Urban Planning and Policy Design
Politecnico di Milano, Milan
Application deadline
Set by this cycle’s call
The date appears here, with its link, once a person has opened that call.
English requirement
Medium of Instruction letter accepted
The university’s exact wording
“The rule, verbatim: "All applicants need to provide a document attesting their English language knowledge." A medium of instruction letter replaces the test. The exemption clause, verbatim: "Students who can prove that English was the medium of instruction for their Bachelor's degree (for at least 3 years) are exempt from providing any English language certification. In this case, students must upload a document certified by their university confirming that at least 75% of the courses in their programme were taught in English." Accepted certificates, listed by Politecnico as updated for A.Y. 2026/2027, with the required score: IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training 6 or above. TOEFL paper based 547 or above, computer based 210 or above, internet based and TOEFL Home Edition 78 or above for tests taken until 20/01/2026 and 4.5 or above for tests taken from 21/01/2026, with Politecnico di Milano TOEFL code 9795. TOEIC, for tests registered up to 28 February 2026, 720 or above Listening and Reading; for tests registered from 1 March 2026, 785 or above Listening and Reading plus 310 or above Speaking and Writing. Cambridge Proficiency pass at grade C, Advanced pass at grade C, First pass at grade B. Trinity College ISE II or above. Pearson PTE Academic overall score 59 or above. Pearson PEIC English International Certificate overall score 59 or above. LanguageCert ESOL B2 Communicator, 4 skills, or above. Duolingo is not on the accepted list. The university adds that it "does not accept certifications considered expired by the issuing institution". On timing, the certificate "is not compulsory to complete the online application process and to start your evaluation, but it is MANDATORY in order to obtain your admission letter, to be considered for merit-based scholarships, to obtain the Visa and to enrol at Politecnico di Milano", and it "does not influence the outcome of your evaluation and can be provided after the application deadline". Italian is not needed to enter this programme. Politecnico asks for proof of Italian at enrolment only for programmes taught entirely in Italian, or in Italian and English. It is needed before you graduate. The university states that an Italian language proficiency test is mandatory for international students admitted to all English language Laurea Magistrale programmes, and that you must certify the language before sitting the graduation exam. A student admitted without it carries an Italian OFA, an additional learning obligation, and has to clear it before graduating.”
Politecnico di Milano, official programme pagechecked
- LevelMaster's degreeLaurea Magistrale
- SubjectArchitecture and design
- Taught inTaught in English
- Length2 years
- DeliveryOn campus
- StartsSeptember
- AdmissionRestricted, entrance testThere is an entrance test
- Minimum markNo minimum stated
The money
What you pay, and what you must prove you have.
Two different things, kept apart on purpose: a bill you pay, and a balance a visa officer needs to see that never gets spent.
What you pay
Tuition, per year
€3,943.04
about PKR 1,267,000
Why this figure, and not a lower one
Italian state fees usually scale with an assessed household indicator. Where the call states one figure it appears above; where it states a scale, this page says so rather than averaging it.
Politecnico di Milano does not price degrees individually. One all inclusive contribution covers any programme and is scaled by ISEE, the Italian measure of household income and assets, from 157.04 euro at the bottom of the scale to 3,943.04 euro at the top. The figure here is the top, because the university states that an international student in the reserved non EU category, admitted with a first level qualification obtained abroad and holding no scholarship, pays the maximum whatever ISEE says.
To be considered, once
€150
about PKR 48,000
Paid to the university when you submit. Non-refundable, and separate from anything the visa itself costs.
What you must prove you have
Funds you must show, per year
€10,179.85
Health cover, minimum
€30,000
How these two are decided
Funds you must show: in your own account, or evidenced by a sponsor or an award. Cash is refused.
Health cover: emergency treatment and repatriation, across the Schengen area, for as long as the visa lasts.
Universitaly (MUR)checked
Who may hold the money, and the refusal of cash, are the embassy’s own rules for a study visa rather than the university’s.
Embassy of Italy, Islamabadchecked
Rent, food and travel are in none of the figures above. What a month actually costs in Italy.
Amounts are in euro, as published. €1 = PKR 321.43, 30 August 2026.
Entry requirements
What this call asks of you.
The admission model first, because it is the one that closes a degree for a year. Everything below it is quoted from the university's call for applications for this cycle, in its order.
How it admits
Restricted, entrance test
accesso programmato
The university's own wording
“A Bachelor Degree in one of the main subjects related to the programme (Urban planning, Architecture, Engineering, Sociology and Social Sciences, Geography, Economics, Political Sciences and Environmental Science). Architects are required to produce a portfolio. Applicants with a different educational background are assessed individually.”
Entrance tests
Portfolio
What the call asks for
A bachelor degree, or being in the process of completing one, which must be obtained before enrolment at Politecnico di Milano
The degree must give access to Level 7 EQF of the European Qualifications Framework
The degree must contain subjects closely related to the MSc programme applied for
The degree must be issued by a university or other institution at university level belonging to the official education system of the country of reference
Bachelor degrees obtained on the basis of a franchising agreement are not accepted
Applicants who have a Bachelor of Science in a different field, or who attended a vocational school, cannot apply directly for a Master of Science
If you hold both a bachelor and a master degree, you will be evaluated on the basis of your bachelor degree only
Pakistan specific, verbatim: Minimum GPA required for the application is 3.3 out of 4. The university adds that the requirements including minimum GPA are strict and no exceptions will be considered
Pakistan specific, verbatim: We do not accept 2+2 year bachelor degrees. We accept only 4-year continuous bachelor programmes (in line with HEC new bachelor's degree policy)
Pakistan specific: transcripts must be originals with stamp and signature, not photocopies, certified by your university Registrar's Office or by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan
Pakistan specific: a letter issued by your university stating your weighted average score, in addition to your academic transcripts
A document attesting English language knowledge, either an accepted certificate or a medium of instruction letter
No entrance test. The GRE General Test is optional for engineering applicants and no minimum score has been set
You may apply once per semester for up to two Master of Science programmes at the same time
Politecnico di Milano may at any stage of the evaluation ask for the Declaration of Value of your degree or the CIMEA Statement of Comparability
The English rule
Medium of Instruction letter accepted
“The rule, verbatim: "All applicants need to provide a document attesting their English language knowledge." A medium of instruction letter replaces the test. The exemption clause, verbatim: "Students who can prove that English was the medium of instruction for their Bachelor's degree (for at least 3 years) are exempt from providing any English language certification. In this case, students must upload a document certified by their university confirming that at least 75% of the courses in their programme were taught in English." Accepted certificates, listed by Politecnico as updated for A.Y. 2026/2027, with the required score: IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training 6 or above. TOEFL paper based 547 or above, computer based 210 or above, internet based and TOEFL Home Edition 78 or above for tests taken until 20/01/2026 and 4.5 or above for tests taken from 21/01/2026, with Politecnico di Milano TOEFL code 9795. TOEIC, for tests registered up to 28 February 2026, 720 or above Listening and Reading; for tests registered from 1 March 2026, 785 or above Listening and Reading plus 310 or above Speaking and Writing. Cambridge Proficiency pass at grade C, Advanced pass at grade C, First pass at grade B. Trinity College ISE II or above. Pearson PTE Academic overall score 59 or above. Pearson PEIC English International Certificate overall score 59 or above. LanguageCert ESOL B2 Communicator, 4 skills, or above. Duolingo is not on the accepted list. The university adds that it "does not accept certifications considered expired by the issuing institution". On timing, the certificate "is not compulsory to complete the online application process and to start your evaluation, but it is MANDATORY in order to obtain your admission letter, to be considered for merit-based scholarships, to obtain the Visa and to enrol at Politecnico di Milano", and it "does not influence the outcome of your evaluation and can be provided after the application deadline". Italian is not needed to enter this programme. Politecnico asks for proof of Italian at enrolment only for programmes taught entirely in Italian, or in Italian and English. It is needed before you graduate. The university states that an Italian language proficiency test is mandatory for international students admitted to all English language Laurea Magistrale programmes, and that you must certify the language before sitting the graduation exam. A student admitted without it carries an Italian OFA, an additional learning obligation, and has to clear it before graduating.”
The application file
- University qualification: an official copy of the bachelor degree, or an official provisional certificate, or an enrolment document from your University Registrar's Office if you have not graduated, carrying stamps or signatures
- Academic transcript: an official document from the university Registrar's Office listing courses taken, grades received and the relation between credits and hours, scanned on both sides, original rather than a photocopy
- Cumulative GPA statement: must show both your CGPA and the grading scale with the minimum passing grade in use at your university, officially issued by the university
- Curriculum vitae: a written description of work experience, educational background and skills, maximum 2 pages
- English language document: an accepted certificate, or a university certified letter that English was the medium of instruction for at least 3 years covering at least 75% of the courses
- Official translation of the transcript and of the qualification if the original is not in Italian, English, French or Spanish, carrying the original stamp or signature of an official translator
- Optional: GRE General Test, for engineering and architecture applicants only, with no minimum score set, Politecnico code 0495
- Optional: letter of recommendation from a current or former professor, containing the professor's institutional contacts
- Optional: letter of motivation, maximum 2 pages per programme applied to
- Optional: detailed study programmes or course descriptions, 4 MB maximum
- All files in PDF, named without special characters or accents, and unchangeable once the application fee is paid
English, accepted proofs
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- PTE Academic
- Medium of Instruction letter
Only what this call names. A proof another degree at the same university accepts is not on this list unless this call says so too.
Before any of it counts
Start the legalisation chain first
A degree awarded outside Europe has to be attested and legalised before an Italian university reads it. That chain is decided by the country you apply from, and no office on it publishes a turnaround.
The study plan
What you would actually study.
Transcribed from the university's published study plan, in its order and its wording.
1st Year9 modules
- SOCIOLOGY OF THE CITY4 CFU
- IC URBANISM HISTORY AND PRACTICE10 CFU
- PLANNING THEORY6 CFU
- URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN STUDIOLab or workshop12 CFU
- SPATIAL PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN STUDIOLab or workshop12 CFU
- FRAGILITY AND ANTIFRAGILITY IN THE SPATIAL REALM6 CFU
- TERRITORIAL CHALLENGES AND URBAN SPACE10 CFU
- URBAN POLICIES DESIGN STUDIOLab or workshop12 CFU
- MASTER PLANS STUDIOLab or workshop12 CFU
2nd Year30 modules
- INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL THINKING6 CFU
- REGIONAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY4 CFU
- HOUSING AND NEIGHBOURHOODLab or workshop16 CFU
- ENERGY, CLIMATE AND URBAN PLANNINGLab or workshop16 CFU
- TERRITORIES AND POLYCRISIS. POLICY, GOVERNANCE AND SPATIAL JUSTICE10 CFU
- CLIMATE AND HYDROLOGYChoose from a list4 CFU
- CONFLICTS MANAGEMENT AND RESOLUTIONChoose from a list6 CFU
- IC URBAN ETHNOGRAPHYChoose from a list8 CFU
- RETAIL AND TOWN PLANNINGChoose from a list4 CFU
- TRANSPORT PLANNING AND ECONOMICSChoose from a list4 CFU
- TRANSPORTS, MOBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITYChoose from a list4 CFU
- URBAN HISTORYChoose from a list4 CFU
- CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE THEORY AND PRACTICEChoose from a list8 CFU
- TRANSITIONAL LANDSCAPE METABOLISMChoose from a list4 CFU
- ECONOMICS OF INNOVATION, CULTURE AND CREATIVITYChoose from a list5 CFU
- AESTHETICS OF ARCHITECTUREChoose from a list4 CFU
- IC ECONOMICS OF PUBLIC ISSUESChoose from a list8 CFU
- INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN AND RULE-MAKING IN CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTYChoose from a list6 CFU
- LANDSCAPE AND PUBLIC SPACE DESIGNChoose from a list4 CFU
- PLANNING THEORY. NEW CHALLENGESChoose from a list6 CFU
- SMART CITIES AND URBAN INNOVATIONChoose from a list8 CFU
- WORKSHOPLab or workshop4 CFU
- WORKSHOPLab or workshop4 CFU
- ADVANCED METHODOLOGIES FOR HUMAN-CENTERED URBAN DESIGNChoose from a list5 CFU
- TRANSPORT TECHNIQUE AND ECONOMYChoose from a list10 CFU
- MILAN INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL WORKSHOP 2.0Lab or workshop4 CFU
- INTERNSHIP4 CFU
- INTERNSHIP4 CFU
- DEGREE'S ACTIVITYThesis12 CFU
- DEGREE'S ACTIVITYThesis12 CFU
0 CFU for the whole degree, as the plan states it. 39 modules are listed here.
CFU is the Italian name for an ECTS credit. One is the same as the other, so 120 CFU is 120 ECTS.
Funding this programme lists
5 routes this call names.
Each has its own page with the amount, the ceilings and the state of its call today.
- Closed for this cycleRegional right-to-study grant
Bando di concorso per l'assegnazione dei benefici per il diritto allo studio (DSU), a.a. 2026/2027, Politecnico di Milano
Regione LombardiaBachelor's degree, Master's degree, PhD, Single-cycle degreeAny subject
€5,028 to €7,419cash, per academic year
Lombardy's DSU grant for 2026/2027 pays a student living away from home 5,028 to 7,419 euro in cash, adds a free meal a day and carries exemption from Politecnico tuition and contributions. You have to be under both ceilings, an ISEE of 26,887.93 euro and an ISPE of 58,452.06 euro, and the application goes to Politecnico di Milano rather than to the region, by 12:00 Italian time on 5 August 2026 for a first year student.
Pays for tuition, living costs, housing and meals
- Income ceiling applies
- One thing to check
Closed ·
- Closed for this cycleUniversity award
Merit Based International Scholarships: Bronze Piacenza Campus Scholarships
Politecnico di MilanoMaster's degreeAny subject
€2,500cash, gross, per academic year, on top of a full tuition fee waiver
Ten awards of €2,500 gross plus a full tuition fee waiver, for international students entering the first year of Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics for Manufacturing) taught in English at the Piacenza campus. It is the smallest cash amount in the Merit call and it is tied to that single programme.
Pays for tuition and living costs
- One thing to check
Closed ·
- Closed for this cycleUniversity award
Merit Based International Scholarships: Gold Piacenza Campus Scholarships
Politecnico di MilanoMaster's degreeAny subject
€5,000cash, gross, per academic year, on top of a full tuition fee waiver
Sixteen awards of €5,000 gross a year plus a full tuition fee waiver, for international students entering the first year of Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design or Energy Engineering (Renewables and Environmental Sustainability RES) taught in English at the Piacenza campus. It is tied to those two programmes only, and you have to have applied for admission inside the Early Bird window to be eligible at all.
Pays for tuition and living costs
- One thing to check
Closed ·
2 more routes this call names
- Closed for this cycleUniversity award
Merit Based International Scholarships: Platinum and Gold Scholarships, Milan
Politecnico di MilanoMaster's degreeAny subject
€8,000 to €10,000cash, gross, per academic year, on top of a full tuition fee waiver
Politecnico di Milano waives the whole tuition fee and adds a gross cash allowance of €10,000 a year on 10 Platinum awards or €8,000 a year on 18 Gold awards, for international students entering the first year of a Master of Science taught in English at Milano Leonardo or Milano Bovisa. Only students who submitted their admission application and paid the application fee during the Early Bird window are eligible at all, which for 2026/2027 meant applying between 1 October and 1 December 2025.
Pays for tuition and living costs
- One thing to check
Closed ·
- Closed for this cycleTuition waiver
Merit Based International Scholarships: Silver Cremona, Lecco, Mantova, Piacenza Campuses Scholarships
Politecnico di MilanoMaster's degreeAny subject
No amount published for this cycle
Ten awards that exempt you from tuition fees for the whole academic year, for international students entering the first year of any Master of Science taught in English at the Cremona, Lecco, Mantova or Piacenza campuses. There is no cash: Silver is a waiver and nothing else, so you still fund your own living costs.
Pays for tuition
- One thing to check
Closed ·
The degree
About this degree.
A two year Master of Science in designing spatial arrangements and urban policies to transform and manage the city, territory and environment, taught in English at the Milano Leonardo campus. It suits graduates in urban planning, architecture, engineering or the social sciences who want to plan, negotiate and assess urban transformations.
The Master of Science in Urban Planning and Policy Design provides an advanced academic route in designing spatial arrangements and urban policies, to transform and manage the city, territory and environment. It runs for two years, is taught in English at the Milano Leonardo campus and sits under the School of Architecture.
The university's full description
The subject areas are urbanism, urban planning and design, urban policies, planning theory and practice, policy analysis, contemporary city, infrastructure planning and design, energy and urban planning, housing and neighbourhoods, regional economics, European economics and welfare, urban ethnography, conflicts management, land use ethics and the law, smart cities and urban innovation, techniques of urban simulation, and assessment of urban transformations.
Admission requires a Bachelor Degree in one of the main subjects related to the programme: urban planning, architecture, engineering, sociology and social sciences, geography, economics, political sciences or environmental science. Architects are required to produce a portfolio.
Laurea magistrale programmes under the School of Architecture accept students only in the first semester of the academic year, which is the September intake.
The main professional opportunities for Laurea Magistrale graduates are in the free-lance sector, after having sat the professional examinations, and in institutions and public and private bodies operating to transform and manage the city, territory and environment.
Where it leads
As the university states it on its own page. Not a placement rate and not a promise.
- Free-lance practice, after having sat the professional examinations
- Institutions and public and private bodies operating to transform and manage the city, territory and environment
One programme, one university, once a year.
That is what Universitaly allows. Three questions tell you where you stand before you spend that choice: the degree level, what the visa wants in the bank, and how much calendar is left.
Universitaly (MUR)checked
The shortlist is a conversation
An advisor reads your documents against what this call asks for and tells you whether the file will clear, and if it will not, what to fix.
Tuition a year€3,943.04
Check Pakistan eligibility