Italy is a country well known for its high-quality education, where some of the most well-established universities in the world are located. Engineering faculties are among the most preferred departments of universities. Italy has a rich history of producing world famous engineers such as Enrico Forlanini and Andrea Pininfarina, and today it remains one of Europe’s strongest countries for industrial and technical education, particularly in automotive, aerospace, and mechatronics fields.
The engineering faculties, which host students from different countries across the world, offer admissions through self-organized exams or interviews. Students applying correctly and performing successfully in the exam/interview become eligible to study engineering in Italy. Italian language is not always required to study at these universities as many of them teach in the English language.
You can view our article about “Italian Technology Companies “.
Is Italy Good for Engineering?
Italy ranks among Europe’s strongest countries for engineering education. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Politecnico di Milano entered the global top 100 for the first time, ranking 98th overall and 20th in the world for Engineering & Technology. Politecnico di Torino sits at 242nd globally, placing 30th worldwide for Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering.
The country’s industrial ecosystem makes a real difference. Companies like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Leonardo (aerospace), and Stellantis actively recruit from Italian engineering schools. For a student, that means real internship pipelines not just a prestigious diploma on paper.
Universities Offering Engineering Education in Italy
Italian universities are proving to be popular for international students with unique opportunities and world-class facilities they offer. Students who want to start a successful career after a quality academic process by studying engineering in Italy have the chance to experience the country’s unique culture and city life.
There are number of possibilities to obtain high quality engineering education in Italy, at universities as Polytechnic University of Turin, University of Rome Tor Vergata and La Sapienza University of Rome. It is possible to obtain high-quality engineering education in Italy at universities such as Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, University of Pavia, Roma Tor Vergata, and La Sapienza University of Rome. Several of these universities rank among the world’s top institutions, and graduates from their engineering faculties are recognized by employers across Europe and beyond.
Additionally, you can review our article about “Top 500 Italian Universities” .
Engineering Departments in English and Admission Requirements
Students wishing to study engineering in Italy have the opportunity to choose the field and department they want. All faculties provide excellent training for the most popular engineering departments.
Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi)
Ranked 98th globally in QS 2026 and 20th in the world for Engineering & Technology, Politecnico di Milano is Italy’s largest technical university and the country’s highest-ranked institution. It focuses exclusively on engineering, architecture, and design, with a strong emphasis on applied, industry-connected learning.
English-taught bachelor’s programs include:
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Mathematical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Management Engineering
- Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology
- Aerospace Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Entry Terms and Conditions
Students who apply must:
- Have completed 12 years of secondary education
- Have passed the university entrance exam threshold in their home country (e.g. YKS for Turkish students — only the minimum threshold is required; placement at a specific university is not necessary). Students already enrolled at a university may provide a student certificate in place of the exam result.
- Hold a language certificate with international validity at a minimum B2 level (IELTS minimum 5.5 / TOEFL minimum 70). This document must be obtained before enrollment.
- Successfully complete the CEnT-S exam (CISIA English Test – Sciences), which replaced the TOLC-I from November 2025. Some programs at PoliMi also accept the SAT as an alternative to CEnT-S, always verify with the specific program’s current admission call.
The Polytechnic University of Turin
The Polytechnic University of Turin (QS 2026: 242nd globally, 30th in Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering) is one of the leading technical universities in Italy and one of the oldest, founded in 1859. Turin’s strong automotive and industrial heritage with brands such as Ferrari and Stellantis nearby gives PoliTo graduates direct access to one of Europe’s most active engineering job markets.
- Computer engineering
- Electronics and communication engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Mechatronics engineering
- Automobile engineering
Apart from these departments, there are other departments at Politecnico di Torino University where engineering education can be obtained in English. However, these departments only provide English education in the first year and continue their education in Italian in the following years. You can contact our team for detailed information.
Entry Terms and Conditions
Below are the requirements that students wishing to study English at the Politecnico di Turin University must meet. Students who apply;
- Have completed 12 years of secondary education
- Have passed the university entrance exam threshold in their home country (e.g. YKS both TYT and AYT for Turkish students). Students already enrolled at a university may provide a student certificate.
- Hold a language certificate with international validity at a minimum B2 level (IELTS minimum 5.5 / TOEFL minimum 70)
- Successfully pass the TIL-I exam (Test di Ingresso online – Ingegneria), PoliTo’s own admission test.
- The TIL-I consists of 42 questions across 4 sections (Mathematics, Reading & Logic, Physics, Basic Technical Knowledge), completed in 90 minutes. Students can take it up to 3 times; PoliTo considers the best score. Registration fee: €50.
- The CEnT-S exam does not replace TIL-I for Politecnico di Torino. These are separate exams. If PoliTo is your target, you prepare for TIL-I, not CEnT-S.
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University of Pavia
Founded in 1361, the University of Pavia is one of the oldest universities in the world and home to a growing modern engineering faculty. It stands out for including AI Engineering at undergraduate level a rare offering in Italy.
English-taught engineering programs include:
- Computer Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Automation Engineering
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- AI Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Energy Engineering
Admission follows the standard requirements: 12 years of education, B2 language certificate, and CEnT-S exam. Check Pavia’s specific admission call for exact score thresholds.
University of Rome Tor Vergata
The University of Rome Tor Vergata (QS 2026: 355th) is the most successful among Italy’s younger universities and a well-regarded institution for engineering research. There is one English-taught engineering bachelor’s program here: Engineering Sciences, with a discipline focused on industrial engineering.
Entry Terms and Conditions
Students who will apply;
- Have completed 12 years of secondary education
- Have passed the university entrance exam threshold in their home country
- Be successful in an online video interview. At Pava Education, we share detailed information about the format and content of previous interviews with students preparing for this step. Contact our team for more information.
La Sapienza University of Rome
According to QS World University Rankings 2026, La Sapienza University of Rome ranks 128th globally and is one of the largest universities in Europe. It is also one of the universities providing engineering education in English.
- Sustainable Building Engineering
Entry Terms and Conditions
Students who will apply;
- Must have completed 12 years of secondary education.
- Must pass the minimum score by taking the University entrance exam held in the year the application will be made.
- Language certificates with international validity must have a score of at least B2 level (IELTS minimum 5.5 – TOEFL 70 minimum). This document must be obtained by the student before the registration process.
- Successfully complete the CEnT-S exam, which replaced TOLC-I from November 2025. Students who want to study engineering in English at La Sapienza can contact our educational consultants for preparation materials.
Which Entrance Exam Do You Need?
This is where most guides go wrong, so let’s be clear:
- Most Italian public universities (Pavia, Sapienza, Tor Vergata, Bologna, etc.): CEnT-S exam is replaced TOLC-I, TOLC-E, TOLC-F from November 2025
- Politecnico di Torino: TIL-I exam PoliTo’s own test, not replaced by CEnT-S
- Politecnico di Milano: CEnT-S (also accepts SAT for some programs. Please check the current admission call)
If any website or guide still refers to TOLC-I as a requirement for future applicants, that information is outdated.
Advantages of Studying Engineering in Italy
Italy is one of the most popular countries for international students to study. Living conditions play a role in this, as does as the superiority of the country’s educational level. Italy is very modern and at the same time is a traditional European country with its culture, history, streets, life, cuisine, and tourism. It doesn’t take much time for people travelling from all around the world to Italy for various purposes to get settled in the country. Living in this country, being part of the whole culture, history and life of the country can be an unforgettable experience for students.
Students who will obtain their degree in Italy and enter the job market, no matter which country they want to make a career in, will now have more self-confidence and know what he needs to do.
In addition, studying engineering in Italy will be a unique academic experience for the student. Thanks to the quality education of universities, after graduation, the student will be able to enter business life as a professionally developed, cultured and successful person. Students will be able to see the benefits of graduating from a prestigious Italian university. They will have the opportunity to be recruited and excel at top companies globally.
After graduation, non-EU students can apply for a residence permit extension of up to one year to search for employment in Italy
In addition, a student studying engineering in Italy will have the opportunity to see the country’s history and attractions, participate in events such as opera, concerts, theatre, fairs, and exhibitions that are often held; also have the opportunity to develop themselves and have fun in these areas.
Tuition Fees of Universities Offering Engineering Education in Italy
In Italy, which has a social state understanding, tuition fees at public universities vary between 156 € and 3500 €. Family income declarations of students are requested when determining the amount of tuition fee. Students with an annual family income of less than € 25,000 pay an annual tuition fee of € 156 yearly. If the student has been living separately from his/her family for at least 2 years, the student’s own income is taken into consideration. Students who do not provide a family income declaration are deemed to have agreed to pay an annual tuition fee of € 3500. The fees of private universities in Italy vary. Private university fees ranging from € 15,000 to € 20,140 per year also highly preferred by students. The quality of engineering education in Italy is quite high in both public and private educational institutions and there is no big difference in the quality of education between them.
For detailed information, you can review our article about University Fees and Scholarships in Italy .
Scholarship and Accommodation Opportunities for Students Studying Engineering in Italy
You can also check out our article ” Scholarship Opportunities in Italy “.
The benefits of the scholarship are as follows:
- 156 Euros annual tuition fee
- Scholarship amount of an average of 5000-8000 euros per year
- Free meal card for use at lunch
- Benefit from university accommodation
DSU applications typically open in mid-July and close in early September. You need to reapply each academic year and meet minimum credit requirements from the second year onward.
Finally, you can review our article “Accommodation in Italy “.
Pava Education offers professional consultancy services for students who want to study engineering in Italy . To benefit from the support of Pava Education in your application process to Italian universities, you can fill out the application form immediately. Our expert consultants will contact you as soon as possible.
