Engineering Universities in Italy 2026/27
All 40 public universities teaching engineering in English, with programmes by level, QS by Subject 2026 ranks, entry tests and tuition rules.
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Engineering universities in Italy that teach in English include 40 of the country's 61 public (state) universities, which list 226 English-taught engineering programmes on ApplyAZ. Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino lead on rankings and range, but 38 other public universities teach engineering in English too.
This guide lists all 40, each with its programmes by level, its QS by Subject 2026 rank for engineering, its QS 2027 rank and its entry tests. It then shows the best universities for each engineering branch, how TOLC-I and CEnT-S work, and how tuition is set for a family from India.
Where things stand: 29 September 2026
Most 2026/27 calls for English-taught engineering have closed, and the next intake is 2027/28. The Polytechnic University of Bari's 2026/27 engineering bachelor's call still runs, with a last session deadline of 13 November 2026. Padua has opened its 2027/28 calendar: English-taught degrees with unlimited places take applications from 15 September to 15 November 2026, and limited-places degrees such as Information Engineering open to non-EU applicants on 7 January 2027.
Politecnico di Torino has not yet published its 2027/28 calls, nor Politecnico di Milano its 2027/28 master's calls; for 2026/27, Polimi's first engineering master's call for applicants with a foreign degree ran from 1 October to 1 December 2025. Rankings are the QS by Subject 2026 (25 March 2026) and the QS World University Rankings 2027 (18 June 2026). Verified on 28 and 29 September 2026.
In short
- Where to study: 40 of Italy's 61 public universities list English-taught engineering programmes on ApplyAZ: 226 in all, 27 bachelor's and 199 master's. Politecnico di Milano has 32, Politecnico di Torino 22, Padua 17 and Sapienza 16.
- Best ranked: in QS by Subject 2026 for Engineering and Technology, Politecnico di Milano is joint 20th in the world, Politecnico di Torino joint 53rd and Sapienza joint 99th; Bologna, Padua and Naples Federico II are also in the top 200.
- Entry tests: English-taught bachelor's use CISIA's CEnT-S or TOLC-I, the SAT or the university's own test, such as Polimi's TOL and Polito's TIL-I. Of the 199 master's in our listings, 140 set no entry test.
- Tuition: each university sets its own rule for families abroad, such as an ISEE parificato or a flat fee by country, and study can be tuition-free for eligible students through a regional DSU scholarship at many universities.
- ApplyAZ: ApplyAZ, with offices in Milan and India, works only with Italian public universities and takes care of the whole process for eligible students from countries like India: university checks, applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU scholarship and the visa file.
Planning engineering in Italy for 2027/28? Check your eligibility first. For eligible students, we build the shortlist, handle the tests and applications and file the visa papers.
Check your eligibility| Key fact, 2026/27 | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public universities with English-taught engineering programmes | 40 of 61 | MUR, Università statali; our listings |
| English-taught engineering programmes | 226: 27 bachelor's (three years) at 18 universities and 199 master's (two years); most at Politecnico di Milano (32) and Politecnico di Torino (22) | Our listings, counted 9 October 2026 |
| Monthly living budget in the city | About €450 to €650 (₹49,000 to ₹71,000) in Reggio Calabria; €1,000 to €1,200 (₹1.1 lakh to ₹1.3 lakh) in Rome | Our city guides, updated September 2026 (linked in the master table) |
| QS by Subject 2026, Engineering and Technology | Politecnico di Milano =20, Politecnico di Torino =53, Sapienza =99, Bologna =119, Padua =155, Naples Federico II =184; no other public university is in the top 200 | QS, published 25 March 2026 |
| QS World University Rankings 2027, highest | Politecnico di Milano, =87 | QS, published 18 June 2026 |
| Entry tests for English-taught bachelor's | CEnT-S or TOLC-I (CISIA), the SAT, or the university's own test (TOL at Polimi, TIL-I at Polito) | Each university's call (tests table) |
| Master's admission | No entry test on 140 of 199: selection on the degree, grades and CV, sometimes with an interview; most of the others set a test, sometimes only when the grade is below the threshold | Our listings |
| Places for non-EU visa applicants (examples) | 447 on Politecnico di Torino's engineering bachelor's, 100 on Padua's Information Engineering, 25 on Trento's Computer, Communications and Electronic Engineering (2026/27) | Polito call, Padua call, Trento page |
| Tuition | Set by each university's own rule for a family living abroad: an ISEE parificato, a flat fee by country or a country band; study can be tuition-free for eligible students through a regional DSU scholarship | Each university's fee rules (India table) |
| DSU scholarship, national minimum grant | €7,171.11 (₹7.9 lakh) a year for students living away from home | MUR Directorial Decree 175 of 10 February 2026 |
| Verified on | 28 and 29 September 2026; rupees at the FBIL reference rate of 21 September 2026, €1 = ₹109.90 | Sources linked in each row |
Which universities in Italy teach engineering in English?
Of Italy's 61 public universities, 40 list English-taught engineering programmes on ApplyAZ for the next intake: 226 in all, 27 bachelor's and 199 master's. Politecnico di Milano has the most, with 32, followed by Politecnico di Torino with 22, Padua with 17 and Sapienza with 16. The table below links every university.
| University | City | English-taught engineering: bachelor's | Master's | QS by Subject 2026, Engineering and Technology | QS 2027 | Entry test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | Milan | 4 | 28 | =20 | =87 | Bachelor's: TOL, TOLC-I, CEnT-S or SAT Master's: no test on 17 of 28 |
| Politecnico di Torino | Turin | 5 | 17 | =53 | =206 | Bachelor's: TIL-I (own test) or SAT Master's: no test on 16 of 17 |
| University of Padua | Padua | 1 | 16 | =155 | 204 | Bachelor's: CEnT-S Master's: no test on 6 of 16 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | Rome | 1 | 15 | =99 | =111 | Bachelor's: SAT or CEnT-S Master's: no test on 13 of 15 |
| University of Genoa | Genoa | 1 | 9 | Outside the top 200 | =502 | Bachelor's: Preparation check, not selective Master's: no test on 4 of 9 |
| University of Bologna | Bologna | 1 | 9 | =119 | =123 | Bachelor's: CEnT-S Master's: no test on 8 of 9 |
| University of Pisa | Pisa | 0 | 6 | Outside the top 200 | 341 | Master's: no test on 4 of 6 |
| University of Naples Federico II | Naples | 2 | 6 | =184 | 401 | Bachelor's: CEnT-S, TOLC-I or SAT Master's: no test on 3 of 6 |
| University of Trento | Trento | 1 | 6 | Outside the top 200 | =438 | Bachelor's: CEnT-S Master's: no test on any |
| University of Pavia | Pavia | 0 | 7 | Outside the top 200 | =395 | Master's: no test on 6 of 7 |
| Polytechnic University of Bari | Bari | 1 | 6 | Outside the top 200 | 951 to 1000 | Bachelor's: CEnT Master's: no test on any |
| University of L'Aquila | L'Aquila | 0 | 7 | Outside the top 200 | 1001 to 1200 | Master's: no test on 3 of 7, not yet stated on 1 |
| University of Catania | Catania | 0 | 5 | Outside the top 200 | 851 to 900 | Master's: no test on any |
| University of Modena and Reggio Emilia | Modena and Reggio Emilia | 0 | 5 | Outside the top 200 | 801 to 850 | Master's: no test on any |
| University of Palermo | Palermo | 1 | 4 | Outside the top 200 | 801 to 850 | Bachelor's: No test: CV and grades Master's: no test on 2 of 4 |
| University of Salento | Lecce | 0 | 5 | Outside the top 200 | 1001 to 1200 | Master's: no test on 3 of 5 |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | Rome | 1 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | =342 | Bachelor's: Own evaluation, in English Master's: no test on any |
| University of Siena | Siena | 1 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | =572 | Bachelor's: CEnT-S and an interview Master's: a test on all 3 |
| University of Messina | Messina | 2 | 2 | Outside the top 200 | 761 to 770 | Bachelor's: CISIA knowledge check, not selective Master's: no test on 1 of 2 |
| University of Salerno | Fisciano (Salerno) | 0 | 4 | Outside the top 200 | 851 to 900 | Master's: a test on all 4 |
| University of Cassino and Southern Lazio | Cassino | 1 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | 1001 to 1200 | Bachelor's: TOLC-I, not selective Master's: no test on 2 of 3 |
| University of Florence | Florence | 0 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | =409 | Master's: no test on any |
| University of Brescia | Brescia | 0 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | =581 | Master's: no test on 1 of 3 |
| Marche Polytechnic University | Ancona | 0 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | =662 | Master's: no test on any |
| University of Trieste | Trieste | 1 | 2 | Outside the top 200 | 761 to 770 | Bachelor's: Not yet in our listings Master's: no test on any |
| University of Calabria | Rende (Cosenza) | 0 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | 851 to 900 | Master's: no test on 1 of 3, not yet stated on 1 |
| University of Parma | Parma | 0 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | 1001 to 1200 | Master's: no test on any |
| University of Perugia | Perugia | 1 | 2 | Outside the top 200 | 1001 to 1200 | Bachelor's: Own test (TOLC-I, CEnT-S or SAT in our listing) Master's: no test on 1 of 2, not yet stated on 1 |
| University of Bergamo | Bergamo | 0 | 3 | Outside the top 200 | Not ranked | Master's: no test on any |
| Ca' Foscari University of Venice | Venice | 0 | 2 | Outside the top 200 | =600 | Master's: no test on 1 of 2 |
| Roma Tre University | Rome | 0 | 2 | Outside the top 200 | 851 to 900 | Master's: no test on any |
| Iuav University of Venice | Venice | 0 | 1 | Outside the top 200 | Not ranked | Master's: no test |
| University of Verona | Verona | 0 | 1 | Outside the top 200 | 781 to 790 | Master's: no test |
| University of Tuscia | Viterbo | 0 | 1 | Outside the top 200 | 851 to 900 | Master's: no test |
| Parthenope University of Naples | Naples | 0 | 1 | Outside the top 200 | 1001 to 1200 | Master's: no test |
| University of Udine | Udine | 0 | 1 | Outside the top 200 | 1001 to 1200 | Master's: no test |
| University of Cagliari | Cagliari | 0 | 1 | Outside the top 200 | 1201 to 1400 | Master's: no test |
| University of Sassari | Sassari | 1 | 0 | Outside the top 200 | 1201 to 1400 | Bachelor's: Knowledge check, not selective |
| Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria | Reggio Calabria | 1 | 0 | Outside the top 200 | Not ranked | Bachelor's: TOLC-I, not selective |
| University of Sannio | Benevento | 0 | 1 | Outside the top 200 | Not ranked | Master's: no test |
Sources: our own programme listings, counted on 9 October 2026; QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Engineering and Technology; QS World University Rankings 2027. "=" marks a joint rank.
For 32 of the 40 universities, the page linked in the first column lists all its English-taught programmes, engineering among them. The other eight pages do not list them yet, so their engineering programmes are linked here:
- Sapienza: Sustainable Building Engineering (bachelor's), Artificial Intelligence, Chemical Engineering †, Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering †, Electronics Engineering †, Energy and Nuclear Engineering †, Engineering in Computer Science, Environmental Engineering †, Environmental and Sustainable Building Engineering, Management Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nanotechnology Engineering †, Safety and Civil Protection Engineering, Space and Astronautical Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, Transport Systems Engineering.
- Modena and Reggio Emilia: Advanced Automotive Engineering, Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Digital Automation Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Sustainable Industrial Engineering.
- Salento: Aerospace Engineering, Communication Engineering and Electronic Technologies, Engineering for Safety of Critical Industrial and Civil Infrastructures, Management Engineering, Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology.
- Cassino: Computer Engineering (bachelor's), Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering.
- Trieste: Industrial Engineering (bachelor's), Computer Engineering, Engineering for the Energy Transition.
- Calabria: Civil Engineering for Infrastructural Regeneration, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering: Smart Sensing, Computing and Networking.
- Verona: Computer Engineering for Intelligent Systems.
- Parthenope: Management Engineering †.
How we count engineering: a programme is in the table when its name contains "Engineering". Programmes in nearby fields, such as artificial intelligence or ICT, count only when the word is in their name.
Tuition follows family income (ISEE). Families with income abroad can file an ISEE or request the flat fee for their country, and at many universities DSU scholarship winners are exempt from tuition. Many universities set a separate rule for families abroad, so the India table further down shows how each university sets tuition for a student from India.
Which is the best engineering university in Italy?
Politecnico di Milano is Italy's best-ranked engineering university: joint 20th in the world for Engineering and Technology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Politecnico di Torino is joint 53rd and Sapienza joint 99th, and Bologna, Padua and Naples Federico II complete the six public universities in the top 200.
| University | Engineering and Technology | Civil and Structural | Mechanical | Electrical and Electronic | Chemical | Computer Science | Data Science and AI | Materials Sciences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | =20 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 32 | =58 | 32 | 48 |
| Politecnico di Torino | =53 | 38 | =30 | 46 | =65 | =124 | 101 to 200 | 72 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | =99 | 51 to 100 | 72 | =101 | 101 to 150 | 72 | 51 to 100 | =148 |
| University of Bologna | =119 | 101 to 150 | 123 | =106 | 101 to 150 | =95 | 51 to 100 | Outside the top 200 |
| University of Padua | =155 | 101 to 150 | 149 | =127 | 101 to 150 | Outside the top 200 | 101 to 200 | 151 to 200 |
| University of Naples Federico II | =184 | 51 to 100 | 151 to 200 | Outside the top 200 | 101 to 150 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 |
| University of Genoa | Outside the top 200 | 151 to 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 |
| University of Pavia | Outside the top 200 | 151 to 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 |
| University of Pisa | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | Outside the top 200 | 151 to 200 | Outside the top 200 | =144 | 101 to 200 | Outside the top 200 |
Source: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, published 25 March 2026, read for every Italian university on 28 September 2026. The table lists every public university with English-taught engineering programmes that is in the top 200 for at least one of these subjects.
Two narrower subjects add to the picture. In petroleum engineering, Politecnico di Torino is 19th and Bologna 24th, and Perugia is in the 151 to 175 band; in mineral and mining engineering, Politecnico di Milano is 50th. The University of Milan is in the 101 to 200 band for data science, but has no English-taught engineering programme in our listings.
Our best universities in Italy page sets out the QS 2027 and THE ranks for every Italian university.
In the table below, Politecnico di Milano ranks highest in every branch, and Politecnico di Torino is second in civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering. In the branch lists below, a dagger (†) marks a programme taught in more than one language. Our listings show where each branch is taught in English:
| Branch | Ranking used | Highest-ranked universities teaching it in English, QS by Subject 2026 | English-taught levels on ApplyAZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil engineering | QS civil and structural engineering | Politecnico di Milano (14), Politecnico di Torino (38), Sapienza (51 to 100) | Bachelor's and master's |
| Mechanical engineering | QS mechanical engineering | Politecnico di Milano (14), Politecnico di Torino (=30), Sapienza (72) | Mostly master's; bachelor's only at Politecnico di Torino |
| Computer engineering | QS computer science and information systems | Politecnico di Milano (=58), Sapienza (72), Politecnico di Torino (=124) | Bachelor's and master's |
| Aerospace engineering | QS mechanical engineering (no aerospace table in our data) | Politecnico di Milano (14), Sapienza (72), Bologna (123) | Master's only |
| Electrical and electronic engineering | QS electrical and electronic engineering | Politecnico di Milano (24), Politecnico di Torino (46), Sapienza (=101) | Mostly master's, with a few bachelor's |
| Chemical engineering | QS chemical engineering | Politecnico di Milano (32), Politecnico di Torino (=65), Sapienza (101 to 150) | Master's, plus one bachelor's at Politecnico di Milano |
We assign a programme to a branch by its degree class: LM-23, LM-24, L-7 and L-23 for civil, LM-33 for mechanical, LM-32 for computer, LM-20 for aerospace, LM-28 and LM-29 for electrical and electronic, and LM-22 for chemical. Where a programme has two classes, the first counts. A branch word in the title also counts, so a programme can sit in two branches.
Which is the best university in Italy for civil engineering?
Politecnico di Milano ranks highest: 14th in the world for civil and structural engineering in QS by Subject 2026, ahead of Politecnico di Torino (38th) and Sapienza and Naples Federico II (51 to 100). We list English-taught civil and building engineering programmes at both bachelor's and master's level.
- Civil Engineering † (bachelor's) at Politecnico di Milano (QS 14)
- Civil Engineering † at Politecnico di Milano (QS 14)
- Civil and Environmental Engineering (bachelor's) at Politecnico di Torino (QS 38)
- Civil Engineering † at Politecnico di Torino (QS 38)
- Sustainable Building Engineering (bachelor's) at Sapienza (QS 51 to 100)
- Structural and Geotechnical Engineering † at Naples Federico II (QS 51 to 100)
Also taught in English at Bologna, Genoa, Pavia, L'Aquila, Messina, Iuav, Mediterranea (Reggio Calabria), Roma Tre, Brescia, Calabria, Cassino and Salento. Civil engineering has the widest choice of English-taught bachelor's among the branches, including building engineering at Sapienza, Bologna and Messina.
Which is the best university in Italy for mechanical engineering?
Politecnico di Milano ranks highest: 14th in the world for mechanical engineering in QS by Subject 2026, ahead of Politecnico di Torino (joint 30th), Sapienza (72nd), Bologna (123rd) and Padua (149th). We list English-taught mechanical, automotive and mechatronics programmes at many universities, and the only bachelor's are at Polito.
- Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS 14)
- Mechanical Engineering (bachelor's) at Politecnico di Torino (QS =30)
- Automotive Engineering (bachelor's) at Politecnico di Torino (QS =30)
- Mechanical Engineering † at Politecnico di Torino (QS =30)
- Mechanical Engineering at Sapienza (QS 72)
- Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability at Bologna (QS 123)
Also taught in English at Padua, Naples Federico II, Modena and Reggio Emilia, the Polytechnic University of Bari, Bergamo, Brescia, Calabria, Cassino, Florence, L'Aquila, Pisa, Tor Vergata, Salerno, Trento and Tuscia. Mechanical engineering in English is almost all at master's level; Politecnico di Torino is the only university in our listings with English-taught mechanical and automotive bachelor's.
Which is the best university in Italy for computer engineering?
Politecnico di Milano ranks highest: joint 58th for computer science and information systems in QS by Subject 2026, and 32nd for data science and artificial intelligence. Among universities teaching it in English, Sapienza (72nd), Politecnico di Torino (joint 124th) and Pisa (joint 144th) follow. We list English-taught computer engineering programmes at both bachelor's and master's level.
- Computer Science and Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS =58)
- High Performance Computing Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS =58)
- Engineering in Computer Science at Sapienza (QS 72)
- Computer Engineering (bachelor's) at Politecnico di Torino (QS =124)
- Computer Engineering † at Politecnico di Torino (QS =124)
- Computer Engineering at Pisa (QS =144)
Also taught in English at Genoa, Trento, the Polytechnic University of Bari, Cagliari, Cassino, L'Aquila, Messina, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Padua, Pavia, Salerno, Sassari, Siena, Trieste and Verona. Computer engineering in English ranges from artificial intelligence and robotics to cybersecurity and high-performance computing, and several universities teach it at bachelor's level. Bologna, joint 95th for computer science, has no English-taught computer engineering programme in our listings.
Which is the best university in Italy for aerospace engineering?
Politecnico di Milano ranks highest among the universities that teach aerospace engineering in English. Our QS by Subject 2026 data has no aerospace table, so we use mechanical engineering, where Polimi is 14th in the world. All our English-taught aerospace programmes are master's.
- Aeronautical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS 14)
- Space Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS 14)
- Space and Astronautical Engineering at Sapienza (QS 72)
- Aerospace Engineering at Bologna (QS 123)
- Aerospace Engineering at Padua (QS 149)
Also taught in English at Pisa and Salento, and Naples Federico II teaches Sciences of Aerospace Systems for the Defence. Politecnico di Torino, joint 30th for mechanical engineering, has no English-taught aerospace programme in our listings. Polimi's Space Engineering and Sapienza's Space and Astronautical Engineering are the two English-taught programmes focused on space.
Which is the best university in Italy for electrical and electronic engineering?
Politecnico di Milano ranks highest: 24th in the world for electrical and electronic engineering in QS by Subject 2026, ahead of Politecnico di Torino (46th), Sapienza (joint 101st), Bologna (joint 106th) and Padua (joint 127th). We list English-taught electrical and electronic programmes at both bachelor's and master's level.
- Electrical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS 24)
- Electronics Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS 24)
- Electronic and Communications Engineering (bachelor's) at Politecnico di Torino (QS 46)
- Electrical Engineering † at Politecnico di Torino (QS 46)
- Electronics Engineering † at Sapienza (QS =101)
- Electric Vehicle Engineering at Bologna (QS =106)
Also taught in English at Padua, Catania, Genoa, Pavia, the Polytechnic University of Bari, Messina, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Naples Federico II, Palermo, Parma, Tor Vergata, Salento, Salerno, Sannio, Siena and Trento. Electrical and electronic engineering in English is taught mostly at master's level, often with a focus on energy, vehicles or automation.
Which is the best university in Italy for chemical engineering?
Politecnico di Milano ranks highest: 32nd in the world for chemical engineering in QS by Subject 2026, ahead of Politecnico di Torino (joint 65th), with Sapienza and Padua in the 101 to 150 band. We list English-taught chemical and process engineering programmes, almost all at master's level.
- Chemical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano (QS 32)
- Process Engineering (bachelor's) at Politecnico di Milano (QS 32)
- Chemical and Sustainable Processes Engineering † at Politecnico di Torino (QS =65)
- Chemical Engineering † at Sapienza (QS 101 to 150)
- Chemical and Process Engineering at Padua (QS 101 to 150)
Also taught in English at Catania, Genoa, Palermo, Tor Vergata and Salerno. Chemical engineering in English has only one bachelor's, Process Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, which awaits Ministry approval; the rest are master's, some of them in food engineering. Bologna and Naples Federico II are also in the 101 to 150 band but have no English-taught chemical engineering programme in our listings.
Not sure which branch and university fit your bachelor's or school results? Check your eligibility first, and we compare the programmes with you.
Check your eligibilityWhich entry tests do engineering universities in Italy use?
English-taught engineering bachelor's in Italy use CISIA's CEnT-S or TOLC-I, the SAT or the university's own test, such as Politecnico di Milano's TOL and Politecnico di Torino's TIL-I. Most master's degrees do not set one: of the 199 in our listings, 140 select on the degree, grades and CV, sometimes with an interview.
| University | Tests accepted, English-taught engineering bachelor's | Minimum score or role, 2026/27 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | TOL (Polimi's online test), or TOLC-I or CEnT-S by CISIA, or the SAT | TOL at least 30 out of 100; SAT at least 620 in each section | Call or page |
| Politecnico di Torino | TIL-I (Polito's own test, in Italian or English) or the SAT | Ranked for 447 places reserved for visa applicants; SAT at least 650 in each section | Call or page |
| University of Padua | CEnT-S by CISIA | At least 38, with 7 correct answers in Mathematics; ranked for 100 places for non-EU applicants living abroad | Call or page |
| University of Trento | CEnT-S by CISIA for non-EU applicants (TOLC-I for EU applicants) | At least 16 out of 45; 25 places for non-EU applicants living abroad | Call or page |
| University of Bologna | CEnT-S by CISIA, online from home for non-EU applicants abroad | Used on some English-taught programmes with limited places | Call or page |
| University of Siena | CEnT-S by CISIA, then an interview for non-EU applicants | Minimum score of 8 | Call or page |
| University of Naples Federico II | CEnT-S, TOLC-I or the SAT (Electrical Engineering and Information Technology); TOLC-I in English (Civil and Environmental Engineering) | TOLC-I at least 15 points for Electrical Engineering; at least 20% of the maximum score for Civil and Environmental | Call or page |
| Sapienza University of Rome | SAT or CEnT-S | Set in the call | Call or page |
| University of Perugia | The university's own admission test; our listing shows TOLC-I, CEnT-S or SAT | Set on the department's test page | Call or page |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | A separate evaluation held in English | Set in the call (Italian-taught engineering uses a 50-question test, or TOLC-I from 22) | Call or page |
| Polytechnic University of Bari | CEnT by CISIA, instead of the TOLC-I | The TOLC-I minimum for other engineering bachelor's is 18 out of 50 in the early sessions and 12 later | Call or page |
| University of Genoa | CEnT or TOLC by CISIA, or the SAT or ACT | A check of preparation with no minimum score | Call or page |
| University of Messina | CEnT-S or another CISIA knowledge check | Not selective; a low score adds catch-up credits (OFA) | Call or page |
| Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria | TOLC-I by CISIA | Compulsory but not selective; below 13.50, extra first-year requirements (OFA) | Call or page |
| University of Cassino and Southern Lazio | TOLC-I by CISIA | An initial assessment, not selective | Call or page |
| University of Sassari | A knowledge check | OFA if not passed | Our listings |
| University of Palermo | No test | Selection on CV and grades | Call or page |
| University of Trieste | Not yet in our listings | We read the call for each student we shortlist | Not in our data yet |
Sources: each university's 2026/27 call or programme page; for Sapienza, Cassino, Palermo and Sassari, our programme listings. OFA are extra first-year learning requirements that a low score adds without blocking enrolment.
No entrance exam is a programme matter, not a university one. Among the bachelor's, those at Mediterranea, Messina, Genoa, Cassino, Palermo and Sassari use a check that does not select, or no test. Some master's set a test only below a grade threshold and others set their own test or selection, such as Bionics Engineering at Pisa.
For master's degrees, the university checks the bachelor's itself. At Politecnico di Torino this is a CV and grades evaluation, with the GRE for some programmes and sometimes an online interview (Polito master's admissions); at Politecnico di Milano it is a check against a country-specific minimum GPA. Where our listings do not state the route, we read the call for each student we shortlist.
What is the difference between TOLC-I and CEnT-S?
Both are online tests run by CISIA and used by Italian universities. TOLC-I is the TOLC that universities use for engineering, taken in Italian or in English, while CEnT-S, the CISIA English Test for Sciences, now stands in for the English TOLC on several courses. Each university sets its own pass mark and decides how the score counts.
The University of Milan now uses CEnT-S in place of the English TOLC for two English-taught bachelor's (Cisia TOLC Test page), and Sapienza no longer accepts the English TOLC for Bioinformatics (academic requirements 2026/27). Cassino offers CEnT-S online or in person (entrance test page).
Pass marks differ widely: Padua ranks Information Engineering applicants from a CEnT-S score of 38, while Siena asks for 8 and then an interview. The Polytechnic University of Bari runs the TOLC-I at home as TOLC@CASA, and Bologna lets non-EU applicants abroad sit the CEnT-S online from home. For eligible students, we match each programme to its test and handle the registration.
Is a politecnico better than a general university for engineering?
Not automatically. Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino rank highest for engineering and teach the most engineering in English, but Sapienza, Bologna, Padua and Naples Federico II also rank in the QS top 200. The Polytechnic University of Bari and Marche Polytechnic University are politecnici too, with smaller English-taught offers.
| University | Type | English-taught engineering programmes | QS by Subject 2026, Engineering and Technology | Monthly budget in the city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | Politecnico, founded 1863 | 32 (4 bachelor's) | =20 | Milan: €780 to €1,150 (₹86,000 to ₹1.3 lakh) a month |
| Politecnico di Torino | Politecnico, founded 1859 | 22 (5 bachelor's) | =53 | Turin: €700 to €1,050 (₹77,000 to ₹1.2 lakh) a month |
| Polytechnic University of Bari | Politecnico, founded 1990 | 7 (1 bachelor's) | Outside the top 200 | Bari: €700 to €900 (₹77,000 to ₹99,000) a month |
| Marche Polytechnic University | Politecnico, founded 1969 | 3 (0 bachelor's) | Outside the top 200 | Ancona: €600 to €850 (₹66,000 to ₹93,000) a month |
| University of Padua | General university | 17 (1 bachelor's) | =155 | Padua: €750 to €1,050 (₹82,000 to ₹1.2 lakh) a month |
| Sapienza University of Rome | General university | 16 (1 bachelor's) | =99 | Rome: €1,000 to €1,200 (₹1.1 lakh to ₹1.3 lakh) a month |
| University of Bologna | General university | 10 (1 bachelor's) | =119 | Bologna: €950 to €1,200 (₹1.0 lakh to ₹1.3 lakh) a month |
| University of Naples Federico II | General university | 8 (2 bachelor's) | =184 | Naples: €650 to €950 (₹71,000 to ₹1.0 lakh) a month |
Sources: our programme listings; QS by Subject 2026; founding years from each politecnico's own history page; monthly budgets from our city guides, updated September 2026.
A politecnico is a state university that specialises. Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino teach engineering, architecture and design, with their own bachelor's tests, and Marche Polytechnic also teaches Medicine in English. A general university teaches engineering alongside medicine, law and economics, which matters for interdisciplinary master's and campus life.
How engineering tuition works for a student from India
It depends on each university's rule for income abroad. Tuition in Italy follows family income (ISEE). Families with income abroad can file an ISEE or request the flat fee for their country, and at many universities DSU scholarship winners are exempt from tuition. Some, such as Naples Federico II and Politecnico di Torino, set the same amount for a student from India whatever the family income. The table covers all 40 universities.
Families abroad rarely have an Italian ISEE, so the rule for income abroad decides the fee: an ISEE parificato built from translated and legalised family documents, a flat fee by country, or the top band without documents. Study can be tuition-free for eligible students through a regional DSU scholarship, with a national minimum grant of €7,171.11 (₹7.9 lakh) a year for a student living away from home (MUR Decree 175/2026).
| University | How the fee is set | DSU scholarship body |
|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | An ISEEU parificato from Polimi's partner CAF, or the top band without it. The parificato gives no exemption. Non-EU master's students with a foreign bachelor's pay the full amount unless they hold a scholarship | Politecnico di Milano |
| Politecnico di Torino | A fixed amount set for India in Annex 2, whatever the family income; no ISEE route lowers it | EDISU Piemonte The student submits; the grant does not replace the fee for India |
| University of Padua | Fixed contribution for families abroad, in Group B for engineering; a merit exemption for English-taught degrees reduces it | University of Padua Non-EU first-years are funded from a reserve of at most 7% |
| Sapienza University of Rome | Country band, 2025/26 rules; it does not use the ISEE parificato | DiSCo Lazio |
| University of Genoa | ISEE-U parificato; an indicator below €13,000 (₹14.3 lakh) falls in the no-tax area (2025/26 rules); without it, the top band | ALiSEO The student submits from their own ALiSEO account |
| University of Bologna | ISEE parificato, or the flat fee for non-OECD countries | ER.GO |
| University of Pisa | ISEEU parificato, or the flat fee for India | DSU Toscana The student submits |
| University of Naples Federico II | Non-EU citizens pay only the regional tax and stamp duty, with no contribution, whatever the family income | ADISURC |
| University of Trento | By admission score, with no tuition at a score of 90 to 100 (Engineering and ICT call 2026/27); an ISEE parificato does not lower it | Opera Universitaria di Trento Excludes non-EU citizens not resident in Italy when admitted |
| University of Pavia | Income documents, or India's Flat Rate | EDiSU Pavia |
| Polytechnic University of Bari | Consular income documents (2025/26 rules); without them, the top band | ADISU Puglia The student submits from their own portal account |
| University of L'Aquila | ISEE-U parificato; without it, the top band | ADSU L'Aquila Its 2026/27 rules for non-EU students living abroad are not verified yet |
| University of Catania | Flat rate for students not resident in Italy; no ISEE is used | ERSU Catania |
| University of Modena and Reggio Emilia | Set in its 2026/27 rules; we work it out for each student we shortlist | ER.GO |
| University of Palermo | ISEE parificato, or the flat country fee if India is still on List B2B | ERSU Palermo |
| University of Salento | Set in its 2026/27 rules; we work it out for each student we shortlist | ADISU Puglia |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | Flat fee for family income abroad on most programmes, or an ISEE parificato if the university accepts one | DiSCo Lazio |
| University of Siena | Country coefficient; Siena does not accept an ISEE parificato | DSU Toscana The student submits |
| University of Messina | By country group; India is in Group B | ERSU Messina |
| University of Salerno | By band, and India falls in the third band; the regional tax for a family abroad and the stamp duty come on top | ADISURC The student confirms the form from their own ADISURC account |
| University of Cassino and Southern Lazio | Set in its 2026/27 rules; we work it out for each student we shortlist | DiSCo Lazio |
| University of Florence | India's lower-middle income group gets a figurative ISEE of €36,500 (₹40.1 lakh) | DSU Toscana The student submits |
| University of Brescia | Ceiling for lower-middle-income countries such as India, or an ISEE parificato if the no-tax area applies to it | University of Brescia |
| Marche Polytechnic University | Citizens of non-OECD countries such as India pay only the first instalment in year one, even without an ISEE parificato | ERDIS Marche |
| University of Trieste | Set in its 2026/27 rules; we work it out for each student we shortlist | ARDiS |
| University of Calabria | Set in its 2026/27 rules; we work it out for each student we shortlist | University of Calabria |
| University of Parma | Family documents converted by ER.GO; without them, the top band | ER.GO The student submits on the ER.GO portal |
| University of Perugia | ISEEU parificato, on the reading of Article 7 of its rules, or the flat fee for India | ADiSU Umbria |
| University of Bergamo | ISEE parificato; without it, the top band | University of Bergamo |
| Ca' Foscari University of Venice | A flat fee with the regional tax, plus stamp duty; the ISEE parificato does not change it | Ca' Foscari (with ESU Venezia) |
| Roma Tre University | ISEE parificato; without it, the top band | DiSCo Lazio |
| Iuav University of Venice | Flat fee for lower-income countries such as India, or the ISEE parificato | Iuav (own DSU call) A self-certification in the student's own SPIN area |
| University of Verona | Set in its 2026/27 rules; we work it out for each student we shortlist | ESU Verona |
| University of Tuscia | ISEEUP or a fixed amount by income group | DiSCo Lazio |
| Parthenope University of Naples | Set in its 2026/27 rules; we work it out for each student we shortlist | ADISURC |
| University of Udine | ISEE parificato; no flat fee by country | ARDiS In the student's own name |
| University of Cagliari | ISEE parificato; without it, the faculty's top band | ERSU Cagliari |
| University of Sassari | No contribution in the first year, only the regional tax and stamp duty; a contribution from the second year | ERSU Sassari Its 2026/27 rules for non-EU students living abroad are not verified yet |
| Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria | By country group; India is in Group B | Mediterranea University The student submits online |
| University of Sannio | Flat fee for families abroad, or an ISEE parificato if Sannio applies it | ADISURC |
Sources: each university's fee rules and Sapienza's fee page (2025/26 rules; its 2026/27 rules are due after 30 September). Where a DSU body takes the application only from the student, we prepare it with the student, who submits it.
Our scholarships guide for Indian students and MAECI scholarship guide cover funding beyond the DSU scholarship.
Reality check
- A rank is not a programme. QS by Subject ranks a university's whole standing in a subject. A master's that fits your bachelor's credits outside the top 200 can suit you better than a top-ranked one that does not.
- Places are ranked. For 2026/27, Politecnico di Torino reserved 447 engineering bachelor's places for visa applicants, Padua's Information Engineering had 100 and Trento's Computer, Communications and Electronic Engineering 25.
- New courses can wait for approval. Politecnico di Milano's new English-taught bachelor's in Engineering Science, Industrial Engineering and Process Engineering await Ministry approval (2026/27 call).
- Documents decide the fee. Polimi charges non-EU master's students with a foreign bachelor's its top band unless they hold a scholarship.
- The DSU scholarship has limits. Trento's DSU body excludes non-EU citizens not resident in Italy when admitted, Padua funds non-EU first-years from a reserve of at most 7%, and at Polito a scholarship does not replace the fee for India.
- Deadlines come early. For 2026/27, Polimi's first engineering master's call for applicants with a foreign degree closed on 1 December 2025.
What we handle: the shortlist, test registrations, the fee route and family documents, the applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file. The university decides admission, the DSU body the scholarship and the consulate the visa.
Related lists: public universities in Italy, best universities in Italy, the A to Z directory of universities and medical universities in Italy. For medicine, see MBBS in Italy and the IMAT exam. Visa applicants also pre-enrol on Universitaly, which we file for eligible students.
Check your eligibility first. Eligible students book a one-to-one consultation with one of our Italy experts.
Check your eligibilityFrequently asked questions
Which is the best engineering university in Italy?
Politecnico di Milano ranks highest: joint 20th in the world for Engineering and Technology in QS by Subject 2026, and joint 87th overall in QS 2027. Politecnico di Torino (joint 53rd) and Sapienza (joint 99th) follow, with Bologna, Padua and Naples Federico II also in the engineering top 200.
Can I study engineering in Italy in English?
Yes. Of Italy's 61 public universities, 40 list English-taught engineering programmes on ApplyAZ, 226 in all. Most are two-year master's degrees (199), and 27 are three-year bachelor's at 18 universities, with Politecnico di Torino and Politecnico di Milano offering the most bachelor's.
Can engineering in Italy be tuition-free for international students?
It can be tuition-free for eligible students through a regional DSU scholarship, decided on family income and, after the first year, credits. Not every body covers everyone: Trento's excludes non-EU citizens not resident in Italy when admitted, and at Politecnico di Torino a scholarship does not replace the fee for India.
Which entrance exam do I need for engineering in Italy?
For an English-taught bachelor's, usually CISIA's CEnT-S or TOLC-I, the SAT, or the university's own test, such as TOL at Politecnico di Milano or TIL-I at Politecnico di Torino. Most master's set no test: 140 of 199 in our listings select on the degree, grades and CV.
Is TOLC-I required for international students?
Not always. Many English-taught engineering bachelor's accept CEnT-S or the SAT instead, and Trento asks non-EU applicants for CEnT-S while EU applicants take TOLC-I. Politecnico di Milano and Naples Federico II accept TOLC-I among other tests, and Mediterranea and Cassino use it only as a starting-level check.
What SAT score do I need for Politecnico di Milano or Politecnico di Torino?
For the 2026/27 engineering bachelor's, Politecnico di Milano asks for at least 620 in each SAT section, and Politecnico di Torino at least 650 in each section. Polito ranks visa applicants for 447 reserved places, so the minimum is where the ranking starts, not an admission promise.
Is Politecnico di Milano better than Politecnico di Torino?
Politecnico di Milano ranks higher, joint 20th against joint 53rd for Engineering and Technology in QS by Subject 2026, and lists more English-taught engineering programmes, 32 against 22. At Polito a student from India pays a fixed amount whatever the family income, while at Polimi tuition follows an ISEEU parificato from its partner CAF.
How is engineering tuition in Italy set for Indian students?
It depends on the university's rule for income abroad. Naples Federico II, Catania and Politecnico di Torino set the same amount for a student from India whatever the family income, while Bologna and Pisa follow an ISEE parificato built from family documents, or a flat fee. Study can be tuition-free for eligible students through a regional DSU scholarship at many universities.
Do I need Italian to study engineering in Italy?
Not for an English-taught degree, which usually asks for English at B2: Politecnico di Torino asks for B2 on every programme, and Polimi's master's accept IELTS 6 or TOEFL iBT 78. Italian-taught degrees ask for B2 Italian, and Italian helps with daily life and internships.
Which Italian universities teach aerospace engineering in English?
Our listings have English-taught aerospace programmes, all master's, at these public universities: Aeronautical Engineering and Space Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Aerospace Engineering at Padua, Pisa, Bologna and Salento, Space and Astronautical Engineering at Sapienza, and Sciences of Aerospace Systems for the Defence at Naples Federico II. Politecnico di Torino has none in English in our listings.
Can I do a master's in engineering in Italy without the GRE?
Yes, at most public universities. Of the 199 English-taught engineering master's in our listings, 140 set no entry test and select on the degree, grades and CV. Politecnico di Torino asks for the GRE on some programmes, and our listings show it as optional on a few.
When do engineering applications open in Italy for 2027/28?
It differs by university. Padua's English-taught degrees with unlimited places take applications from 15 September to 15 November 2026, and its limited-places degrees open to non-EU applicants on 7 January 2027. Politecnico di Torino has not yet published its 2027/28 calls, nor Politecnico di Milano its 2027/28 master's calls.
Sources
- MUR, Università statali, the list of state universities
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Engineering and Technology), published 25 March 2026, and QS World University Rankings 2027, published 18 June 2026
- Each university's 2026/27 admission calls, linked in the tables above, and its fee rules
- University of Milan, Cisia TOLC Test, Sapienza academic requirements 2026/27 and University of Cassino, entrance test, on CEnT-S
- MUR Directorial Decree 175 of 10 February 2026, DSU scholarship minimum grant
- Universitaly, international students and the FBIL reference rate of 21 September 2026
- Our own programme listings, counted on 9 October 2026, and city guides, 29 September 2026
- Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead at ApplyAZ. Published on 29 September 2026 and updated on 9 October 2026; facts verified on 28 and 29 September 2026.
Check your eligibility first. If you are eligible, you book a one-to-one consultation with one of our Italy experts, and from there we take care of everything.
Check your eligibilityHear from students who took this route
Hear directly from ApplyAZ students about the support they valued on their route to English-taught study in Italy.
- Shourjya Chakraborty: Master’s in Management Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. Clear guidance through documents and choices.
- Thilakraj Sapalya: Master’s in Aerospace Engineering at University of Padua. Celebrating an Aerospace Engineering destination.
- Mantra: Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering Technology at University of Cassino. A process explained in manageable steps.
Explore all student stories and videos.
Further reading
Where they're studying now
Students who started exactly where you are
English-taught programmes that can be tuition-free for eligible students, and the DSU grant landing in their account every year. The funding mechanics are identical at every Italian public university: the same ISEE Parificato, the same regional bando, the same ranking. Only the authority and the dates change.
They began right where you are
Now they're studying at Italian public universities, where a degree can be tuition-free for eligible students, with DSU scholarships of up to about €8,250 a year for students living away from home, depending on the region.
