Engineering and Management (LM‑31) at University of Padua

Engineering and Management (LM‑31) at the University of Padua (Università degli Studi di Padova) is a strategic master’s for future leaders who want to study in Italy in English, join one of the most respected public Italian universities, and benefit from the affordability typical of tuition-free universities Italy. As one of the strongest English-taught programs in Italy, it mixes hard engineering with management, data, and sustainability so you can deliver measurable results from day one. With the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy, you can focus on learning, not on fees.

Study in Italy in English: what you gain from LM‑31

Choosing to study in Italy in English lets you learn advanced engineering, analytics, and management practices without a language barrier. You read standards, research, and case studies in the language global companies use. You also gain the option to learn Italian while you study, which widens your internship and job opportunities with domestic firms and public bodies.

This master’s equips you to design processes, lead multidisciplinary teams, and optimise operations with data. You will learn to balance cost, quality, time, risk, and sustainability—skills that organisations need as they digitise, decarbonise, and globalise.

Where this degree sits among English-taught programs in Italy

LM‑31 at Padua is one of the most comprehensive English-taught programs in Italy across the engineering–management interface. You combine quantitative rigour with business tools, making you equally comfortable with stochastic optimisation, life‑cycle costing, lean and Six Sigma, supply‑chain analytics, and ESG (environmental, social, governance) reporting. As part of a historic public Italian university, the programme is backed by strong research, transparent rules, and a large network of industry partners.

Funding and access at tuition-free universities Italy

Italy’s income‑based fee system makes high‑level education more accessible. If your family income falls below a set threshold, you can pay very low or even zero tuition. Even above that level, fees remain lower than much of Europe. Combine this with the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy and your total cost can be a fraction of comparable programmes elsewhere.

Why choosing public Italian universities matters

Public Italian universities apply clear quality standards, Bologna‑compliant credits, and a robust student support system. For you, that means internationally recognised degrees, easy mobility for exchanges or double degrees, and strong guarantees on academic transparency. It also means that resources like labs, data centres, and career services are scaled to support large, diverse cohorts—including international students.

Programme architecture: two years, 120 ECTS, from models to decisions

Across four semesters, you complete 120 ECTS. You start with quantitative foundations and core management frameworks, then specialise through electives and a thesis or internship.

Core quantitative and engineering pillars

• Operations Research and Optimisation: linear, integer, stochastic programming; heuristics and metaheuristics.
• Data Analytics and Machine Learning for Engineers: supervised/unsupervised learning, feature engineering, model validation.
• Simulation and Digital Twins: discrete‑event simulation, system dynamics, agent‑based models for factories and supply chains.
• Industrial Automation and Smart Manufacturing: IoT (Internet of Things), sensors, robotics, cyber‑physical systems.
• Quality Engineering and Six Sigma: statistical process control, design of experiments, reliability analysis.
• Project and Risk Management: earned value, Monte Carlo risk analysis, portfolio optimisation.

Management, finance, and strategy

• Corporate Finance for Engineers: NPV (net present value), IRR (internal rate of return), capital budgeting, real options.
• Costing, Pricing, and Performance Measurement: ABC (activity‑based costing), balanced scorecards, KPI design.
• Supply Chain Strategy and Logistics: network design, inventory policies, transport optimisation, last‑mile.
• Sustainability, LCA, and Circular Economy: carbon accounting, eco‑design, ESG reporting and assurance.
• Innovation and Technology Management: IP (intellectual property), open innovation, TRL (technology readiness levels).
• Entrepreneurship and New Venture Design: lean start‑up, business model design, venture finance basics.

Digital and transversal competencies

• Programming (Python/R/SQL) for analytics, simulation, and optimisation.
• Cloud and Edge Platforms to scale data pipelines and deploy decision tools.
• Visual Analytics and Storytelling to communicate insights to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Legal and Ethical Frameworks on data governance, AI transparency, and sustainability claims.

Electives (examples)

• Advanced Supply Chain Analytics and Revenue Management
• Human–Robot Collaboration and Industry 5.0
• Healthcare Operations and Public‑sector Process Redesign
• Energy Systems Management and Carbon Markets
• Agile Portfolio Management and Product Ownership
• Cybersecurity for Industrial Control Systems
• Behavioural Operations and Decision Science

Thesis or internship (30 ECTS)

The master’s ends with a thesis or internship (often both). Typical projects:

• Optimising a multi‑echelon supply chain with stochastic demand using mixed‑integer programming.
• Designing a predictive maintenance strategy with machine learning on sensor data.
• Building a digital twin of a production line to test layout changes, buffer sizes, and workforce policies.
• Developing a decarbonisation roadmap using LCA and marginal abatement cost curves.
• Creating a KPI framework and dashboard that integrates finance, operations, and ESG metrics.
• Applying reinforcement learning to dynamic pricing or inventory control.
• Implementing a risk‑based portfolio model for R&D investments.

Facilities and tooling: what you get to use

As a leading public Italian university, Padua offers:

• Industry‑grade labs with robotics, sensors, and automation platforms.
• High‑performance computing clusters for large‑scale optimisation and machine learning.
• ERP/MES/BPM sandboxes to simulate enterprise processes.
• Visualisation and BI suites for dashboards and storytelling.
• Start‑up and innovation hubs to test venture ideas or tech‑transfer projects.

Common tools include Python, R, SQL, MATLAB, Gurobi/CPLEX, Arena/AnyLogic/Simul8, TensorFlow/PyTorch, Power BI/Tableau, Git, Docker, Airflow/dbt, and ERP or MES platforms used in industry.

Learning outcomes: what you will actually be able to do

By graduation you will be able to:

• Turn messy operational data into decisions using statistics, ML, and optimisation.
• Design and manage production systems and supply chains under uncertainty.
• Build simulation models and digital twins to test “what‑if” scenarios before investing.
• Implement quality systems and continuous improvement programmes with measurable ROI.
• Integrate sustainability metrics (carbon, water, waste) into financial and operational plans.
• Draft business cases, budgets, and risk analyses that convince executives and investors.
• Communicate complex technical ideas clearly to managers, clients, and regulators in English.

Career paths: where LM‑31 graduates go

Industry and services

• Operations, supply chain, and logistics management
• Process, production, or plant engineering
• Data science and analytics for manufacturing and services
• Quality, risk, and compliance management
• Product and project management for tech firms
• Sustainability and ESG management, LCA analysis

Consulting and finance

• Operations and strategy consulting
• Performance improvement and digital transformation
• Corporate finance for industrial portfolios
• Private equity and venture capital analyst (tech focus)

Public sector and NGOs

• Health system operations, urban mobility optimisation, resource allocation
• Policy design and impact evaluation

Research and PhD tracks

• Operations research, industrial engineering, data science, sustainability, or management science

Job titles you can target:

• Operations Manager / Supply Chain Manager
• Industrial / Process Engineer
• Data Scientist / Operations Research Analyst
• Quality / Continuous Improvement Engineer
• Project / Product Manager
• Sustainability / ESG Analyst
• Strategy / Operations Consultant
• PhD Researcher

Admissions: who should apply

Typical backgrounds:

• Industrial, Management, Mechanical, Electrical, or Computer Engineering
• Mathematics, Physics, or Computer Science (with strong interest in operations and management)
• Economics or Finance with quantitative skills (bridging modules may be required)

What you should show:

• Solid basics in calculus, probability, statistics, and programming
• Clear motivation to work at the engineering–management interface
• English proficiency at CEFR B2 or higher
• A CV with relevant internships, projects, or hackathons
• (Sometimes) an interview or pre‑evaluation to align prerequisites

Scholarships for international students in Italy and the DSU grant

To reduce your costs further:

• DSU grant (Diritto allo Studio Universitario): can cover accommodation, meals, and study materials based on income and academic progress.
• National and university scholarships for international students in Italy: monthly stipends, fee waivers, and health insurance options.
• Merit-based reductions: meet credit and grade targets to lower next‑year fees.
• Part‑time work: non‑EU students can usually work up to 20 hours per week; roles include research assistantships, teaching support, and data engineering.

Ethics, governance, and responsible innovation

Engineering and Management leaders must act responsibly:

• Respect privacy and data minimisation (GDPR) in analytics initiatives.
• Audit algorithms for fairness, transparency, and reproducibility.
• Back sustainability claims with robust LCA and verifiable indicators.
• Embed risk management and ethical review in product and process design.
• Use open science practices when possible, while protecting IP and security.

Soft skills that make you employable

The programme trains you to:

• Write concise technical memos, executive summaries, and policy briefs.
• Present complex models with simple visuals and narratives.
• Lead agile teams and run effective meetings and retrospectives.
• Negotiate with suppliers, clients, and regulators using data.
• Manage conflict, uncertainty, and change with evidence‑based decisions.

From master’s to PhD: your research runway

If you see yourself in academia or applied research:

• You gain a strong methodological base in OR, ML, simulation, and optimisation.
• Supervisors help you convert your thesis into journal articles or a PhD proposal.
• You can join EU and industry projects where you co‑author deliverables and papers.
• The Bologna framework and public Italian universities’ networks make PhD mobility straightforward.

Continuous professional development

After graduation, micro‑credentials keep you sharp:

• Advanced optimisation (robust, stochastic, decomposition methods)
• Causal inference and experimentation for operations and product analytics
• Reinforcement learning for inventory, pricing, and scheduling
• Digital twin orchestration, IoT security, and edge analytics
• Carbon accounting, EU taxonomy, CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) compliance
• Agile product leadership and scaled frameworks (Scrum@Scale, SAFe)

Final perspective

Engineering and Management (LM‑31) at University of Padua (Università degli Studi di Padova) gives you the quantitative power of an engineer and the decision‑making toolkit of a manager. As one of the most established English-taught programs in Italy at a leading public Italian university, it combines academic strength with the affordability model of tuition-free universities Italy. With the DSU grant and scholarships for international students in Italy, you can study in Italy in English, build a future‑proof profile, and step confidently into roles that shape how organisations produce, innovate, and decarbonise.

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