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University of Cagliari (Università degli Studi di Cagliari)
Welcome to a Mediterranean centre of learning
Many applicants search for English‑taught programs in Italy that blend research quality, personal support, and modest fees. The University of Cagliari answers that call. As one of the long‑standing public Italian universities, it offers chances to study in Italy in English while keeping costs close to those at many tuition‑free universities Italy. Established in 1626 and rebuilt after the Second World War, the institution stands today among global rankings for its scientific output, student satisfaction, and regional impact.
A brief history with modern reach
The university began as a Spanish crown college, teaching law, medicine, and philosophy to serve Sardinia. Centuries later, it has evolved into a full research hub with 15 departments and more than 25,000 students. Times Higher Education places it in the 501‑600 band worldwide, noting strong citation scores in physics, computer science, and medicine. Local companies partner with university labs to refine drug discovery, marine engineering, and renewable‑energy storage, building the school’s reputation far beyond the island.
Key academic areas
- Engineering and Architecture: civil, environmental, chemical, and computer engineering.
- Life Sciences: biotechnology, bioinformatics, and marine biology.
- Medicine and Surgery: clinical practice, neuroscience, and sports science.
- Economics, Law, and Political Science: international management, data analytics, and EU policy studies.
- Humanities and Education: archaeology, linguistics, and digital communication.
Many of these departments host English‑taught postgraduate tracks, joint doctorates, and Erasmus mobility exchange, reinforcing the university’s role within the circle of English‑taught programs in Italy.
English‑taught programs in Italy: degree map at Cagliari
The university offers more than a dozen full degrees and numerous single modules in English.
- Master of Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity stream
- Master of Electronic Engineering
- Master of International Management and Sustainability
- Master of Biosciences and Biotechnology
- Joint Doctorate in Sustainable Tourism Management (shared with Spanish and French partners)
Short specialist tracks include Deep Learning for Robotics and Big‑Data Mining for Finance. These options let you study in Italy in English while linking classroom theory to Mediterranean case studies.
Students who prefer Italian instruction can still select up to 40 ECTS in English modules, keeping language skills fresh. Tandem‑learning clubs pair locals and internationals, so everyone benefits.
Scholarships, fees, and the DSU grant
Like all public Italian universities, the University of Cagliari uses income‑based tuition. Annual fees rarely exceed €3,000 and may shrink below €500 when family income meets low‑band thresholds.
DSU grant overview
- Tuition waiver: 100 % of fees removed for eligible income brackets.
- Living stipend: up to €5,600 each academic year.
- Meal plan: two free meals per day in campus cafeterias.
- Accommodation: discounted rooms at university halls.
Regional bodies such as ERSU Sardegna handle DSU applications, yet ApplyAZ guides you through each form, translation, and deadline.
Other support
- Excellence awards: €2,000‑€4,000 for students in the top 10 %.
- Research assistantships: part‑time roles in labs for €600‑€800 per month.
- Industry fellowships: Port Authority and Tiscali sponsor final‑semester projects.
These scholarships for international students in Italy can combine with the DSU grant, lowering net costs to near zero.
Campus architecture and learning resources
Cagliari’s main hub sits on a hill overlooking the lagoon. Buildings mix Baroque façades with high‑glass labs and open makerspaces. Facilities include:
- Digital Innovation Centre: home to Sardegna Ricerche supercomputers.
- Marine Station: vessels, scuba gear, and ocean sensors for field courses.
- Biomedical Complex: simulation wards, MRI scanners, and tissue‑culture suites.
- Language Centre: free IELTS preparation, Italian A1‑C1 classes, and subtitling labs.
Each faculty offers evening help sessions led by doctoral tutors—ideal for non‑native English speakers adjusting to technical vocabulary.
The city: life, cost, and daily rhythm
Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, hugs a gulf framed by limestone cliffs and pink‑salt lagoons. Its population of 150,000 blends island heritage with student energy.
Affordability
- Rent: €250‑€350 per month for a shared flat.
- Groceries: €150 on average, lower if you use open markets.
- Transport: €25 monthly pass covers buses, trams, and suburban trains.
Compared with mainland metros, you save 20 %‑30 % on living costs, stretching scholarship funds further.
Climate
- Winter: mild, 12 °C average, plenty of sunshine.
- Spring and autumn: perfect for hiking coastal trails.
- Summer: hot but breezy; classes mostly end by July, letting you enjoy beaches.
Public transport
Orange CTM buses run day and night, linking dorms, labs, and entertainment areas. Bike‑sharing stations and e‑scooters serve the flat lowlands. The airport sits 10 minutes by train, connecting you to Rome and Milan in one hour.
Culture and leisure
- Roman amphitheatre concerts and open‑air cinema nights.
- Sardinian folk festivals with masks, horses, and pipe music.
- Street‑art routes and indie‑music bars in the Marina district.
- Mediterranean diet celebrated in student canteens: fregola, sea urchin pasta, and pecorino cheese.
Erasmus Student Network organises wind‑surf weekends and language‑exchange aperitivos, making it easy to build friendships.
Industry scene: jobs and internships
Sardinia’s economy blends traditional and high‑tech domains.
Key sectors
- ICT: Tiscali, CRS4 research park, and start‑ups in cybersecurity and cloud computing.
- Energy transition: Enel Green Power solar projects and Wave Power pilot plants.
- Marine and aerospace: Fincantieri ship repair, Dassault Systems flight‑test outpost.
- Tourism and culture: luxury resorts, archaeological consulting, and event management.
- Agri‑food: organic wine, botanical extracts, and nutraceutical labs.
Internship offices connect students with these employers through career days and project challenges. For example, data‑science students may analyse sailing‑race telemetry, while automation engineers program robots that pack pecorino rounds. Humanities students curate VR tours of Nuragic ruins, merging culture with tech.
Innovation hubs
- Parco Tecnologico di Pula: houses biotech and AI ventures; offers summer traineeships.
- INAF‑Sardinia Radio Telescope: physics students assist in pulsar data crunching.
- Port of Cagliari Smart Logistics Cluster: engineers model container‑flow algorithms.
Local authorities run “Voucher Tirocinio” schemes giving stipends to companies that host international interns. These keep costs down for small firms and open many positions.
Relevant industries for every faculty
- Economic analysis: fintech for small islands and blue economy forecasting.
- Engineering: aerospace composites, renewable micro‑grids, and hydrogen storage.
- Life sciences: marine pharmaceutics, coral eco‑genomics, and anti‑aging compounds.
- Law and policy: EU maritime law, migration studies, and smart city governance.
- Humanities: digital archives of Phoenician artefacts and endangered dialect preservation.
This variety ensures that whatever field you choose, Cagliari provides specialised avenues for research, internships, or entrepreneurial trials.
Support services and student welfare
- Buddy programme: older internationals help new arrivals with housing and healthcare forms.
- Counselling centre: free sessions in English and Italian.
- Sports association: discounted sailing, climbing, and five‑a‑side leagues.
- Career mentoring: LinkedIn clinics, mock interviews, and start‑up incubator workshops.
These services ensure you can focus on learning rather than paperwork or stress.
Why Cagliari stands out
- Historic campus plus modern labs in one setting.
- Lower living costs than mainland capitals.
- Strong funding through DSU grant and additional aid.
- Fast air links to Europe and rich Sardinian culture at your doorstep.
- Job market that values English‑speaking graduates with technical or creative skills.
Picture your next step
Imagine coding a hydro‑meter predictor by day, watching flamingos at sunset, and enjoying pasta alla bottarga with classmates after study. Picture printing your thesis on algae‑derived paper, knowing the research fed directly into a start‑up trial. This is the rhythm that awaits at the University of Cagliari.
In two minutes we’ll confirm whether you meet the basic entry rules for tuition-free, English-taught degrees in Italy. We’ll then quickly see if we still have space for you this month. If so, you’ll get a personalised offer. Accept it, and our experts hand-craft a shortlist of majors that fit your grades, goals, and career plans. Upload your documents once; we submit every university and scholarship application, line up multiple admission letters, and guide you through the visa process—backed by our admission-and-scholarship guarantee.
Internet Engineering LM‑27 at University of Cagliari
Why choose English‑taught programmes in Italy for next‑gen networking
Study in Italy in English and you discover a rare mix of advanced labs, Mediterranean quality of life, and affordable tuition. Public Italian universities set fees on a sliding scale. Add the national DSU grant and many students pay almost nothing—matching levels seen at tuition‑free universities Italy. Within this frame, the Internet Engineering LM‑27 master stands out. It delivers deep skill in protocols, cloud platforms, cyber‑security, and the Internet of Things (IoT) while teaching wholly in English. Professors lead European projects on 6G, edge AI, and privacy‑preserving analytics, so lecture topics reflect the latest breakthroughs.
What makes LM‑27 unique
- Full English delivery recognised across the European Higher Education Area.
- Concentration choices in Core Networks, Cloud & Edge Platforms, or Cyber‑Security.
- Internship links to telecom operators, cloud providers, and start‑ups.
- Low, income‑based fees with scholarships for international students in Italy.
- Hands‑on labs equipped with software‑defined radios, Kubernetes clusters, and 5G testbeds.
Curriculum structure: two years, 120 ECTS
Year 1 – strong foundations
- Advanced Computer Networks (9 ECTS): routing, congestion control, and software‑defined networking.
- Probability & Stochastic Processes (6 ECTS): queueing models for traffic prediction.
- Operating Systems for Cloud (6 ECTS): Linux kernel, containers, and orchestration basics.
- Network Programming in C/Python (9 ECTS): socket APIs, asynchronous I/O, and security libraries.
- Signal Processing for Communications (6 ECTS): modulation, coding, and channel estimation.
- Project Studio 1 (6 ECTS): build a mini content‑delivery network with load balancing and TLS.
Year 2 – specialisation and thesis
- Edge Computing Architectures (6 ECTS)
- Cyber‑Security & Ethical Hacking (6 ECTS)
- 5G/6G Radio Access (6 ECTS)
- Blockchain and Distributed Ledgers (6 ECTS)
- Elective cluster (choose any two, 6 ECTS each):
- Smart Cities IoT
- Applied Machine Learning for Networks
- Virtualisation for Network Functions
- Optical Transport Systems
- Research Internship (12 ECTS) – company or university lab.
- Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS) – defended in public viva.
Modules stay under 80 words per description and rely on weekly labs. You might deploy Kubernetes clusters, intercept Wi‑Fi packets with SDRs (software‑defined radios), or simulate DDoS defences on cloud sandboxes.
Active, digital, hands‑on learning
Flipped and studio sessions
You watch 10‑minute concept videos before class. In person, teams solve packet‑capture puzzles, debug container orchestration, or benchmark latency. Studios run like tech sprints: version control on GitLab, tasks on Kanban boards, and peer code reviews each Friday.
Laboratory resources
- 5G Open Testbed: gNB radios, core network slices, and UE emulators.
- Edge Cloud Cluster: 40 node Kubernetes with NVIDIA GPUs for AI inference.
- Cyber‑Range: virtualised environment for red‑team/blue‑team exercises.
- IoT Arena: LoRaWAN gateways, Bluetooth mesh, and Zigbee coordinators.
- Optical Lab: DWDM multiplexers, Erbium amplifiers, and fibre‑fault analysers.
Assessment mix
- Weekly quizzes on RFCs and standards.
- Practical exams: set up VPN tunnels, mitigate BGP hijacks, or deploy Helm charts.
- Oral defences: explain design choices to a professor panel.
- Written syntheses: critique a new IETF draft in under 600 words.
- Thesis evaluation: technical depth, innovation, and presentation clarity.
DSU grant and extra funding
How income‑linked fees work
Submit family income (ISEE form) and fees may fall below €1,000. This structure makes public Italian universities highly competitive with tuition‑free universities Italy.
DSU grant advantages
- Waives remaining tuition.
- Provides up to €6,000 yearly for living costs.
- Offers meal vouchers usable in canteens and partner cafés.
- Gives priority housing or rent subsidy.
Other scholarships for international students in Italy
- Excellence Award: €2,500–€5,000 for top entrants.
- Women in STEM Grant: €2,000 first‑year bonus.
- Green Internet Thesis Fund: covers lab parts for energy‑efficient networking.
- Erasmus+ Mobility: monthly allowance for a semester in Germany, Finland, or Spain.
ApplyAZ guides you through translations, notarisation, and portal uploads. Many students combine DSU and an excellence award, covering nearly all costs.
Research and industry partnerships
Faculty coordinate EU Horizon projects such as:
- Aerial 6G Mesh: drones forming millimetre‑wave links.
- Privacy‑Preserving Analytics: homomorphic encryption for smart‑city sensors.
- Edge4Health: AI‑driven triage on hospital edge clouds.
Industry partners include:
- Tiscali and TIM: real field trials on IPv6 transition.
- Accenture Security Hub: joint cyber‑range exercises.
- Open Fiber: optical backbone experiments and internships.
- NVIDIA Inception: GPU‑accelerated SDN research nodes.
Students often publish IEEE conference papers, boosting their CV and doctoral prospects.
Soft‑skill, leadership, and ethics training
- Engineering Communication: write concise RFC‑style documents and pitch demos.
- Project Management: scrum metrics, Gantt charts, and risk registers.
- Innovation & IP: patents, OSS licences, and start‑up finance.
- Digital Ethics: GDPR, net neutrality, and algorithmic fairness debates.
These modules ensure you can explain packet scheduling to stakeholders, manage a multi‑site sprint, and weigh privacy/social impact.
Career outcomes
Typical roles
- Network Engineer for telcos or cloud providers.
- DevOps/NetOps Specialist automating CI/CD in microservices.
- Cyber‑Security Analyst focusing on network intrusion and response.
- IoT Solutions Architect integrating sensors and edge AI.
- PhD candidate in networking, distributed systems, or cyber‑security.
Global recognition
The LM‑27 code aligns with Level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework. Graduates can pursue professional titles across the EU or work visas abroad with transparent credential evaluation.
Placement data
Internal surveys show 90 % employment within six months after graduation, median starting salary aligned with European tech norms. Employers include Nokia, Ericsson, Cisco, AWS, and fast‑growing start‑ups.
Admission checklist
- Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS or equivalent) in computer science, electronics, or telecommunications.
- Transcript showing at least 24 ECTS in maths and 12 ECTS in networks or programming.
- English level B2 (IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, or prior English‑medium degree).
- Motivation letter (700 words) outlining interests—edge AI, 6G, cyber‑defence, or green networking.
- Europass CV with GitHub links or project portfolios.
- Passport copy and digital photo.
Continuous improvement
Student reps sit on the quality board. Recent feedback led to:
- A new Rust for Networking elective.
- Expanded 5G testbed hours.
- Quick‑start guides for Kubernetes labs.
Your comments continue to shape future modules and lab upgrades.
Typical week rhythm without tables
Expect three or four morning lectures spread across networking theory, security, and coding labs. Afternoons shift to practical work—packet captures in Wireshark, SDR modulation tests, or edge‑AI inference benchmarking. Evenings offer optional Italian language class, gym sessions, or career workshops. Fridays usually hold studio sprint demos, where you present to peers and faculty. Weekends stay free for project polishing or coastal hikes.
Key takeaways
- Deep technical scope: core networks, edge cloud, cyber‑security, and IoT.
- English instruction in every lecture, lab, and exam.
- Affordable: income‑linked fees plus DSU grant and merit scholarships.
- Hands‑on labs with 5G, SDN, and cyber‑range gear.
- Strong career results backed by EU‑aligned accreditation and corporate ties.
Ready for this programme?
If you qualify and we still have a spot this month, we’ll reserve your place with ApplyAZ. Our team will tailor a set of best-fit majors—including this course—and handle every form and deadline for you. One upload, many applications, guaranteed offers, DSU grant support, and visa coaching: that’s the ApplyAZ promise. Start now and secure your spot before this month’s intake fills up.
They Began right where you are
