Master in Telecommunication Engineering at Polytechnic University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-27 master at Politecnico di Milano with five tracks, from signals and data analysis to quantum communications and photonics. Entry needs a related bachelor's, a committee review and an English test such as IELTS 6.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
Polytechnic University of Milan
Telecommunication Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-27) taught in English at Politecnico di Milano's Milano Leonardo campus. Entry needs a bachelor's with a solid base in maths, physics and computing and the basics of signals, electromagnetism and networks, a committee review of your record and an English test such as IELTS 6. Indian applicants need a four-year degree with at least 70 out of 100.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliMi's Telecommunication Engineering master asks for a first-cycle degree with a solid base in maths, physics and computer science and basic knowledge of electronics, electromagnetism, signals and networks, a review of your career by an Admission Committee, and a recognised English certificate. There is no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and background
You need a first-cycle degree (EQF level 6) or a comparable qualification. An Admission Committee for Telecommunication Engineering evaluates every request and decides from your curriculum and the documents in your application. Applications from other universities, Italian or foreign, are evaluated one by one on your previous career, degree grade, exam average and the skills you gained compared with the programme's plan. [1]
The programme expects: [1]
- A solid base in the core engineering subjects: mathematics, physics and computer science.
- Basic knowledge of other information engineering subjects, such as electronics and automatics.
- Basic knowledge of telecommunications subjects: electromagnetism, the theory of signals and communication systems, and telecommunication networks.
For foreign graduates, PoliMi also requires a bachelor's that gives access to EQF level 7, from a university in the official system of its country, with subjects closely related to the programme. Franchised degrees are not accepted. If you hold both a bachelor's and a master's, you are evaluated on the bachelor's only. [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, B.E., B.Des. or B.Arch. A three-year B.Sc. may be considered only if it is an Honours programme. Minimum average 70 out of 100, as a percentage or weighted score.
- 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 (SLQF level 6). SLQF level 5 qualifications are not evaluated.
- United Kingdom: an Honours degree or equivalent, from a recognised institution.
The Gulf states, the United States, Singapore and Malaysia are not on PoliMi's country list, so no extra country rule applies to degrees from there. [2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at your subjects and grades, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Electronics and Communication, Telecommunication or Electronics Engineering, with signals, electromagnetics and networks on the transcript and an average that meets your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT, Electrical or Instrumentation Engineering, which may lack electromagnetism or signals and communication systems, or a three-year B.Sc. Honours in Physics or Electronics.
- Often short: a three-year B.Sc. without Honours or a three-year BCA from India, which do not meet PoliMi's four-year rule for Indian degrees, a 2+2 degree from Pakistan, or a B.Com, BBA or BA without maths, physics and computing.
If your preparation has gaps in electromagnetism, signals or networks, the committee can assign one or more 5 CFU equalization courses: Fundamentals of Electromagnetic Fields, Fundamentals of Signals and Systems, and Fundamentals of Communication Networks. They count towards the 120 CFU, replacing some second-year electives, and are not extra courses. Admission does not validate credits from your earlier studies. [1]
English
You need a recognised English certificate at PoliMi's minimum score, which is also the programme's minimum. [1][3] Accepted results include: [3][5]
- 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, or C1 Advanced at grade C
- PTE Academic 59
- Trinity ISE II, or LanguageCert B2 Communicator
If English was the medium of instruction of your bachelor's for at least three years, a document certified by your university confirming that at least 75% of your courses were taught in English can replace the certificate. [5]
The certificate is not needed to submit the application or for the evaluation, and it can follow after the deadline. You need it to receive your admission letter, apply for a visa and enrol. [5]
Italian is not an entry requirement. International students enrol with an Italian learning requirement (OFA) and must certify Italian before the graduation exam. [3]
Selection
There is no entrance test. The Admission Committee takes the final decision from your academic career and application documents. Optional documents, such as a motivation letter, a recommendation letter, GRE scores and detailed course descriptions, can strengthen your application. [1][5]
For 2026/27, PoliMi offered 120 places in Telecommunication Engineering: 75 for Italian, EU and equivalent students and 45 for non-EU students. [6]
These rules come from the 2026/27 regulations, which note that a new admission model for PoliMi master's programmes starts from 2028/29. [1]
Deadlines for the September 2027 intake
Engineering master's programmes have two calls open to applicants living outside Italy: [4]
- First call: 1 October to 1 December 2026 (11.59pm CET).
- Second call: 12 January to 25 February 2027 (11.59pm CET).
Outcomes for both calls are due by the end of May 2027. A further call from 1 to 18 March 2027 is only for EEA students and non-EEA students living in Italy with certain permits. You can apply once per semester, to at most two programmes. [4]
Engineering programmes also admit students in the second semester, which starts in February, and this programme's semesters are interchangeable for that reason. [1][4]
You can apply in the final year of your bachelor's, using an enrolment document from your university, as long as you obtain the degree before enrolment. [2][5]
Documents for non-EU applicants
The application needs a scanned original transcript, your degree certificate or an enrolment document for your final year, a cumulative GPA statement showing your average and the grading scale, and a CV of up to two pages. You cannot change uploaded documents after paying the application fee. [5]
Indian applicants upload scanned originals of the transcript or consolidated grade sheet, and screenshots are not accepted. Pakistani applicants also need a university letter stating their weighted average. [2]
To enrol you need a Diploma Supplement where your country issues one, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement. Without one of these, a positive evaluation does not lead to enrolment, and PoliMi can ask for them at any stage. [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 Milano, School of Industrial and Information Engineering. Academic regulations, Master's degree in Telecommunication Engineering (class LM-27), 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. 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. 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. 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. Telecommunication Engineering programme page and 2026/27 course list. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Telecommunication Engineering is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-27, worth 120 ECTS, run by the School of Industrial and Information Engineering at the Milano Leonardo campus. It is taught in English, and attendance is full time. [1][8]
The degree covers how information is processed, transmitted and networked, from signal processing and machine learning to wireless networks, photonics and quantum communications. It suits graduates in telecommunications, electronic or computer engineering who want to design communication systems and networks.
What you will study
The degree has a single path with five pre-approved study plans (tracks), which are approved automatically: Signals and Data Analysis; Communication Networks and Internet; Digital and Quantum Communications; Internet Engineering, co-programmed with the Computer Science and Engineering master; and Microwaves and Photonics. You can also propose your own study plan, which a commission must approve. Track units in the 2026/27 regulations include: [1]
- Signal Processing and Learning (Signals and Data Analysis)
- Network Design and Traffic Theory, two separate units (Communication Networks and Internet)
- Digital Communication (Digital and Quantum Communications)
- RF Systems (Microwaves and Photonics)
- Internet of Things (Internet Engineering)
- Wireless Networks (Internet Engineering)
- Network Security and Cryptography (Internet Engineering)
- Software Engineering 2 and Data Bases 2 (Internet Engineering)
How the programme is taught
Every study plan includes a compulsory 3 CFU Lab Experience, for example Lab Experience in Signals and Data Analysis or Lab Experience in Microwaves and Photonics. Across the plan, 50 to 80 CFU come from communication methodologies and technologies and 15 to 40 CFU from maths, computer science, electronics and physics. A large elective pool, mostly in English, adds units such as Machine Learning, Wireless Communications, Optical Interconnects and Data Mining; a few options, such as Reti Logiche, are taught in Italian. [1]
The degree ends with a 17 CFU thesis, which can sit in the first semester of the second year. You can write it in English or Italian, with an extended summary in the other language. The first and second semesters of each year are interchangeable, so the programme can be started in September or February. [1]
Career paths
The five tracks lead to work in fields such as:
- Design and management of fixed and mobile networks
- Wireless, satellite and radio frequency systems
- Signal processing, data analysis and machine learning
- Internet of Things and internet services
- Network and communication security
- Photonics and microwave hardware
- Research on digital and quantum communications
Fees and scholarships
This master's follows Politecnico di Milano's general fee rules, with no programme-specific fee. Fees follow family income (ISEE), so programmes can be tuition-free for eligible students. For 2026/27, non-EU students in the reserved category admitted with a bachelor's from abroad pay the maximum fee unless they hold a scholarship from Politecnico di Milano, another institution or the DSU. The details are on the tuition fees page. [7]
The university runs the DSU scholarship for students with good merit and limited means; eligible students can apply, and the university decides who receives it.
How to apply from outside the EU
We check that your bachelor's covers what the Admission Committee looks for: maths, physics and computer science, the basics of electronics and automatics, and an introduction to electromagnetism, signals, communication systems and networks. The committee evaluates each foreign application on your career, degree grade, exam average and skills. [1]
Applications from foreign graduates go through the international admissions process. The foreign-qualification requirements set three conditions: access to EQF level 7, the minimum grade PoliMi sets for some countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and an English certificate or an English-taught bachelor's. After admission comes the Universitaly pre-enrolment and the type D study visa, and a Diploma Supplement, declaration of value or CIMEA statement is required before enrolment.
For the September 2027 intake, applicants living outside Italy can apply from 1 October to 1 December 2026 or from 12 January to 25 February 2027, with outcomes by the end of May 2027. For 2026/27, the programme had 120 places, 45 of them for non-EU students. [4][6]
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 PoliMi's Telecommunication Engineering master?
A first-cycle degree (EQF level 6) with a solid base in maths, physics and computer science, basic electronics and automatics, and the basics of electromagnetism, signals, communication systems and networks. An Admission Committee reviews each foreign application one by one. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. The Admission Committee decides from your previous career, degree grade, exam average and skills. It can assign 5 CFU equalization courses in electromagnetism, signals or networks, which count within the 120 CFU. [1]
What English level do I need? Is IELTS 6 enough?
Yes. IELTS Academic or General Training 6 meets PoliMi's minimum, as do TOEFL iBT 78, Cambridge B2 First at grade B and PTE Academic 59. A bachelor's taught at least 75% in English for three years can replace the certificate. [3][5]
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 for both are due by the end of May 2027. [4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply in the final year of your bachelor's with an enrolment document from your university, as long as you obtain the degree before you enrol at PoliMi. [2][5]
I have a three-year B.Sc. or a BCA from India. Can I apply?
Usually not with that degree alone. PoliMi asks Indian applicants for a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech or B.E., and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is an Honours programme, with a minimum average of 70 out of 100. [2]
Which tracks can I choose?
Five pre-approved study plans: Signals and Data Analysis; Communication Networks and Internet; Digital and Quantum Communications; Internet Engineering; and Microwaves and Photonics. Each includes a 3 CFU lab experience, and you can also propose your own plan for approval. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Telecommunication Engineering 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 Telecommunication Engineering?
PoliMi asks Indian applicants for a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech or B.E., with at least 70 out of 100, and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is Honours. Your subjects should cover maths, physics, computing, signals, electromagnetism and networks, and you need English proof such as IELTS 6. The steps are the online application, the committee'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 Telecommunication Engineering 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 Admission Committee'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 Telecommunication Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the first or second call, the Admission Committee'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 Telecommunication 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: online application in the first or second call, the Admission Committee'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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