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MSc in Automation and Control Engineering
The Master’s Degree Programme in Automation and Control Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano trains professionals capable of designing, developing and managing complex systems in which mechanical, electronic, computer and control technologies work together to operate machines, plants and processes in an autonomous, efficient and reliable way.
Today, the systems designed by automation engineers are increasingly referred to as examples of Physical AI, that is, artificial intelligence applied to physical systems: technologies capable of perceiving the environment, learning from process behaviour, and acting autonomously and adaptively. This evolution spans robotics, autonomous vehicles, intelligent production systems and digitalised infrastructures, and represents the new frontier of automation.
This is a multidisciplinary programme that combines solid scientific foundations with advanced engineering skills, enabling students to understand and model physical systems, use sensors and actuators, and design decision‑making logic to guide the behaviour of modern processes.
The study path offers a modern and innovation‑oriented education. It opens the way to highly qualified roles in advanced industrial and technological sectors, preparing engineers capable of contributing to the autonomous and intelligent transformation of the systems that will shape industry and society in the coming decades.
To be eligible for the evaluation of academic records for admission to the Master of Science Programme, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree or a higher qualification (Master of Science or Specialist Degree, or a five‑year degree awarded under the former Italian system). The evaluation may also be carried out for students enrolled in Bachelor’s Degree Programmes at the Politecnico di Milano, provided they are registered for the immediately following graduation session; similarly, students from other universities may be evaluated if they are expected to graduate before enrolment in the Master of Science or within the deadlines specified at www.polimi.it/futuri-studenti.
The admission requirements assessed by the Commission include achieving a weighted average grade not below a defined threshold (see details below) and holding a valid English language certification.
Graduates of the Bachelor’s Degree in Automation Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano are automatically admitted if they have obtained a weighted average grade of at least 22/30 at the end of their programme. Graduates from other Bachelor’s Degree Programmes within the School of Industrial and Information Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano are automatically admitted if their weighted average grade is at least 23/30. For all graduates from other Italian universities who do not fall into the previous categories, a necessary condition for admission is a weighted average grade of at least 23/30. If this requirement is met, admission will be decided on a case‑by‑case basis by the designated Admission Committee, based on the applicant’s previous academic curriculum.
Students holding a foreign qualification equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree may apply for admission, provided they have an adequate background in fundamental engineering subjects and in the areas relevant to industrial and/or information engineering. Admission is subject to an Eligibility assessment of the applicant’s previous academic record, carried out in accordance with the procedures and criteria established by the Politecnico di Milano.
The evaluation is based on academic merit and on verifying that the student possesses a sufficiently solid command of general scientific methods and core engineering foundations, which are essential prerequisites for the subjects offered in the programme. Particular consideration is given to applicants who already have competencies in systems theory and control, which are especially relevant to the field.
The Master of Science programme in Automation and Control Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano provides advanced training in the modelling, analysis and control of complex dynamical systems, grounded in modern methods from systems theory and state‑of‑the‑art computational techniques. The programme prepares engineers capable of thoroughly understanding the behaviour of physical systems, developing accurate mathematical models, designing advanced control algorithms and integrating them with mechatronic, information and electronic technologies across a wide range of technical and industrial applications.
The common core of the programme develops cross‑cutting skills in the dynamics of mechanical and electrical systems, in process data identification and analysis, in the design of software systems for automation, and in the management of the interaction between hardware, actuators, sensors and decision‑making logic. Building on these foundations, students may specialise in advanced thematic areas such as robotics — with particular focus on the control of industrial robots, aerial robots, humanoids, medical robots and mobile robots — autonomous vehicles, where students study vehicle control systems, methods for perception, localisation, path planning and motion control, and the manufacturing and process sector, which includes the design of solutions for intelligent production, the supervision and optimisation of industrial processes, and their integration with advanced automation. Additional expertise covers technologies for control systems, including software and hardware architectures, real‑time systems, and techniques for safety and reliability, as well as advanced methods in systems and control theory for addressing multivariable, robust and data‑driven problems. The programme also develops competencies in energy systems and their automation, which play an essential role in modern smart grids and intelligent infrastructures.
A qualifying component of the programme is its strong emphasis on design‑oriented activities: advanced laboratories and project‑based work allow students to integrate modelling, control algorithms, sensors, actuators and software components within real or realistic applications, fostering the ability to tackle complex problems with a systemic and interdisciplinary approach.
Taken together, these competencies enable students to design Physical AI systems, i.e. forms of artificial intelligence applied to physical systems: technologies capable of perceiving the environment, learning from data, adapting dynamically and acting autonomously and safely. This field is expected to have a disruptive impact across all economic sectors, from robotics to autonomous vehicles, from energy to manufacturing, and up to digitalised infrastructures and next‑generation autonomous systems.
Graduates of the Master of Science in Automation and Control Engineering can pursue professional opportunities in a wide range of technological and industrial fields, thanks to their ability to understand and manage complex systems that integrate mechanics, electronics, computer science and decision‑making algorithms. They can work in the design and management of automated plants, in the development of robotic and mechatronic systems, in the definition of control strategies for production processes and in the supervision of smart energy networks and infrastructures. They are ideally equipped to develop artificial intelligence solutions for physical systems — Physical AI. Their skills make them key figures in manufacturing companies, engineering firms, technology enterprises and research centres, as well as in organisations developing solutions for Industry 4.0, where they can take on technical, consultancy or managerial roles. The interdisciplinary approach that characterises their education enables them to contribute actively to innovation processes and to the digital transformation of production systems and services.
After completing the Master of Science, those wishing to further deepen their interests can continue with advanced training programmes, such as PhD programmes, which allow them to explore specialised topics related to automatic control, robotics, autonomous systems and intelligent technologies. Additional opportunities include professional master programmes and specialised training courses aimed at developing focused competencies — for example in advanced industrial automation, complex systems management or digital technologies applied to physical processes. These opportunities allow graduates to strengthen their professional profile and open the way both to an academic career and to high‑responsibility roles in the private sector, especially in technologically advanced and innovation‑driven contexts.
Programme Website – Automation Engineering
FAQ – Bachelor’s Degree in Automation Engineering
School of Industrial and Information Engineering
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For Information about the Study Programme
Coordinator: Prof. Lorenzo Fagiano (lorenzo.fagiano@polimi.it)
General information: ingauto-deib@polimi.it
Transfers from other study programmes: ammissioniauto-deib@polimi.it
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