Master in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught master run by the University of Milan with Milano-Bicocca and Pavia, joining machine learning, cognitive science, ethics and law in three curricula: Hybrid AI, Neuro-AI, and AI and Law. Entry needs credits in both computing and the humanities, English at B2 and an interview.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-55-R) taught in English by the University of Milan with Milano-Bicocca and Pavia. Entry needs 30 credits across computing or maths and philosophy, psychology or law, English at B2 and an interview. Students with family income abroad pay a fixed fee by country group, with India in the lowest group. DSU winners are exempt, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Human-Centered AI master asks for a bachelor's of at least three years with at least 30 credits split between computing or maths and philosophy, psychology, neuroscience or law, English at B2, and a positive individual interview with the admission board. These rules come from the 2026/27 cycle. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a bachelor's degree or a three-year university diploma, or a degree obtained abroad and recognised as suitable. Basic knowledge in logic and epistemology, in maths and computer science, or in the cognitive, philosophical or legal sciences is required. [1][3]
The curricular rule is at least 30 credits in set subject areas, including: [1][3]
- At least 12 credits in computer science, mathematics or statistics (sectors such as INF/01, ING-INF/05, MAT/01 to MAT/09 and SECS-S/01).
- At least 12 credits in philosophy, psychology, physiology or law (sectors such as M-FIL/02, M-FIL/03, M-FIL/05, M-PSI/01, M-PSI/02, BIO/09, IUS/01, IUS/08, IUS/09 and IUS/20).
The 2026/27 programme page also counts statistics in SECS-S/03 and law in IUS/04, IUS/10 and IUS/14. [3]
For foreign degrees, the admissions committee compares the content of your previous courses with these requirements and decides on the basis of an interview, which can be held online. [1][3]
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 what your courses covered, not just their number. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: an interdisciplinary degree such as Cognitive Science, or a B.Sc. or BA that pairs Psychology, Philosophy or Law with enough Statistics, Mathematics or Computer Science for each block to reach 12 credits.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or B.Sc. in Computer Science, which usually covers the computing block but must also show 12 credits in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience or law, or a BA in Psychology or Philosophy with only one statistics course.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or engineering degree with no ethics, psychology or law courses, or an LL.B. or BA with no maths, statistics or programming.
The interview can lead to a personalised study plan that steers your optional exams towards the gaps in your background. [1][3]
English
English at B2 or higher. You can meet the requirement with: [1][3]
- A B2 or higher certificate recognised by the university, issued no more than three years before you apply and uploaded with your application.
- A B2 attestation from the language centres of the University of Milano-Bicocca, the University of Milan or the University of Pavia.
- A degree taught entirely or mainly in English.
- The entry test run by the University Language Centre (SLAM).
On the university's list, B2 results include IELTS Academic or General 5.5 to 6.5, TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, PTE Academic 59 to 75, Cambridge B2 First, Trinity ISE II and LanguageCert Communicator. Certificates must cover all four skills, and TOEFL results are valid for two years. [4]
Without a valid certificate, you are told to take the entry test. If you do not take or pass it, you must submit a recognised certificate by the programme's deadline, or you are not admitted. [3]
Interview and selection
There is no written entrance test. After checking your credits, the admission board holds an individual interview, in person or online. It covers basic algorithms and programming, basic logic, probability, statistics and algebra, and basic knowledge in at least one of three areas: [1][3]
- Philosophy: logic, epistemology and applied ethics.
- Cognitive sciences: neuroscience, general psychology and neurophysiology.
- Law: sources of law, fundamental rights and legal informatics.
The board also checks the content of the exams that meet the credit rule, using your Diploma Supplement. You choose your curriculum when you apply. [1][3]
2026/27 deadlines
These dates come from the 2026/27 admission notice. The 2027/28 notice sets the next ones. [2]
- Non-EU applicants who need a visa: applications from 22 January to 30 April 2026.
- All other applicants: applications from 22 January to 30 October 2026.
- Universitaly pre-enrolment for visa applicants: by 31 July 2026, with no late submissions accepted.
- Enrolment: from 5 May 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Final-year students could apply if they obtained their degree and met the requirements by 31 December 2026. Two places were reserved for Marco Polo programme candidates. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
To apply, you upload your bachelor's degree or degree certificate, your Diploma Supplement or a transcript showing courses, marks, credits, subject areas and the grading system, and your passport. Documents must be in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish. The application cannot be changed once submitted. [2]
After enrolment, applicants with foreign qualifications upload: [2]
- The bachelor's degree, legalised or apostilled unless exempt by law, and the high school diploma.
- An official Italian translation, unless the originals are in French, English, German or Spanish.
- A CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value from the Italian embassy. For Lisbon Convention countries, the Diploma Supplement or an ARDI correspondence statement can replace both.
- An Italian tax code and, for non-EU citizens, the residence permit or its application receipt.
For 2026/27, these documents were due by 30 November 2026, or enrolment was cancelled. Admission stays provisional until all official documents are checked. [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.
- University of Milan, with the University of Milano-Bicocca and the University of Pavia. Course regulations, Master's degree in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (class LM-55), Rector's decree of 13 October 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Admission notice, Master's degree in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (LM-55 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence programme page: requirements, admission assessment and study plan, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan, University Language Centre (SLAM). Accepted language certificates, June 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Regulations on tuition and fees, waivers and scholarships, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence is a two-year master's degree in class LM-55-R (cognitive sciences), taught entirely in English. It is an interuniversity degree: the University of Milan is the administrative seat, where we apply and you enrol, and the University of Milano-Bicocca and the University of Pavia teach with it. The Department of Philosophy coordinates the course, and classes take place in Milan and Pavia.
The degree studies AI from the human side: how people and intelligent systems decide together, how brain research and computing inform each other, and how law and ethics shape the use of AI. It suits graduates in computer science or mathematics, and graduates in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience or law, as long as they bring some credits from both sides.
What you will study
Everyone shares a first-year core in AI and human decision-making, machine learning, brain and cognition, and AI ethics and law, plus a programming lab. You follow one of three curricula, chosen when you apply: Hybrid AI, Neuro-AI, or AI and Law. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [1][3]
- AI and Human-Decision Making (12 ECTS, all curricula)
- Machine Learning (6 ECTS, all curricula)
- Mathematics for AI (6 ECTS, Hybrid AI)
- AI, Ethics and Law
- Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, Natural Language Processing or Programming (first-year options)
- Human-Computer Interaction or Affective Computing (Hybrid AI options)
- Brain Modelling for Biomedicine and ICT, and AI Applied to Neuroimaging (Neuro-AI)
- Data Protection, Law and AI, and AI and Media Law (AI and Law)
- Justice by Algorithm or Responsibility and AI (AI and Law options)
How the programme is taught
The second year includes a 3 ECTS traineeship, mostly carried out in person, and short workshops such as software tools for machine learning or statistics. You choose 12 ECTS of electives, which can come from courses at any of the three partner universities. International students take a 3 ECTS Italian language unit in the second year, and the degree ends with a final exam worth 21 ECTS. [1][3]
Career paths
The official profiles describe three kinds of expert, one for each curriculum, working in companies of every size, public administrations, international agencies, clinical and research settings, or as consultants.
- Expert in human-AI cooperation: organises hybrid teams of people and machines, divides tasks between them and turns stakeholder needs into requirements.
- Expert in Neuro-AI: uses virtual brain models in diagnostic and therapeutic pathways and links clinical settings with AI technologies.
- Expert in AI and law: applies AI within legal frameworks, advises on data protection and liability, and oversees discrimination prevention.
Fees and scholarships
The fee regulation places Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence in Area B. For 2026/27, students whose family income and assets are abroad pay a fixed second instalment set by country group, with the lowest band, Group A, covering countries like India, Pakistan and Nigeria. The first instalment covers regional tax and stamp duty. The university runs Lombardy's regional DSU scholarship, and full winners are exempt from fees, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]
How to apply from outside the EU
Admission is open but checked: the board reviews your credits and holds an individual interview, in person or online, on algorithms, programming, logic, probability, statistics and algebra, and on your philosophical, cognitive or legal background. Non-EU applicants living abroad apply on apply.unimi.it. For 2026/27, visa applicants applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026; the 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [2]
Once you are admitted, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment (the 2026/27 deadline was 31 July 2026), and you apply for a type D study visa. In 2026/27, enrolment documents, including a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value for your degree, were due by 30 November 2026. [2]
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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application on apply.unimi.it, enrolment documents and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Milan 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 Human-Centered AI at Milan?
A bachelor's of at least three years, or a recognised foreign degree, with at least 30 credits in set areas: at least 12 in computer science, maths or statistics and at least 12 in philosophy, psychology, physiology or law. The admission board then interviews you. [1][3]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. After checking your credits, the admission board holds an individual interview, in person or online, on algorithms and programming, logic, probability, statistics and algebra, plus philosophy, cognitive science or law. [1][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. A recognised certificate no more than three years old works, such as IELTS 5.5 or higher, TOEFL iBT 72 or higher (valid two years) or PTE Academic 59 or higher. A degree taught entirely or mainly in English also counts, and the university's entry test is another route. [3][4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who needed a visa applied from 22 January to 30 April 2026 and had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, final-year students could apply as long as they obtained their degree and met the entry requirements by 31 December 2026. Admission stays provisional until all official documents are checked. [2]
I have a B.Tech or BCA in Computer Science. Can I apply?
Possibly. Your computing courses usually cover the first 12 credits, but you also need at least 12 credits in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience or law, for example courses in ethics, psychology or law. The interview also tests your background in one of those areas. [1][3]
Which curricula can I choose?
Three: Hybrid AI, Neuro-AI, and AI and Law. All share AI and Human Decision-Making, AI, Ethics and Law, Brain and Cognition, Machine Learning and a programming lab. You choose your curriculum when you apply. [1][3]
Where are classes held?
In Milan and Pavia. The University of Milan runs the degree with the University of Milano-Bicocca and the University of Pavia, and is the administrative seat where you apply and enrol. [1][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Human-Centered AI at Milan?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Milan's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Milan 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 Human-Centered AI?
An Indian bachelor's can fit if your transcript holds at least 30 relevant credits, with at least 12 in computing, maths or statistics and 12 in philosophy, psychology, physiology or law, and you need English at B2. The admission board interviews you in person or online. The steps are the online application, the board's interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][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 Human-Centered AI are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the admission board's 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 Human-Centered AI are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the admission board's 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 Human-Centered AI 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, the admission board's 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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