Master in Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions at Polytechnic University of Turin

Detailed entry requirements

PoliTo's Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions master asks for a bachelor's degree earned after at least 15 years of education, either in a field that meets the curricular rule directly or with at least 25 and 45 credits in two set subject groups, a suitable academic record and English at B2, with IELTS 5.5 as the listed minimum. There is no written test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree and curricular requirements

You need a bachelor's degree (EQF level 6) from an accredited university, earned after at least 15 years of total education including school. [2][3]

Under the 2025/26 academic regulations, Italian degrees in information engineering (L-8), industrial engineering (L-9), computer science (L-31) or mathematics (L-35) meet the curricular requirements directly, and a foreign qualification must be recognised as suitable. Graduates in other fields need: [3]

• At least 25 credits in a first group: mathematics (geometry, analysis, mathematical physics, numerical analysis, operations research), experimental physics, computer science and engineering, management engineering, administrative law, economic policy, business administration and management, political science, and the sociology of communication and of the environment (sectors MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/07 to MAT/09, FIS/01, ING-INF/05, INF/01, ING-IND/35, IUS/10, SECS-P/02, SECS-P/07, SECS-P/08, SPS/04, SPS/08 and SPS/10).
• At least 45 credits in a second group: surveying, structural mechanics, architectural technology and design, history of architecture, urban planning, appraisal, cinema and photography, geography, sociology, economics, applied economics, corporate finance, business organisation, statistics, mathematical methods for economics, technical and environmental physics, manufacturing, materials, psychology and contemporary history (sectors ICAR/06, 08, 12, 14, 18, 20, 21 and 22, L-ART/06, M-GGR/01 and 02, SPS/07 and 09, SECS-P/01, 06, 09 and 10, SECS-S/01, 03 and 06, ING-IND/10, 11, 16 and 22, M-PSI/01 and M-STO/04).

The 2026/27 course table recommends a background in information technology and computer science, architecture, landscape architecture, architectural, urban, civil, building, environmental, electrical and electronics or industrial engineering, urban planning, economics and accounting, public policy and public management, media and arts, or geography. [1]

What this means for your transcript

Italian credits (CFU) and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and Politecnico looks at your subjects, 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 or Electrical Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Computer Science or Mathematics, which sit close to the degree classes that meet the rule directly. A B.Com or BBA with economics, statistics, accounting and management courses usually spreads across both credit groups.
• Check carefully: a B.Arch, B.Plan or B.Tech in Civil Engineering, which usually covers the 45-credit group but can be short on maths, computing or management for the 25-credit group, and a BCA or a BA in Geography, Sociology or Public Policy, which depends on the mix of subjects on your transcript.
• Often short: a B.Sc. in Biology, Chemistry or another natural science, or a health sciences degree, which rarely reaches the 45-credit group.

If you lack fewer than 10 credits, the academic advisor can admit you; larger gaps need approval from the programme coordinator. Missing credits must be made up before enrolment, through single courses (up to 60 credits) or, beyond that, by enrolling in a bachelor's programme. [3]

English

You need English at CEFR level B2 or higher, and the 2026/27 course table lists IELTS 5.5 as the minimum score. [1][2] Politecnico accepts the certificates on its own chart, and TOEFL results must be sent with code C285. [2]

You do not need an English certificate if your degree was earned after an English-taught course of study at a university in a listed country, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore, or if it was awarded by the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or another country on the university's list. You then upload an official statement that the medium of instruction was English. Some embassies can still ask for a language certificate for the visa, so we check this for your file. [2]

Academic evaluation and interview

There is no written entrance test, and the 2026/27 course table lists the syllabus as optional with no further requirements. [1] The Recruitment and Admissions Unit first checks your requirements and documents, then an Academic Committee evaluates your academic performance and curricular background. [2]

Under the 2025/26 regulations, applicants whose academic performance is not considered satisfactory take an oral interview on four topics: action plans for the Sustainable Development Goals, digital transition strategies in urban agendas, fundamentals of computer science, and fundamentals of geographic information systems. [3]

An offer is valid only for the academic year you applied for. If the committee finds you not suitable on curricular or academic grounds, you cannot be admitted to any Politecnico master's that year. [2]

2026/27 deadlines

For 2026/27, applicants with a non-Italian qualification had two calls on Apply@PoliTO, after a 15-day extension: [2]

• First call: 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026, 2:00 p.m. Italian time. Results on 15 April 2026, and Universitaly pre-enrolment for the study visa by 30 June 2026.
• Second call: 18 March to 20 April 2026, 2:00 p.m. Italian time. Results on 22 June 2026, and Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July 2026.

A third call, from 3 to 17 November 2026, is open only to EU applicants and non-EU applicants already living in Italy, and this programme is included in it. First-semester enrolment ran from 31 July to 5 October 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2]

Documents and non-EU steps

You submit one application per call on Apply@PoliTO with up to two master's programmes. Applications cannot be changed after submission, and an incomplete application is rejected for the whole academic year. [2]

• Passport, CV, and your bachelor's certificate or an official document stating your expected graduation date.
• An official transcript listing all completed exams, with the grading and credit system.
• A course syllabus, which is optional for this programme. [1]
• An English certificate, or the medium of instruction statement if you are exempt.
• A declaration of value or CIMEA statement of comparability if available. It is compulsory for enrolment, and a Diploma Supplement can replace it then.
• Optional extras such as a GRE score report, a recommendation or motivation letter, or proof of relevant training, internships or work.

Non-EU applicants living abroad must pre-enrol on Universitaly to get a type D study visa. Politecnico validates the pre-enrolment only once you are eligible and have uploaded proof of 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.

1. Politecnico di Torino. Course-specific requirements for Master of Science programmes, main campus, academic year 2026/27, last updated 19 December 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. Politecnico di Torino. Admission to Master's degree programmes for applicants with a non-Italian qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. Politecnico di Torino, Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning. Academic regulations, Master's degree programme in Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions, academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
4. Politecnico di Torino. Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions programme page, programme details and curriculum, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
5. Politecnico di Torino. Tuition fees page: tuition fee regulations, ISEE-based reductions and EDISU Piemonte scholarships, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for PoliTo's Digital Skills master?

A bachelor's from an accredited university after at least 15 years of education. Degrees in information or industrial engineering, computer science or mathematics meet the curricular rule directly for Italian graduates. Other degrees need at least 25 credits in a first subject group and 45 in a second. [2][3]

Is there an entrance exam?

No written test. An Academic Committee assesses your academic performance and how well your degree fits. Under the 2025/26 regulations, applicants whose performance is not considered satisfactory take an oral interview on the SDGs, digital transition in cities, computer science and GIS. [2][3]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at B2 or higher, with IELTS 5.5 listed as the minimum for 2026/27. If your degree was taught in English at a university in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or another listed country, an official medium of instruction statement can replace the certificate. [1][2]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had two calls: 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026, and 18 March to 20 April 2026. The November 2026 call is only for EU applicants and non-EU applicants living in Italy. 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 or an updated transcript, and you can receive a conditional offer. Politecnico validates Universitaly pre-enrolment for the visa only after you upload proof of your bachelor's degree. [2]

I have a B.Arch or a B.Com. Can I apply?

Possibly. Architecture and economics are on the recommended list. Your transcript needs at least 25 credits in maths, computing, management, law or social science and 45 in areas such as planning, geography, economics and statistics. Architecture degrees are often short on the first group, so we check your courses first. [1][3]

What will I study?

Year 1 covers Python programming, GIS, databases, applied AI and machine learning, data ethics, management and digital government. Year 2 centres on IoT and cloud for sustainable communities, a 12-credit atelier, a choice between digital heritage and smart mobility, a 10-credit internship and a 20-credit thesis. [4]

Can someone handle my whole application to Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions 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 Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions?

An Indian B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT or Electronics, or a B.Com, B.Arch or B.Plan, can fit if your transcript meets the credit rule, and an English-medium degree from India can replace the English certificate with an official statement. The steps are the Apply@PoliTO application, the confirmation of eligibility letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2][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 Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Apply@PoliTO application, confirmation of eligibility letter 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 Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Apply@PoliTO application, confirmation of eligibility letter 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 Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions 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, confirmation of eligibility letter 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.