Study Mechanical Engineering in Italy 2027/28: English-Taught Programmes, Universities and Fees
Six English-taught mechanical engineering master's at public universities in our catalogue, with selection rules, 2026/27 fees and graduate pay.
No commitment
Less than 2 minutes
Limited intake, 1:1 support
international students trusted us
universities only, where study can be tuition-free for eligible students
English-taught programmes
Italian regions covered
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
- What you can study: our catalogue lists 6 English-taught master's in the mechanical engineering degree class (LM-33) for 2027/28. There is one each at Padua, Florence, Politecnico di Bari, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Trento and Naples Federico II, all two years and 120 ECTS.
- Where it ranks: in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for mechanical engineering, Padua is 149th and Federico II sits in the 151 to 200 band. Politecnico di Milano (14th) and Politecnico di Torino (=30th) have no English-only mechanical master's in our catalogue.
- What it costs: a public-university master's can be tuition-free for eligible students through the regional DSU grant. Without it, Padua charged non-EU engineering students with family abroad a fixed €3,198 for 2026/27: about ₹3.49 lakh at the ECB rate of 25 September 2026 (€1 = ₹109.2605).
- What graduates earn: AlmaLaurea's 2026 report puts mechanical engineering master's graduates at 93.9% in work one year after graduating, on €1,815 net a month.
- 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.
Check your eligibility before you shortlist a programme. 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.
Mechanical engineering in Italy 2027/28: key facts
These rules apply to an English-taught mechanical engineering master's at an Italian public university for students from countries like India. Fees are 2026/27 figures, since 2027/28 fee tables usually appear the summer before.
| Topic | Mechanical engineering in Italy, 2027/28 |
|---|---|
| Degree | Laurea magistrale (two-year master's) in class LM-33, mechanical engineering: 2 years, 120 ECTS |
| English-only options in our catalogue | 6 programmes at 6 public universities (full list below) |
| Degree you need | A first-cycle degree at EQF level 6 that opens a master's in your own country (MUR circular 2026/27 and 2027/28). Padua prefers mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace or industrial engineering |
| English | Most programmes ask for B2, the level the consulate checks for the visa (MUR circular 2026/27 and 2027/28, Part II, p. 18) |
| Entry test | None of the six uses GRE, TOLC-I or CEnT-S. Selection is on degree, grades and CV, with an interview, an oral exam or a video at some |
| Tuition, 2026/27 | Can be tuition-free for eligible students through the DSU grant. Padua's fixed fee for non-EU engineering students with family abroad (Group B): €3,198 (₹3.49 lakh) |
| First 2027/28 window published | Padua: Call One 15 September to 15 November 2026; Call Two 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027 |
| Classes start | Padua 1 October 2027; the other five in autumn 2027 (calendars pending) |
| Visa | Funds of €10,179.85 a year (₹11.12 lakh); applications by 31 October 2027 |
| Graduate outcomes | LM-33: 93.9% employed one year after graduating, €1,815 net a month (AlmaLaurea, survey 2025) |
| Work while studying | Up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year on a study permit |
Which English-taught mechanical engineering master's can you study in Italy?
Six, in our catalogue for 2027/28: two-year master's of 120 ECTS in the mechanical engineering class LM-33, at Padua, Florence, Politecnico di Bari, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Trento and Naples Federico II. Each university's own programme page says it is taught in English. None of the six is at Politecnico di Milano or Torino.
How we built the list: we started from the programmes marked English-only in our catalogue (500 at 53 universities). We kept those named mechanical engineering. We then added mechatronics, automotive and vehicle engineering degrees only where the university page shows the LM-33 class.
| Programme | University | Campus | How you are selected | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering for Product Innovation | University of Padua | Vicenza | CV, grades and transcript; English B2 | Starts 1 October 2027 |
| Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability | University of Florence | Florence (blended delivery) | Unrestricted access; an oral exam checks your preparation in core mechanical subjects | Autumn 2027 (calendar pending) |
| Mechanical Engineering | Politecnico di Bari | Bari | Admitted on grade above the threshold, otherwise an interview | Autumn 2027 (calendar pending) |
| Advanced Automotive Engineering | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia | Modena (one curriculum also in Bologna) | CV and grades, plus a self-presentation video | Autumn 2027 (calendar pending) |
| Intelligent Mechatronics Engineering | University of Trento | Trento | CV and grades | Autumn 2027 (calendar pending) |
| Autonomous Vehicle Engineering | University of Naples Federico II | Naples | Requirements and personal preparation checked; English B2 | Autumn 2027 (calendar pending) |
Two records named mechanical engineering are left out. Sapienza's and Calabria's own pages list their LM-33 master's as taught in Italian and English, so they fail our English-only rule. Politecnico di Torino's mechanical engineering master's is recorded in our catalogue as multi-language too.
Our catalogue also holds industrial, manufacturing and smart-industry master's in the same class, under other names. The MS in Italy guide lists them with the rest of the engineering master's. For a three-year engineering degree taught in English, read our BTech in Italy guide.
Which Italian universities rank highest for mechanical engineering?
Politecnico di Milano does, at 14th in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for mechanical engineering. Politecnico di Torino follows at =30. Neither has an English-only mechanical master's in our catalogue, so among the six in our table, Padua ranks highest at 149th.
| University | QS by Subject 2026, Engineering: Mechanical | Programmes in our table |
|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | 14 | 0 |
| Politecnico di Torino | =30 | 0 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | 72 | 0 (taught in Italian and English) |
| University of Bologna | 123 | 0 |
| University of Padua | 149 | 1 |
| University of Naples Federico II | 151 to 200 | 1 |
| University of Genoa | 201 to 250 | 0 |
| University of Pisa | 201 to 250 | 0 |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | 251 to 300 | 0 |
| University of Florence | 301 to 350 | 1 |
| University of Trento | 301 to 350 | 1 |
| Politecnico di Bari | 401 to 450 | 1 |
| University of Milan | 401 to 450 | 0 |
| University of Salerno | 401 to 450 | 0 |
| University of Calabria | 451 to 500 | 0 (taught in English and Italian) |
| University of Modena and Reggio Emilia | 451 to 500 | 1 |
QS ranks the whole mechanical engineering department, not the English-taught master's alone. The table shows 16 of the 18 Italian entries; Politecnica delle Marche and Parma sit in the 501 to 575 band.
Not sure which of the six fits your degree? Check your eligibility first. If you are eligible, one of our Italy experts goes through the options with you in a one-to-one consultation, and we take care of everything from there.
Can you apply with a BE or BTech in mechanical engineering?
Yes. A four-year BE or BTech in mechanical engineering is the closest match for all six programmes, as long as your grades clear each call. The MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28 asks for a first-cycle degree at EQF level 6 that gives access to a master's in your own country.
Padua lists the fit most precisely. It prefers a bachelor's in mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace or industrial engineering. Other engineering degrees can qualify if they cover mathematics and physics, mechanical design, mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, industrial plants and turbomachinery.
Federico II's Autonomous Vehicle Engineering expects an industrial or information engineering bachelor's, with at least 12 ECTS in set subjects such as fluid machines. It also accepts some science and civil engineering degrees. Bari admits applicants whose grade meets its threshold and interviews the rest.
We read your transcript against each call's subject list before you apply, so gaps show up early. For English, most programmes want B2; our page on studying in Italy without IELTS covers the alternatives.
Do you need GRE or an entrance test for mechanical engineering in Italy?
No, for the six master's in our table: none asks for GRE, TOLC-I or CEnT-S, according to the university pages and our 2027/28 catalogue records. Selection runs on your degree, grades and CV, sometimes with an interview or a short video. Bari, for example, admits you on grades alone above its threshold.
Modena asks for a self-presentation video with the CV. Florence lists unrestricted access, but an oral exam checks your preparation in core mechanical engineering subjects before you enrol. Trento and Padua rank you on CV and grades, and Federico II checks requirements and personal preparation.
How much does a mechanical engineering master's in Italy cost?
Fees depend on the university and your family's income, and a public-university master's can be tuition-free for eligible students. At Padua, the 2026/27 fee call sets a fixed €3,198 a year (₹3.49 lakh), its Group B rate for engineering, for non-EU students whose family lives outside Italy, including the €208 first instalment.
The national floor comes from MUR Decree 1014 of 2021: no annual contribution for a family ISEE up to €22,000 (₹24.04 lakh), and cuts of 80%, 50%, 25% or 10% up to €30,000. Families with income abroad use an ISEE parificato. At Padua it only lowers the regional fee for this group, so budget the full €3,198.
The regional DSU grant is the main source of support, and the region decides it, not the university: see our DSU scholarship guide and the pages for Padua, Tuscany, Puglia, Emilia-Romagna and Campania. Rent and living costs are on our cost of studying page.
When do applications open for the 2027/28 intake?
They are already open at Padua: its first 2027/28 call for Mechanical Engineering for Product Innovation runs from 15 September to 15 November 2026. A second call follows from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. The other five programme pages we read showed no 2027/28 dates on 28 September 2026.
Padua's third call, in spring 2027, is only for EU students and non-EU students living in Italy. Classes there start on 1 October 2027.
The consulate must receive 2027/28 visa applications by 31 October 2027, Universitaly says. Our intakes guide sets out the wider calendar.
We plan your applications around these windows, then handle Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file. Our student visa guide explains what the consulate asks for.
What do mechanical engineering graduates earn in Italy?
More than most master's graduates. AlmaLaurea's 2026 report (survey year 2025) shows 93.9% of 2024 mechanical engineering master's graduates, class LM-33, in work one year on, earning €1,815 net a month. Across all two-year master's, the figures were 81.5% and €1,488.
| Measure | LM-33, 1 year after | LM-33, 5 years after | All two-year master's, 1 and 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduates in the survey (interviewed) | 3,225 (2,186) | 3,021 (1,623) | 106,697 and 89,392 |
| Employment rate | 93.9% | 98.0% | 81.5% and 94.1% |
| Net monthly pay | €1,815 (₹1.98 lakh) | €2,198 (₹2.40 lakh) | €1,488 and €1,862 |
Source: AlmaLaurea graduate outcomes tool, survey year 2025 (2024 graduates at one year, 2020 graduates at five). Pay is net, in euros a month. The figures cover every LM-33 graduate in Italy, not only English-taught programmes or international students.
Which industries hire mechanical engineers in Italy?
Manufacturing, automotive and energy lead the lists the universities publish. Padua names the mechanical, automotive, aerospace, metalworking, plastics, textile, food, packaging and energy industries for its graduates. Modena built its automotive master's with Emilia-Romagna car and motorcycle makers, backed by the regional government through the MUNER association.
Modena points its graduates to firms that design and build premium and racing cars and motorcycles, and their suppliers. Bari lists research and development, product design, tooling, automation and production systems, plus energy conversion and robotics. These lists describe where graduates go; they are not job offers.
Can you work in Italy during and after a mechanical engineering master's?
Yes, within limits. A study permit lets you work up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year, according to the Ministry of Labour's integration portal. After graduating, you can ask for a job-search permit of 9 to 12 months, for work that fits your degree.
Several programmes build industry in: Padua's ends with an industrial internship and a thesis, and Modena's curricula were shaped with its industrial partners. Plan your budget without counting on part-time work.
Reality check
The university decides admission, the region decides the DSU grant and the consulate decides the visa. We handle the work around those decisions: choosing programmes, the applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file. We never promise an outcome.
The usual pitfalls, and what each costs:
- A transcript that misses a core subject. Padua names six subject areas it expects. A gap can mean a refusal for the whole intake.
- Missing Padua's first two calls. The third call is closed to non-EU applicants living abroad, so a late start can cost the 2027/28 intake.
- Counting on the ISEE parificato at Padua. For non-EU students with family abroad it only lowers the regional fee. The €2,990 contribution stays.
- Choosing by city name. Padua's programme is taught in Vicenza, and Florence's uses blended delivery. Rent and daily life follow the campus.
- Weak English proof. Most programmes want B2, and the consulate checks English again at the visa stage. A late certificate can push the visa past 31 October 2027.
Ready to see whether your degree fits one of the six? Check your eligibility; if you are eligible, you book a one-to-one consultation with an Italy expert, and we take care of everything after that.
Frequently asked questions
Are mechanical engineering master's in Italy taught in English?
Yes: our catalogue lists six English-taught master's in the mechanical engineering class for 2027/28, at Padua, Florence, Politecnico di Bari, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Trento and Naples Federico II. Each lasts two years and carries 120 ECTS. Most ask for English at B2, and we match your proof to each call before you apply.
Is IELTS required for mechanical engineering in Italy?
Not by name: most programmes ask for English at B2, and Padua publishes its own list of accepted certificates and exemptions. For the visa, the Kolkata consulate's 2026/27 and 2027/28 checklist accepts a B2 certificate or a medium-of-instruction declaration. We work out which proof each of your universities accepts.
Which is the best university for mechanical engineering in Italy?
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Politecnico di Milano (14th) and Politecnico di Torino (=30th) lead, yet neither has an English-only mechanical master's in our catalogue. Among the six that do, Padua (149th) and Federico II (151 to 200) rank highest. How well your degree fits each call matters more.
What fees will I pay for mechanical engineering in Italy?
A public-university master's can be tuition-free for eligible students through the regional DSU grant. Without it, Padua charged non-EU engineering students with family abroad €3,198 for 2026/27, about ₹3.49 lakh. Separately, the visa needs proof of €10,179.85 a year for living costs, about ₹11.12 lakh at the ECB rate.
Do I need GRE for a master's in mechanical engineering in Italy?
No: none of the six English-taught mechanical master's in our catalogue asks for GRE. Selection is on your degree, grades and CV: Bari may add an interview, Modena wants a short video and Florence, with unrestricted access, checks your preparation in an oral exam. A transcript that covers the core subjects counts for most.
Can I work in Italy after a mechanical engineering degree?
Yes: graduates of an Italian degree can apply for a job-search permit of 9 to 12 months, for work that fits the degree. During the course, a study permit allows up to 20 hours a week. AlmaLaurea found 93.9% of mechanical engineering master's graduates employed one year after finishing.
Is automotive engineering the same as mechanical engineering in Italy?
It sits in the same degree class. Modena's Advanced Automotive Engineering and Federico II's Autonomous Vehicle Engineering are both LM-33, the mechanical engineering class, as their university pages state. The focus differs: premium, racing and motorcycle engineering at Modena, autonomous vehicles at Naples.
When should I apply for the 2027/28 intake?
Start in autumn 2026: Padua's first 2027/28 call for Mechanical Engineering for Product Innovation closes on 15 November 2026 and its second on 1 March 2027. Visa applications must be in by 31 October 2027. We plan your applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment and visa file around those dates.
Sources
- University of Padua, Mechanical Engineering for Product Innovation, course page and 2027/28 calls, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Padua, Mechanical Engineering for Product Innovation, degree class LM-33, Vicenza campus, 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, Tables 1 and 4, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Florence, Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability (LM-33), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Bari, Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Advanced Automotive Engineering (LM-33), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Trento, Intelligent Mechatronics Engineering (LM-33), verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Naples Federico II, Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (LM-33), verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Mechanical Engineering (LM-33), languages Italian and English, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Calabria, Mechanical Engineering (LM-33), languages English and Italian, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Engineering: Mechanical, Italy (published 25 March 2026), verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, graduate outcomes, class LM-33, one year after graduating, survey 2025, verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, graduate outcomes, class LM-33, five years after graduating, survey 2025, verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, Rapporto 2026 on graduate outcomes (survey 2025), verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR, Ministerial Decree 1014 of 3 August 2021 on fee exemptions (ISEE up to €22,000), verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR, circular on international students valid for 2026/27 and 2027/28 (EQF level 6 rule, B2 check, visa funds), verified 28 September 2026.
- Universitaly, international students: visa deadlines 30 November 2026 and 31 October 2027, verified 28 September 2026.
- Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata, study visa checklist 2026/27 and 2027/28, verified 28 September 2026.
- Integrazione Migranti (Ministry of Labour), work on a study permit, 28 February 2023, verified 28 September 2026.
- Integrazione Migranti (Ministry of Labour), job-search permit after graduating, 7 July 2023, verified 28 September 2026.
- European Central Bank, euro reference rate for the Indian rupee, 25 September 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
All rupee figures on this page use the ECB euro reference rate of 25 September 2026: €1 = ₹109.2605.
Your next step: Check your eligibility. If you are eligible, you book a one-to-one consultation with one of our Italy experts, 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.
