Master in Physics of Complex Systems at Polytechnic University of Turin
Two-year LM-44 master at Politecnico di Torino on modelling and simulating complex systems with statistical and quantum physics and computation. National Track in Turin, or an English International Track in Trieste, Turin and Paris.
Master
2 years
Turin
Multiple
Polytechnic University of Turin
Physics of Complex Systems is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-44) at Politecnico di Torino, taught in English with Italian options on the National Track. Entry needs a bachelor's with at least 40 credits in maths, physics and chemistry and 60 more in related fields, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Physics of Complex Systems asks for a bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 40 credits in maths, physics and chemistry fundamentals and 60 more in physics, computing, engineering or applied maths, a suitable academic record and English at B2. The International Track adds an online interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirement
You need a bachelor's degree or three-year university diploma, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable and earned after at least 15 years of total education. Your previous studies must include: [1]
- At least 40 credits in core maths, physics and chemistry: chemistry fundamentals, experimental physics, condensed matter physics, algebra, geometry and mathematical analysis (sectors CHIM/07, FIS/01, FIS/03, MAT/02, MAT/03 and MAT/05).
- At least 60 further credits in physics, computing, engineering or applied maths: chemistry, physics (FIS/01 to FIS/04), computer science (INF/01), electrical engineering (ING-IND/31), electronics (ING-INF/01), electromagnetic fields (ING-INF/02), computer engineering (ING-INF/05), electronic measurements (ING-INF/07), probability and statistics (MAT/06), mathematical physics (MAT/07) and numerical analysis (MAT/08).
Credits in sectors shared by both groups count first towards the 40-credit group. If you lack fewer than 10 credits, the Academic Advisor can admit you; a larger gap needs the Coordinator's approval. Missing credits must be made up before enrolment, through single courses for up to 60 credits. [1]
PoliTo's 2026/27 course table recommends a background in any field of engineering, physics or mathematics, and a syllabus is not required. Students in a five or six-year single-cycle degree who have not graduated need at least 15 years of total education, 3 of them at university, and at least 180 ECTS. [1][3]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Physics, or a B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics as main subjects.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Electronics, Electrical, Engineering Physics or Computer Science usually covers the 60-credit group, but the 40 credits of maths, physics and chemistry need checking. A B.Sc. in Mathematics usually covers the 40-credit group but needs 60 more in physics, computing or applied maths.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Sc. IT, B.Com, BBA or BA, or a B.Tech in Mechanical, Civil or Chemical Engineering, as these rarely reach both credit groups.
The committee reads your course content against these subject groups, not just your total credits. [1]
English and Italian
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is required for both tracks, with IELTS 5.5 as the listed minimum. [1][3]
- Exemption: a degree taught in English at a university in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and other listed countries, or a degree from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or another country on the university's list, replaces the certificate, with an official medium-of-instruction statement from your university. [2]
- International Track: applicants with a foreign degree submit their English proof with the online application. [4]
- National Track and Italian: the 2026/27 academic regulations also ask applicants with a foreign qualification who choose the National Track for Italian at B2. PoliTo's 2026/27 course table for foreign applicants lists only IELTS 5.5 for the national path, so we confirm which rule applies to your call before you apply. [1][3]
Selection
National Track: there is no entrance test. Professors appointed by the Collegio assess your academic performance and how well your previous studies fit the programme, through Apply@polito. [1][2]
International Track: applicants are scored out of 100, with up to 60 points for academic performance and up to 40 for an online interview on your previous studies, especially physics and mathematics. You need at least 24 of the 40 interview points. Non-EU applicants living abroad are ranked on a separate list for their 2 reserved places. [4]
A positive evaluation is valid only for the academic year you apply for. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, the general calls for foreign qualifications, used for the National Track, ran from 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026 (results 15 April 2026) and from 18 March to 20 April 2026 (results 22 June 2026). [2]
The International Track call ran from 24 April to 18 May 2026, with online interviews on 3 and 4 June 2026. Foreign degrees had to be obtained by 31 July 2026. [4]
Eligible non-EU applicants living abroad were asked to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June or 15 July 2026, depending on the call, and enrolment for foreign degree holders closed on 5 October 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2][4]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply online on Apply@polito. In the general calls, one application covers up to two master's programmes in order of preference. [2][4]
- Required uploads: passport, CV, bachelor's degree certificate or an official document with your expected graduation date, an official transcript showing the grading and credit systems, and your English certificate or exemption statement. [2]
- Format: documents on letterhead, stamped and signed. Documents not in Italian, English, French or Spanish are merged with an official English or Italian translation. [2]
- No changes after submission: incomplete applications are rejected and cannot be resubmitted in the same year. [2]
- For enrolment: a declaration of value, CIMEA statement of comparability or Diploma Supplement, plus the type D study visa and an Italian fiscal code. [2]
Non-EU applicants living abroad then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which PoliTo validates only once you are eligible and have uploaded your bachelor's degree. [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.
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology. Academic regulations, Master's degree programme in Physics of Complex Systems, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Admissions and Enrolment. Applicants with a non-Italian qualification, Master's degree programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino. Course-specific requirements for Master's degree programmes, applicants with a non-Italian qualification, academic year 2026/27, updated 19 December 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino. Call for applications for the international major of the Master's degree programme in Physics of Complex Systems, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, Physics of Complex Systems programme page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Physics of Complex Systems (Fisica dei Sistemi Complessi) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-44 (Mathematical Modelling for Engineering) at Politecnico di Torino, based at the main campus in Turin. The degree is offered in Italian and English. Its International Track is taught fully in English and admits students through a separate call and ranking, while the national path can be followed fully in English or partly in Italian.
The programme prepares professionals who master advanced concepts and methods for dealing with complex systems. Graduates learn to model and simulate them with analytical and computational tools that cross physics, information engineering, biophysics, bioinformatics, medicine and the socio-economic disciplines. It suits graduates in engineering, physics or mathematics with a strong quantitative background.
What you will study
Teaching centres on the modelling and simulation of complex systems, then applies these methods across disciplines. The fields of application named on the programme page are:
- Systems biology
- Neuroscience
- Computation
- Network engineering
- Web economy
- Financial markets modelling
- Innovative materials
How the programme is taught
The degree has two tracks, each over four semesters. The International Track starts at SISSA and ICTP in Trieste, continues at Politecnico di Torino and then moves to Paris (Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité and Université Paris-Saclay). The fourth semester is the Spring College on the Physics of Complex Systems and the thesis. It is fully English-taught and leads to a double degree from PoliTo and one of the Paris institutions. [1][4]
The National Track follows the same study plan entirely in Turin. All compulsory courses are taught in English, so it can be completed fully in English. The final examination is worth 30 credits, and on the National Track it can be a 12-credit company internship plus an 18-credit thesis. [1]
For 2026/27 the International Track had 20 places, 2 of them reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa, and the final ranking listed 20 admitted candidates. [4][5]
Career paths
The university presents graduates as professionals who can tackle complex systems through modelling and simulation. The disciplines it names for this work are:
- Physics and information engineering
- Biophysics and bioinformatics
- Medicine
- Socio-economic fields, including the web economy and financial markets
Fees and scholarships
Politecnico di Torino sets fees by citizenship or residence and family income, so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. For 2026/27, admitted International Track candidates confirmed their place by 7 July 2026. Enrolled International Track students also receive a mobility scholarship, set at €2,000 for the Trieste semester in 2026/27. [4][5] Regional support comes from EDISU Piemonte, which runs scholarships and university housing and accepts international students; if your family lives abroad, we help you submit the foreign economic documents so EDISU can calculate an ISEE parificato.
How to apply from outside the EU
The International Track has its own call. For 2026/27 it ran from 24 April to 18 May 2026, after the general calls, with 2 of its 20 places reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad and an online interview on physics and mathematics. The National Track followed the general calls (19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026, and 18 March to 20 April 2026). We apply on Apply@PoliTO. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2][4]
After admission, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you apply for a type D study visa and enrol with a declaration of value or CIMEA statement of comparability.
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 PoliTo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Apply@polito application, supporting documents and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your EDISU Piemonte 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 Physics of Complex Systems at PoliTo?
A bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 40 credits in maths, physics and chemistry fundamentals and at least 60 more in physics, computing, electronics or applied maths. A gap of fewer than 10 credits can be accepted by the Academic Advisor. [1]
Is there an entrance test or interview?
There is no written test. The National Track is decided on your academic record and subject fit. The International Track adds an online interview on physics and mathematics, worth up to 40 of 100 points, with a minimum of 24. [1][4]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher, with IELTS 5.5 as the listed minimum. An English-medium degree from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other listed countries can replace the certificate. The 2026/27 regulations also mention Italian at B2 for National Track applicants with a foreign degree, which we confirm for your call. [1][2][3]
Can non-EU students join the International Track?
Yes, but places are few. For 2026/27, 2 of the 20 International Track places were reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa, ranked on a separate list. The track runs in Trieste, Turin and Paris and leads to a double degree. [1][4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the general calls ran from 19 December 2025 to 13 February 2026 and from 18 March to 20 April 2026. The International Track call ran from 24 April to 18 May 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2][4]
I have a B.Tech or a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Can I apply?
Possibly. Engineering graduates often meet the 60-credit group through electronics or computing but need 40 credits of maths, physics and chemistry. Mathematics graduates usually meet the 40-credit group but need 60 more in physics, computing or applied maths. [1]
What can graduates work on?
The regulations name specialists in stochastic modelling for finance and insurance, quantum effects in matter, inference, optimisation and machine learning, and modelling of biological systems for pharmaceutical and bioinformatics firms. Many graduates go on to a PhD. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Physics of Complex Systems at PoliTo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against PoliTo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the EDISU Piemonte 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 Physics of Complex Systems?
A recognised Indian bachelor's can meet the rule if it includes at least 40 credits in maths, physics and chemistry and 60 more in physics, computing, electronics or applied maths, so a B.Sc. in Physics is the closest fit. You also need English at B2. The steps are the Apply@polito application, confirmation of eligibility 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 Physics of Complex Systems are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Apply@polito application, confirmation of eligibility 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 Physics of Complex Systems are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Apply@polito application, confirmation of eligibility 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 Physics of Complex Systems 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: Apply@polito application, confirmation of eligibility 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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