Master in Design & Engineering at Polytechnic University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-12 master at Politecnico di Milano that merges design, mechanical and materials engineering, with product development studios, materials selection, a final design studio and a compulsory internship. Entry needs a related bachelor's, a portfolio and English.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
Polytechnic University of Milan
Design & Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-12) taught in English at Politecnico di Milano's Bovisa campus in Milan. Entry needs a bachelor's in design, architecture or engineering judged suitable, a project portfolio and an English certificate such as IELTS 6. Indian applicants need a four-year degree with at least 70 out of 100.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliMi's Design & Engineering master asks for a bachelor's in design, architecture or engineering that the Programme Board judges suitable, the minimum grade set for some countries, a project portfolio assessed with your CV and motivation letter, and English certified with a recognised test such as IELTS 6. There is no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and background
For a foreign degree, you need a bachelor's or equivalent qualification consistent with design, architecture or engineering, judged suitable by the Programme Board. The board needs to identify the subject areas and credits in your degree; where it cannot, it assesses your academic record individually. [1][2]
For Italian degrees, the 2026/27 regulations name classes L-4 (industrial design), L-8 (information engineering) and L-9 (industrial engineering), plus first-level design diplomas from AFAM art and design institutions. Architecture graduates (L-17) also qualify with at least 36 CFU in industrial design, drawing, materials science, mechanical design and manufacturing sectors (CEAR-08/D, CEAR-10, IMAT-01, IIND-03/A and B, and IIND-04/A). The same criteria apply to foreign degrees judged equivalent. If you fall short, the committee looks at other design-related study and work and may set extra credits to complete before your preparation is assessed. [1]
PoliMi also requires a degree that gives access to EQF level 7, issued by a university in the official system of its country, with subjects closely related to the programme. Franchised degrees are not accepted, and if you hold both a bachelor's and a master's, only the bachelor's is evaluated. [4]
Country rules and minimum grades
PoliMi sets strict country rules for some degrees, and no exceptions are considered: [4]
- India: a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech, B.Eng., B.Des. or B.Arch. A three-year B.Sc. may be considered only if it is an Honours programme. Minimum average 70 out of 100.
- Pakistan: minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4, with a university letter stating your weighted average and transcripts certified by the university or the Higher Education Commission.
- Bangladesh: minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4.
- Sri Lanka: an Honours degree at SLQF level 6. Level 5 qualifications are not evaluated.
- UK: an Honours degree or equivalent, with a university letter if the certificate does not say so.
If your average is below the minimum for your country, PoliMi does not evaluate the application. [5]
What this means for your transcript
The board looks at the subjects on your transcript and at your project work, not just the title of your degree. As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a four-year B.Des in Product or Industrial Design, or a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering, with an average that meets your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a B.Arch, which needs enough industrial design, drawing, materials and manufacturing credits; a four-year B.Tech in Electronics or Computer Science, which matches information engineering but may hold little product design; or a B.Des in another specialisation, such as communication or fashion.
- Often short: a three-year B.Sc. without Honours, BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA from India, which does not meet PoliMi's four-year rule, or a degree outside design, architecture and engineering.
English and Italian
Applicants with a foreign degree must show adequate English, certified with a test recognised by PoliMi at its minimum score. [1][2] Accepted results for 2027/28 include: [5]
- IELTS Academic or General Training 6
- TOEFL iBT 78 for tests taken until 20 January 2026, or 4.5 for tests taken from 21 January 2026
- Cambridge B2 First at grade B, or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency at grade C
- PTE Academic 59
- Trinity ISE II, or LanguageCert B2 Communicator
If English was the medium of instruction for at least three years of your bachelor's, a university document confirming that at least 75% of your courses were taught in English replaces the certificate. [5]
The regulations ask for the certificate when you apply, while PoliMi's admissions office lets foreign-qualification applicants add it later, before the admission letter, visa and enrolment. We make sure it is in your file when you apply. [1][5]
Italian is needed at entry only if you choose a section taught in Italian, and both Design & Engineering sections are taught in English. International students admitted to English-taught master's programmes enrol with an Italian language obligation and must show their Italian before the final degree exam. [1][3][8]
Selection and places
There is no entrance test. Admission depends on an assessment of your individual preparation and a place in the merit ranking. The committee looks at your merit during your bachelor's, how well your preparation fits the programme, your project work and your extra-curricular study and work experience, and its decision is final. [1]
The documents are a project portfolio (or a thesis abstract for non-project-based degrees), a CV, a motivation letter and an English certificate. For foreign-degree applicants the portfolio can be at most 20 MB, and a thesis abstract or internship report can replace it if you come from a non-design background. [1][5]
For 2026/27, PoliMi's places page lists 110 places, 40 of them for non-EU students, while the programme regulations give 120 places with 50 reserved for non-EU students. [1][7]
Deadlines for the September 2027 intake
Design programmes admit students only in the first semester, which starts in September. For the September 2027 intake, non-EU applicants living abroad have one general call: [6]
- Application period: 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027, 11.59pm CET.
- Early bird: the early bird window closes on 1 December 2026, and later applications are accepted until 28 January 2027.
- Outcomes: by the end of May 2027.
An additional call from 1 to 18 March 2027 is only for EEA students and non-EEA students resident in Italy with certain permits. You can apply once per semester, to at most two programmes. [6]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs your degree certificate (or, if you have not graduated yet, an enrolment document confirming you are in your final year), your transcript, a cumulative GPA statement with the grading scale, a CV of at most two pages and your portfolio. Documents cannot be changed after you pay the application fee. [5]
The regulations list a motivation letter among the documents for this programme, so we include one. A recommendation letter and course descriptions are optional extras that can strengthen the file. [1][5]
Your degree must be obtained before enrolment. To enrol you need a Diploma Supplement, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement of comparability, and PoliMi may ask for one at any stage of the evaluation. [4][5]
Non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa.
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 Milano, School of Design and School of Industrial and Information Engineering. Academic regulations, Master's degree in Design & Engineering (class LM-12), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Design & Engineering programme page: eligibility for students with a non-Italian degree, topics and careers, information for 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, School of Design. Design & Engineering course list by section, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Admission to Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification: requirements and country-specific rules, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. List of documents required by the Admissions Office for Master of Science applicants with a foreign qualification, accepted certificates updated for 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Application deadlines for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, September 2027 intake. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Places available for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, School of Design. Admission guide to Laurea Magistrale programmes for applicants with an Italian degree, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Design & Engineering is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-12, Design, worth 120 ECTS.
It is run jointly by the School of Design and the School of Industrial and Information Engineering at the Milano Bovisa campus, and taught in English, with the option of some courses in Italian.
It brings together three disciplines: design (Department of Design), mechanical engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering) and materials engineering (Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta). [1]
Its aim is to train new professional figures who can manage a product from the concept phase through material selection, mechanical engineering and manufacturing studies to the final product documentation.
It suits graduates in product or industrial design and in engineering who want to work at the meeting point of the two.
What you will study
The 2026/27 regulations set out three training areas: design, process and industrial production (product-process design, design for X and sustainable production), materials for design (material structure, properties and processing), and representation and prototyping (3D modelling, reverse modelling, virtual prototyping and simulation). The first year harmonises backgrounds in industrial design and engineering, and the second year moves to advanced technical courses for detailed and executive design. [1]
Students are assigned to one of two sections, DE1 or DE2, at enrolment and stay in it until they graduate. Both share the same core. The 2026/27 study plan totals 120 CFU and includes: [1][3]
- Product Development Design Studio 1 and 2 (12 CFU each)
- Materials Selection Criteria in Design and Engineering (12 CFU)
- Design and Manufacturing, Design Theory and Practice and Mechanical Design (6 CFU each)
- In the second year, Semiotics (6 CFU) and an 18-credit final design studio or final project work
- A compulsory internship (14 CFU) and the final examination (10 CFU)
- Electives such as Additive Manufacturing and Finite Element Simulation for Design Products
How the programme is taught
Design studios run through both years and end with an 18-credit final design studio or final project work. [1]
Attendance is full time. Teaching mixes single-subject and integrated courses, design studios that use the School's technical labs, and one-week workshops led by an international visiting professor, a professional or a partner company. You choose 12 CFU of optional courses, one per year, from options such as Virtual and Physical Prototyping, Smart Wearables Design and Prototyping, Sustainable Manufacturing and Circular Economy Business Models. [1][3]
The internship lasts at least 280 hours at a company, design studio or within the university, and the degree ends with the discussion of an individual thesis. You can also spend a semester abroad through Erasmus or join a double degree programme. [1]
Career paths
The programme trains design specialists in three areas named by the degree board:
- Design, process and industrial production
- Design materials
- Representation and prototyping
Graduates are expected to deliver a complete project dossier, from product concept and detailed design to manufacturing documents, and to understand how production systems shape design choices. This profile fits product development, engineering design and materials roles in manufacturing companies and design studios.
The regulations name roles such as industrial product designer working with process engineers, prototyping designer, simulation designer, materials and life-cycle expert and, over time, project leader, in sectors from furniture, lighting and household appliances to consumer electronics, automotive, packaging and biomedical devices. [1]
Fees and scholarships
Politecnico di Milano sets tuition through its yearly fee rules; the 2026/27 details are on its tuition fees page. The university runs the DSU right-to-study scholarship itself, and students who meet the merit and financial-need conditions can apply; the Politecnico decides the awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
Because the degree sits between design and engineering, we check that your bachelor's covers subjects relevant to both. A project portfolio is mandatory for Design programmes, and applicants from non-design degrees can replace it with a thesis abstract or an internship report. [5]
Applicants with a foreign degree apply through the international admissions route. The foreign-qualification requirements ask for access to EQF level 7, a minimum grade average for your country and an English certificate or an English-taught bachelor's.
For the September 2027 intake, Design programmes have one general call for non-EU applicants living abroad, from 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027, with an early bird window until 1 December 2026, and outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. [6] A Diploma Supplement, declaration of value or CIMEA statement is required before enrolment; after admission we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you apply for a type D visa. [4]
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 PoliMi's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your portfolio, transcripts and English certificate, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your Politecnico di Milano DSU 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 Design & Engineering at PoliMi?
A bachelor's or equivalent in design, architecture or engineering that PoliMi's Programme Board judges suitable. Italian architecture degrees need at least 36 credits in design, drawing, materials and manufacturing subjects. From India, the degree must last at least four years, with an average of at least 70 out of 100. [1][2][4]
Is there an entrance exam? Do I need a portfolio?
There is no written test. PoliMi assesses your preparation from a project portfolio, CV, motivation letter and academic record, then ranks applicants on merit. Applicants from non-design degrees, such as engineering, can replace the portfolio with a thesis abstract or an internship report. [1][5]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
You need a PoliMi-recognised English certificate, such as IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 78 (4.5 for tests from 21 January 2026), Cambridge B2 First at grade B or PTE Academic 59. A bachelor's taught at least 75% in English for three years can replace the certificate. [5]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For the September 2027 intake, Design programmes have one general call for non-EU applicants living abroad, from 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027. The early bird window closes on 1 December 2026, and outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. [6]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply in your final year with an enrolment document from your university confirming that you are in your last year, as long as you hold the degree before you enrol at PoliMi. [4][5]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. Can I apply?
It can be a good fit. Industrial engineering is one of the listed fields, and the B.Tech is named among accepted four-year Indian degrees. You still need an average of at least 70 out of 100, English proof and a portfolio or thesis abstract that shows your project work. [1][4][5]
Is the programme taught in English?
Yes. The regulations state that the programme is offered in English, and both sections, DE1 and DE2, are taught in English. Some optional courses are in Italian, and international students must show Italian before the final degree exam. [1][3][8]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, PoliMi's places page lists 40 places for non-EU students out of 110, while the programme regulations give 50 out of 120. The 2027/28 figures were not yet published when we reviewed this page. [1][7]
Can someone handle my whole application to Design & Engineering at PoliMi?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against PoliMi's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the Politecnico di Milano DSU 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 Design & Engineering?
PoliMi accepts Indian bachelor's degrees of at least four years, such as a B.Des, B.Tech or B.Arch, with an average of at least 70 out of 100, and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is Honours. Your degree should fit design, architecture or engineering, and you need a portfolio and English proof such as IELTS 6. The steps are the online application, PoliMi's evaluation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][4][5] 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 Design & Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application with a project portfolio, PoliMi's evaluation 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 Design & Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application with a project portfolio, PoliMi's evaluation 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 Design & 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: online application with a project portfolio, PoliMi's evaluation 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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