Master in Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year English-taught master at Sapienza's Rieti campus on sustainable building renovation: GIS and remote sensing, H-BIM, structural dynamics, foundations, water and waste treatment, with an 18 ECTS thesis and a double degree with Zhejiang University.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
Sapienza University of Rome
Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-24) taught in English by Sapienza University of Rome at its Rieti campus. Entry needs a degree in architecture, civil or construction engineering with at least 90 credits in maths, physics, engineering and architecture, plus English at B2 and an interview. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering master asks for a three-year degree in architecture, civil or construction engineering or a recognised foreign equivalent, with at least 90 CFU in maths, physics, engineering and architecture (24 in maths and physics), English at B2, a positive eligibility check and an interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a three-year university degree or diploma, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable, that is equivalent to a three-year degree in architecture, civil engineering or construction engineering. [1]
- Degree class: an Italian degree in class L-23 or L-7 (or the older classes 4 or 8), or a foreign equivalent.
- At least 90 CFU in the scientific-disciplinary sectors of mathematics, physics, engineering and architecture.
- At least 24 of these CFU in the core maths and physics sectors MAT/05 (mathematical analysis), MAT/03 (geometry) and FIS/01 (experimental physics).
If you do not meet the requirements, you can make up missing credits by passing single examinations before enrolment. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee 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 Civil Engineering with solid maths and physics in the early years.
- Check carefully: a B.Arch usually covers the architecture and building credits but must also show 24 credits in maths and physics.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Environmental, Mechanical or another engineering branch counts toward the 90 credits, but the degree must be comparable to architecture, civil or construction engineering.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Physics, Mathematics or Environmental Science, or a B.Com, BBA or BA, is not a degree in architecture, civil or construction engineering.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, written and spoken. Proficiency can also be recognised if your first degree was taught in English. The 2026/27 call does not list specific tests or scores. [1]
Eligibility check and interview
The eligibility check is requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33489). Only applicants who meet the curricular requirements go on to the personal knowledge assessment, which rests on a successful interview and a review of the academic record from your first degree. The detailed criteria are set in the programme's academic regulations. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Eligibility checks opened on 2 July 2026. Non-EU applicants who need a student visa had one date: 15 September 2026. Other applicants can choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 is reserved for Sapienza graduates. [1]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduate by 19 December 2026 (other Italian or international universities) or 23 January 2027 (Sapienza). [1]
For 2026/27, MoveIn pre-selection for visa applicants ran from 22 December 2025 to 15 May 2026, and pre-accepted students had to register on Universitaly by 30 June 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [4]
In 2026/27, classes in Rieti began on 28 September 2026, and students still completing enrolment or waiting for a visa could follow classes online until mid-November. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
Non-EU applicants who live abroad and need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's online pre-selection on MoveIn, with a limit of two applications per intake. For 2026/27 the order was: pre-selection, the Universitaly study visa request, the eligibility check, then the enrolment documents. [1][3][4]
For a foreign bachelor's, the enrolment documents include: [3]
- A valid passport and the university enrolment study visa.
- Your degree certificate and transcript of records, with official sworn translations into Italian or English (not needed if they were issued in English).
- For countries in the ARDI database: a Statement of Correspondence, plus a CIMEA Statement of Verification or legalisation or Apostille.
- For other countries: a CIMEA Statement of Comparability and Statement of Verification, or a Declaration of Value from the Italian mission with legalisation or Apostille.
- Sapienza also lists a legalised or Apostilled Diploma Supplement, where it holds all the information needed to evaluate the degree.
- The receipts of your residence permit request, which is due within 8 days of arrival in Italy.
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.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering. Admission procedure for the Master's degree programme in Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering (Rieti), LM-24, academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33489. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering. General presentation and requirement verification, academic year 2026-2027, with the 2026 study plan, presentation and career pages in the course catalogue. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, International Student Office. Admission and enrolment procedures for international students, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome. Programmes in English admissions page and Tuition fees and benefits, academic year 2026/2027, with Article 38 of the Student Regulations on standard fee amounts. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering is a two-year master's degree in class LM-24, worth 120 ECTS and taught in English. It is run by the Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering in Sapienza's Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering, and classes are held in person at the Rieti campus in Palazzo Aluffi, Via Cintia 106. [1][2]
The degree trains designers, production and construction managers and inspectors for environmentally sustainable construction, for both renovation and new projects. It gives priority to the conservation and recovery of the existing built environment, with attention to seismic, hydraulic and environmental risks and to energy efficiency. It suits engineering graduates interested in sustainable buildings, structures and the urban environment.
What you will study
The first year centres on environmental analysis and digital tools; the second on structures and design for existing buildings. The 2026/27 study plan has a single curriculum taught in English. Compulsory units are: [2]
- Remote Sensing and GIS (9 ECTS)
- Digital Modelling for Architecture (9 ECTS)
- Building Design and H-BIM for Architectural Renovation (9 ECTS)
- Water and Solid Waste Treatment Plants (9 ECTS)
- Structural Dynamics (9 ECTS)
- Foundation and Earth Retaining Structures (9 ECTS)
You also choose either Seismic Design or Innovation Materials for Structural Design (9 ECTS). [2]
Further option groups (9 and 12 ECTS) cover hydraulic infrastructures, urban health and sustainable transport, architectural engineering for sustainable buildings, groundwater management, environmental hydraulics, water sustainability, environmental and urban planning in inner areas, sustainable building components and project financing. One optional unit, Architectural Design for Sustainable Building, is taught in Italian, and English options sit in the same group. You also take 15 ECTS of free-choice electives. [2]
How the programme is taught
Classes, exams and other activities take place in person at the Rieti campus, and attendance is strongly recommended but not compulsory. The plan includes 3 ECTS of activities that help students enter the world of work, and it ends with an 18 ECTS thesis. [2]
The degree offers a double degree with the Master's in Civil Engineering of the College of Civil Engineering and Architecture of Zhejiang University, China, and a student exchange agreement with the State University of Campinas in Brazil. Erasmus and Sapienza's overseas programmes offer further study periods abroad. [2]
Career paths
The official profile is the environmental and sustainable building engineer, able to identify problems, analyse their complexity and develop suitable solutions in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 11 on sustainable cities. Graduates can work in:
- Public and private bodies, including organisations that manage land and territorial services
- Engineering companies and consultancies in civil and environmental engineering
- Construction companies and industries in the building and environmental sectors
- Independent professional practice and research
Fees and scholarships
Sapienza sets tuition by family income (ISEE). [4]
The regional scholarship body is DiSCo Lazio, 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
Classes are in Rieti, about 80 km from Rome, so plan housing there. [2]
If you live outside the EU and need a visa, we first apply for pre-selection on MoveIn, with a limit of two applications. For 2026/27 this ran from 22 December 2025 to 15 May 2026, Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 30 June 2026, and the eligibility check on Infostud (code 33489) had to be requested by 15 September 2026, the only date open to visa applicants. You then request a type D study visa. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][3][4]
For enrolment, Sapienza accepts CIMEA statements, or a declaration of value from the Italian mission with legalisation or Apostille. [3]
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 Sapienza's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your MoveIn pre-selection, eligibility check request and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DiSCo Lazio 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 degree do I need for Sapienza's Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering master?
A three-year degree in architecture, civil or construction engineering (Italian classes L-23 or L-7) or a recognised foreign equivalent, with at least 90 CFU in maths, physics, engineering and architecture, including 24 in maths and physics. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. After the eligibility check, applicants who meet the curricular requirements have an interview, and the committee also reviews the academic record from their first degree. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher. The 2026/27 call does not name specific tests or scores, and proficiency can also be recognised if your first degree was taught in English. We check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, visa applicants used MoveIn pre-selection from 22 December 2025 to 15 May 2026, registered on Universitaly by 30 June 2026 and requested the eligibility check by 15 September 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you graduate in time. For 2026/27, applicants finishing a degree at another Italian or international university had to graduate by 19 December 2026. [1]
I have a B.Arch or a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. The call asks for a degree equivalent to architecture, civil or construction engineering, with 90 credits in maths, physics, engineering and architecture and 24 in maths and physics. A B.Arch often needs a check on the maths and physics credits, and other engineering branches need a check on fit. [1]
Where is the programme taught?
At Sapienza's Rieti campus in Palazzo Aluffi, Via Cintia 106, about 80 km from Rome. Classes, exams and other activities are in person in Rieti, and the curriculum is in English apart from one optional unit taught in Italian. [2]
Is there a double degree?
Yes. The programme offers a double degree with the Master's in Civil Engineering at Zhejiang University's College of Civil Engineering and Architecture in China, and a student exchange agreement with the State University of Campinas in Brazil. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering at Sapienza?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Sapienza's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DiSCo Lazio 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 Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering?
A recognised Indian B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering can meet the rule if it is comparable to a three-year degree in civil or construction engineering, with at least 90 credits in maths, physics, engineering and architecture, 24 of them in maths and physics, and you show English at B2. The steps are MoveIn pre-selection, the eligibility check and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] 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 Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: MoveIn pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, the eligibility check 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 Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: MoveIn pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, the eligibility check 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 Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering 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: MoveIn pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, the eligibility check 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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