelli?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Vanvitelli's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ADISURC Campania 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?
Indian degrees are judged against the accepted Italian classes using a declaration of value. A B.Tech, B.E. or a B.Sc. in Statistics, Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science is closest to the directly accepted classes, while a B.Com, BBA or BCA usually goes to the committee check. You also need English at B2. The steps are the degree assessment, application 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: application and degree assessment, then 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: application and degree assessment, then 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: application and degree assessment, then 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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