Master in Digital Transformation Management at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught master at the University of Bologna on managing digital transformation, open to graduates in listed degree classes or with 36 business, economics and computing credits, with B2 English and a two-stage selection including an English interview.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Digital Transformation Management is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree taught in English at the University of Bologna. Entry needs a degree in one of the listed classes, or at least 36 credits in business, economics and computing with 24 in business and computing, plus B2 English and a two-stage selection with an English interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Digital Transformation Management requires an eligible academic background, B2 English and successful competitive selection. These rules come from the ordinary 2026/27 call and a later extraordinary third-intake notice; both application windows have closed, and the next call sets the new dates.
Academic qualification and credits
- The listed first-cycle Italian classes are L-16, L-18, L-33, L-41, L-31, L-8 and L-9, or specified equivalent previous-system or suitable foreign qualifications.
- Another degree class needs at least 36 CFU in the designated business, economics and computing fields. At least 24 of those credits must be in business and computing.
- Business fields are SECS-P/07-11; computing fields are INF/01 and ING-INF/05; economics fields are SECS-P/01-03, SECS-P/05 and SECS-P/12. The curricular requirements must be met by the selection-round application deadline.
- A pending graduate admitted under the 2026/27 conditional route must obtain the first-cycle degree by 31 December 2026; otherwise enrolment is terminated.
English proof and programme assessment
- At least B2 English is required. The call lists recognised certificates and alternative evidence, including clearly documented B2 university examinations, an English-taught degree, university language-centre certification and OOPT evidence.
- The course also describes its free OOPT procedure. If you use that route, we track its booking and deadline instructions; an unbooked or uncompleted language test does not establish eligibility.
- Selection has two stages. Academic qualifications are scored out of 40, with at least 15 required for the next stage, subject to the ordinary call’s interview shortlist limits. The English interview/CV stage is worth 60 and requires at least 35.
- At least 50/100 overall, satisfying both stage minima, is needed for ranking. Admission also requires a position within the available places. The English interview assesses reasoning, communication and preparation rather than merely checking a degree title.
Application documents and fee
- We complete the online application and mandatory CV with you. Supply the required recorded examination list with marks, credits or workload, and the graduation grade where available. Italian careers use the specified self-certification route.
- Foreign academic certification may be in English, Italian, French or Spanish; other languages require an English or Italian translation. The application also needs valid identity evidence and the required English proof. The third-intake notice also requests any already available applicable residence permit.
- The application is valid only after the required payment and submission steps are completed.
Latest notice and current date
- The extraordinary 2026/27 third intake initially offered five places and was restricted to Italian/EU and non-EU equivalent-status applicants. Applications closed on 1 September 2026.
- The notice scheduled clearing enrolment for admitted candidates from 2 to 9 October 2026. This is an enrolment stage for eligible selected candidates, not a new general application window. The English call is informational; its Italian counterpart prevails in a legal dispute.
Sources and verification
- University of Bologna. Digital Transformation Management: programme enrolment and OOPT instructions. 2026/27 guidance; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Digital Transformation Management: ordinary Call for Applications, sections 3-5. 2026/27 admission call; reviewed 6 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Digital Transformation Management: extraordinary third-intake notice, general calendar and admission sections. 2026/27 extraordinary call; reviewed 6 October 2026.
Digital Transformation Management: Study in Italy in English at the University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna)
Digital disruption now touches every job, from healthcare and finance to food chains and climate science. Companies that fail to transform risk vanishing. Managers who can combine code, data, and strategy therefore enjoy strong demand worldwide. The master’s in Digital Transformation Management (LM-91) teaches that skill set at one of the oldest public Italian universities. In the first moments of this course you will see why many students scan the growing catalogue of English-taught programmes in Italy and decide to build their future here. You will also benefit from income-based fees, all while you study in Italy in English.
The Bologna Advantage: Tech Insight in a Living History Lab
The University of Bologna invented the concept of a university in 1088. Yet its modern computer-science hub stands next to medieval towers, and its AI labs sit above Roman roads. Professors advise EU digital-service boards, blockchain start-ups, and Fortune 500 cloud migrations. You learn directly from people shaping the regulations and technologies that your degree covers.
- Small cohorts of about 30 foster intense discussion and rapid feedback.
- Classmates arrive from five continents, supplying instant lessons in intercultural teamwork.
- Guest speakers include venture-capital partners, data-privacy regulators, and open-source founders.
- Free Italian courses help you network locally while all academic work stays in English.
English-Taught Programmes in Italy: A Strategic Choice
Why International Students Thrive Here
- Cost control: with income-based fees and the DSU grant, living and studying can rival or beat prices in many home countries.
- EU connections: Bologna sits on a high-speed rail line, linking you to Milan’s fintech scene and Rome’s start-up courts in under two hours.
- Rich ecosystem: the Emilia-Romagna region hosts supercar factories, food-tech labs and the Leonardo supercomputer.
Bologna’s Digital Cluster
The Bologna Technopole hosts Leonardo, a EuroHPC supercomputer and one of the most powerful in Europe. The local big-data foundation collaborates with weather agencies, pharma firms, and gaming studios. These partners contribute project briefs and data sets to seminars.
Programme Structure: Two Years, 120 ECTS, Endless Impact
Year One: Core Digital Literacy
- Digital Strategy Foundations: disruption theories, platform models, and network effects.
- Data Analytics and Visualisation: Python, SQL, dashboards, and ethics of data handling.
- Agile Project Management: Scrum, Kanban, and scale-up pitfalls.
- Cyber-Security Essentials: threat modelling, GDPR basics, and incident reporting.
- Managerial Economics for Tech: pricing, competition, and digital taxation.
- Soft-Skill Lab: public speaking, negotiation, and remote-team leadership.
Year Two: Specialisation and Practice
Choose one concentration or mix modules:
- AI and Automation Governance
- Machine-learning lifecycle, explainability, and bias mitigation.
- Case sprints: designing a responsible chatbot for public services.
- FinTech and Blockchain Innovation
- Smart contracts, crypto-assets, and open banking.
- Innovation lab with regional banks on instant-payment pilots.
- Digital Sustainability
- Green coding, circular electronics, and carbon accounting for cloud operations.
- Field project: measuring the data-centre footprint of a local firm.
- Smart Manufacturing and IoT
- Edge computing, digital twins, and predictive maintenance.
- Factory visit to an Industry 4.0 automotive line for live data capture.
Across all paths you complete:
- A six-month consultancy project solving a live challenge for a company or NGO.
- A professional internship (minimum 500 hours).
- A research thesis that blends academic rigour with practical impact: many become conference papers or patent notes.
Learning Methods: Studio, Sprint, and Sandbox
- Hack Weeks: 40-hour marathons where teams build MVP apps or dashboards.
- Data Sandboxes: Petabyte-scale sets from weather sensors, social media, or e-commerce logs.
- Negotiation Simulations: EU digital-market acts, privacy disputes, and AI-ethics audits.
- Reverse Mentoring: students coach executives on Gen Z social trends while receiving career feedback.
Every assignment trains both “hard” and “human” abilities, turning coders into communicators and marketers into machine-learning literates.
Admissions: step by step
- Academic base: a first-cycle degree in one of the listed classes, or another degree with at least 36 credits in business, economics and computing, at least 24 of them in business and computing.
- English at B2: a recognised certificate, other evidence the call accepts, or the university’s free OOPT.
- Online application: we prepare your application and mandatory CV with you, with your examination record, marks and credits.
- Two-stage selection: your academic record is scored out of 40, with at least 15 needed to reach the English interview and CV stage, which is scored out of 60 with at least 35 needed.
- Ranking: at least 50/100 overall, then a position within the available places.
- After admission: Universitaly pre-enrolment, then the visa, scholarship and housing steps begin.
Fees and scholarships
The University of Bologna sets fees by family income (ISEE), so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Non-OECD citizens whose family income is only abroad, for example students from India, can opt for a reduced flat fee. Regional scholarships are awarded by ER.GO, the Emilia-Romagna right-to-study body, and we help you file your application at the right time and in the right format.
Life in Bologna: Digital Village, Medieval Stage
Cost Snapshot
- Shared room: €380 to 450
- Utilities + Wi-Fi: €60
- Groceries + canteen meals: €230
- Monthly bus pass: €27
- Leisure and personal spending vary
Nightlife ranges from indie gaming meet-ups to jazz jam sessions. Weekend trains reach Venice in 1h 30, Florence in 35 minutes, and Turin’s innovation fairs in two hours.
Community Highlights
- AI Saturday: free coding sessions on campus clusters.
- Startup Aperitivo: monthly pitches over regional sparkling wine.
- Language Tandems: trade English for Italian or Mandarin.
Bologna’s 62 km of porticoes double as outdoor co-working corridors; cafés leave Wi-Fi codes on chalkboards, fuelling your late-night sprint reviews.
Career Paths: Example Roles
- Digital Transformation Consultant at a consulting firm.
- Product Owner in SaaS scale-ups.
- Data-strategy Analyst at global banks or retail giants.
- Innovation Manager steering AI ethics in healthcare.
- Tech-policy Adviser in EU think-tanks or national ministries.
- PhD or DBA candidate researching algorithmic governance.
After graduating, you can apply for an Italian residence permit of up to 12 months to look for work.
Soft Skills: The Human Code Behind the Software
- Storytelling for Data: craft narratives that make dashboards matter.
- Crisis Simulations: manage cyber breach war rooms; brief media and regulators.
- Cross-cultural Negotiation: resolve conflicts between engineers, lawyers, and marketers.
- Ethics Round Tables: weigh facial recognition bans, algorithmic bias, and digital rights.
These capabilities turn technical knowledge into leadership power.
Applying from outside the EU
Students from India and other non-EU countries apply with the school-leaving or degree qualifications the university asks for, sometimes with a CIMEA statement or a declaration of value. Non-EU applicants living abroad then complete pre-enrolment on the Universitaly portal and, once the university approves it, apply for a type D study visa at the Italian consulate or visa centre. Deadlines differ by university, so we track the official call for this programme.
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 Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, CV and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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
Can a different bachelor’s class qualify?
Yes, with 36 CFU in the specified fields, including at least 24 in business and computing.
What English level is required?
B2, documented through a permitted route such as a recognised certificate or the free OOPT. If you use the OOPT, we track its booking and deadline procedure.
What are the stage score minima?
At least 15/40 in the first stage and 35/60 in the second.
Is 50/100 enough for admission?
Not on its own. You need at least 15/40 in the first stage, at least 35/60 in the second, at least 50/100 overall and a ranking position within the available places.
Is the third intake accepting new applications now?
No. Applications closed on 1 September 2026. October clearing is for eligible selected candidates.
Can I apply before graduating?
The 2026/27 conditional route requires graduation by 31 December 2026.
Can someone handle my whole application to Digital Transformation Management at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Transformation Management?
A three-year Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Com, BBA, BCA or B.Tech, is assessed for suitability. Outside the listed degree classes, it needs at least 36 credits in business, economics and computing, with at least 24 in business and computing. You also need B2 English and to pass both selection stages, including an English interview. The steps are the online application, the interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [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 Digital Transformation Management are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, two-stage selection with an English interview 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 Transformation Management are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, two-stage selection with an English interview 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 Transformation Management 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, two-stage selection with an English interview 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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