Master in Communications Engineering at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught master at the University of Bologna in wireless propagation, antennas, coding, mobile and optical networks, with double degrees with Tongji University and ISEP Paris and a 24 ECTS final project.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Communications Engineering, formerly Telecommunications Engineering, is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-27) taught in English at the University of Bologna. Entry needs an information engineering degree with set electronics, maths, physics and computing credits, a final grade of at least 85/110 and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Communications Engineering master asks for a degree in information engineering, or a suitable foreign equivalent, with set credits in electronics, fields or telecommunications, maths, physics and computing, a final grade of at least 85/110 and English at B2 shown by a certificate. Access is open, with no cap on places. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a three-year university degree, or a qualification obtained abroad that is recognised as suitable under Italian law and gives access to a similar master's in the country where it was issued. [1]
For Italian degrees, this means a degree in information engineering (class L-8, or class 9 under the older rules) or a similar earlier degree. A foreign qualification must be judged suitable by the evaluation board. Your degree must also include: [2]
- At least 9 credits in at least two of: electronics (ING-INF/01), electromagnetic fields (ING-INF/02) and telecommunications (ING-INF/03).
- At least 36 credits across three groups, with at least 9 in each: maths (MAT/02, 03, 05, 06, 08 and 09), physics and chemistry (CHIM/07, FIS/01, FIS/03 and MAT/07), and computer science (ING-INF/05 and INF/01).
If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot enrol. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the board looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Telecommunication, or Electrical and Electronics Engineering, which usually covers electronics, fields and signals as well as maths, physics and programming.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Computer Science or IT, which covers computing and maths but may lack credits in at least two of electronics, electromagnetic fields and telecommunications.
- Often short: a BCA, a B.Sc. in Computer Science or Mathematics, or a B.Tech in Mechanical or Civil Engineering, which usually lacks the electronics, fields and telecommunications sectors.
Grade check by the committee
There is no test or interview. A committee examines the documents you upload, including your CV, and checks your preparation from your grades: [1][2]
- Graduates: a final mark of at least 85/110.
- Students not yet graduated: at least 150 credits with a mark and a grade point average of at least 22/30.
- Foreign degrees: these criteria apply where your grade point average can be converted to the Italian 110 scale and your credits are comparable to ECTS. Otherwise, the degree board assesses your career.
For 2026/27, applicants not admitted in intake 1 could apply again in a later intake. From intake 2 onwards, applicants who are not admitted cannot take part in later intakes. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by a certificate uploaded with your application. [1] Accepted certificates include IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge First, Advanced or Proficiency, Trinity ISE II, LanguageCert International ESOL, Pearson PTE and B2 certificates from Italian university language centres. [2]
A degree taught fully in English, lasting at least two years (120 ECTS) and awarded in a country on the university's list, such as the EU or EEA, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or Switzerland, replaces the certificate, with English as the medium of instruction stated on the transcript. Proof from universities in other countries is not accepted. [2] An English-medium degree from India or elsewhere in South Asia is therefore not enough on its own, so you need a certificate.
2026/27 deadlines
The 2026/27 notice set eight intakes on Studenti Online. Intake 1, reserved for non-EU citizens, ran from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026, with results by 10 February 2026. Intakes 2 to 5, open to all applicants, closed on 25 February, 9 April, 28 May and 2 July 2026. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad could apply only until 2 July 2026. Intakes 6 to 8 are for EU and equivalent applicants, and the last one closes on 28 October 2026. Enrolment runs until 19 November 2026, with a late fee after 30 October 2026. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]
Applying before you graduate
You can apply before graduating if you have at least 150 credits with a mark and an average of at least 22/30. [2] Degrees from outside Europe are assessed case by case to decide whether they can be evaluated. If admitted for 2026/27, you must graduate by 31 December 2026 or your enrolment is cancelled. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
- Your degree certificate translated into Italian or English, with your transcript and Diploma Supplement where available, or your transcript of exams if you have not graduated yet. [1]
- Your B2 English certificate, CV and passport. No Italian certificate is needed for admission: students without one fulfil the Italian requirement during the degree. [1]
- Non-EU applicants living abroad also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa. [1]
- At enrolment, foreign qualifications must be translated and their authenticity and value verified where required, and originals are shown on arrival at the international student office in Bologna. 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, Departments of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering (DEI), Civil, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM) and Computer Science and Engineering. Admission notice for second cycle degree programmes including Communications Engineering (class LM-27, code 6712), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Communications Engineering programme website, How to enrol page (curricular requirements, personal preparation criteria and accepted English certificates), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Communications Engineering programme home page (degree class, place of teaching, language and access). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Communications Engineering is a two-year master's degree in class LM-27 (telecommunications engineering), taught entirely in English in Bologna by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi" (DEI).
It replaces the former Telecommunications Engineering degree at the same web address, is worth 120 ECTS and has open access.
The degree trains engineers to design and manage advanced communication systems for the digital economy and global connectivity.
It covers four connected areas: the generation and propagation of electromagnetic waves, signals and systems, communication networks, and services and applications. It suits information engineering graduates with a solid base in electronics, fields and signals.
What you will study
The first year is mostly compulsory, and the second year is built from electives in areas such as the Internet of Things, satellite systems and multimedia services, plus a 24 ECTS final examination. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include:
- Communication Systems: Theory and Measurement
- Electromagnetic Propagation for Wireless Systems
- Antennas for Wireless Systems
- Communication Theory and Coding
- Mobile Radio Networks
- Network Design
- Optical Fiber Systems
- Trends in Communications
How the programme is taught
Courses include a wide choice of laboratory activities, and companies offer internships and seminars within the teaching. The final examination can be a thesis alone or combined with an internship or work abroad.
Two double degrees are available: three semesters at Tongji University in Shanghai or two semesters at ISEP in Paris, with a merit-based scholarship for selected students.
Career paths
The official profiles describe three telecommunications engineer roles: devices and systems designer, networks and services designer, and network management expert. Graduates work in:
- Companies designing and producing components, devices and systems
- Manufacturing industries
- Telecommunications and remote sensing service providers
- Public administrations, research bodies and regulatory agencies
The university notes that about half of its telecommunications graduates work outside the telecommunications industry. Graduates can also continue to a PhD.
Fees and scholarships
How much you pay depends on your family's finances. With a family ISEE of €27,000 or less you are in the lowest band, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
ER.GO, the Emilia-Romagna right-to-study body, assesses income from abroad and runs the regional scholarship. Citizens of non-OECD countries can choose a flat fee instead, with a lower rate for particularly poor countries.
How to apply from outside the EU
This degree is part of Bologna's joint 2026/27 admission notice for eight engineering master's programmes, applied for on Studenti Online. [1]
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants had a reserved first intake from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026 and could apply until 2 July 2026. Intakes 6 to 8, from July to October 2026, are for EU and equivalent applicants. [1]
We upload your degree and transcript, an English certificate, your CV and ID. [1] The 2027/28 call is not yet published.
Admitted students complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. [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 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 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
Is this the same degree as Telecommunications Engineering?
Yes. The University of Bologna now calls it Communications Engineering (code 6712), in class LM-27 telecommunications engineering, at the same web address as the former Telecommunications Engineering degree. [1][3]
What bachelor's degree do I need for Communications Engineering at Bologna?
A degree in information engineering or a foreign degree the board judges suitable, with at least 9 credits in at least two of electronics, electromagnetic fields and telecommunications, plus 36 credits across maths, physics or chemistry, and computing, at least 9 in each. [2]
Is there an entrance test?
No. Access is open, with no cap on places. A committee checks your documents and grades: a final mark of at least 85/110, or at least 150 graded credits with an average of 22/30 if you have not graduated yet. Foreign grades are converted where possible. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, shown by a certificate when you apply. Accepted options include IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge First, PTE and LanguageCert. Only two-year English-taught degrees from listed countries, such as the UK, US or Australia, are exempt. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply until 2 July 2026. Intake 1, reserved for non-EU citizens, ran from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026. From intake 2 onwards a rejection is final for that year. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. Applicants not yet graduated need at least 150 graded credits with an average of 22/30. Degrees from outside Europe are assessed case by case. If admitted for 2026/27, you must graduate by 31 December 2026 or your enrolment is cancelled. [1][2]
I have a B.Tech in Computer Science or a BCA. Can I apply?
Possibly with a Computer Science B.Tech, if it includes enough credits in at least two of electronics, electromagnetic fields and telecommunications. A BCA usually lacks those sectors and the physics block. We map your transcript against each credit group before you apply. [2]
What do graduates do?
The university lists devices and systems designers, networks and services designers and network management experts, in equipment makers, manufacturing, telecommunications and remote sensing providers, public bodies and research organisations.
Can someone handle my whole application to Communications Engineering 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 Communications Engineering?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering can meet the rule if it has the required electronics, fields, maths, physics and computing credits and a final grade the board converts to at least 85/110. You also need an English certificate at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the study visa. [2] 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 Communications Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application, admission result 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 Communications Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application, admission result 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 Communications 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: Studenti Online application, admission result 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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