Master in Urban Planning and Policy Design at Polytechnic University of Milan

Detailed entry requirements

PoliMi's Urban Planning and Policy Design master admits planning and architecture graduates directly and assesses other degrees on merit and content. Applicants with a foreign degree also need a bachelor's that meets PoliMi's country rules, a mandatory portfolio and a recognised English certificate such as IELTS 6. There is no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree and background

You need a first- or second-cycle degree, or an equivalent foreign qualification. The 2026/27 regulations set two routes: [1]

• Direct admission: Italian graduates in planning (class L-21) or architectural sciences (class L-17), with no extra courses required.
• Other degrees: graduates of other classes, including degrees from abroad, are admitted after an assessment of merit and of the content of their previous studies. The committee may assign curricular integrations, which must be completed within the academic year of the assessment.

PoliMi also requires a bachelor's giving access to EQF level 7, issued by a university in the official system of its country, with subjects closely related to the programme. Franchised degrees are not accepted, and if you hold both a bachelor's and a master's, only the bachelor's is evaluated. [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.
• 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 at SLQF level 6. Level 5 qualifications are not evaluated.

If your average is below the minimum for your country, PoliMi does not evaluate the application. [3]

What this means for your transcript

The regulations name planning and architecture as the direct routes, and other degrees go through an assessment of their content. As a guide, based on the rules above:

• Usually a fit: a four-year B.Plan or B.Arch with planning or design studios, and an average that meets your country's minimum.
• Check carefully: a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Civil Engineering, or a degree in geography, economics, sociology or public policy that meets the country rules. These are assessed on content, may bring curricular integrations and still need a portfolio.
• Often short: a three-year BA, B.Com or BBA from India, which does not meet PoliMi's four-year rule, or a degree with no link to planning, policy or the built environment.

Portfolio

A portfolio is mandatory for applicants to Urban Planning and Policy Design. You upload it to your online profile as one file of up to 20 MB, in English or Italian. It should be a selection of work from your studies or jobs that shows the scope of your training, with emphasis on the skills relevant to this programme, and neat, clear presentation. [3]

English

English proficiency is required for admission, and the regulations ask for the certificate with the application. [1] Accepted results for 2027/28 include 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 and LanguageCert B2 Communicator. [3]

If English was the medium of instruction for your bachelor's for at least three years, a document from your university confirming that at least 75% of your courses were taught in English replaces the certificate. [3]

PoliMi's admissions office lets foreign-qualification applicants upload the certificate after the application deadline, but it is needed for the admission letter, merit scholarships, the visa and enrolment, so we make sure it is in your file when you apply. [1][3]

Italian

For international students, the regulations also require knowledge of Italian. [1] It is not an entry requirement: you prove Italian before you graduate, either with a B2 certificate recognised by the Italian ministry, uploaded at enrolment, or through a free PoliMi Italian course and exit test. [2]

Selection and places

There is no entrance test. Applicants with foreign degrees are admitted on an assessment of merit and of the content of their previous studies, through PoliMi's international admissions process. [1] Optional documents can make the application more competitive: a letter of recommendation, a motivation letter and detailed course descriptions. [3]

For applicants with Italian degrees, the regulations set a 150-point assessment: up to 110 points for the grade average, 20 for the portfolio, 10 for internships or work and 10 for other training, with a minimum of 100 to enter the ranking. [1]

For 2026/27, the programme had 90 places at the Milano Leonardo campus, 50 of them for non-EU students. [1][5]

Intake and deadlines for September 2027

The programme admits students with a foreign qualification in the first semester (September) only. Requests to defer to the second semester depend on places being available, and a deferral is confirmed with a non-refundable €172.20 fee. [1]

For the September 2027 intake, the architecture and design general call runs from 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027. Applications paid by 1 December 2026 use the €50 early bird fee, and later ones the €150 standard fee. Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. [4]

An additional call from 1 to 18 March 2027 is only for EEA students and non-EEA students resident in Italy with certain permits. You can apply to at most two programmes. [4]

Documents and non-EU steps

The online application needs your degree certificate or, if you have not graduated yet, an enrolment document from your university, plus your transcript, a GPA statement, a CV of up to two pages and your portfolio. Indian graduates upload scans of original transcripts or consolidated grade sheets certified by their institution, and screenshots are not accepted. Documents cannot be changed after the fee is paid. [2][3]

Your degree must be obtained before enrolment. To enrol, you need a Diploma Supplement, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement of comparability, and PoliMi can ask for the declaration of value or CIMEA statement at any stage. [2][3]

After admission, you submit your visa application on Universitaly. For 2026/27, PoliMi advised doing this by the end of June, and it confirms your name to the Italian mission only after you graduate and upload your final degree. [8]

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.

1. Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering. Academic regulations and technical annex, Master's degree in Urban Planning and Policy Design (class LM-48), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. Politecnico di Milano. Admission to Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification: overview, requirements and country-specific rules, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. 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.
4. Politecnico di Milano. Application deadlines for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, September 2027 intake. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
5. Politecnico di Milano. Places available for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
6. Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering. Urban Planning and Policy Design programme page and 2026/27 course list. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
7. Politecnico di Milano. Tuition fees for Laurea, Laurea Magistrale and single-cycle programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
8. Politecnico di Milano. After admission: applying for a student visa on Universitaly, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for Urban Planning and Policy Design at PoliMi?

Italian graduates in planning (L-21) or architectural sciences (L-17) are admitted directly. Other degrees, including foreign ones, are assessed on merit and content, and extra courses may be assigned. From India, the degree must last at least four years, with an average of at least 70 out of 100. [1][2]

Is there an entrance exam?

No written test. PoliMi assesses your previous studies on merit and content, using your transcript, CV and the mandatory portfolio. Optional documents such as a recommendation letter or motivation letter can make your application more competitive. [1][3]

Do I need a portfolio?

Yes. A portfolio is mandatory for this programme. You upload it as one file of up to 20 MB, in English or Italian, with selected work from your studies or jobs that shows the skills relevant to urban planning and policy design. [3]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

You need a PoliMi-recognised English certificate, such as IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 78, Cambridge B2 First at grade B or PTE Academic 59. A bachelor's with at least 75% of courses taught in English, over three years or more, can replace it. [1][3]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

For the September 2027 intake, the architecture and design call runs from 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027, with the €50 early bird fee until 1 December 2026 and €150 after. Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. Foreign-degree students start in September only. [1][4]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes. You can apply with an enrolment document from your university if you have not graduated yet, as long as you obtain the degree before enrolment. PoliMi validates your visa application only after you upload your final degree. [2][3][8]

I have a B.Tech in Civil Engineering or a BA in Economics. Can I apply?

Possibly. Degrees outside planning and architecture are assessed on their content, and extra courses may be assigned. A four-year B.Tech can meet PoliMi's Indian degree rule, while a three-year BA usually falls short of it. We map your subjects and portfolio before you apply. [1][2]

How many places are there for non-EU students?

For 2026/27, the programme had 90 places at the Milano Leonardo campus, 50 of them reserved for non-EU students. [1][5]

Can someone handle my whole application to Urban Planning and Policy Design 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 Urban Planning and Policy Design?

PoliMi accepts Indian bachelor's degrees of at least four years, such as a B.Arch or B.Tech, with an average of at least 70 out of 100. A planning or architecture background fits best, and other degrees are assessed on their content. You need a portfolio and English proof such as IELTS 6. The steps are the online application, PoliMi's assessment 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 Urban Planning and Policy Design are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in the architecture and design call, PoliMi's assessment of your record and portfolio, 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 Urban Planning and Policy Design are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the architecture and design call, PoliMi's assessment of your record and portfolio, and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.

I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?

The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: online application in the architecture and design call, PoliMi's assessment of your record and portfolio, and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.