Master in Human-Computer Interaction at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-55 master's at the University of Trento in Rovereto, joining psychology, design and computer science to study how people use technology and to design better digital products. Entry needs 50 credits in related areas and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rovereto
English
University of Trento
Human-Computer Interaction is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-55) taught in English at the University of Trento in Rovereto. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 50 ECTS across humanities, psychology, computing, social science or science areas, plus English at B2. Non-EU fees follow your admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniTrento's Human-Computer Interaction master asks for a bachelor's degree with at least 50 ECTS across humanities, psychology, computing, social science or science areas, English at B2, a statement of purpose and video pitch, and a merit score of at least 50 out of 100. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a bachelor's or higher degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as equivalent. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants had to graduate by 30 June 2026. Your degree must include at least 50 CFU in the subject sectors of the Italian bachelor's classes L-20, L-24 and L-31, which cover: [1]
- philosophy, languages and the humanities;
- psychology;
- engineering and computer science;
- education and history;
- law, economics, statistics and the social sciences;
- biology, physics and mathematics.
For a degree without Italian subject sectors, the committee checks that your courses are consistent with these areas. If you are short of credits, you can still apply as long as you earn them by 31 July 2026 (2026/27 rule). The committee also looks for professional, vocational and academic experience suited to an interdisciplinary degree. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The 50 credits can come from a wide range of subjects, so many backgrounds can qualify. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. in Psychology; a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or IT, a BCA or a B.Sc. in Computer Science; a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics or Statistics; a BA or B.Sc. in Economics, a B.Com or a BBA.
- Check carefully: a B.Des or other design degree, a BA in literature or languages, or a B.Tech in mechanical, civil or electronics engineering. Only some of their courses may fall in the listed sectors, so the committee counts course by course.
- Often short: degrees built mostly on subjects outside the listed sectors, such as pharmacy, nursing, agriculture or hotel management.
Credits are only part of the picture: the committee also scores how relevant your studies and experience are to the aims of the course. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by one of: [1]
- an internationally recognised English certificate that meets the UniTrento Language Centre guidelines on type, duration and validity, submitted by 15 June 2026 at the latest (2026/27 rule);
- a transcript showing a university English exam at B2 level, with the level clearly stated;
- a certificate from your university that your degree was taught entirely in English, only if the degree was awarded in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa or another country on the university's list;
- a self-certification that English is your mother tongue.
An English-taught degree from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka does not meet the third route, so most applicants from these countries use a certificate or a B2 exam on their transcript. The call does not list minimum test scores. [1]
Selection and ranking
There is no entrance test. A committee of three teaching staff from the Departments of Psychology and Cognitive Science and of Information Engineering and Computer Science scores your file out of 100: [1]
- Up to 50 points: academic background and reference letter.
- Up to 20 points: statement of purpose, self-presentation video and interview, if one is held.
- Up to 30 points: relevance of your previous studies and experience to the aims of the course.
The committee may invite you to an interview, in person or on Zoom, if it needs more information on your skills. A score of 50 or more makes you suitable, and ties go to the younger candidate. Non-EU applicants are ranked on a separate list. [1]
2026/27 places and deadlines
For 2026/27 the master had 35 places, 20 of them reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad. Non-EU applicants applied in the first call, from 17 December 2025 to 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET. Admitted candidates confirmed their place by the date published with the ranking. [1]
Non-EU students had to obtain the visa by 20 September 2026 and arrive in Italy before 30 September 2026. These are the 2026/27 dates. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs: [1]
- your passport (personal data pages);
- your bachelor's certificate, or a certificate showing your expected graduation date;
- a transcript with all courses, exams and marks, the weighted average and the grading scale, with an official translation if it is not in English or Italian;
- a master's transcript, if you already hold a master's;
- a Europass CV in English;
- your English proof;
- a statement of purpose in English of up to 4,000 characters, spaces included;
- the link to a five-minute self-presentation video in English explaining your interest in HCI.
A reference letter, preferably from a university lecturer, is optional and is sent by the referee by the application deadline. After confirming your place, you pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks, and pre-enrolment is needed for the visa. UniTrento may ask for a statement of verification or comparability for your degree. [1][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 Trento, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science. Public selection for admission to the two-year Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, Human-Computer Interaction master's programme page, admission for non-European applicants, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Human-Computer Interaction is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-55, cognitive sciences) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English. It is run by the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science together with the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, and lessons take place in Rovereto, at Corso Bettini 84.
The degree puts people first in the design of technology. You study human cognition, behaviour and emotion at individual, group and social levels and use that knowledge to design interfaces and digital products, dealing with questions such as privacy, context, experience, emotion and participation. It welcomes graduates from psychology, computer science, engineering, design, the humanities and the social sciences.
What you will study
The first year combines design and research methods with a bridging course chosen to fill the gap in your background, either towards computer science or towards psychology, plus guided options and electives. The second year is lighter on teaching and centres on the internship and thesis. Units in the current plan include:
- Design Experience (12 ECTS) and Design Epistemology and Ethics
- Research Methodology, both qualitative and quantitative, and Social Interaction
- Visual Brain and Design, and Bridging HCI to Computer Science or to Psychology
- Options such as Mind and Interaction in Extended Reality (XR), Design for Social Inclusion, Multisensory Interactive Systems and Educational Technology
- Electives such as Fundamentals of VR/XR, Game Design Fundamentals, Human Language Technologies and Decision-making Processes and Digital Nudging
- Affective Computing and Prototyping Interactive Systems in the second year
- An internship (18 ECTS) and a master's thesis (18 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Besides lectures you work through tutorials, laboratory activities and design seminars on current issues in human-centred design. An 18 ECTS internship in the second year lets you put these methods into practice before the thesis.
Career paths
Graduates can work as UX experts in software and service companies, in the private and public sectors, guiding software projects on the human side of the interface. Typical tasks include analysing context and user needs to write software requirements, designing interaction flows, and measuring the usability and user experience of digital products. The role can also be managerial, for example negotiating digital services with external suppliers.
Fees and scholarships
Under UniTrento's 2026/27 call, first-year fees for non-EU students living abroad are set by admission score, and a score of 90 or more means a full fee exemption. In year two, earning at least 42 ECTS by 10 August brings a full waiver. Applicants scoring 70 or more may win a UniTrento scholarship that includes a fee waiver; it cannot be combined with an Opera Universitaria di Trento grant, which is income-based. The degree can be tuition-free for eligible students. [1]
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27 the degree offered 20 places to non-EU citizens living abroad. The committee gave up to 50 points for academic background and a reference letter, 20 for the statement of purpose, video pitch and any interview, and 30 for the relevance of your studies and experience.
Applications for 2026/27 closed on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET. Admitted candidates confirmed their place, pre-enrolled on Universitaly within two weeks and had to obtain a type D study visa by 20 September 2026. The 2027/28 call is still to be published. [1][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 UniTrento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with statement of purpose and video pitch, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional 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
Which bachelor's degrees are accepted for Human-Computer Interaction at UniTrento?
Many backgrounds can qualify. You need at least 50 credits in the sectors of Italian classes L-20, L-24 and L-31: humanities and languages, psychology, engineering and computing, education and history, law, economics, statistics and social sciences, or biology, physics and maths. For 2026/27, missing credits could be earned by 31 July 2026. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores your file out of 100: up to 50 for academic background and reference letter, 20 for your statement of purpose, video pitch and any interview, and 30 for the relevance of your studies and experience. You need 50 to be suitable. [1]
Do I need IELTS, or is my English-medium degree enough?
You need English at CEFR B2. An English-taught degree counts only if it was awarded in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa or another country on the university's list. Otherwise you need a recognised certificate, a B2 English exam on your transcript, or a native-speaker self-certification. The call lists no minimum scores. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied between 17 December 2025 and 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, for 20 reserved places. Admitted students had to obtain the visa by 20 September 2026. The 2027/28 call will set the new dates. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could apply with a certificate showing the expected graduation date, as long as they graduated by 30 June 2026. [1]
I have a B.Com or a B.Des. Can I apply?
Possibly. Economics and management courses fall in the listed sectors, so a B.Com often reaches the 50 credits, while a design degree may count only some of its courses. The committee checks course by course and also scores how relevant your studies and experience are to HCI. [1]
How do tuition fees work for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, fees for non-EU students living abroad followed the admission score, with a full waiver at 90 or more. Applicants scoring at least 70 may receive a UniTrento scholarship that waives fees. [1]
Where is the course taught?
In Rovereto, in the province of Trento, at the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, Corso Bettini 84. Lessons are held in person only, so you need to be in Rovereto for the start of classes. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Human-Computer Interaction at UniTrento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniTrento's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional 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-Computer Interaction?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in psychology, computing, engineering, economics, the humanities or the sciences can meet the rule if at least 50 credits of its courses fall in the accepted areas. An English-taught Indian degree does not count as English proof, so you need a B2 certificate or a B2 English exam on your transcript. The steps are the online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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 Human-Computer Interaction are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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-Computer Interaction are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation 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-Computer Interaction 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, merit ranking, place confirmation 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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