Master in Design for the Built Environment at University of Naples Federico II
Two-year English-taught LM-12 design master's at Federico II in Naples, with a common first year and Exhibit Design or Digital Design curricula. Entry needs a 180 ECTS degree in design, architecture, engineering or fine arts, English at B2 and, for non-EU applicants, a portfolio.
Master
2 years
Naples
English
University of Naples Federico II
Design for the Built Environment is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-12) taught in English at the University of Naples Federico II in Naples. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS in design, architecture, engineering or fine arts, English at B2 and, for non-EU applicants, a portfolio and an online interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Federico II's Design for the Built Environment master asks for a bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS in industrial design, architecture, engineering or fine arts, or an equivalent Italian degree class, certified English at B2, and a positive assessment by the admission commission, with a portfolio and CV mandatory for non-EU applicants. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
The degree rule
The teaching regulations in force since 2024/25 accept a bachelor's degree in one of these Italian classes, or a foreign degree recognised as suitable that covers the core subjects of these classes: [1]
- L-04 Industrial Design
- L-03 Figurative Arts
- L-07 Civil and Environmental Engineering
- L-09 Industrial Engineering
- L-17 Architecture
- L-21 Territorial, Urban, Landscape and Environmental Planning
- L-23 Building Science and Technology
- L-31 Computer Science and Technology
For foreign qualifications, the regulations accept a bachelor's, first degree or undergraduate degree of three or four years worth at least 180 ECTS, and the 2026/27 guide names the fields: industrial design, architecture, engineering or fine arts. [1][2]
The regulations do not state a minimum grade. Access is not capped by a local quota: admission depends on meeting the entry requirements and on the commission's assessment. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The commission looks at the field of your degree and at your design work, not only your total credits. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Des in industrial or product design, a B.Arch or B.Plan, a B.Tech or B.E. in civil, mechanical or another industrial engineering branch, or a BFA, with project work for your portfolio.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, a BCA or a B.Sc. in Computer Science, which relate to the computer science class on the list but need design or digital project work to show; and design degrees in fields such as fashion or communication, where we compare your subjects with industrial design.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA, BA or a B.Sc. in a pure science, as these fields are not on the list.
English
You need certified English at CEFR level B2 or higher to enrol. [1] The 2026/27 guide asks for an English proficiency certificate in the first selection step but does not list accepted tests or minimum scores. [2]
If you do not have a certificate yet, a departmental committee tests your English through an interview before enrolment is finalised. [1][2]
Selection
A commission checks your academic background, then assesses your transcript and any other educational or extracurricular activities. Its judgment is final, and it must give reasons for any exclusion. [1]
- Portfolio and CV: mandatory for non-EU applicants, as an illustrated individual portfolio of your project, educational and professional work. [1]
- First selection step: a letter of motivation, portfolio, English certificate, CV, passport scan, bachelor's certificate and transcript of records in English, and a letter of presentation from one of your former university professors. [2]
- Second selection step: an online interview. [2]
The guide sets no written entrance test. [2]
2026/27 dates
For the 2026/27 intake, the guide opened the non-EU selection from 15 February and gives no closing date. Italian applicants used the online application from 1 September, and courses were expected to start in the second week of October. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
After passing both selection steps, you apply on Universitaly and receive a formal pre-admission letter, which completes your pre-enrolment and supports your type D study visa application. Enrolment is then completed on site. [2]
On Universitaly you choose Federico II and the programme and name the embassy or consulate where you will apply for the visa. The programme page also lists a transcript of records with a declaration of value issued by the Italian diplomatic mission in the country where you obtained your degree. [3]
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 Naples Federico II, Department of Architecture (DiARC). Teaching regulations of the two-year master's degree in Design for the Built Environment (class LM-12), in force from academic year 2024/2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Architecture (DiARC). Design for the Built Environment application smart guide, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Naples Federico II, orientation portal, Design for the Built Environment programme page, academic year 2025/2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Design for the Built Environment (DBE) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-12 Design) taught in English at the University of Naples Federico II. It belongs to the Department of Architecture (DiARC) in the Polytechnic and Basic Sciences School, and teaching is delivered in person in Naples. [1]
The programme trains designers who work on the transformation of the built environment, from interiors and temporary spaces to digital products and services. It combines cultural, technical, communication, marketing and historical knowledge in a collaborative, multidisciplinary design approach. [1] The 2026/27 guide says DBE students have joined from countries including India, Iran, Egypt, China, Brazil, Mexico and Ghana. [2]
What you will study
The degree totals 120 CFU: 81 in core design subjects, 14 in related subjects, 6 of free choice, 11 in further training activities and 6 for the final exam. [1] The 2026/27 didactic path has a common first year with these units: [2]
- Visual Expression
- Industrial Design Studio
- Structures and Materials
- Web Design Studio
- Interior Design Studio
- History of Furniture and Design
- Technological Design for Circular Supply Chain
At the end of the first year you choose one of two curricula. [1]
- Exhibit Design: interiors, exhibitions, museum and commercial settings and temporary spaces, with Exhibit Design for Cultural Heritage, Digital Manufacturing and the Atelier of Temporary Spaces Design. [1][2]
- Digital Design: digital products, services and interaction design, from concept to prototype and testing, with the Systemic Design Studio, Digital Design Studio and Atelier of Interaction Design. [1][2]
Both curricula share a Professional Design Workshop, an elective of your choice, an internship and the thesis. [2]
How the programme is taught
Attendance is compulsory: at least 75% for laboratories and 60% for single and integrated courses, and you need the attendance signature to sit each exam. Internships at partner institutions or companies are mandatory. [1] The programme page sets the compulsory internship at 100 hours, worth 4 CFU. [3]
The degree ends with an original thesis developed with a supervisor, on a product or system design, the design of indoor and outdoor spaces, digital and interactive devices or design theory and history. The final grade is out of 110. [1][3]
Careers
The regulations point graduates to design and communication teams for cultural heritage, exhibition and fit-out companies, museums and cultural foundations, new-media companies, digital product teams in sectors such as automotive, consumer electronics and entertainment, consultancies and design or architecture firms. Graduates can also work as freelancers or start their own business. [1]
Fees and scholarships
Federico II sets tuition by family income (ISEE). The regional scholarship body for Naples is ADISURC Campania, 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 pass two selection steps before Universitaly. For the 2026/27 intake, the guide opened the first step from 15 February: an emailed application with a letter of motivation, portfolio, English certificate, CV, passport scan, bachelor's certificate and transcript in English, and a letter of presentation from a former university professor. The second step is an online interview. [2]
After passing both steps, you apply on Universitaly, receive a formal pre-admission letter, apply for a type D study visa and enrol on site in Naples. Courses were expected to start in the second week of October 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [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 Federico II's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application file with portfolio 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 Design for the Built Environment at Federico II?
A bachelor's of three or four years and at least 180 ECTS in industrial design, architecture, engineering or fine arts. The regulations list Italian classes from industrial design and figurative arts to civil, industrial and building engineering, planning and computer science, or a foreign degree recognised as suitable. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
There is no written test. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants first sent a letter of motivation, portfolio, CV, English certificate, degree certificate, transcript and a professor's letter of presentation, then had an online interview. The commission's judgment is final. [1][2]
Do I need a portfolio?
Yes, as a non-EU applicant. The regulations make an illustrated individual portfolio and a CV mandatory for non-EU students, and the 2026/27 guide asks for the portfolio in the first selection step. We help you shape it around the two curricula. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
Certified English at CEFR B2 or higher. The 2026/27 guide does not name specific tests or scores. Without a certificate, a departmental committee tests your English through an interview before enrolment, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For the 2026/27 intake, the guide opened the non-EU selection from 15 February and gave no closing date, with courses expected to start in the second week of October. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [2]
I have a B.Tech in Computer Science or a BCA. Can I apply?
Possibly. Computer science is one of the degree classes the regulations list, but the commission weighs your portfolio and interview, so you need design or digital project work to show. The Digital Design curriculum is the closer fit. We check your transcript before you apply. [1][2]
What are the two curricula?
After a common first year, you choose Exhibit Design, for interiors, exhibitions and temporary spaces, or Digital Design, for digital products, services and interaction design. Both end with a professional design workshop, an internship and a thesis. [1][2]
What careers does it lead to?
The regulations point to design teams for cultural heritage and exhibitions, museums and cultural institutions, new-media companies, digital product teams in sectors such as automotive and consumer electronics, and design or architecture firms. Graduates can also work freelance or start a business. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Design for the Built Environment at Federico II?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Federico II'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 Design for the Built Environment?
A recognised Indian bachelor's of three or four years and at least 180 ECTS in industrial design, architecture, engineering or fine arts, such as a B.Des, B.Arch, B.Tech or BFA, can meet the degree rule if its subjects match the listed classes. You also need English at B2 and a portfolio. The steps are the emailed application, an online interview, a pre-admission letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2] 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 for the Built Environment are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: an emailed application with portfolio, an online interview, Universitaly pre-enrolment and a pre-admission letter, 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 for the Built Environment are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: an emailed application with portfolio, an online interview, Universitaly pre-enrolment and a pre-admission letter. 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 for the Built Environment 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: an emailed application with portfolio, an online interview, Universitaly pre-enrolment and a pre-admission letter, 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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