Can You Do a Master's in Italy with a Three-Year Bachelor's Degree?
What the 2026 national rules say, how five public universities treat three-year degrees, and how credit requirements are checked.
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Yes, at many Italian public universities. The national rules for 2026/27 and 2027/28 ask for a first-cycle degree at EQF level 6 that gives access to a master's in the country that awarded it. They set no 15-year, 16-year or four-year rule. Each university then sets its own curricular requirements, and a few add country-specific rules, such as Politecnico di Milano asking for a four-year bachelor's from some countries.
Where things stand: 8 October 2026
The ministry procedures for international students now cover two academic years, 2026/27 and 2027/28, in one circular published on Universitaly.
Admissions for 2027/28 are already opening: the University of Padua's first call for applicants with a foreign qualification runs from 15 September to 15 November 2026.
In short
- National rule: an official first-cycle (Bologna Process) qualification at EQF level 6, giving access to second-cycle study at home, with no substantial difference under the Lisbon Convention.
- No national years rule: the only years-of-schooling rule in the circular (12 years) is for bachelor's entry.
- Universities decide the fit: many express it as credits in named subject areas, checked against your transcript and course syllabi.
- A few are stricter: Politecnico di Milano requires at least a four-year bachelor's from some countries, India among them, where a three-year B.Sc. may be considered only if it is an Honours programme.
- Your evidence: transcript, course programmes and, depending on the university, a CIMEA statement or a Declaration of Value.
This guide is part of our Study in Italy guide, which covers every step of studying in Italy in order.
Not sure your degree qualifies? Check your eligibility first; for eligible students, we match your transcript to each programme's requirements.
Check your eligibilityWhat does Italy require for a master's degree from abroad?
For a Laurea Magistrale (the two-year master's), the 2026 circular requires an official foreign qualification that corresponds to the first cycle of the Bologna Process and to level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework, awarded by an institution whose degrees give access to second-cycle study locally, and with no "substantial difference" under the Lisbon Convention and the methodology of CIMEA, Italy's ENIC-NARIC centre.
You also provide a transcript of the exams you passed and the programme of each course; a Diploma Supplement can serve as the programme. The circular contains no minimum number of years for the bachelor's degree. A three-year degree is therefore not excluded nationally. Whether it is enough for a specific programme is the university's decision.
Which Italian universities accept a three-year bachelor's degree?
Rules are set per university and often per programme. These are the official positions we found for 2026/27.
| University | Rule on three-year degrees | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Torino | A Bachelor's at EQF 6 giving access to EQF 7. The "15 years, at least 3 at university, 180 ECTS" rule applies only to students still enrolled in a 5 or 6-year single-cycle programme | PoliTo, master's 2026/27 |
| Politecnico di Milano | Country-specific. At least a four-year bachelor's from India and Pakistan; for India a three-year B.Sc. may be considered only if it is an Honours programme | Polimi requirements page (undated) |
| Sapienza University of Rome | Several MScs accept three-year degrees; Cognitive Forensic Sciences asks for "a three-year bachelor's degree, or equivalent qualification gained abroad" | Sapienza MoveIN 2026/27 requirements |
| University of Milan | Example: the MSc in Migrations accepts "a first cycle degree (three years/bachelor = 180 ECTS)" awarded in Italy or abroad | Unimi, Migrations |
| University of Bologna | No number of years stated: a "suitable" qualification allowing continuation to the next cycle, assessed on exams and syllabi | Unibo, second-cycle admission |
In the calls we reviewed, universities mostly assess what you studied rather than how many years it took, but rules differ by university and programme, which is why we check each programme on your shortlist before you apply.
What are curricular requirements, and how are they measured?
Most master's calls set minimum credits (CFU or ECTS) in named subject areas, called scientific-disciplinary sectors (SSD). Your bachelor's must show enough study in those areas, whatever its length. Real examples from 2026/27 calls:
| Programme | Curricular requirement | Other conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering, University of Bologna | For degrees outside classes L-7 and L-8: at least 51 credits in ICAR/01, 02, 04 to 11 and 17, at least 39 in ICAR/01, 02 and 04 to 09, and at least 24 in mathematics and physics (MAT and FIS) | Preparation considered adequate with a final grade of at least 83/110; below that, the Admission Board assesses |
| Migrations, University of Milan | For Italian degrees, at least 42 ECTS in listed law, economics and political science sectors; for foreign degrees, adequate competences in at least two of those fields | Remote interview with the Admissions Board |
| Chemical Engineering, Sapienza | At least 42 ECTS in basic sciences, 42 in chemical engineering subjects and 15 in industrial engineering | Minimum GPA 75/100 |
| Computer Science, Sapienza | At least 90 ECTS in listed subject areas | Minimum GPA 75/100 |
How foreign degrees are compared: Bologna first looks for an equivalent degree class or equivalent sectors and credits, and otherwise its Admission Board evaluates the whole curriculum. At Sapienza, some programmes, such as Data Science, add an online test and an online interview. There is no single national conversion table from foreign credits to ECTS, so the course content and hours in your syllabi carry real weight.
Do you need a Declaration of Value or a CIMEA statement?
For admission, the 2026 circular lets each university choose whether to ask for a CIMEA statement or a Declaration of Value; they are alternatives. For the visa, the degree must carry either a CIMEA statement of comparability with a CIMEA statement of verification, or a Declaration of Value for comparability, with a separate authenticity check where the Declaration does not confirm it. Our DOV or CIMEA guide explains which route suits which university and consulate.
How can you tell if your degree qualifies? A decision path
- Is your degree a recognised first-cycle degree at home, giving access to master's study there? If not, a master's in Italy is not open yet.
- Does the university publish a country rule (for example, four years required)? If your degree does not meet it, that university comes off the shortlist.
- Do your credits cover the programme's subject requirements? Each requirement is mapped to courses on your transcript, as in the checklist below.
- Do you meet the grade and language conditions? Many calls set a minimum final grade and an English level.
- Is there an interview or test? Prepare for it as part of the application.
Degree-to-requirement evidence checklist
Use one table per programme. Each requirement is copied word for word from the official call and matched to evidence in your documents; for eligible students, we do this mapping. The example row is fictional.
| Requirement (from the call) | Your courses that match | Credits or hours | Syllabus evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: 24 credits in mathematics and physics | Engineering Mathematics I and II, Applied Physics | 4 courses, about 26 ECTS equivalent | Syllabi list calculus, linear algebra, mechanics | Likely met |
| Example: final grade of at least 83/110 or equivalent | Final CGPA | Grade conversion by the university | To be assessed | |
| Your requirement |
Keep the official course descriptions from your university ready. When credits are close to a threshold, detailed syllabi are what tip the assessment.
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, with offices in Milan and India. We have operations across all Italian regions, because each region sets its own regulations and deadlines and they change every year. For eligible students, we read every call on your shortlist, map your transcript and syllabi to each programme's credit requirements, choose between CIMEA and a Declaration of Value for each university, and prepare the applications, so your applications go to programmes whose requirements your degree can meet.
Check your eligibility first. If you are eligible, you book a one-to-one consultation with one of our Italy experts, and after it you receive your personal Italy Roadmap, with every step ahead of you and when to do it. ApplyAZ never promises an admission, a scholarship or a visa: those decisions belong to the university, the regional body and the consulate. Our milestone payments and refund policies mean every service you pay for is either delivered or its service fee is refunded (terms apply).
Find out which master's programmes accept your degree. Check your eligibility, and we do the matching.
Check your eligibilityThe ApplyAZ Study in Italy guide series
Each guide answers one step of studying in Italy in depth. Start with the complete guide, or jump to the step you are on.
- Study in Italy: the complete step-by-step guide
- How to choose a public university in Italy
- A master's in Italy with a three-year bachelor's degree (you are here)
- IMAT syllabus: official topics and a study checklist
- Official IMAT past papers and how to review them
- IMAT registration, step by step
- Combining scholarships: DSU, MAECI, Invest Your Talent
- Universitaly pre-enrolment: steps and common errors
- Italy student visa checklist
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a master's in Italy after a three-year degree?
Yes at many public universities. Italy's 2026 rules require a first-cycle degree at EQF level 6 that gives access to a master's in its home country, with no national rule on 15 or 16 years. Each university then checks your credits against the programme's requirements.
Is 15 years of education required for a master's in Italy?
Not nationally. The ministry circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28 sets no years rule for master's entry. Some universities add their own, such as Politecnico di Milano asking for a four-year bachelor's from some countries.
Does Politecnico di Milano accept a three-year degree?
Its requirements page asks for at least a four-year bachelor's from some countries and, for India, may consider a three-year B.Sc. only if it is an Honours programme. Politecnico di Torino requires a Bachelor's at EQF level 6 instead.
What are CFU requirements for an Italian master's?
Minimum credits in named subject areas. For example, Bologna's Civil Engineering asks graduates from other degree classes for at least 24 credits in mathematics and physics, and Sapienza's Chemical Engineering for 42 ECTS in basic sciences.
Do I need a Declaration of Value for a master's in Italy?
For admission, each university chooses between a CIMEA statement and a Declaration of Value. For the visa you need either CIMEA statements of comparability and verification or a Declaration of Value, plus an authenticity check where the Declaration does not confirm it.
Sources
- Ministry circular on international students, 2026/27 and 2027/28 (Part I, point 4; Part II, point 3), via Universitaly
- Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza MoveIN 2026/27, University of Milan, Migrations and international enrolment, University of Bologna and Civil Engineering admission, University of Padua, how to apply
- Decision path and evidence checklist: ApplyAZ method.
Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead, and reviewed by Reeya Sharma, Student Success and Partnerships, at ApplyAZ. Published on 8 October 2026. Rules checked against the 2026 ministry circular and each university's official page on 8 October 2026.
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.
