If you enrolled before the 2025/2026 academic year, consult the list of Programmes and Regulations available on your School website.
The information provided about the programme refers to the academic year 2025/26 and may be subject to change in the academic year 2026/27.
MSc in Design & Engineering
The Master’s Degree Programme in Design & Engineering aims to train designers who integrate the culture of Design with a technical-engineering approach, directing these competencies toward the principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Graduates are prepared to manage product design and development in both its expressive and material dimensions, as well as the technical and operational implications of production process management. They are capable of delivering a comprehensive design project, from the initial product concept through detailed and executive design, to the preparation of all documentation required for industrial production. They also develop specific expertise in material selection, virtual design methodologies, and in understanding how the technological characteristics of production systems impact and shape the design process.
To be admitted to the Master’s Degree Programme in Design & Engineering, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following classes:
- L-4 Industrial Design
- L-8 Information Engineering
- L-9 Industrial Engineering
First-Level Academic Diploma awarded by Institutes of Higher Education in Art, Music and Dance (AFAM), in programmes related to the field of Design
Applicants holding a Bachelor’s degree in Class L-17 (Sciences of Architecture) may also be admitted, provided they meet specific curricular requirements as detailed below:
At least 36 ECTS credits obtained in the following Scientific Disciplinary Sectors: CEAR-08/D (formerly ICAR/13), CEAR-08/CEAR-10 (formerly ICAR/17), IMAT/01 (formerly ING-IND/22), IIND-03/A and IIND-03/B (formerly ING-IND/14 and ING-IND/15), and IIND-04/A (formerly ING-IND/16).
In the absence of the required curricular prerequisites, the Admissions Committee will evaluate additional academic and professional qualifications relevant to the field of Design and may indicate any necessary curricular integrations, expressed in ECTS credits, which must be completed before the assessment of the applicant’s individual preparation. Further details will be specified in the Programme Regulations.
The same criteria apply to applicants holding a university-level qualification obtained abroad, provided that it is deemed suitable by the Master’s Degree Programme Board and that it allows identification of the relevant Scientific Disciplinary Sectors and the number of credits obtained in each sector. If such identification is not possible, the applicant’s academic record will be individually assessed by the Programme Board.
Admission to the Master’s Degree Programme is subject to verification of the applicant’s individual preparation and placement in a suitable position in the merit ranking.
Adequate knowledge of the English language, at a level not lower than B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), constitutes an integral part of the assessment of individual preparation. The level of English proficiency must be certified at the time of application through recognized tests meeting the minimum scores established by the University.
Further details regarding curricular requirements and the procedures for assessing individual preparation are specified in the Programme Regulations (Section 6).
Graduates holding a Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent qualification consistent with the fields of design, architecture, or engineering may apply to the Master’s Degree Programme in Design & Engineering, subject to approval by the Programme Board. The qualification must allow for the identification of the relevant Scientific Disciplinary Sectors and the number of credits earned in each sector. If such identification is not possible, the applicant’s academic record will be individually assessed by the Programme Board.
Admission is subject to evaluation of the applicant’s individual preparation (portfolio, CV, motivation letter, and academic documentation), placement in the merit ranking, and possession of an English language certification at least at the B2 level, in accordance with University requirements.
Application procedures and deadlines are specified here
The educational pathway combines a solid theoretical foundation with practical, professionally oriented activities over two years. The programme structure is conceived as a progressive increase in the complexity of design challenges, gradually expanding the scope and scale of design interventions.
In the first year, courses considered “foundational” are offered to harmonize students’ prior knowledge in the fields of Industrial Design and Engineering. These include, for example, materials for design, design theory and practice, design and manufacturing, and mechanical design.
In the second year, lectures focus on acquiring advanced technical skills for developing detailed and executive design, as well as on deepening design culture in relation to technological and production contexts.
In both years of the Master’s Degree Programme, design studios are included to simulate real-world product development contexts. These studios atoim at apply the knowledge acquired in theoretical courses and foster integration between Industrial Design and Engineering.
The study programme also includes a compulsory internship period to be carried out in companies, organizations, institutions, professional studios, or internally within the University.
The Master’s Degree Programme in Design & Engineering responds to the growing need to train designers capable of integrating the knowledge typical of the design field with engineering expertise, operating in contexts characterized by high technological and production complexity, and facing increasing attention to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Graduates find employment opportunities in various professional sectors, including:
Companies specialized in the design and manufacturing of industrial products—such as furniture, lighting, household appliances, consumer electronics, automotive, textiles, accessories, packaging, consumer goods, and biomedical devices—with growing attention to environmental aspects and product life-cycle implications.
Companies specialized in digital and/or physical prototyping, component design through computer-aided three-dimensional modeling (CAD), and the production of models and components using both traditional and additive manufacturing technologies.
Design studios and consultancy firms focused on industrial product innovation.
For further academic development, graduates may continue their studies by pursuing PhD programmes or advanced specialization through second-level Master’s programmes.
Design&Engineering Programme Website
Know more about the programme through a current student’s experience. Book your online one-to-one meeting through #Askastudent – Our voice for your choice project.
Programme Coordinator: Prof. Barbara Del Curto