Masters in Italy 2027/28: English-Taught Programmes, Fees, Eligibility and Deadlines

Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead. Reviewed by Reeya Sharma, Student Success and Partnerships. Published 14 September 2026. Updated 28 September 2026.

In short

• What you can study: our catalogue lists 433 English-taught masters in Italy for 2027/28: two-year laurea magistrale degrees (120 ECTS) at 49 public universities.
• What it costs: a master's at a public university can be tuition-free for eligible students. For a family with income in India, 2026/27 fees ran from €346 a year at the University of Milan to €3,943.04 at Politecnico di Milano (about ₹37,800 to ₹4.31 lakh at the ECB rate of 25 September 2026, €1 = ₹109.2605). The regional DSU scholarship paid at least €7,171.11 a year (₹7.84 lakh) to students living away from home.
• Who qualifies: a degree from countries like India must be a first-cycle degree (EQF level 6) that opens a master's at home. Some universities go further: Politecnico di Milano and the University of Padua ask for a 4-year or Honours bachelor's and at least 70 out of 100 (Padua also takes a 3-year pass degree plus a postgraduate qualification).
• Tests and deadlines: only 7 of the 433 programmes mention GRE or GMAT in their selection rules, all as optional or encouraged. The next deadline is the University of Padua's first 2027/28 round, which closes on 15 November 2026; visa applications close on 31 October 2027.
• ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, helps eligible students by handling the applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU scholarship application and the visa file.

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.

Masters in Italy 2027/28: key facts

These are the rules for a masters in Italy for international students at a public university, including students from countries like India. Every figure carries its academic year, and the full sources are listed at the end of the page.

Sources: MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28, MUR decree 175 and decree 176 of 10 February 2026, university fee regulations for 2026/27, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and integrazionemigranti.gov.it. Programme counts from our catalogue on 28 September 2026.

What is a master's degree in Italy?

A master's degree in Italy is the laurea magistrale: a two-year, 120-credit second-cycle degree that also opens the door to a PhD. You need a bachelor's that fits the course. The one-year "master universitario" is a different and shorter qualification, as the foreign ministry's portal studyinitaly.esteri.it points out.

Both are real qualifications, but they do different jobs. The table shows where they part ways for a student from countries like India. Our study in Italy guide covers the whole journey in five steps.

Sources: studyinitaly.esteri.it, Eurydice (updated 16 July 2024), University of Bologna, DSU Toscana and the MUR circular.

This page covers the two-year laurea magistrale. For one-year courses, and how their recognition, DSU and visa rules differ, read our guide to one-year master's in Italy.

How many English-taught master's are there in Italy?

Our catalogue lists 433 two-year master's taught only in English at 49 Italian public universities for 2027/28. We count a programme only when Universitaly lists English as its sole language. Engineering leads with 146 programmes, followed by natural sciences with 68 and business, economics and finance with 60.

These are catalogue counts, computed on 28 September 2026, not a national total. A further 75 master's in our catalogue are not listed as English-only, so we leave them out. Browse every course in our programme catalogue or the summary of English-taught programmes in Italy.

Engineering and computer science are what most students from countries like India search for as an "MS". Our MS in Italy guide covers those programmes one by one.

Which Italian universities are best for a master's?

Politecnico di Milano is Italy's highest-ranked public university, at =87 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, followed by Sapienza at =111 and Bologna at =123. Rank alone is a weak filter, though. The University of Padua, at 204, lists the most English-taught master's in our catalogue, with 50.

The table sets QS positions against our catalogue. Subject ranks come from the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, published on 25 March 2026; "not ranked" means the university is absent from that subject's table. Two private universities also sit in Italy's top 15, but we work with public universities only.

Sources: QS World University Rankings 2027 (18 June 2026); QS by Subject 2026 for computer science, mechanical engineering and business and management. Politecnico di Torino's master's appear in our catalogue as taught in more than one language, so none is counted here.

The full rankings are in our guide to the best universities in Italy, and every public university has its own page in our university directory. Our page on public universities in Italy explains why we work only with them.

Can I do a masters in Italy after a 3-year degree?

Often yes, but not at every university. The MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28 accepts a first-cycle degree at EQF level 6 that gives access to a master's in your home country. Some universities set a higher bar: Politecnico di Milano asks students from India for a 4-year degree and considers a 3-year BSc only with Honours.

This is the 15 versus 16 years question. Class XII plus a 3-year BA, BSc or BCom makes 15 years of education; a 4-year BE, BTech or BS makes 16. Italy has no national 16-year rule, but each university publishes its own list for qualifications from India.

The University of Padua's list for 2027/28 accepts a 3- or 4-year Honours degree, or a 4-year professional degree such as a BE or BTech. It takes a 3-year pass or general degree only with a postgraduate qualification on top. Both Padua and Politecnico di Milano ask for at least 70 out of 100.

Sources: MUR circular 2026/27 and 2027/28 (section 4); Politecnico di Milano, foreign qualification requirements; University of Padua, entry requirements per country, A.Y. 2027/28 (updated 15 September 2026).

Subject fit matters as much as length. Every laurea magistrale lists the subject areas and credits it expects, so a commerce graduate may fit economics but not data science. We read your transcript against each programme's rules before we suggest it, and we confirm with the department anything the notice leaves open.

If you hold only Class XII, start with our guides to a bachelor's degree in Italy and studying in Italy after 12th.

Your degree certificate and transcripts need state Higher Education Department attestation and an apostille, then a Declaration of Value or CIMEA statements. Your family obtains these; we tell you exactly which documents to get, in which order, and check every page before the visa appointment. Our guides to the Declaration of Value and DOV or CIMEA explain each route.

Is GRE required for a masters in Italy?

Rarely. Of 433 English-taught programmes in our catalogue, only 7 mention GRE or GMAT in their selection rules, all as optional or encouraged, according to the admission notices we record. Most select on your CV and grades, sometimes with an interview, while 55 programmes set their own admission test.

The table groups all the programmes by how they select. The examples link to each programme page, where the admission notice is summarised.

A threshold rule means your grade decides the route: above the programme's cut-off you are admitted on your record, and below it you sit a test or an interview. For engineering and computer science programme by programme, see our MS in Italy page, and management master's that mention GMAT are covered in MIM in Italy.

Can I do a masters in Italy without IELTS?

Often yes, if the university accepts a medium-of-instruction (MOI) letter. Most ask for B2 or above, the level the consulate checks for the visa under the MUR circular. In our catalogue, 69 of the 433 master's record an MOI letter or an English-taught degree as accepted proof, while 6 say an MOI letter is not accepted.

The visa side is less strict than many expect. The 2026/27 and 2027/28 checklists of the Consulates General in Kolkata and Bengaluru accept a B2 certificate or an equivalent MOI declaration from your previous institution. So the university's rule is the one that decides.

Politecnico di Milano, for example, accepts a certified statement that your bachelor's was taught in English in place of a certificate. For the full picture university by university, read study in Italy without IELTS. We match your proof of English to each programme's rule before you apply.

How much does a masters in Italy cost?

Less than most students expect at a public university, and it can be tuition-free for eligible students. For a family whose income is in India, 2026/27 fees ran from €346 a year at the University of Milan (₹37,800) to about €3,943.04 at Politecnico di Milano (₹4.31 lakh), according to each fee regulation. Living costs come on top.

Each university treats income from abroad in its own way. The ISEE parificato, an Italian income statement built from your family's documents, does not work the same everywhere. The table shows four models we see often for students from India.

Sources: University of Milan fee regulation 2026/27 (art. 6) and country groups; University of Bologna reduced fixed fee and non-OECD list 2026; University of Padua call for fees 2026/27 (tables 1 and 4); Politecnico di Milano contribution regulation 2026/27 and its page for income abroad. 2027/28 fee rules are pending, usually published from spring 2027.

The national rule behind income-based fees is DM 1014 of 2021. It sets no contribution up to an ISEE of €22,000 (₹24.04 lakh) and reductions up to €30,000 (₹32.78 lakh). Universities may go further, as Bologna does up to €27,000 (₹29.50 lakh).

Whether the ISEE route or a flat fee suits you depends on your family's documents, and we work it out with you. Our DSU scholarship guide explains how the ISEE parificato is built.

Living costs depend on the city. For Milan, Politecnico di Milano publishes the monthly figures below (page undated, read 28 September 2026); the total is our sum of its ranges. Our guide to the cost of studying in Italy compares cities and one-off costs.

Fees depend on your family's documents and on the university you choose. Check your eligibility first. If you are eligible, one of our Italy experts works out the fee route with you in a one-to-one consultation, and from there we take care of everything.

Can I get a scholarship for a masters in Italy?

Yes. The main one is the regional DSU scholarship: for 2026/27 it paid at least €7,171.11 a year (₹7.84 lakh) to students living away from home, with a family ISEE up to €28,339.88 (₹30.96 lakh), under MUR decrees 175 and 176 of 10 February 2026. Each region runs its own call, and the region decides who wins.

Sources: MUR decree 175 and MUR decree 176 of 10 February 2026; DSU Toscana; University of Padua; Padua fee call 2026/27 (section 6.A); Politecnico di Milano.

A DSU application is separate from admission, with its own deadline and its own family documents. National ceilings are the upper limit, and regions may set lower ones.

Our DSU scholarship guide and DSU deadlines page cover every region. We also have pages for bodies such as Padua, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, the University of Milan and Tuscany. We prepare the DSU file for eligible students.

When are the deadlines for masters in Italy for 2027/28?

The first 2027/28 deadlines are already running. The University of Padua's first round opened on 15 September 2026 and closes on 15 November 2026, and other universities open their calls through the winter. The last national date is the visa: applications must reach the consulate by 31 October 2027, under the MUR circular.

Here is the 2027/28 year month by month, with what we handle at each step for eligible students. Dates marked pending follow last year's pattern until the universities publish them.

Sources: University of Padua admissions; Politecnico di Milano deadlines; Politecnico di Torino; University of Milan, 6 May 2026; DSU Toscana; MUR circular; Consulate General Kolkata checklist.

Popular universities fill up early. Under the MUR circular, each university can validate pre-enrolments only up to its places for foreign students plus 20%, so a strong file sent late can wait. Our intakes in Italy page lists windows by university, and the Italian student visa guide covers the consulate step.

When is the intake for masters in Italy?

Almost always once a year, in autumn. Classes start in September or October, and none of the 433 English-taught master's in our catalogue lists a February intake. Politecnico di Torino allows second-semester enrolment only for applicants already living in Italy, and the University of Padua has no second-semester entry at all.

So plan for September or October 2027. If this cycle is too tight, the next start for most programmes is autumn 2028. Our guide to intakes explains the few exceptions.

What is the difference between a masters and an MS in Italy?

In Italy there is no separate MS degree. "MS" is how students from countries like India usually search for a science or engineering master's. In Italy that is the same two-year laurea magistrale of 120 credits as any other master's, as studyinitaly.esteri.it describes it; only the subject changes.

Our MS in Italy guide covers computer science, data science, AI and mechanical engineering programme by programme. For management, read MIM in Italy if you are a recent graduate, or the MBA in Italy guide if you have work experience.

Is a masters in Italy worth it?

For most graduates, yes. AlmaLaurea's 2026 report shows 81.5% of two-year master's graduates in work one year after graduating, earning €1,488 net a month on average (₹1.63 lakh), and 94.1% in work after five years (survey 2025). Results differ by subject, so choose the field with the job you want in mind.

The figures cover all graduates of the universities AlmaLaurea surveys, not international graduates alone. Read them as a guide to each field, not a promise. Pay is net, per month.

Sources: AlmaLaurea, Esiti occupazionali della laurea, survey year 2025, two-year master's (laurea magistrale biennale), 1 and 5 years after graduating; Sintesi del Rapporto AlmaLaurea 2026.

IT, engineering and architecture show the highest pay five years on, with economics close behind. Many employers in Italy work in Italian, so Italian lessons during the degree widen your options.

Can I work in Italy after a masters?

Yes: graduates of an Italian master's can ask for a job-search permit lasting from 9 to 12 months when their study permit ends, as the Ministry of Labour's integration portal explains. You declare that you are available for work at the local job centre. With a job offer in hand, you can convert your study permit instead.

While you study, the permit lets you work up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that a valid study permit can be converted into a work permit. Our guide to working part-time in Italy covers jobs during the degree.

How does applying for a master's in Italy work?

You apply to each university first, then pre-enrol on Universitaly, the ministry's official portal, once you hold an offer. The university validates the pre-enrolment, and only then can the visa application go in. For eligible students who start with us, ApplyAZ handles each of these steps, from the first application to the visa file.

• Shortlist: we match your transcript to each programme's credit and grade rules, then spread your choices across cities so the 20% cap does not leave you stuck.
• Applications: we prepare and submit each university application and handle the follow-up with the admissions office.
• Documents: your family obtains the attestation and apostille; we tell you exactly which documents to get, in which order, and check every page before the visa appointment.
• Universitaly pre-enrolment: we file it as soon as you hold an offer and follow the validation.
• DSU scholarship: we prepare the regional application and the ISEE parificato route with you.
• Visa: we build the file for your consulate, from funds to insurance and accommodation.

What goes into your application file: most programmes ask for the documents below. Each admission notice sets the exact list, and we work from it for you.

The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. As Universitaly states, validation is no promise of a visa appointment or a visa. Which office handles your file depends on your state: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru or Kolkata.

Read our Code of Practice and how ApplyAZ gets paid to see how we work.

How much money do I need for an Italian student visa?

You need to show at least €10,179.85 for each year of study (₹11.12 lakh), or €848.32 a month, under the MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28. The money must be lawful and traceable, held by you, a relative up to the fourth degree or a scholarship body. Processing can take up to 90 days, say the consulates in India.

Plan the money trail months ahead, because a sudden deposit is hard to explain. Our Italian student visa guide explains what each consulate asks for. We check your family's statements against it before the appointment.

Reality check

What others decide: the university decides admission and your fee band. The region decides the DSU scholarship, and the consulate decides the visa. We never promise any of these outcomes.

What we handle: for eligible students, we check each programme's rules against your degree and file the applications. We also handle Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file, and check every document before it goes in.

The usual pitfalls, and what each costs:

• A 3-year pass degree sent to a university that wants 4 years. The application is rejected, and the round is lost, often with its scholarship window.
• Applying late at a popular university. Once its places plus 20% are validated, Universitaly holds further validations, which can push a strong file past the visa date.
• Missing the regional DSU call. It costs at least €7,171.11 (₹7.84 lakh) for the year, plus the fee exemption that comes with the grant at Padua or Politecnico di Milano.
• Money that appears just before the appointment. The consulate checks that funds are lawful and traceable, and an unexplained deposit puts the visa at risk.
• Not completing enrolment on Universitaly by 31 January. Under the MUR circular, the visa is revoked.
• Taking a one-year master universitario for a laurea magistrale. It gives no PhD access and sits outside the DSU calls we checked.

Ready to see which programmes fit your degree? 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.

Frequently asked questions

Can students from countries like India do a master's in Italy after a 3-year degree?

Yes, at many universities, if the degree is a first-cycle degree that opens a master's at home, as the MUR circular requires. Some are stricter: Politecnico di Milano wants a 4-year degree and considers a 3-year BSc only with Honours, and Padua accepts a 3-year pass degree only with a postgraduate qualification. We check your degree against each list.

Is there a minimum percentage for a master's in Italy?

Italy has no national minimum grade, but universities set their own. For degrees from India, Politecnico di Milano and the University of Padua both ask for at least 70 out of 100, or 7.0 out of 10 at Padua for 2027/28. Competitive programmes also rank applicants, so relevant subjects and credits can matter as much as the average.

Is GRE or GMAT required for a masters in Italy?

Usually not: of the 433 English-taught master's in our catalogue, only 7 mention GRE or GMAT for admission, and all treat it as optional or encouraged. At Pavia, a GMAT over 550 gives direct admission to International Business and Entrepreneurship. Most programmes select on CV and grades, and 55 set their own admission test.

How much does a masters in Italy cost for a year?

For a family with income in India, 2026/27 fees ran from €346 at the University of Milan to about €3,943.04 at Politecnico di Milano (₹37,800 to ₹4.31 lakh). Politecnico di Milano puts living costs in Milan at €680 to €1,160 a month (₹74,300 to ₹1.27 lakh). The visa needs €10,179.85 a year (₹11.12 lakh) in funds.

Can I get a scholarship for a masters in Italy?

Yes: the regional DSU scholarship paid at least €7,171.11 a year (₹7.84 lakh) in 2026/27 to students living away from home, with a family ISEE up to €28,339.88. Universities add their own awards, such as Padua's International Excellence Scholarship of €8,000 (₹8.74 lakh) gross a year for master's students. Each has its own call.

When are the deadlines for masters in Italy for 2027/28?

University rounds run from autumn 2026 to spring 2027. The University of Padua's first round closes on 15 November 2026, and most other universities open their calls through the winter. The visa application must reach the consulate by 31 October 2027, and enrolment on Universitaly must be complete by 31 January 2028.

Is a one-year master's from Italy recognised in India?

A one-year master universitario is a university's own qualification, not the two-year laurea magistrale, and the University of Bologna states that it gives no access to a PhD. How an Indian employer or university treats it is their decision. Our guide to one-year master's in Italy explains the recognition, DSU and visa differences.

What is the difference between a masters and an MS in Italy?

There is no difference in the degree itself. MS is the name students from countries like India use for science and engineering master's, and in Italy these are the same two-year laurea magistrale of 120 credits as any other master's; only the subject differs. Our MS in Italy guide covers these programmes one by one.

Can I study a masters in Italy without IELTS?

Often, yes: English-taught courses need B2 English, and 69 of the 433 master's in our catalogue record a medium-of-instruction letter or an English-taught degree as accepted proof. The Kolkata and Bengaluru visa checklists also accept an MOI declaration. Six programmes refuse MOI letters, so we match your proof to each programme first.

Can I work while doing a master's in Italy?

Yes: a study permit lets you work up to 20 hours a week and up to 1,040 hours a year, according to Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Part-time pay helps with living costs, but it does not replace the funds you show for the visa. Plan your budget so that it works without it.

How long can I stay in Italy after a master's?

You can ask for a job-search permit lasting from 9 to 12 months when your study permit ends, as Italy's integration portal explains. It is open to graduates of Italian degrees, master's included, who declare that they are available for work at the local job centre. With a job offer, you can convert your permit instead.

Sources

• MUR, Circolare: procedure per l'ingresso, il soggiorno e l'immatricolazione degli studenti internazionali, 2026/27 and 2027/28 (Universitaly), verified 28 September 2026.
• Universitaly, international students page, 2026/27 and 2027/28, verified 28 September 2026.
• MUR, Decreto Direttoriale n. 175 of 10 February 2026, DSU minimum grants 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• MUR, Decreto Direttoriale n. 176 of 10 February 2026, DSU ISEE and ISPE ceilings 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• MUR, DM 1014 of 3 August 2021, fee exemptions (news of 31 August 2021), verified 28 September 2026.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, studyinitaly.esteri.it, Italian higher education system, verified 28 September 2026.
• Eurydice, Italy: programmes outside the bachelor and master structure, updated 16 July 2024, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Bologna, Professional Master, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Bologna, tuition fees and exemptions 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Bologna, reduced fixed fee for non-OECD countries 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Bologna, Elenco Paesi non OCSE 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Padua, specific entry requirements per country, A.Y. 2027/28 (updated 15 September 2026), verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Padua, admission of international students, 2027/28 first call, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Padua, Call for Student Fees and Exemptions 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Padua, International Excellence Scholarship Programme, verified 28 September 2026.
• Politecnico di Milano, laurea magistrale: foreign qualification requirements, verified 28 September 2026.
• Politecnico di Milano, laurea magistrale deadlines 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• Politecnico di Milano, regolamento contribuzione studentesca 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• Politecnico di Milano, students with income and property abroad 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• Politecnico di Milano, cost of living, verified 28 September 2026.
• Politecnico di Torino, applicants with a non-Italian qualification, A.Y. 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Milan, Regolamento tasse e contributi 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Milan, Allegato 2: country groups 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Milan, fees 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• University of Milan, Universitaly 2026/27 pre-enrolment news, 6 May 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
• DSU Toscana, borsa di studio 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
• QS World University Rankings 2027, Italy (published 18 June 2026), verified 28 September 2026.
• QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems, verified 28 September 2026.
• QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Engineering, Mechanical, verified 28 September 2026.
• QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Business and Management Studies, verified 28 September 2026.
• AlmaLaurea, Esiti occupazionali della laurea, survey year 2025, two-year master's, verified 28 September 2026.
• AlmaLaurea, Sintesi del Rapporto 2026 sugli esiti occupazionali della laurea, verified 28 September 2026.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ: studying in Italy, verified 28 September 2026.
• Integrazione Migranti (Ministry of Labour), study to work permit conversion, 7 July 2023, verified 28 September 2026.
• Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata, study visa checklist 2026/27 and 2027/28, verified 28 September 2026.
• Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru (VFS Global), study visa requisites 2026/27 and 2027/28, verified 28 September 2026.
• European Central Bank, euro reference rate for INR, 25 September 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
• ApplyAZ programme catalogue, English-only programmes as listed by Universitaly, counted on 28 September 2026.

Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 109.2605 INR, the ECB euro reference rate of 25 September 2026. INR amounts are rounded.

Your next step: Check your eligibility. 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.

Hear 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.

• Janani Vijay: Master’s at University of Bologna. Support students and families can count on.
• Rakesh Goud Bongoni: Master’s in Agri-Food Sustainability at University of Pavia. Patient, honest advice on course choices.
• Ashmeet Kaur: Master’s in Data Science at University of Trento. Finding the right Data Science course.

Explore all student stories and videos.

Further reading

• MS in Italy: science and engineering master's
• One-year master's in Italy (master universitario)
• Master in Management (MIM) in Italy
• Study in Italy without IELTS
• Cost of studying in Italy
• Intakes in Italy