How to Apply for Your Masters in Italy (updated 2025)

To begin with, if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to start the application process at least a year in advance. I like to take my time and avoid unwanted stress, so I started last year with some extra time each day after my regular job. If you’re planning to leave next September, start your research in September of the year before.

Research (2025 Update)

Google everything possible about your course. Look into the countries offering it, universities, course fees, application fees, scholarship opportunities, and visa requirements. In about 2-3 weeks, you should know all the options available to you and have all the details ready.

Next, contact an agency for a free consultation. All agencies offer this, and it’s helpful to clarify any doubts you might have. But DO NOT LISTEN TO THE FINANCIAL ADVICE. Agencies often quote high fees, but you can easily do everything on your own for a fraction of the cost.

Create an organized list of your options. I suggest making an Excel sheet with university names, fees, application deadlines, and all other relevant details. Weigh the pros and cons of each option, and make an informed decision. Take your time with this part; it’s crucial!

Apply (2025 Update)

Once you have everything researched, it’s time to prepare your documents. Here’s a general list of documents that most universities require for applying:

• Degree Certificate / PDC
• Two Letters of Recommendation (from professors or mentors)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  Prepare a 1000-word version that you can edit for each university. Additionally, write a shorter 500-600 word version to tweak quickly for other applications.
• Transcript
  Make sure you request this well in advance as it can take a while to process and receive.
• Syllabus of your Bachelor’s degree
• All semesters’ mark sheets
• CV/Resume
• Portfolio (Architecture and Design only)
• IELTS/GRE/TOEFL Score (if required)

Once your documents are ready, start looking into universities that have paid application fees, as well as those that offer free applications. If you can afford more paid applications, that’s great, but free applications are a wonderful option to explore.

Important Tip:

Make a note of all application opening dates and deadlines for each university. Start applying as soon as they open. Most universities respond within 3-4 weeks after submission, but some, like Politecnico di Milano, may take longer.

My Application to Politecnico di Milano

Politecnico di Milano was my dream school, and I had my reasons:

• Ranked in the Top 10 Schools of Architecture in the world according to QS (2025 QS World University Rankings).
• Ranked #1 in Italy for Architecture.
• I absolutely love Italy and its architecture.
• It’s student-friendly.
• They offer free applications.
• Lowest tuition fees compared to other universities in Europe.
• It’s a public university, which made it an even better choice for me.

However, they did take a while to get back to me. I applied in October during their first call, and I received my response only in January, which is a common delay for highly competitive universities.

Applying to Politecnico di Milano (2025 Update)

The application process has remained pretty similar, but here are the updated steps for 2025:

1. Create an account on the university’s online portal.
2. Fill out your details and upload the required documents.
3. For English proficiency, you can either use your IELTS/TOEFL score or submit a letter from your university confirming that your course was taught in English.
4. You can choose two courses (rank them by priority). Choose wisely.
5. After submitting your application, you’ll receive a receipt.
6. Mail your sealed transcript along with the printed receipt to the address mentioned on their website. Use regular post, unless otherwise specified, as it’s often cheaper. I used regular Indian post, which cost me 90 INR, and it took about 3 weeks to reach them.
7. Keep checking the portal for updates in case you need to make any corrections to your application.
8. Wait for their response. It usually takes 3-4 months. If you’re accepted, you can move on to the next step: document verification.

For the most updated information on deadlines and requirements for the Politecnico di Milano’s Architecture programs, please refer to their official website:

• Politecnico di Milano Admissions – Architecture

Document Verification (2025 Update)

Once you get accepted, the next step is document verification. I’ll go into more detail on that process in my next post! It’s pretty standard, but requires a few more official steps before you get to the visa stage.

P.S. I Haven’t Got My Visa Yet! (update: I Graduated!)

I’ll update this blog with my visa story once I get through the process, but I’m hoping this will all go smoothly. Stay tuned for the success story!

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Quick Recap

• Start researching in September, and apply by the deadlines for your chosen universities.
• Politecnico di Milano was my first choice, and I was thrilled with the application process. The key is to be prepared and follow the deadlines.
• Keep your documents organized, and always double-check that you’re meeting all requirements.
• If you can, avoid using agencies for financial advice—they often overcharge.

Good luck with your applications! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. 😊