Master in Statistical Sciences at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught LM-82 R statistics master in Bologna with paths in health and population analytics, official statistics and data science. Entry needs a statistics degree or 15 statistics and 10 maths credits, a 60/100 committee score and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Statistical Sciences is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-82 R) taught in English at the University of Bologna, with paths in health and population analytics, official statistics and data science. Entry needs a statistics degree or 15 statistics and 10 maths credits, a committee score of 60/100 and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Statistical Sciences master asks for a three-year degree in statistics, or any degree with at least 15 credits in probability and statistics and 10 in maths, plus English at B2 and a committee score of at least 60/100 for academic merit and fit. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a three-year bachelor's degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable under Italian rules that gives access to a similar master's in the country where it was issued, with knowledge of mathematics, probability and statistics from your first degree. It must also meet one of two routes: [1]
- A statistics degree: Statistics (L-41), the older Statistical Sciences class (37), or a four-year degree in Demography and Social Sciences, Statistics and Economics, Statistical Sciences, or Statistical and Actuarial Sciences.
- Any other degree with set credits: at least 15 CFU in probability and statistics, in areas such as statistics, economic and social statistics, demography, econometrics and probability, and at least 10 CFU in mathematics, in areas such as mathematical analysis, algebra, geometry, numerical analysis, operations research and mathematical methods for economics.
For foreign degrees, the admission committee checks equivalence with the Italian qualification. The committee reviews your academic path and may ask you to attend an interview. If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot register for the programme. [1]
What this means for your transcript
For a foreign degree, the committee checks equivalence with these Italian rules, so it looks closely at your statistics and maths units. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Statistics, Mathematics or Actuarial Science, or a BA or B.Sc. in Economics with econometrics and several statistics units.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E., a BCA, or a B.Sc. in Computer Science or Physics, which usually cover the 10 maths credits but may have fewer than 15 in probability and statistics.
- Often short: a B.Com or BBA with only one or two business statistics units, or a BA without quantitative courses.
The committee also scores how well your studies fit the programme, so a closer subject match helps your overall score. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, proven when you apply and declared on the programme's Form A. The call accepts: [1]
- a certificate from the University of Bologna Language Centre or another university language centre
- TOEFL, Trinity ISE, IELTS, Cambridge English or Trinity College London certificates; IELTS Online and IELTS Academic Online are not accepted
- a B2 English exam in your bachelor's study plan
- the Oxford Online Placement Test with a result of at least B2
- a degree taught in English
- native-speaker status
Certificates must be issued no more than three years before the application deadline. The call does not list minimum scores, only the B2 level, and a declaration without supporting documents may be treated as incomplete. [1]
Committee score
There is no written entrance test. Access is open, with no cap on places, but a committee appointed by the Department of Statistical Sciences Paolo Fortunati scores your profile out of 100: [1]
- Academic merit: your grades in single courses and your final degree mark, if you have one, up to 50 points.
- Coherence: how well your previous studies match the programme's learning objectives, up to 50 points.
You need at least 60/100. If you are not admitted in one intake, you cannot apply again in a later intake. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
- Intake 1 (EU, EU-equivalent and non-EU): 11 March to 10 April 2026 at 11:00 CET, results from 5 May 2026.
- Intake 2 (EU, EU-equivalent and non-EU): 14 April to 15 May 2026 at 11:00 CET, results from 16 June 2026.
- Intake 3 (EU and EU-equivalent only): 3 June to 7 July 2026 at 11:00 CET, results from 30 July 2026.
Matriculation ran from 22 July to 24 September 2026 and continues with a late-payment fee until 19 November 2026. You could apply before graduating, but the degree must be obtained by 31 December 2026, otherwise the matriculation is cancelled. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Studenti Online and choose your curriculum. The committee assesses only what is uploaded there, and missing or partly uploaded mandatory documents by the deadline lead to exclusion. Mandatory items are: [1]
- a valid identity document, or a passport if your ID has no English translation
- your foreign qualification translated into Italian or English, with the transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available, or your list of exams if you have not yet graduated
- Form A with proof of B2 English
- details of the courses you have taken
A CV in English on the programme's CV form and a residence permit, if you hold one, are optional. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad must also pre-enrol on Universitaly and request a study visa. After admission you matriculate online, pay the first instalment, upload your qualification and visa, and show the original documents to the International Student Administration Office in Bologna, which checks your qualification's eligibility, authenticity and value. For 2026/27, careers had to be activated by 26 February 2027. [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.
- University of Bologna, Department of Statistical Sciences Paolo Fortunati. Admission notice for the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Statistical Sciences (class LM-82, code 6810), academic year 2026/27, Italian text. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Statistical Sciences programme website: overview and How to enrol page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Statistical Sciences is a two-year laurea magistrale in class LM-82 R, Statistics, run by the Department of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati" (STAT) in Bologna. It is worth 120 ECTS, is delivered entirely in English and has open access. Cinzia Viroli is the degree programme director.
Under the heading "From data to solutions", the degree aims to train experts able to manage, analyse and interpret data in order to produce the knowledge needed to support decision-making. It teaches advanced statistical methods for analysing real phenomena across different sectors, and suits graduates with a quantitative background.
What you will study
Students build advanced statistical methodology and apply it in one of three proposed paths listed on the degree website:
- Health and Population Analytics
- Official Statistics
- Data Science
The course units of each path, with credits and teaching periods, are in the course structure diagram on the degree website; we check the 2027/28 version before you apply.
How the programme is taught
The degree website displays the European Master in Official Statistics (EMOS) label and Royal Statistical Society accreditation, with a dedicated page on both. Statistical Sciences is also one of the university's international programmes, with a double or multiple degree option through which selected students earn a second degree from a partner university.
Career paths
Graduates are trained to turn data into knowledge that supports decisions in many sectors. The three paths point towards health and population analysis, official statistics and data science. A laurea magistrale also gives access to PhD programmes, and the university's job placement service lists internships and job offers.
Fees and scholarships
The 2026/27 fee table puts Statistical Sciences in the higher band, with a contribution based on family income. With a family ISEE of €27,000 or less, this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. ER.GO, the regional right-to-study body, receives declarations of income held abroad and awards scholarships. Non-OECD citizens, such as students from countries like India, with family income only abroad can choose a reduced flat fee.
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could apply in intake 1, which closed on 10 April 2026, or intake 2, which closed on 15 May 2026, both at 11:00 CET; intake 3 was reserved for EU and EU-equivalent candidates. Applicants not admitted in one intake could not reapply in a later one. We apply on Studenti Online, and open access means there is no cap on places. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
After admission, non-EU applicants living abroad file the Universitaly pre-enrolment, which the university must validate before the visa application, and the visa also needs proof of financial means. You then enrol and pay the first instalment, and we upload your translated degree certificate and transcript, whose authenticity and value the university checks where required. [1] See the non-EU enrolment guide.
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 Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Studenti Online application with your transcript, course details and Form A for English, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Bologna's Statistical Sciences master?
A three-year degree in statistics, or any three-year degree with at least 15 credits in probability and statistics and at least 10 in mathematics. For foreign degrees, the committee checks equivalence with these Italian rules and may ask you to attend an interview. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores your profile out of 100: up to 50 points for academic merit and up to 50 for how well your studies fit the programme. You need at least 60, and you cannot reapply in a later intake if you are not admitted. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and Trinity certificates are accepted if issued within three years of the deadline, but IELTS Online is not. A B2 exam in your bachelor's, a degree taught in English or the Oxford placement test at B2 also count. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could use intake 1, which closed on 10 April 2026, or intake 2, which closed on 15 May 2026, both at 11:00 CET. Intake 3 was for EU and EU-equivalent candidates only. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27 you could apply and enrol before graduating, but the degree had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, otherwise the matriculation is cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Com or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
Possibly, through the credit route: you need at least 15 credits in probability and statistics and 10 in mathematics. A B.Tech usually covers the maths but may be short on statistics, and a B.Com often has too few of both. We check your transcript against this rule. [1]
Which curricula are offered?
Three proposed paths: Health and Population Analytics, Official Statistics, and Data Science. You choose your curriculum in the Studenti Online application, and the course units of each are in the course structure diagram on the degree website. [1][2]
Is the degree accredited?
The degree website displays the European Master in Official Statistics (EMOS) label and Royal Statistical Society accreditation. The programme also offers a double or multiple degree option, through which selected students earn a second degree from a partner university. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Statistical Sciences at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Statistical Sciences?
An Indian B.Sc. in Statistics or Mathematics, or a BA or B.Sc. in Economics with strong statistics, usually sits closest to the rule: at least 15 credits in probability and statistics and 10 in maths, scored by a committee out of 100. You also need English at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, the committee's scoring 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 Statistical Sciences are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, the committee's scoring 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 Statistical Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, the committee's scoring 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 Statistical Sciences 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: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, the committee's scoring 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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