Study Architecture and Design in Italy 2027/28: English-Taught Programmes, Universities and Fees
27 English-taught architecture, planning and design master's at public universities, with portfolio rules, how tuition works and graduate pay.
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Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead. Reviewed by Reeya Sharma, Student Success and Partnerships. Published 1 September 2026. Updated 28 September 2026.
In short
- What is on offer: our catalogue lists 27 English-taught master's in architecture and design for 2027/28, at 10 public universities. The 11 we review in detail below are seven in architecture, landscape and planning, three in design and one in fashion.
- Portfolio: Politecnico di Milano lists one as mandatory for architecture, urban planning and design applicants, and Sapienza scores it for Product and Service Design. Iuav asks for a short video instead.
- Where to aim: in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Politecnico di Milano is 6th for architecture and 7th for art and design, and Iuav Venice is =40 for architecture. Both have programmes in our table.
- How tuition works: tuition follows family income (ISEE), so a public master's can be tuition-free for eligible students, and DSU scholarship winners are exempt from tuition.
- 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.
Before you build a portfolio, check your eligibility; if you qualify, a one-to-one consultation with one of our Italy experts follows, and then we take care of everything.
Architecture and design in Italy 2027/28: key facts
The rows below cover English-taught architecture and design master's at Italian public universities, for students from countries like India. Tuition follows family income (ISEE), so study can be tuition-free for eligible students.
| Topic | Architecture and design in Italy, 2027/28 |
|---|---|
| Degrees in our table | Two-year laurea magistrale, 120 ECTS: architecture (LM-4), landscape (LM-3), planning (LM-48), design (LM-12), plus one fashion degree (LM-65) |
| English-taught master's (our catalogue) | 27 master's at 10 public universities, counted on 9 October 2026; 11 reviewed in detail below |
| Degree you need | Politecnico di Milano, for degrees from India: at least a four-year bachelor's such as a B.Arch, B.Des or B.Tech, minimum GPA 70 out of 100 |
| Portfolio | Mandatory at Politecnico di Milano for architecture, urban planning and design; scored at Sapienza's Product and Service Design; not asked by Iuav |
| English | B2 in most programmes, which is also the level the consulate checks at the visa stage (MUR circular 2026/27 and 2027/28, Part II, p. 18) |
| Italian | Vanvitelli expects B2 and offers courses if you fall short; Federico II's Architecture and Heritage asks for a minimum level |
| Tuition | Follows family income (ISEE) and can be tuition-free for eligible students; DSU scholarship winners are exempt from tuition. Sapienza's fashion master's charges a flat fee with no reductions |
| Application timing | Politecnico di Milano's 2026/27 architecture and design call: 1 October 2025 to 29 January 2026. Iuav closed on 23 February 2026. 2027/28 dates pending |
| Visa | Proof of €10,179.85 a year (₹11.12 lakh) and an application by 31 October 2027 |
| Graduate outcomes | Architecture (LM-4): 85.0% employed at one year, €1,344 net a month. Design (LM-12): 76.5%, €1,315 (AlmaLaurea, survey 2025) |
Why study architecture and design in Italy?
Because Italy pairs a long building heritage with a strong design industry, and its public universities teach both in English at master's level. Politecnico di Milano ranks 6th in the world for architecture and 7th for art and design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
Heritage is part of the brief, not a slide in a lecture. Federico II's Architecture and Heritage trains architects for the design, conservation and management of built heritage. Vanvitelli's programme is about regenerating existing buildings, and Iuav teaches architecture inside Venice.
Which English-taught architecture and design master's can you study in Italy?
Our catalogue lists 27 for 2027/28, at 10 public universities, counted on 9 October 2026. The table below covers 11 we reviewed in detail, at six public universities: seven in architecture, landscape and planning, three in design and one in fashion. Politecnico di Milano runs four of them. All are two-year master's, taught in English according to each university's own programme page.
Our rule: programmes marked English-only in our catalogue whose Italian degree class is architecture (LM-4), landscape architecture (LM-3), planning (LM-48) or design (LM-12). We add Sapienza's fashion master's (LM-65), since this guide covers fashion too. We checked each one on the university's own page; 2027/28 start dates are still pending for all 11.
| Programme | University | Class | Campus | Entry and selection | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Iuav University of Venice | LM-4 | Venice | Degree class, final grade and a 3-minute video in English (2026/27 call); no portfolio | Autumn 2027 |
| Architecture: Regeneration of Built Environment | University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli | LM-4 | Aversa | Restricted places and an entrance exam; architecture or architectural engineering bachelor's; English B2 and Italian B2 checked | Autumn 2027 |
| Architecture and Heritage | University of Naples Federico II | LM-4 | Naples | Open access after a check of requirements and preparation; English B2, basic Italian | Autumn 2027 |
| Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design | Politecnico di Milano | LM-4 | Piacenza | CV, grades and a mandatory portfolio | Autumn 2027 |
| Landscape Architecture. Land Landscape Heritage | Politecnico di Milano | LM-3 | Piacenza | CV, grades and a mandatory portfolio | Autumn 2027 |
| Urban Planning and Policy Design | Politecnico di Milano | LM-48 | Milan (Leonardo) | CV, grades and a mandatory portfolio | Autumn 2027 |
| Spatial Planning | University of Palermo | LM-48 | Palermo | Open access in 2025/26, with requirements checked | Autumn 2027 |
| Product Service System Design | Politecnico di Milano | LM-12 | Milan (Bovisa) | CV, grades and a mandatory portfolio | Autumn 2027 |
| Product and Service Design | Sapienza University of Rome | LM-12 | Rome | Portfolio worth up to 20 of 60 points, plus an online oral test on it (2026/27 call) | Autumn 2027 |
| Design for the Built Environment | University of Naples Federico II | LM-12 | Naples | Open access; English B2, or an interview without a certificate | Autumn 2027 |
| Fashion Theory and Practices | Sapienza University of Rome | LM-65 | Rome (blended delivery) | Set in the yearly call | Autumn 2027 |
Not in the table: Politecnico di Milano's Interior and Spatial Design and Integrated Product Design, and the architecture master's at Sapienza and Parma. Our catalogue records them as taught in more than one language. Building engineering degrees sit with engineering in our MS in Italy page.
Do architecture and design master's in Italy ask for a portfolio?
Some do, and it can decide your place: Politecnico di Milano lists a portfolio as mandatory for architecture, urban planning and design applicants. Sapienza gives it up to 20 of 60 points for Product and Service Design, then questions you on it online. Iuav's 2026/27 call asks for no portfolio at all.
Iuav scores three things instead: your degree class (up to 30 points, with architecture bachelor's scoring highest), your final grade (up to 20) and a video in English of up to 3 minutes (up to 50). Federico II and Palermo run open access, with your requirements checked before you start.
Politecnico di Milano wants the portfolio, CV and motivation letter in English or Italian, and lets applicants from a non-design background send a thesis abstract or internship report instead. Once an application is paid for, it does not let you change uploaded documents. We review your portfolio against each call's scoring before anything is uploaded.
Can you study interior, product or fashion design in Italy in English?
Yes for product design, partly for interior design, and only as theory for fashion, going by our catalogue. Federico II's Design for the Built Environment includes an interior design curriculum, taught in English. Sapienza's Fashion Theory and Practices is a theory degree, not a studio course in fashion design.
For product and service design, Politecnico di Milano teaches Product Service System Design at its Bovisa campus, and Sapienza teaches Product and Service Design in Rome. Federico II's design master's has a second curriculum in design for the digital environment.
Sapienza's fashion master's is delivered in blended mode, with courses such as Fashion and Gender and Fashion Archives, and a flat fee with no reductions. Several private fashion and design schools also appear in QS's Art and Design table. We work only with public universities and do not recommend them.
Which Italian universities rank highest for architecture and design?
Politecnico di Milano does: 6th in the world for architecture and built environment and 7th for art and design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. It runs four programmes in our table. Iuav Venice ranks =40 for architecture, while Politecnico di Torino, 18th, has none in our table.
| University | QS 2026, Architecture and Built Environment | QS 2026, Art and Design | In our table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| Politecnico di Torino | 18 | =69 | 0 |
| Iuav University of Venice | =40 | 151 to 200 | 1 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | 51 to 100 | 101 to 150 | 2 |
| University of Bologna | 151 to 200 | 201 to 300 | 0 |
| University of Naples Federico II | 151 to 200 | Not ranked | 2 |
| University of Florence | 151 to 200 | Not ranked | 0 |
| University of Genoa | 151 to 200 | Not ranked | 0 |
| Roma Tre University | 151 to 200 | Not ranked | 0 |
| Politecnico di Bari | 201 to 260 | Not ranked | 0 |
| University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli | Not ranked | Not ranked | 1 |
| University of Palermo | Not ranked | Not ranked | 1 |
QS lists 10 Italian universities for architecture, all public, and 9 for art and design, four of them private schools we leave out. A department's rank says little about one English-taught master's, so we weigh fit with your degree first.
Weighing architecture against design, or Milan against Naples? Start by checking your eligibility. If you are eligible, an Italy expert compares the options with you one to one, and we take care of everything from there.
Can you apply with a B.Arch, B.Des or B.Tech from India?
Yes, in most cases: Politecnico di Milano accepts applicants from India with at least a four-year bachelor's such as a B.Arch, B.Des or B.Tech, and a minimum GPA of 70 out of 100. A three-year BSc counts there only if it is an Honours degree, its requirements page says.
Other calls are narrower. Iuav gives the most points to an architecture bachelor's, fewer to civil engineering and fewer still to industrial design.
Vanvitelli asks for architecture or an equivalent such as architectural engineering. Sapienza's Product and Service Design accepts design, industrial engineering, computer science, architecture or economics degrees.
The MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28 adds the national rule: a first-cycle degree at EQF level 6 that opens a master's in your own country. We read your transcript and degree title against each call before you apply.
Do you need Italian to study architecture in Italy?
Not for Politecnico di Milano's four programmes, which are taught in English, but two programmes in Campania expect some Italian. Vanvitelli asks for Italian at B2 and offers language courses if you fall short. Federico II's Architecture and Heritage asks for a minimum level of Italian, according to its page.
Our catalogue has no English-only architecture bachelor's, so the English route starts at master's level; our bachelor's guide covers the rest. Expect studio work and attendance rules. Vanvitelli requires attendance at 70% of lesson hours, and Politecnico di Milano's Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design opens with an architectural design studio in its first semester.
Will an Italian architecture degree be recognised in the EU and in India?
Within the EU, the programmes say so themselves: Iuav and Federico II state that their English-taught architecture master's follow EU Directive 2005/36/EC on professional qualifications. Federico II adds that its graduates can sit Italy's state exam for the register of architects. Recognition in India is decided by Indian bodies.
If you plan to practise in India, registration runs through the Council of Architecture there, not through the Italian university. We raise recognition at the start of your consultation, so you choose a programme knowing where you want to work.
How tuition works for an architecture master's in Italy
It depends on the university and your family income, and a public master's can be tuition-free for eligible students. Families with income abroad can file an ISEE or request the flat fee for their country, and DSU scholarship winners are exempt from tuition. Sapienza's fashion master's charges a flat fee with no reductions.
At Politecnico di Milano, the 2026/27 regulation makes non-EU master's students with a foreign bachelor's, admitted without an economic benefit, pay the full contribution unless one of its exemptions applies. An ISEEU parificato does not unlock the income-based exemption (Article 8).
At Iuav, tuition also follows family income, and half its students pay less than the maximum. The regional DSU grant is decided by the region: see our DSU guide and the pages for Politecnico di Milano, Campania, Lazio and Palermo. Rent is on our page on what Italy costs.
When should you apply for a 2027/28 architecture or design master's?
Early. Politecnico di Milano's 2026/27 call for architecture and design ran from 1 October 2025 to 29 January 2026, and Iuav's pre-application closed on 23 February 2026. Neither had published 2027/28 dates on 28 September 2026, so we start portfolios now in case the calendar repeats.
Sapienza's Product and Service Design ran later: visa applicants had to apply for pre-selection by 15 May 2026, and its call closed on 30 June 2026. For 2027/28, Universitaly sets 31 October 2027 as the last day for visa applications. Our student visa guide explains the visa file we prepare with you.
What do architecture and design graduates earn in Italy?
Modestly at first, with most in work within five years. AlmaLaurea's 2026 report (survey year 2025) shows 85.0% of architecture master's graduates (class LM-4) employed one year on, earning €1,344 net a month. After five years the figures rise to 96.6% and €1,934.
| Degree class (AlmaLaurea, survey 2025) | Employed after 1 year | Net pay after 1 year | Employed after 5 years | Net pay after 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture, LM-4 | 85.0% | €1,344 (₹1.47 lakh) | 96.6% | €1,934 (₹2.11 lakh) |
| Planning, LM-48 | 89.1% | €1,477 (₹1.61 lakh) | 90.4% | €1,874 (₹2.05 lakh) |
| Landscape architecture, LM-3 | 76.6% | €1,397 (₹1.53 lakh) | 92.7% | €1,746 (₹1.91 lakh) |
| Design, LM-12 | 76.5% | €1,315 (₹1.44 lakh) | 89.3% | €1,727 (₹1.89 lakh) |
| All two-year master's | 81.5% | €1,488 | 94.1% | €1,862 |
Source: AlmaLaurea graduate outcomes tool, survey year 2025, two-year master's by class (2024 graduates at one year, 2020 graduates at five). Landscape is a small group: 134 graduates at one year, 64 of them interviewed. The figures cover all graduates in Italy, not only English-taught programmes.
Where do architecture and design graduates work in Italy?
Mostly in design practices, public bodies and firms that need design skills, according to the universities' own lists. Federico II names the freelance profession, public and private institutions, and design firms for its design graduates. Its architecture graduates can take the state exam for Italy's register of architects.
For exhibit design, Federico II adds museums, cultural foundations, public administrations and makers of exhibition components. Iuav describes its graduates as architectural designers ready to work as independent practitioners. The lists show where graduates go, not jobs on offer.
Reality check
Three bodies make the decisions: the university on admission, the region on the DSU grant and the consulate on the visa. We handle the rest of the work: shortlisting, portfolio review, the applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file. We cannot promise any of those outcomes.
Where applications usually go wrong, and the price of each:
- A portfolio in the wrong format. Sapienza asks for one PDF named Last_Name_Portfolio. A file that breaks the rule risks the 20 points it carries.
- Uploading too early at Politecnico di Milano. Once the application is paid for, documents cannot be changed, so a weak draft stays in the file.
- Waiting for spring. Politecnico di Milano's 2026/27 call closed on 29 January 2026 and Iuav's on 23 February 2026. Starting late can cost a full year.
- Expecting a fashion studio. Sapienza's fashion master's is a theory degree in blended mode, with a flat fee and no reductions.
- Ignoring the Italian requirement. Vanvitelli expects Italian at B2. Without it you follow the university's Italian courses and must pass an exit test.
- Picking by city. Politecnico di Milano's two landscape programmes are taught in Piacenza, not Milan, so rent and daily life follow that campus.
If your portfolio or degree is ready, check your eligibility now. If you are eligible, you book a one-to-one consultation with one of our Italy experts, and we take care of everything from that point.
Frequently asked questions
Is architecture in Italy worth it compared to other countries?
It can be, if you want strong design schools at a public-university price. Politecnico di Milano ranks 6th in the world for architecture in QS by Subject 2026, and a public master's there can be tuition-free for eligible students. The English-taught route starts at master's level, so your bachelor's comes first, at home or elsewhere.
How long does an architecture degree in Italy take?
The English-taught options in our catalogue are two-year master's of 120 ECTS, taken after a bachelor's. In Italian, architecture is also taught as a three-year bachelor's followed by the master's, or as a five-year single-cycle degree. Our catalogue has no English-only architecture bachelor's or single-cycle degree.
Do I need a portfolio for a master's in architecture in Italy?
At some universities: Politecnico di Milano makes one mandatory for architecture, urban planning and design, and Sapienza scores it up to 20 of 60 points for Product and Service Design. Iuav uses a 3-minute video instead, and Federico II runs open access with a requirements check. We review yours against each call.
Can I study architecture in Italy without knowing Italian?
Yes, at master's level: Politecnico di Milano's four programmes and Iuav's Architecture are taught in English. Vanvitelli expects Italian at B2 and offers courses if you fall short, while Federico II asks for a minimum level. Daily life outside the studio is easier with some Italian, whichever city you choose.
Can I study interior design in Italy in English?
In our catalogue, Federico II's Design for the Built Environment has an English-taught curriculum in interior design and temporary spaces. Politecnico di Milano's Interior and Spatial Design is recorded as taught in more than one language. We work only with public universities, so we do not recommend private design schools, even highly ranked ones.
How does tuition work for an architecture master's in Italy?
Tuition follows family income (ISEE), so a public master's can be tuition-free for eligible students, and DSU scholarship winners are exempt from tuition. Families with income abroad can file an ISEE or request the flat fee for their country. The visa also asks for funds of €10,179.85 a year, about ₹11.12 lakh at the ECB rate.
Is a B.Arch from India enough for a master's in Italy?
Usually, yes: Politecnico di Milano names the B.Arch among accepted four-year degrees, with a minimum GPA of 70 out of 100. Iuav's 2026/27 call gives an architecture bachelor's the most points for degree class. Vanvitelli asks for an architecture bachelor's or an equivalent such as architectural engineering.
Is an Italian architecture degree recognised in India?
The Italian university does not decide that. Iuav and Federico II say their master's follow EU Directive 2005/36/EC, which matters inside the EU. Practising in India depends on Indian rules and the Council of Architecture, so we raise recognition at the start if you plan to go back and practise.
Sources
- Politecnico di Milano, documents for laurea magistrale applicants with a foreign degree (portfolio rule), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, requirements for foreign degrees, India, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, laurea magistrale deadlines, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design (LM-4), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, Landscape Architecture. Land Landscape Heritage (LM-3), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, Urban Planning and Policy Design (LM-48), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, Product Service System Design (LM-12), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, student contribution regulation 2026/27 (Articles 5, 6 and 8), verified 28 September 2026.
- Iuav University of Venice, Architecture (LM-4), places and 2026/27 contribution, verified 28 September 2026.
- Iuav University of Venice, Architecture admission procedures and deadlines, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Iuav University of Venice, admission call for the Architecture master's, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Architecture: Regeneration of Built Environment (LM-4), verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Naples Federico II, Architecture and Heritage (LM-4), verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Naples Federico II, Design for the Built Environment (LM-12), verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Palermo, Spatial Planning (LM-48), course outline 2025/26, verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Product and Service Design (LM-12), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, call for Product and Service Design, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Fashion Theory and Practices (LM-65), fee and delivery, verified 28 September 2026.
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Architecture and Built Environment, Italy (published 25 March 2026), verified 28 September 2026.
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Art and Design, Italy (published 25 March 2026), verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, graduate outcomes by class (LM-4 shown; LM-3, LM-12 and LM-48 by changing the class), survey 2025, verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, 2026 report on graduate employment (survey year 2025), verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR, circular on international students valid for 2026/27 and 2027/28 (B2 check, visa funds), verified 28 September 2026.
- Universitaly, international students: visa deadlines for 2026/27 and 2027/28, verified 28 September 2026.
- European Central Bank, INR reference rate of 25 September 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
Euro amounts are converted to rupees at the ECB reference rate for 25 September 2026, €1 = ₹109.2605.
When you are ready to move from shortlist to application, Check your eligibility; eligible students book a one-to-one consultation with an Italy expert, and we take care of everything from there.
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.
