Master in Engineering Physics at Polytechnic University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-44 master at Politecnico di Milano in engineering physics, with tracks in photonic and quantum technologies, quantum materials and nanophysics, micro and nano systems, and quantum engineering. Entry needs a related 180 ECTS bachelor's and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
Polytechnic University of Milan
Engineering Physics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-44) taught in English at Politecnico di Milano's Milano Leonardo campus. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS with a strong physics, maths and engineering base, a committee review of your record and English at B2, such as IELTS 6. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliMi's Engineering Physics master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least 180 ECTS with a strong base in physics, mathematics and engineering, a positive review of your academic record by an Admissions Committee, and English at B2 certified when you apply. There is no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a first-cycle degree (EQF level 6) or a comparable qualification worth at least 180 ECTS, including: [1]
- At least 36 ECTS of foundational training.
- Adequate credits in the core subject areas of the Italian degree classes for information engineering (L-8), industrial engineering (L-9) or physics (L-30).
The best-suited bachelor's degrees are Engineering Physics, Electronics Engineering, Materials Engineering, Nanotechnology Engineering, Physics and Materials Science. Other STEM degrees can still be evaluated. For foreign degrees, the committee checks how closely your subjects and credits match, and may set course integrations before enrolment. [1]
For foreign graduates, PoliMi also requires a degree that gives access to EQF level 7, from a university in the official system of its country, with subjects closely related to the programme. Franchised degrees are not accepted. [2]
Country rules and minimum grades
PoliMi sets strict country rules for some degrees, with no exceptions: [2]
- India: a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech, B.E., 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: a four-year continuous bachelor's, as 2+2 degrees are not accepted. Minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4.
- Bangladesh: minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4.
- Sri Lanka: an Honours degree (SLQF level 6). SLQF level 5 qualifications are not evaluated.
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for about 25 hours of student work, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. [5] As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Electronics, Electrical, Engineering Physics, or Materials or Nanotechnology Engineering, with solid physics and maths and an average that meets your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a four-year degree in mechanical, chemical, computer or another engineering field, or a three-year B.Sc. Physics Honours, where the committee may set course integrations in physics.
- Often short: a three-year B.Sc. without Honours from India, a 2+2 degree from Pakistan, or a degree without a physics and engineering base, such as a BCA, B.Com or BBA.
Course integrations are taken as single courses after your bachelor's. They must be passed within 15 months of the committee's decision, or the right to admission is lost. [1]
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher, certified when you apply with a test score at PoliMi's minimum. [1][5] For 2026/27, accepted results include: [3]
- IELTS Academic or General Training 6
- TOEFL iBT 78
- Cambridge B2 First at grade B, or C1 Advanced at grade C
- PTE Academic 59
- Trinity ISE II, or LanguageCert B2 Communicator
If your bachelor's was taught in English, a document certified by your university stating the teaching language can replace the certificate. [2]
Italian is not an entry requirement. International students enrol with an Italian learning requirement (OFA) and must certify Italian before the graduation exam. [3]
Selection
There is no entrance test. An Evaluation Committee appointed by the Study Programme Council decides admission from your academic record, checking both the curricular requirements and the adequacy of your preparation. It may consider documented exceptional cases. [1]
The 2026/27 regulations note that a new admission model for PoliMi master's programmes starts from 2028/29. [1]
Deadlines for the September 2027 intake
Engineering master's programmes have two calls open to applicants living outside Italy: [4]
- First call: 1 October to 1 December 2026.
- Second call: 12 January to 25 February 2027.
Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. A third call from 1 to 18 March 2027 is only for EEA students and non-EEA students living in Italy with certain permits. You can apply to at most two programmes. A positive evaluation is valid only for the semester you applied for. [1][4]
You can apply before you graduate, using an attendance certificate, as long as you obtain the degree before enrolment. [2]
Documents for non-EU applicants
Your transcript must show your average or GPA and the grading system, as original or certified documents. Indian applicants upload scanned originals of the transcript or consolidated grade sheet, and screenshots are not accepted. Pakistani applicants also need a university letter stating their weighted average. [2]
To enrol you need a Diploma Supplement where your country issues one, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement. Without one of these, a positive evaluation does not lead to enrolment, and PoliMi can ask for them at any stage. [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.
- Politecnico di Milano, School of Industrial and Information Engineering. Academic regulations, Master's degree in Engineering Physics (class LM-44), 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. English language requirements for Laurea Magistrale programmes, academic year 2026/27. 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, School of Industrial and Information Engineering. The student experience: Master's degree in Engineering Physics, April 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, Engineering Physics programme page and 2026/27 course list. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Engineering Physics is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-44, mathematical modelling for engineering, worth 120 ECTS. The School of Industrial and Information Engineering runs it in English at the Milano Leonardo campus in Milan.
The degree applies physics to technology: light and lasers, quantum devices, semiconductors and nanostructured materials, together with the numerical and data skills used to model them. It suits graduates in engineering physics, physics or a closely related engineering field who are comfortable with advanced mathematics.
What you will study
Students choose one of four tracks: Photonic and Quantum Technologies, Quantum Materials and Nanophysics, Micro- and Nano-systems, and Mathematics and Physics for Quantum Engineering. First-year units shared across tracks include Solid State Physics, Photonics and Radiometry, Semiconductor Photonics, Electronics and Artificial Neural Networks and Deep Learning. Examples of track units in the 2026/27 course list:
- Quantum Optics and Information and Atom Optics and Quantum Technologies (Photonic and Quantum Technologies)
- Biophotonics and Optical Microscopy
- Semiconductor Qubits and Quantum Devices and Nanoelectronics (Quantum Materials and Nanophysics)
- Magnetism, Superconductivity and Spintronics
- Advanced Micro and Nanofabrication Technologies (Micro- and Nano-systems)
- Production Planning and Control for Micro and Nano Manufacturing Systems
- Quantum Computing and Mathematics of Quantum Mechanics (Mathematics and Physics for Quantum Engineering)
- Group Theory and Operator Theory
How the programme is taught
The first year builds a common base in physics, photonics, electronics and data analysis, and the second year is given to track units, electives and thesis work. The Micro- and Nano-systems track includes a Multi-Disciplinary Design Laboratory. Teaching and exams are in English. In the 2026/27 course list, Analytical Mechanics (Meccanica Analitica), a first-year unit in three tracks, and a few other listed units are taught in Italian.
Career paths
The tracks point to technical and research roles where physics meets engineering, for example in:
- Photonics, lasers and optical systems
- Quantum technologies, from quantum devices to quantum computing
- Semiconductors, nanoelectronics and spintronics
- Micro and nano fabrication and manufacturing
- Biomedical optics and imaging
- Modelling and data analysis in industry and research
Fees and scholarships
Engineering Physics has no fee band of its own. Politecnico di Milano's yearly fee rules apply, with the 2026/27 version on the tuition fees page. The university manages the DSU right-to-study scholarship directly; students who meet its merit and financial-need conditions can apply, and the university decides the awards.
How to apply from outside the EU
The first year assumes strong physics and mathematics, so your bachelor's should be closely related to engineering physics; the Politecnico checks this for every foreign degree.
We apply through the international admissions route for foreign graduates. The foreign-qualification requirements ask for a degree giving access to EQF level 7, a grade average above your country's minimum and English proof. For the September 2027 intake, applicants living outside Italy can apply from 1 October to 1 December 2026 or from 12 January to 25 February 2027, with outcomes by the end of May 2027. Admitted students complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, apply for a type D visa and provide a Diploma Supplement, declaration of value or CIMEA statement before enrolment.
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 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 Engineering Physics at PoliMi?
A bachelor's worth at least 180 ECTS, with at least 36 ECTS of foundational training and enough credits in information engineering, industrial engineering or physics. Engineering Physics, Electronics, Materials, Nanotechnology, Physics and Materials Science fit best, and other STEM degrees can be evaluated. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. An Evaluation Committee reviews your academic record, checking your subjects, credits and preparation. If your degree has gaps, it can set course integrations, which you must pass as single courses within 15 months of its decision. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2, certified when you apply. For 2026/27, accepted scores include IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 78, Cambridge B2 First at grade B and PTE Academic 59. A university-certified document showing your bachelor's was taught in English can replace the certificate. [2][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For the September 2027 intake, applicants living outside Italy can apply from 1 October to 1 December 2026, or from 12 January to 25 February 2027. Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. [4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply while finishing your bachelor's, using an attendance certificate, as long as you graduate before enrolment. A positive evaluation is valid only for the semester you applied for. [1][2]
I have a three-year B.Sc. in Physics from India. Can I apply?
Only if it is an Honours degree. PoliMi accepts Indian bachelor's degrees of at least four years, such as a B.Tech or B.E., and considers a three-year B.Sc. only as an Honours programme. Your average must also reach 70 out of 100. [2]
What grade average do I need?
PoliMi sets strict country minimums with no exceptions: 70 out of 100 for India, and a GPA of 3.3 out of 4 for Pakistan and Bangladesh. The committee then judges your full record against the programme's subject requirements. [1][2]
Is the Engineering Physics master taught in English?
Yes. Teaching and exams are in English at the Milano Leonardo campus. In the 2026/27 course list, Analytical Mechanics and a few other listed units are in Italian. International students must also certify Italian before graduating. [3][5][6]
Can someone handle my whole application to Engineering Physics 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 Engineering Physics?
PoliMi accepts Indian bachelor's degrees of at least four years, such as a B.Tech or B.E., and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is an Honours degree. You need an average of at least 70 out of 100, subjects close to physics and engineering, and English proof such as IELTS 6. The steps are the online application, the committee's evaluation 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 Engineering Physics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in the first or second call, the committee'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 Engineering Physics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the first or second call, the committee'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 Engineering Physics 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 in the first or second call, the committee'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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