Master in Nanotechnology Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year master at Sapienza in Rome with an international pathway taught entirely in English, covering nanofabrication, surface engineering, atomistic modelling, nanoelectronics and biophotonics for industry and research.
Master
2 years
Rome
Multiple
Sapienza University of Rome
Nanotechnology Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-53) at Sapienza University of Rome, with an international pathway taught entirely in English. Entry needs a degree with a solid base in maths, physics, chemistry and engineering, plus English at B2, and a degree average below 23/30 means an admission test. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Nanotechnology Engineering master asks for a bachelor's or equivalent foreign degree with a solid base in maths, physics, chemistry and engineering, English at B2, a positive eligibility check and personal preparation shown by a degree average of 23/30 or an admission test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a bachelor's degree, a three-year university diploma or an equivalent qualification obtained abroad. The programme expects a good command of the basic sciences, physics, chemistry and engineering, normally gained through an Italian three-year engineering degree (classes L-7, L-8 and L-9). A physics (L-30) or chemistry (L-27) degree can also give the scientific base, but it must be supplemented with engineering skills. [1]
- Italian engineering degrees (L-7, L-8, L-9): at least 85 CFU, made up of at least 27 CFU in core maths, physics and chemistry (sectors CHIM/03, FIS/01, FIS/03 and MAT/02, 03, 05, 06 and 07) and at least 58 CFU in industrial engineering, set areas of information engineering, maths and computing, chemistry and physics.
- Italian physics or chemistry degrees (L-30, L-27): at least 12 CFU in one or more of electrical engineering, applied mechanics, structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, automation or chemical plants (ING-IND/31, ING-IND/13, ICAR/08, ING-IND/06, ING-INF/04 and ING-IND/25). If this is not met, the Degree Programme Commission checks for equivalent requirements from your record and syllabuses, with an interview.
- Foreign degrees and other Italian degrees: the Area Educational Board checks that you meet equivalent requirements, based on your academic record and the syllabuses of your courses, plus an interview on the subjects behind the entry rules.
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and a foreign degree is judged on its content through an equivalence check and interview. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Chemical or Materials Engineering with solid maths, physics and chemistry papers.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Computer Science or IT, which may be light on chemistry and industrial engineering, or a B.Sc. in Physics or Chemistry, which needs engineering subjects such as electrical engineering, mechanics or fluid dynamics.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Biology or Biotechnology, a BCA, B.Com or BBA, without engineering maths, physics and chemistry.
If you do not meet the entry requirements, missing credits can be made up by passing single examinations, under Sapienza's single-examination rules. [1]
English
A good command of English at CEFR level B2, backed by suitable certification, which can include self-certification. If you self-certify, the programme may assess your English to confirm the level. The call does not list specific tests or scores. [1]
Personal preparation and admission test
Personal preparation is judged on the average mark of the exams in your previous degree. An average of 23 out of 30 is sufficient. Below that, you sit a written and/or oral admission test, which can find your background sufficient or insufficient; if insufficient, you cannot enrol. [1]
The programme board describes a written test with theoretical questions or exercises in physics, chemistry and electrical circuits. You get three questions in each area and answer one of your choice in each, plus a question on your motivation for the degree. The test can be retaken, and enrolment is allowed only after passing it. The 2026/27 test dates had not been set when we reviewed the page. [2]
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 could choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 was reserved for Sapienza graduates. [1]
Before that, non-EU visa applicants had to complete MoveIn pre-selection between 22 December 2025 and 15 May 2026, and Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026. [4]
Where the programme regulations allow it, applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduated by 19 December 2026 (other Italian or international universities) or 23 January 2027 (Sapienza). [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad
Non-EU applicants who live abroad, apply for a student visa and choose the English-taught pathway must hold a pre-acceptance letter. Those who choose the Italian-taught pathway need Italian at B2 instead. [1]
The pre-acceptance letter comes from online pre-selection on the MoveIn platform, with up to two applications per intake. Pre-selection alone does not secure a place. The steps then are Universitaly pre-enrolment, the eligibility check, the enrolment documents for the International Student Office and payment of the fees. [4]
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 Nanotechnology Engineering (Ingegneria delle nanotecnologie, LM-53), academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33496. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Board of Nanotechnology Engineering. Admission test and verification of the requirements, academic year 2026-2027; test dates not yet set when reviewed. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Nanotechnology Engineering programme pages and 2026 study plan (presentation, objectives, professional opportunities, degree class, language and department). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Programmes in English and International Student Office pages, academic year 2026-2027 (pre-selection, pre-acceptance and enrolment steps for non-EU applicants). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Nanotechnology Engineering (Ingegneria delle Nanotecnologie in Italian) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-53, worth 120 ECTS, run by the Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering in Rome and linked to Sapienza's faculties of Civil and Industrial Engineering and of Information Engineering, Informatics and Statistics.
Teaching is in person.
The degree has two pathways. The Italian pathway is taught partly in Italian and partly in English; the international pathway, Nanotechnology Engineering, is taught entirely in English for students who come from institutions outside Italy.
The university calls international delivery necessary because nanotechnology is a global field. It suits graduates who want to work on matter at the micro and nanoscale, in industry or in research.
What you will study
The first year builds fundamental knowledge and the second year engineering skills.
The educational objectives name four abilities: using micro and nanotechnologies to develop new materials and nano-devices, designing devices with atomistic simulation, engineering complex micro and nano systems, and managing safety and risk in nanotechnology.
Core subjects include nanofabrication, self-assembly, surface engineering, atomistic modelling and characterisation down to the nanoscale. English-taught units in the 2026 study plan include:
- Chemistry for Nanotechnology
- Continuum Mechanics
- Optics
- Principles of Biochemical Engineering
- Nanoelectronics Laboratory
- Biophotonics Laboratory
- Optoelectronics
- Electromagnetic Fields and Nanosystems for Biomedical Applications
How the programme is taught
The second year offers several laboratory units, such as the Sensors and Electrical-Electromagnetic Characterization Laboratory, the Laboratories of Atomistic and Micro-Nano-Fluidics Simulations and the Laboratory of Electrorheology.
You learn to design and run experimental campaigns on nanostructured materials and to simulate molecular and solid systems.
Career paths
The university describes the nanotechnology engineer as a specialist in managing technological innovation in industry and electronics, able to coordinate and direct complex technology projects.
Graduates know the physics and chemistry of nanoscale systems, material behaviour and characterisation, and the properties of biological matter. Openings it lists include:
- High-tech manufacturing in mechanics, aerospace, automotive, advanced materials and biomedical engineering
- Public and private research centres
- PhD programmes in Italy and abroad
- Service and consulting companies
- Independent practice after professional registration as an engineer
Fees and scholarships
At Sapienza, a student who has no Italian ISEE and whose income is abroad pays a flat rate linked to the country band.
For 2026/27, Sapienza's programmes-in-English page sets tuition by country of residence. [4] The regional scholarship body for Rome 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
Admission to the degree follows a check of your requirements and personal preparation, set out in its official call for applications. We apply for the international, English-taught pathway.
If you need a study visa, we start with pre-selection on MoveIn, with at most two applications per intake. The 2026/27 window ran from 22 December 2025 to 15 May 2026.
After the pre-acceptance letter, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment (by 30 June 2026 for that year). The eligibility check is then requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33496); for 2026/27 the only date for visa applicants was 15 September 2026. You then apply to the consulate for a type D visa. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][4]
Foreign degrees need a CIMEA statement or, in some cases, a declaration of value.
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, Universitaly pre-enrolment and eligibility check.
- 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 Nanotechnology Engineering master?
A bachelor's or equivalent foreign degree with a solid base in maths, physics, chemistry and engineering. Italian engineering graduates need 85 credits in set areas. Foreign degrees are checked for equivalence from your transcript and course syllabuses, plus an interview. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
Only if your previous degree average is below 23 out of 30. Then you sit an admission test, described as a written test with one question each in physics, chemistry and electrical circuits, plus a question on motivation. It can be retaken. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, backed by suitable certification, which can include self-certification. With self-certification the programme may test your English. The 2026/27 call does not list specific tests or scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, visa applicants had to finish MoveIn pre-selection by 15 May 2026, Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026 and the eligibility check by 15 September 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1][4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, where the programme regulations allow it. 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.Sc. in Physics or a B.Tech in Computer Science. Can I apply?
Possibly. Foreign degrees are checked for equivalence from your transcript and syllabuses, with an interview. As a guide, Italian physics and chemistry graduates need at least 12 credits in engineering subjects such as electrical engineering or fluid dynamics, so pure science degrees can fall short. [1]
Is the Nanotechnology Engineering master taught in English?
Yes, through its international pathway, Nanotechnology Engineering, which is taught entirely in English and designed for students from universities outside Italy. The Italian pathway is taught mainly in Italian. You need English at B2. [1][3]
What do graduates do?
Sapienza points to high-tech manufacturing in mechanics, aerospace, automotive, advanced materials and biomedical engineering, electronics companies, public and private research centres, PhD programmes and consulting, with roles leading complex nanotechnology projects. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Nanotechnology 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 Nanotechnology Engineering?
A recognised Indian B.Tech or B.E. in mechanical, electrical, electronics, chemical or materials engineering, with solid maths, physics and chemistry, is usually the closest fit. Sapienza assesses foreign degrees on your transcript, course syllabuses and an interview, and you need English at B2. The steps are MoveIn pre-selection, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check. [1][4] 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 Nanotechnology 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, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check, 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 Nanotechnology Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: MoveIn pre-selection for a pre-acceptance letter, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check. 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 Nanotechnology 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, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the eligibility check, 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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