Master in Space and Astronautical Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome
Two-year English-taught LM-20 master's at Sapienza University of Rome in spaceflight mechanics, propulsion, space structures and mission design, with curricula in space transportation, spacecraft design and space exploration. Entry needs a 22/30 average and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
Sapienza University of Rome
Space and Astronautical Engineering is a two-year, 120 CFU master's degree (class LM-20) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. Entry needs a three-year bachelor's with credits in maths, physics and aerospace or industrial engineering, a weighted average of at least 22/30, and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Space and Astronautical Engineering master asks for a three-year bachelor's degree or recognised foreign equivalent with credits in maths, physics and aerospace or industrial engineering, a weighted average of at least 22/30, English at B2, and a positive eligibility check and personal knowledge assessment. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and subject requirements
You need a three-year bachelor's degree, or another Italian or foreign qualification recognised as suitable. For Italian degrees, the call sets credit blocks that depend on your weighted average grade: [1]
- Average from 22/30 to below 24/30: at least 72 CFU in maths, physics, chemistry, industrial engineering, structural mechanics and information engineering subjects. Within these, at least 27 CFU must be in mathematical analysis, mathematical physics and experimental physics (MAT/05, MAT/07, FIS/01) and at least 27 CFU in aerospace subjects: flight mechanics, aerospace structures, aerospace systems, fluid dynamics and aerospace propulsion (ING-IND/03 to 07).
- Average from 24/30 to below 26/30: the same 72 CFU and 27 CFU of maths and physics, with the second 27 CFU block widened to fluid machines, energy systems, applied mechanics and machine design (ING-IND/08, 09, 13 and 14) and electromagnetic fields, telecommunications and automatic control (ING-INF/02 to 04).
- Average of 26/30 or higher: at least 72 CFU in the same areas, with any industrial engineering subject counting, including at least 27 CFU in MAT/05, MAT/07 and FIS/01.
Holders of a foreign qualification are assessed by the Admissions Committee on their academic record, motivation and supporting documents, such as study abroad, internships and work experience. Any applicant may be invited to an interview. Applicants who do not meet the credit requirements must pass the single examinations the committee assigns. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for about 25 hours of student work, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. The credit blocks above show the profile it expects. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering with solid maths and physics, covering flight mechanics, aerospace structures, fluid dynamics and propulsion.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Telecommunications Engineering usually covers the maths and physics block, but whether its engineering subjects count depends on your average. Below 24/30, only aerospace subjects count towards the second block.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics, a BCA or a B.Tech in Computer Science usually lacks the engineering credits, and a B.Com, BBA or BA does not cover the subject areas.
Missing credits can be made up by passing single examinations, under Sapienza's single-examination rules. [1]
English
Good written and spoken English at CEFR level B2 or equivalent, shown by a certificate or by an assessment set out in the programme's regulations. If you do not hold a certificate at enrolment, you can obtain it during the first year, including through courses offered by the Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering. The call does not list specific test scores. [1]
Eligibility check and personal knowledge assessment
The eligibility check is requested on Sapienza's Infostud system (code 33484) through PagoPA, and the outcome arrives by email. Applicants who meet the academic requirements then have their personal knowledge assessed, with a minimum weighted average of 22/30 in the first degree. For foreign qualifications, the committee reviews your academic record and results, and any applicant may be invited to an interview. The call does not mention a written test. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Eligibility checks opened on 2 July 2026. Non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa had one date: 15 September 2026. Other applicants can choose 15 October, 17 November or 17 December 2026, and 14 January 2027 is reserved for Sapienza graduates and students about to graduate there. [1]
Where the course regulations allow it, applicants still finishing a degree can apply if they graduate by 19 December 2026 (other Italian or international universities) or 23 January 2027 (Sapienza). [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad
Applicants from non-EU countries who live abroad and need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter before they can enrol. After a positive eligibility check, or once the pre-acceptance letter arrives, holders of a foreign qualification complete Sapienza's enrolment procedure for international students. [1]
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 Space and Astronautical Engineering (LM-20), academic year 2026-2027, Infostud code 33484. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Space and Astronautical Engineering study plan, 2026-2027 cohort; the university notes that the 2026-2027 catalogue is being updated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Space and Astronautical Engineering programme pages: overview, educational objectives and professional opportunities. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Space and Astronautical Engineering is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-20) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. It is run by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering, with teaching in person in Rome. [1][3]
The degree trains engineers for access to space, space exploration and the use of space. You build the knowledge shared by all space systems, from launchers, satellite platforms and probes to space stations, on-board systems and payloads, so you can work across the wider space engineering field whichever track you choose. [3]
What you will study
The 2026/27 study plan totals 120 CFU. In most curricula the first year consolidates the core of space engineering and adds foundations in automation and electronics: [2][3]
- Spaceflight Mechanics (9 CFU)
- Gas Dynamics (9 CFU)
- Control Systems (9 CFU)
- Rocket Propulsion (9 CFU)
- Space Missions and Systems (9 CFU)
- Space Structures (9 CFU)
- Electronics (6 CFU)
In the second year you follow a curriculum. The 2026/27 plan lists Space Transportation, Spacecraft Design and Integration, and Space Missions and Exploration, plus a path in space payloads and applications. Electives include Liquid Rocket Engines, Solid Rocket Motors, Hypersonics, Dynamics and Control of Launch Vehicles, Technology of Aerospace Materials, Advanced Spacecraft Dynamics, Instruments for Space Exploration, Space Robotic Systems, Space Surveillance and Space Traffic Management, Earth Observation and Spacecraft Power Systems. Sapienza notes that its 2026/27 catalogue is still being updated. [2]
How the programme is taught
Teaching runs over four semesters in Rome. In the second year, students take Conceptual Design of a Space Mission (3 CFU) and 24 CFU of curriculum electives, and the degree ends with a final exam worth 21 CFU. [2]
Careers
Graduates work in advanced design, planning and management of complex systems, in companies, public bodies or as freelance engineers. Typical roles include designer of systems and components for access to and use of space, and manager of industrial and scientific programmes on launchers, satellites, missions and remote sensing, alongside specialist roles in aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, flight mechanics and telecommunications. [3]
Employers include the space industry, national and international space agencies, public and private research centres, consulting and service firms, and certification bodies. [3]
Fees and scholarships
Sapienza sets tuition by family income (ISEE). 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
Non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa must hold a pre-acceptance letter from Sapienza's international admissions process. For 2026/27, the eligibility check for this group had a single deadline: 15 September 2026. The check is requested through Sapienza's Infostud system using code 33484. [1]
After a positive eligibility check and personal knowledge assessment, enrolment follows payment of the first fee instalment. Visa applicants also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1]
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 eligibility check, pre-acceptance request and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- 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 bachelor's degree do I need for Sapienza's Space and Astronautical Engineering master?
A three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent with a weighted average of at least 22/30. Italian degrees need at least 72 CFU in maths, physics and engineering, including 27 in analysis and physics, and foreign degrees are assessed by the admissions committee on your academic record. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. Sapienza runs an eligibility check, then assesses your personal knowledge from your degree average, with a minimum of 22/30. For foreign qualifications the committee reviews your academic record and may invite you to an interview. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, shown by a certificate or an assessment under the programme's regulations. The 2026/27 call does not list specific test scores, and a certificate missing at enrolment can be obtained in the first year, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who need a student visa had one eligibility-check date: 15 September 2026, and they also need a pre-acceptance letter. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, where the course 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.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. Using the credit rule as a guide, mechanical graduates usually cover the maths and physics block. Below a 24/30 average only aerospace subjects count towards the engineering block, while from 24/30 mechanical subjects count too. Missing credits can be made up through single examinations. [1]
Which curricula can I choose?
In the second year you follow a curriculum. The 2026/27 study plan lists Space Transportation, Spacecraft Design and Integration, and Space Missions and Exploration, plus a path in space payloads and applications. Sapienza notes that the catalogue is still being updated. [2]
What jobs do graduates get?
Graduates design systems and components for access to and use of space, and manage industrial and scientific programmes on launchers, satellites, missions and remote sensing. Employers include the space industry, national and international space agencies, research centres and consulting firms. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Space and Astronautical 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 Space and Astronautical Engineering?
A recognised three-year Indian bachelor's, such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Aerospace, Aeronautical or Mechanical Engineering, can meet the rule if it shows solid maths, physics and engineering credits and a weighted average of at least 22/30, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the eligibility check, a pre-acceptance letter 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 Space and Astronautical Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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 Space and Astronautical Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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 Space and Astronautical 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: eligibility check, pre-acceptance letter 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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