Study Artificial Intelligence in Italy 2027/28: English-Taught Programmes, Universities and Fees
14 English-taught AI programmes at 11 public universities: engineering or computing classes, entry credits, tests, QS 2026 ranks and fees.
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Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead. Reviewed by Reeya Sharma, Student Success and Partnerships. Published 28 September 2026. Updated 28 September 2026.
In short
- Yes, you can study artificial intelligence in English at an Italian public university. Our catalogue lists 14 AI programmes at 11 universities for 2027/28: 13 two-year master's and 1 bachelor's, at Pavia.
- In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Italy's leader is Politecnico di Milano (32). Sapienza (51 to 100) and Pisa (101 to 200) are the ranked universities with AI programmes in our catalogue, 2 each.
- What you pay depends on family income, and study can be tuition-free for eligible students. On current tables, a year at Sapienza was €456 (2025/26) and a first year at Pisa €736 (2026/27) with income only in India, about ₹49,800 and ₹80,400 at the ECB rate of 25 September 2026.
- No AI programme here asks for the GRE. Four set their own admission test, and one admits only through the Erasmus Mundus EMAI consortium.
- ApplyAZ, an independent study-in-Italy consultancy with offices in Milan and India, works only with Italian public universities and takes no commission from them. For eligible students, we handle the applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU scholarship application and the visa file.
See first whether an Italian public university fits your profile. 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.
Artificial intelligence in Italy: the 2027/28 facts
| Topic | What we found |
|---|---|
| English-taught AI programmes | 14 (13 master's, 1 bachelor's) at 11 public universities; our catalogue, counted 28 September 2026. |
| Engineering or computer science | 5 master's in computer engineering (LM-32), 4 in computer science (LM-18), the rest in information-society, biotechnology or bachelor's classes, and one (Sapienza's AI and Robotics) not recorded yet. |
| Ranking signal (QS by Subject 2026) | Data Science and AI: Politecnico di Milano 32; Sapienza 51 to 100; Pisa 101 to 200, among universities with AI programmes here. |
| Background | Maths, physics, computing or engineering; Trento asks graduates outside classes L-8, L-9 and L-31 for 12 computing credits on top of 36 in basic sciences. |
| Entry tests | No GRE; 4 own admission tests; 1 consortium admission (EMAI); the Pavia bachelor's records the SAT. |
| English | B2 in 12 of the 14; the other two follow the EMAI call or have no rule recorded yet. |
| Tuition, family income abroad | Sapienza €456 (2025/26); Pisa €736 in year one (2026/27); can be tuition-free for eligible students with the DSU grant. |
| Places | Trento's AI Systems: 60 in the 2026/27 non-EU call, 20 of them kept for EIT candidates. |
| Visa deadline for 2027/28 | 31 October 2027. |
| Outcomes | AlmaLaurea 2026 (survey year 2025): 93.3% of IT and ICT master's graduates and 93.6% of information engineering graduates employed after one year. |
Which English-taught artificial intelligence programmes can you study in Italy?
Our catalogue holds 14 for 2027/28, at 11 public universities from Turin to Palermo. Nearly all need a first degree, since 13 are two-year master's, and the one route after Class 12 is Pavia's bachelor's. The count, made on 28 September 2026, includes only programmes our catalogue records as English alone.
The rule for this guide: the programme's name must name artificial intelligence or machine learning. That keeps out robotics, mechatronics and "intelligent systems" degrees that teach some AI but are built around something else.
Where a name covers two fields, the programme also appears in a second guide. Calabria, Palermo and Turin join computing with AI and so appear in our computer science guide too. Pisa's AI and Data Engineering is also a data science programme, and Parthenope's machine learning and big data degree sits in all three.
| Programme | University | Level | Selection (our catalogue) | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | University of Pavia | Bachelor's (3 years) | SAT for non-EU applicants abroad (CEnT-S or TOLC-I for EU applicants). | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Applied Computer Science (Machine Learning and Big Data) | Parthenope University of Naples | Master's (2 years) | None, open access with an admission interview. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence | Sapienza University of Rome | Master's (2 years) | Set by the EMAI consortium. | EMAI round opens November 2026 |
| Artificial Intelligence and Robotics | Sapienza University of Rome | Master's (2 years) | Not recorded yet. | Not recorded yet |
| Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science | University of Calabria | Master's (2 years) | Admission test set by the university. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence for Science and Technology | University of Milan-Bicocca | Master's (2 years) | None if your grade meets the threshold, otherwise an interview. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence Engineering | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia | Master's (2 years) | None, selection on CV and grades. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence | University of Palermo | Master's (2 years) | None, selection on CV and grades plus an interview. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering | University of Pisa | Master's (2 years) | None, selection on CV and grades, plus an online interview. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Biotechnologies and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health | University of Pisa | Master's (2 years) | Admission test set by the university. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence and Automation Engineering | University of Siena | Master's (2 years) | Admission test set by the university. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence Systems | University of Trento | Master's (2 years) | None, selection on CV and grades. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence and High Performance Computing Technologies | University of Turin | Master's (2 years) | None if your grade meets the threshold, otherwise an interview. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
| Artificial Intelligence for Biomedicine and Healthcare | University of Turin | Master's (2 years) | Admission test set by the university. | Autumn 2027, calendar pending |
Source: ApplyAZ catalogue of English-only programmes, selected by programme name with python on 28 September 2026. "Not recorded yet" marks a 2027/28 detail that is not public yet; we update it as calls appear.
Close relatives you may also like: Genoa's Robotics Engineering and Verona's Computer Engineering for Intelligent Systems teach AI methods inside other degrees.
Which Italian universities are best for artificial intelligence?
Sapienza is your strongest ranked option for AI taught in English. It sits in the 51 to 100 band of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, with 2 AI programmes in our catalogue. Politecnico di Milano leads the table at 32 but has no English-only programme named for AI here.
| University | QS 2026 rank, Data Science and AI | AI programmes here | Degree class of those programmes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | 32 | 0 | None in our catalogue |
| Sapienza University of Rome | 51 to 100 | 2 | LM-32, computer engineering, Not recorded yet |
| University of Bologna | 51 to 100 | 0 | None in our catalogue |
| Politecnico di Torino | 101 to 200 | 0 | None in our catalogue |
| University of Pisa | 101 to 200 | 2 | LM-32, computer engineering, LM-9, biotechnology |
| University of Padua | 101 to 200 | 0 | None in our catalogue |
| University of Milan | 101 to 200 | 0 | None in our catalogue |
| University of Trento | Not in this table | 1 | LM-32, computer engineering |
| University of Calabria | Not in this table | 1 | LM-18, computer science |
| University of Turin | Not in this table | 2 | LM-18, computer science, LM-91, information society |
| University of Milan-Bicocca | Not in this table | 1 | LM-91, information society |
| University of Modena and Reggio Emilia | Not in this table | 1 | LM-32, computer engineering |
| University of Pavia | Not in this table | 1 | L-31, computer science (bachelor's) |
| University of Siena | Not in this table | 1 | LM-32, computer engineering |
| Parthenope University of Naples | Not in this table | 1 | LM-18, computer science |
| University of Palermo | Not in this table | 1 | LM-18, computer science |
Source: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Italy filter (7 universities, published 25 March 2026); classes and counts from our catalogue, 28 September 2026.
Most AI master's in our catalogue come from universities outside that seven-name table. Turin, Trento, Calabria and Bicocca still appear in the QS computer science table, at 351 to 400, 201 to 250, 351 to 400 and 451 to 500. Milan has no AI master's of its own here, but it co-teaches Pavia's AI bachelor's with Bicocca.
Is an AI master's in Italy an engineering or a computer science degree?
It can be either, and the difference shows in the entry rules. Of the 13 AI master's in our catalogue, 5 sit in computer engineering (LM-32) and 4 in computer science (LM-18). The class shapes the entry credits: Pisa's engineering-class AI master's asks for 36 credits in maths or physics.
Two programmes lean towards medicine. Turin's AI for Biomedicine and Healthcare sits in an information-society class, and Pisa's Biotechnologies and Applied AI for Health in biotechnology (LM-9); both set an admission test. Bicocca's AI for Science and Technology sits in the information-society class (LM-91) too.
For your application, the class mainly decides which credits you need to get in. That is why we read the class before we read the course list.
What background do you need for an AI master's in Italy?
A science, engineering or computing degree with solid maths is the usual starting point. Trento's AI Systems master's, for example, counted Italian classes L-8, L-9 and L-31 as meeting its entry requirements in its 2026/27 call. Graduates of other fields needed 36 credits in basic sciences plus 12 in computing.
| Programme | Direct entry | Credits asked otherwise | English | How you are chosen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Systems, Trento | Italian classes L-8, L-9 or L-31 (information engineering, industrial engineering, computer science) | 36 credits in maths, physics, chemistry or similar sectors, plus 12 in computing (INF/01 or ING-INF/05) | B2 | Score out of 100, with 50 needed to be eligible; 60 places, 20 for EIT; 2026/27 round closed 4 March 2026. |
| AI and Data Engineering, Pisa | Italian classes L-8, L-30, L-31 or L-35 (information engineering, physics, computer science, maths) | 36 credits in maths or physics, 9 in computer engineering and 9 in management (ING-IND/35 or SECS-P/08) | B2 | Panel review of CV and requirements; an interview may follow. |
| Artificial Intelligence (bachelor's), Pavia | Class 12; our catalogue records the SAT for applicants abroad | Not applicable | B2 | Restricted access; for 2026/27 no places for non-EU applicants living abroad. |
Sources: University of Trento call for non-EU citizens living abroad, 2026/27; University of Pisa programme page; University of Pavia programme page, 2026/27. The 2027/28 calls are pending.
Pisa's rule on 9 management credits is easy to miss if your degree had no business courses. We spot gaps like that on your transcript before choosing where to apply, and we set the shortlist around the rules you already meet.
Do AI master's in Italy have an entrance test?
Some do, and a larger share than in computing overall. Our catalogue shows 4 of the 14 AI programmes setting their own admission test, and 3 adding an interview to the CV review. The GRE does not feature in any of them, and Sapienza's EMAI admits through its consortium.
- Own admission test: Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science at Calabria; Biotechnologies and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health at Pisa; Artificial Intelligence and Automation Engineering at Siena; Artificial Intelligence for Biomedicine and Healthcare at Turin.
- CV, grades and an interview: 3.
- No test above a grade threshold, otherwise an interview: 2.
- Degree, CV and grades only: 2.
- Consortium admission: Sapienza's Artificial Intelligence (EMAI).
- SAT for applicants abroad: Pavia's bachelor's, according to our catalogue.
- Not recorded yet: AI and Robotics at Sapienza.
English is checked twice. Twelve of the 14 record a B2 rule, and the consulate looks for B2 English again in the visa file, under the MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28. Our guide to studying without IELTS lists the accepted alternatives.
How does applying to the Erasmus Mundus AI master's at Sapienza work?
It runs through a consortium, not through Sapienza alone. Sapienza's Artificial Intelligence master's is its page for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Artificial Intelligence (EMAI), and the call sits on the consortium's site. Our catalogue records the next round opening in November 2026.
That calendar differs from the usual Italian one, so it needs its own plan. We confirm the EMAI round dates and documents when they are published, and fit them around your other applications. Sapienza's EMAI programme page links to the consortium's call.
Can you study a bachelor's in artificial intelligence in Italy?
In English, only at Pavia in our catalogue, and access is tight. Pavia teaches its AI bachelor's jointly with the University of Milan and Milano-Bicocca, over 3 years and 180 credits. For 2026/27, Pavia's page said there were no places for non-EU students living abroad; 2027/28 places are pending.
If that route stays closed, computing and engineering bachelor's are the realistic start, with AI as a master's later. Our guides to engineering bachelor's in Italy and all bachelor's degrees list them.
How much does an AI master's in Italy cost?
Fees depend on family income, and they can be tuition-free for eligible students. With family income only in India, Sapienza's latest published table charged €456 for 2025/26, and Pisa charged €736 for a 2026/27 first year. Both figures come from the universities' own fee pages.
At Sapienza, India is in Band A: €300, plus €140 regional tax and €16 stamp duty, with 2026/27 figures due after 30 September 2026. At Pisa, the €2,900 flat rate is multiplied by 0.2 for India, giving €580, plus the same €140 and €16. The EMAI joint master sets its own terms through the consortium.
The DSU grant is the other half of the budget, decided by the region: Lazio for Sapienza, Tuscany for Pisa and Siena and Piedmont for Turin. Rent and living costs are covered in our guide to the cost of studying in Italy.
Not sure the numbers work for you yet? The eligibility check is the place to begin. 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.
What careers do AI graduates have in Italy?
Graduates of the degree groups that include AI mostly join IT companies, industry or research, and find work fast. AlmaLaurea's 2026 report (survey year 2025) found 93.3% of IT and ICT master's graduates and 93.6% of information engineering graduates employed one year after graduating. AI master's sit in both groups, so we show them side by side.
| One year after a two-year master's | IT and ICT group | Industrial and information engineering group |
|---|---|---|
| Graduates covered | 2,391 | 16,625 |
| Employment rate | 93.3% | 93.6% |
| Net monthly pay | €1,771 (about ₹1.94 lakh) | €1,787 (about ₹1.95 lakh) |
| Months from degree to first job | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Working in industry | 9.8% | 51.3% |
| Working in IT companies | 46.6% | 11.7% |
| Doing or finished a PhD | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Using smart working (remote work) | 79.5% | 56.3% |
Source: AlmaLaurea, Esiti occupazionali della laurea, Rapporto 2026, survey year 2025, 2024 graduates of two-year master's, groups "Informatica e tecnologie ICT" and "Ingegneria industriale e dell'informazione".
The split matters for your choice. In these groups, engineering graduates work in industry far more often (51.3%), while IT and ICT graduates work mainly in IT companies (46.6%).
Pisa names big data and AI engineers, machine learning engineers, data analytics managers and research roles as the targets of its AI and Data Engineering master's.
Graduates from outside the EU can stay on after the degree to look for work. Italy's Ministry of Labour integration portal describes a job-search permit of no less than 9 and no more than 12 months for holders of an Italian degree.
Reality check
Admission is the university's call, and AI programmes often add a test or an interview. The DSU grant is the region's call. The visa is the consulate's, and no adviser can change any of the three.
What we do for eligible students is the preparation and the paperwork: shortlist, applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file. As for degree certificates, attestations and bank papers, we tell you exactly which documents to get, in which order, and check every page before the visa appointment.
- Counting on Pavia's AI bachelor's. It offered no places to non-EU applicants living abroad for 2026/27. Cost: a lost year if it was your only application.
- Missing the EMAI round. The consortium runs its own calendar, with the next round opening in November 2026 per our catalogue. Cost: that intake.
- No programming credits. For AI Systems in 2026/27, Trento wanted 12 in computing from graduates outside its listed classes. Cost: an ineligible file, whatever your grades.
- Ignoring Pisa's management credits. Engineers without 9 in management sectors may not meet the rule. Cost: a refusal.
- Missing the national visa date. Study visa applications for 2027/28 close on 31 October 2027. Cost: the seat you won.
AI overlaps with two neighbours, so compare them: our computer science and data science guides use the same catalogue. Beyond these three subjects, our MS in Italy guide maps the remaining science and engineering options, while the guide to masters in Italy spans business, humanities and every other field.
One step decides everything that follows: the eligibility check. 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 I study artificial intelligence in Italy in English?
Yes. Our catalogue lists 14 English-taught AI programmes at 11 public universities for 2027/28, almost all of them two-year master's, including Trento's AI Systems, Pisa's AI and Data Engineering, and Sapienza's Erasmus Mundus master. Pavia offers the only English AI bachelor's we list.
Is the GRE required for an AI master's in Italy?
No. None of the 14 AI programmes in our catalogue asks for the GRE, and selection rests on your degree, your credits in maths and computing, and your grades. Four programmes set their own admission test, and three add an interview to the CV review.
Can I do an AI master's in Italy after a BTech in electronics or mechanical engineering?
Often, if your maths is strong and you have some programming. Trento's 2026/27 call counted information and industrial engineering degrees (Italian classes L-8 and L-9) as meeting its AI Systems requirements, while Pisa wants maths and physics credits plus 9 in computer engineering and 9 in management. We check how your BTech maps to each rule.
Can I study AI for healthcare in Italy?
Yes. Turin's AI for Biomedicine and Healthcare and Pisa's Biotechnologies and Applied AI for Health are both taught in English, and both set an admission test, according to our catalogue. Pisa's programme sits in a biotechnology class (LM-9) rather than a computing one.
What is the difference between AI and data science degrees in Italy?
AI degrees centre on building intelligent systems, such as machine learning, robotics, vision and reasoning, while data science degrees centre on analysing data, with more statistics. Pisa's AI and Data Engineering covers both, which is why it appears in both of our guides. The entry credits differ, so we match them.
Can ApplyAZ handle my AI applications, including EMAI?
If you are eligible, yes. We shortlist AI programmes with you, prepare each application, including rounds with their own calendar such as EMAI, and handle Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file. The university and the consortium decide admission.
Sources
- QS subject ranking 2026 for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, filtered to Italy, verified 28 September 2026.
- QS subject ranking 2026 for Computer Science and Information Systems, filtered to Italy, verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, graduate outcomes 2026 (survey 2025), "Informatica e tecnologie ICT" master's, one year, verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, graduate outcomes 2026 (survey 2025), "Ingegneria industriale e dell'informazione" master's, one year, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Trento call for non-EU applicants living abroad (AI Systems), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Pisa, Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering: requirements and careers, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Pavia, Artificial Intelligence bachelor's, access for 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza, Artificial Intelligence (EMAI) programme page, verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza fee amounts for students with income abroad, 2025/26, verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza fee information page, 2026/27 due after 30 September, verified 28 September 2026.
- Pisa tuition fees for degree courses, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Pisa country table for students with income abroad, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Universitaly, procedure for international students with the 2027/28 visa deadline, verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR international students circular for the two years 2026/27 and 2027/28, verified 28 September 2026.
- Ministry of Labour integration portal on the job-search permit, 7 July 2023, verified 28 September 2026.
- ECB reference rate, euro to Indian rupee, 25 September 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
- ApplyAZ catalogue, via our programme search: programmes taught only in English whose names cover AI or machine learning, counted 28 September 2026.
All rupee amounts here are rounded conversions at 1 EUR = 109.2605 INR, the European Central Bank reference rate on 25 September 2026.
When you are ready to start: 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.
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.
