Exam Guide ·
By Yunus Emre · Rome Consultancy
Using the SAT for Italian Universities: Bocconi, Sapienza and Politecnico di Milano
Can you use the SAT to study in Italy? Yes: Bocconi, Sapienza and Politecnico di Milano all accept it. At Bocconi the SAT counts for 55% of the evaluation, several Sapienza programmes ask for 960, and Politecnico di Milano asked for 620 per section. Here are the official rules.
Short answer: yes, you can use the SAT to get into Italian universities. Bocconi accepts the SAT instead of its own test for all bachelor's programmes, and the score counts for 55% of the evaluation. Most of Sapienza's English-taught bachelor's programmes accept the SAT, several with a minimum of 960/1600. Politecnico di Milano accepts it instead of its own entrance test (TOL); for 2026/27 early admission it asked for at least 620 in each of Reading and Writing and Math. So one SAT score can open several strong Italian universities without any Italian entrance test.
Bocconi: applying with the SAT
- Accepted tests: the Bocconi online test, the SAT or the ACT. Any of the three lets you apply for every bachelor's programme.
- Evaluation: test score 55%, plus 45% for your grades in the two years before your final school year.
- More than one score: if you have both a Bocconi test and an SAT score, the application portal uses the higher one.
- Sending scores: you only need to have designated Bocconi as a score recipient on College Board by the application deadline; the score does not have to reach Bocconi by then.
- Minimum score: Bocconi does not publish an official SAT cut-off. Admission is by ranking.
- Fees: €17,700 a year for bachelor's students starting in 2027/28, with scholarships and fee reductions based on family income.
Sapienza: the SAT for English-taught programmes
According to Sapienza's 2026/27 requirements for international students, these English-taught bachelor's programmes accept the SAT:
- Applied Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence: above 960/1600 (taken after 1 January 2024)
- Business Sciences: 960 or higher (taken from 1 January 2024)
- Economics and Finance: 960 or higher (taken from 1 January 2024)
- Global Humanities: 960/1600 (taken from 1 January 2021)
- Classics: SAT accepted (taken from 1 January 2023)
- Sustainable Building Engineering: SAT accepted (taken from 1 January 2023)
- Molecular Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Computer Science for Pharmaceutical Applications: SAT accepted (taken from 1 January 2025)
These programmes also accept other tests, such as the CEnT-S. Sapienza's pre-selection deadlines for visa applicants are early: for 2026/27 the deadline was 15 May 2026.
Politecnico di Milano: engineering with the SAT
- 2026/27: in the early enrolment phase, at least 620 in each of Reading and Writing and Math; in later phases, a converted score of at least 30/100.
- 2027/28, Italian-taught programmes: the SAT is accepted only in the early phase, with a converted score of at least 75/100. English-taught programmes will have separate rankings, with details due in January 2027.
- Registering your SAT: by 3 June 2027 for 2027/28. Send your results through College Board using Politecnico di Milano's code 7364.
How to take the SAT
The SAT is run by College Board and taken digitally at test centres in many countries. It has two sections, Reading and Writing and Math, and is scored out of 1600. Test dates and centres are published on the College Board website, and you choose which universities receive your score from your College Board account.
SAT or Italian tests?
- The SAT's advantage: one test for Bocconi, Sapienza and Politecnico di Milano, and the same score works for US or UK applications too.
- The Italian tests' advantage: the CEnT-S can be taken from home, costs less and is based on science topics, which can be a more direct route to science programmes.
- Watch the dates: each university states how recent your SAT must be (from 2024 for most Sapienza programmes). An older score may not count.
Frequently asked questions
Do Italian universities accept the SAT?
Yes. Bocconi, most of Sapienza's English-taught bachelor's programmes and Politecnico di Milano accept it.
What SAT score do I need for Bocconi?
Bocconi does not publish an official minimum. The SAT counts for 55% of the evaluation and admission is by ranking, so competition is strong and a high score helps.
What SAT score does Sapienza require?
It depends on the programme. Applied Computer Science and AI, Business Sciences, Economics and Finance and Global Humanities ask for 960/1600 or higher.
Bottom line
The SAT can open several Italian universities with a single test, but each university has its own score, date and validity rules. We can work out which programmes your current or target SAT score qualifies you for. Fill in the free assessment form to get started.
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Compiled from Bocconi's 2027/28 bachelor's admissions page, Sapienza's 2026/27 requirements for international students and Politecnico di Milano's SAT page.