Master in Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology at Polytechnic University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-53 master at Politecnico di Milano on materials with controlled properties at the micro and nano scale, with six tracks from surface and polymer engineering to nanomaterials and sustainability. Entry needs a materials science base and B2 English.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
Polytechnic University of Milan
Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-53) taught in English at Politecnico di Milano's Milano Leonardo campus. Entry needs a bachelor's with a solid base in maths, physics, chemistry and materials engineering, reviewed by an Evaluation Commission, plus English at B2 such as IELTS 6. Students choose one of six tracks.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliMi's Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology master asks for a bachelor's of at least three years with a solid base in maths, physics, chemistry and materials engineering subjects, a positive review of your CV by an Evaluation Commission, and English at B2, such as IELTS 6, to enrol. There is no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and subject background
You need a first-cycle degree (EQF level 6) of at least three years, an equivalent or higher qualification, or a qualification from abroad recognised as equivalent. [1] The regulations ask for adequate preparation in: [1]
- Core sciences: mathematics, physics and chemistry.
- Engineering: physical chemistry and thermodynamics, materials science, and mechanics of solids and structures.
- Materials and nanotechnology: the technology and properties of materials, characterisation techniques and design methods, and topics such as the physics of electromagnetic waves and quantum mechanics.
You must also have obtained your bachelor's no later than 31 March of the seventh year after you first enrolled at university. This does not apply if you already hold a second-level degree. [1]
PoliMi also requires a degree issued by a university in the official system of its country, giving access to EQF level 7, with subjects closely related to the programme. Franchised degrees are not accepted, and if you hold both a bachelor's and a master's, only the bachelor's is evaluated. [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 or B.E. 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 at SLQF level 6 from a recognised institution. Level 5 qualifications are not evaluated.
- UK: an Honours degree or equivalent, with a university letter if the certificate does not say so.
If your average is below the minimum for your country, PoliMi does not evaluate the application. [3]
What this means for your transcript
The commission looks at the subjects on your transcript, not just the title of your degree. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Metallurgical and Materials, Chemical, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, with materials science, physical chemistry and thermodynamics, and solid mechanics on the transcript.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Electrical, Electronics or Production Engineering, or a B.Sc. Honours in Physics or Chemistry. The science base can be strong, but materials science or solid mechanics may be missing, so the commission can add compulsory courses.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which lacks the science and engineering base, or a three-year B.Sc. that is not Honours, which does not meet PoliMi's length rule for India.
English
Admission requires English at CEFR level B2. The certificate is not one of the requirements for a positive evaluation, but you need it to enrol. [1] Accepted results include IELTS Academic or General Training 6, TOEFL iBT 78 (or 4.5 for tests taken from 21 January 2026), Cambridge B2 First at grade B, PTE Academic 59, Trinity ISE II and LanguageCert B2 Communicator. [3][4]
If English was the medium of instruction for your bachelor's for at least three years, a university document confirming that at least 75% of your courses were taught in English replaces the certificate. The certificate can follow the application deadline, but it is needed for the admission letter, merit scholarships, the visa and enrolment. [3]
International students admitted to English-taught master's programmes are enrolled with an Italian language obligation and must certify their Italian before the graduation exam. [4]
Selection and places
There is no entrance test. An Evaluation Commission set up by the Board of Studies decides from your academic career. In general it considers how long you took to graduate and your average mark. Applicants whose bachelor's is not from PoliMi are evaluated on their CV, and after a positive evaluation they are invited to an interview that explains any curricular obligations. [1]
Gaps in materials science, nanoscience and nanotechnology, or mechanics of solids and structures can lead to compulsory courses in your study plan. Gaps in other subjects, such as chemistry or physics, are filled with credits from single courses that you must pass before admission. [1]
Optional documents can make an application more competitive: a GRE General Test, a letter of recommendation, a motivation letter and detailed course descriptions. [3] For 2026/27, PoliMi offered 180 places in this programme at the Milano Leonardo campus, 30 of them for non-EU students. [6]
Deadlines for the September 2027 intake
Applicants with a foreign degree can apply in two calls: [5]
- First call: 1 October to 1 December 2026.
- Second call: 12 January to 25 February 2027.
Outcomes for both calls are due by the end of May 2027. An additional call from 1 to 18 March 2027 is only for EEA students and non-EEA students resident in Italy. You can apply once per semester and to at most two programmes. [5]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs your degree certificate or, if you have not graduated yet, an enrolment document confirming you are in your final year, plus your transcript, a cumulative GPA statement with the grading scale and a CV of up to two pages. Indian graduates upload scans of original transcripts or consolidated grade sheets certified by their institution. Documents cannot be changed after the fee is paid. [2][3]
Your degree must be obtained before enrolment. To enrol, you need a Diploma Supplement, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement of comparability, and PoliMi can ask for the declaration of value or CIMEA statement at any stage. [2][3]
Non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa.
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 Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology (class LM-53), 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. List of documents required by the Admissions Office for Master of Science applicants with a foreign qualification, accepted certificates updated for 2027/28. 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. Places available for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Tuition fees for Laurea, Laurea Magistrale and single-cycle programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, School of Industrial and Information Engineering. Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology programme page and 2026/27 course list. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-53, worth 120 ECTS. The School of Industrial and Information Engineering runs it in English at the Milano Leonardo campus in Milan.
According to the degree board, materials engineering and nanotechnology develop materials and products with controlled properties at both the micrometric and the nanometric scale. The degree covers metals, polymers, ceramics, composites and nanostructured materials, and suits graduates in materials, chemical, mechanical or related engineering.
What you will study
Of the 120 credits, 75 are compulsory, 25 are electives and 20 go to the thesis. Most first-year units are shared by all tracks, such as Chemistry of Materials, Instrumental Methods for Materials Analysis, Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineering, Mechanical Behaviour and Failure of Metals, Solid State Physics, and Surface Engineering. Each student follows one of six tracks, with track electives from the first year: Surface Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, Engineering Applications, Sustainability Engineering, and Micro and Nano Systems. Second-year units include: [1]
- Corrosion Engineering of Metals and Ceramics
- Functional and Nanostructured Materials
- Mechanical Behaviour and Durability of Polymers
- Polymer Technologies for the Circular Economy (Polymer and Sustainability tracks)
- Nanomaterials for Energy Conversion and Materials for Electronics (Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology)
- Composite Materials for Structural Applications (Engineering Applications)
- Life Cycle Assessment of Materials and Processes (Sustainability Engineering)
- Smart Materials and Metamaterials (Micro and Nano Systems)
How the programme is taught
Some first-year units, such as Principles of Polymer Chemistry and Solid State Physics, also run in an Italian edition, but the English path is complete. The Surface Engineering track lists laboratory units such as the Laboratory of Advanced Organic Coatings and the Laboratory of Plasma Physics. Every student takes at least one 5-credit laboratory course, experimental or computational. The second year ends with a 20-credit thesis and the final examination, and 1 thesis credit goes to internships and other activities that introduce the job market. [1][8]
Internal double degrees with Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering lead to both degrees with 180 credits instead of 240, subject to approval by a joint admission commission, and the EU TIME programme offers a double degree with a three-year master. [1]
Career paths
The six tracks lead towards materials roles in industry and research, for example in:
- Metals, polymers and composites for mechanical and structural uses
- Coatings, surface treatments and corrosion protection
- Nanomaterials for electronics and energy
- Recycling, circular economy and life cycle assessment
- Materials testing, analysis and research
In Italy, graduates can sit the State exam for Section A of the engineers' register and then work as self-employed engineers. [1]
Fees and scholarships
No special fee applies to this degree. PoliMi sets fees by family income (ISEE), but for 2026/27, international students in the reserved non-EU category admitted with a bachelor's from abroad pay the maximum fee unless they hold a PoliMi, DSU or other scholarship. With such a scholarship, the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The rules are set out on the tuition fees page. [7] The university manages the DSU right-to-study scholarship without a separate regional agency. Eligible students can apply, and awards depend on merit and financial need.
How to apply from outside the EU
The regulations expect a solid base in maths, physics and chemistry and in materials science, physical chemistry and thermodynamics, and mechanics of solids and structures. An Evaluation Commission reviews every degree from outside PoliMi on your CV and can set compulsory courses to fill gaps. [1]
Holders of a foreign degree apply through the international admissions route. Under the foreign-qualification requirements, your degree must give access to EQF level 7 and meet the minimum grade average set for some countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and you need an English certificate or an English-taught bachelor's. For the September 2027 intake, the first call runs from 1 October to 1 December 2026 and the second from 12 January to 25 February 2027, with outcomes by the end of May 2027. [2][5] Once you are admitted, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you apply for a type D visa; before enrolment you provide a Diploma Supplement, declaration of value or CIMEA statement.
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 Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology at PoliMi?
A bachelor's of at least three years, or a recognised foreign equivalent, with solid maths, physics and chemistry plus materials science, physical chemistry and thermodynamics, and mechanics of solids. From India, the degree must last at least four years, with an average of at least 70 out of 100. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. An Evaluation Commission reviews your CV and academic career, including how long you took to graduate and your average mark. After a positive evaluation, it invites you to an interview and can set compulsory courses in materials science, nanotechnology or solid mechanics to fill gaps. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
Admission requires English at CEFR B2. Accepted certificates include IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 78, Cambridge B2 First at grade B and PTE Academic 59, and an English-taught bachelor's can replace them. The certificate does not affect the evaluation, but you need it to enrol. [1][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For the September 2027 intake, the first call runs from 1 October to 1 December 2026, and the second from 12 January to 25 February 2027. Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. [5]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply in your final year with an enrolment document from your university, as long as you obtain the degree before enrolment. The regulations also ask that you finish your bachelor's by 31 March of the seventh year after you first enrolled. [1][2][3]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a B.Sc. in Chemistry. Can I apply?
Possibly. The commission checks for materials science, physical chemistry, solid mechanics and nanotechnology, and can add compulsory courses where they are missing. From India, a B.Sc. must be a four-year degree or a three-year Honours degree, and it may lack the engineering subjects. [1][2]
Which tracks can I choose, and is it taught in English?
Six tracks, all in English at the Milano Leonardo campus: Surface Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, Engineering Applications, Sustainability Engineering, and Micro and Nano Systems. A few units also run in an Italian edition, and every student takes at least one laboratory course. [1][8]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, PoliMi offered 180 places in Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology at the Milano Leonardo campus, 30 of them reserved for non-EU students. [6]
Can someone handle my whole application to Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology 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 Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology?
PoliMi asks Indian applicants for a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech or B.E., with an average of at least 70 out of 100, and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is Honours. Your transcript should show maths, physics, chemistry, materials science and solid mechanics, and you need English at B2, such as IELTS 6. The steps are the online application, the commission's review 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 Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology 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 Evaluation Commission's review 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 Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the first or second call, the Evaluation Commission's review 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 Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology 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 Evaluation Commission's review 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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