Study title required
- Degree obtained according to the educational regulations in force before Ministerial Decree (D.M.) No. 509 of 3.11.1999
- Specialist degree (equivalent to a Master of Science) obtained according to Ministerial Decree No. 509 of 3.11.1999
- Master’s degree (equivalent to a Master of Science) obtained pursuant to Ministerial Decree No. 270 of 22.10.2004
- Equivalent foreign qualifications, comparable in duration and content to the Italian degrees and previously recognized by the State as equivalent to the Italian degrees and preliminarily acknowledged by the Evaluation Committees.
- In the case of foreign qualifications, candidates must submit all necessary documentation to allow the Evaluation Committee to verify the suitability of the qualifications obtained abroad.
Minimum degree score
Only candidates who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply:
- Have obtained a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale) in Italy (or an equivalent qualification valid for PhD admission) with a minimum grade of 95/110 or 86/100;
- For foreign qualifications, the minimum average grade for exams is indicated in the appendix of the call for applications. For countries not included in this table, the evaluation will be entrusted directly to the evaluation committee.
You must include the official documents related to your qualification (diplomas and exam transcripts), along with a translation into English or Italian if the documents are issued in other languages.
You may submit an application even if you do not yet possess the required qualification by the application deadline. In this case, after evaluation by the selection committees, you may be conditionally admitted. To complete your enrollment, you must upload the missing documents by the enrollment deadline, meeting the minimum grade requirements stated above; otherwise, you will lose the right to admission to the PhD program.
Former PhD candidates of Politecnico di Milano cannot apply for the same PhD program if, within the last five years, an exclusion order from the course has been issued against them.
You must submit one of the certificates listed below by the deadline for enrollment in the doctoral program. Failure to submit the certificates by the deadline will result in the irrevocable loss of enrollment.
Criteria applicable up to and including the 41st cycle
| Test | Minimum level |
|---|---|
| CAMBRIDGE | ≥ FCE – GRADE B |
| CAMBRIDGE IELTS (International English Language Testing System) | ≥ 6 |
| ETS - TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) PBT paper based (total score) | ≥ 547 |
| ETS - TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) CBT computer based (total score) | ≥ 210 |
| ETS - TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) IBT internet based (total score) | ≥ 78 |
| ETS - TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication -Listening and Reading Test ) | ≥ 720 |
| TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON | ≥ ISE II |
The certification is considered valid regardless of the date it was obtained.
Criteria applicable starting from the 42nd cycle (from September 2026)
| Test | Livello minimo |
|---|---|
| CAMBRIDGE | ≥ B2 FIRST – GRADE B |
| CAMBRIDGE IELTS (International English Language Testing System) | ≥ 6 |
| PEARSON - PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic) | Overall Score ≥ 59 |
| PEARSON - PEIC English International Certificate | Overall Score ≥ 59 |
| LanguageCert ESOL (English for Speaker of Other Languages) 4Skills | ≥ B2- Communicator |
| ETS - TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) IBT internet based (total score) | ≥ 78 |
| ETS - TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) Listening & Reading, Speaking & Writing | ≥ 785 TOEIC Listening & Reading ≥ 310 TOEIC Speaking & Writing |
| TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON | ≥ ISE II |
Starting from the 42nd cycle (September 2026), the Politecnico di Milano will not accept certifications considered expired by the issuing body.
Special cases
The following are exempt from certifying their English language proficiency:
- Applicants who are citizens of countries where one of the official languages is English;
- Applicants who have earned or will earn an academic degree from an institution where all courses are taught entirely in English.
These candidates must attach official documents to their application to demonstrate the above. Specifically, if all courses are taught in English, a declaration from the academic institution indicating the language in which the course is taught is required.
CV
You will be asked to upload your updated CV in European format to your application, using the template downloadable below. This format is mandatory as required by the announcement. Your CV may be written in Italian or English and may include a maximum of two relevant documents.
Research project and motivations
The research project to be uploaded during the application process must be written according to the template attached below and must illustrate the development of a potential research project relevant to the chosen doctoral program. Please note that this project does not necessarily represent the research project that will be developed during the doctoral program. If admitted, the actual doctoral research project will be defined and approved by the Teaching Committee of the relevant doctoral program.
You must also include your motivations for pursuing the doctoral program.