Many students outside Italy already hold a score from the SAT, or can sit it near home with less trouble than a test run from Italy. Several Italian public universities accept it, mostly for economics, business and engineering. There is no national SAT rule, though. Each call decides whether the SAT counts, the minimum, which test dates are valid and when the score must arrive. This guide shows how that looked in 2026/27, so you can plan the 2027/28 round.
The paper has two sections: Reading and Writing, with 54 questions in 64 minutes, and Math, with 44 questions in 70 minutes. Each is split into two equal modules, and how you do on the first module decides whether the second is harder or easier. There is a 10-minute break between the sections.
Never assume one university's minimum applies to another
In 2026/27 SAT minimums ranged from none at all to 650 in each section. Every figure below belongs to one program, one call and one year. The 2027/28 calls can change them.
Where the SAT was accepted in 2026/27
| University and program | How the SAT was used (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano, Engineering | An alternative to Politecnico's own test. For early enrolment, at least 620 in each of the two sections, for a SAT taken between 1 January 2025 and 4 May 2026; later, the SAT score was converted to Politecnico's scale. |
| Politecnico di Torino, Engineering | At least 650 in each section. It placed you on the ranking list without guaranteeing a place. For 2027/28 Politecnico moves to CISIA's tests; check the new call for the SAT. |
| Sapienza, Rome | For several English-taught degrees, an overall score of 960, or above 960, depending on the program (Applied Computer Science and AI, Business Sciences, Economics and Finance among them), with a rule on how recent the test must be. |
| University of Bologna, economics degrees | Business and Economics (CLaBE) and Economics and Finance (CLEF): SAT only, no minimum, ranking by score. EPOS: minimum 1100. International Studies: the SAT, or an Italian TOLC-E with B2 English. |
| University of Turin, Business and Management; Economics and Finance with Data Science | SAT required, ranking by score, no published minimum. Valid SATs were those taken between 2 January 2025 and 12 September 2026, and the last SAT taken counts, not the best. College Board code 9136. |
| University of Pavia, Artificial Intelligence | For applicants who need a visa: at least 979 out of 1600. Other applicants used CEnT-S. |
| Ca' Foscari, Venice, business and economics degrees | At least 880, or the CEnT-S. Visa applicants had to hold their result when they applied. |
| University of Pisa, Management for Business and Economics | One of several accepted tests (with CEnT-S, TOLC-E, GMAT and ACT), converted to the university's scale. |
| University of Chieti-Pescara, Economics and Finance | CEnT-S or SAT, for tests taken from 1 January 2024, with a ranking by merit. |
- Ca' Foscari, business and economicsAt least 880 overall
- Sapienza, several degrees960, or above 960 by program
- Pavia, Artificial IntelligenceAt least 979 for visa applicants
- Bologna, EPOSAt least 1100 overall
- Politecnico di Milano, Engineering620 in each section, early enrolment
- Politecnico di Torino, Engineering650 in each section
The SAT appears mostly in economics and engineering. Medicine is different: the English-taught medicine degrees at state universities admit through the IMAT, and the private medical schools through their own tests.
Three things to read in every call
- The minimum, and how it is measured. Some calls set a total out of 1600, others a minimum in each section, others none at all and simply rank you.
- Which test dates are valid. Calls set a window. Turin accepted SATs taken from 2 January 2025; Chieti-Pescara from 1 January 2024. An older score may not count.
- Who may use it. At Pavia's Artificial Intelligence degree the SAT was the route for visa applicants only; at Bologna some programs let non-EU applicants use the SAT only in the first intake.
Timing your SAT for 2027/28
College Board sets the same SAT dates worldwide. The remaining 2026/27 dates are:
| Test date | Regular registration deadline |
|---|---|
| 5 December 2026 | 20 November 2026 |
| 6 March 2027 | 19 February 2027 |
| 1 May 2027 | 16 April 2027 |
| 5 June 2027 | 21 May 2027 |
Italian calls often close earlier than students expect. For 2026/27, Politecnico di Milano's early enrolment accepted SATs taken up to 4 May 2026, and Politecnico di Torino wanted SAT scores by 30 April 2026. If you need a visa, assume your score must be in hand by spring. The December or March sitting leaves room for a second attempt; the June sitting does not.
When a call gives a College Board institution code, send your score to that code; Turin's was 9136. Where a call gives none, follow its instructions for uploading the score report.
SAT or CEnT-S?
Where a program accepts both, choose the one you can do better in and sit more easily. The SAT runs at test centres in many countries, and one score also serves applications outside Italy. The CEnT-S tests sciences as well as mathematics and reasoning, and can often be sat from home. Many English-taught science and engineering degrees in Italy now ask for it. Our CEnT-S guide explains it.
Questions applicants ask
Some do, for some programs, mostly in economics, business and engineering. Each call decides; there is no national rule.
It depends on the program. In 2026/27 the minimums ranged from none (ranking by score) to 650 in each section at Politecnico di Torino. Check the call for your program and year.
Not for the English-taught medicine degrees at state universities, which admit through the IMAT. Private medical schools use their own tests.
Only if it was taken inside the window the call sets. In 2026/27 Turin accepted SATs from 2 January 2025 and Chieti-Pescara from 1 January 2024.
Check your SAT date against your calls
Tell us your programs and your SAT date, and a mentor will check in the chat that the score lands before each call closes.
Sources
- College Board, how the SAT is structured
- Politecnico di Milano, Engineering BSc call 2026/27
- Politecnico di Torino, Engineering call 2026/27
- Sapienza, academic requirements 2026/27 (MoveIN)
- University of Bologna, CLaBE: how to enrol
- University of Bologna, EPOS: how to enrol
- University of Bologna, International Studies: how to enrol
- University of Turin, SAT admission for English-taught economics degrees
- University of Pavia, Artificial Intelligence call 2026/27
- Ca' Foscari, economics Bachelor's call 2026/27
- University of Pisa, Management for Business and Economics call 2026/27
- College Board, SAT dates and deadlines
- University of Chieti-Pescara, Economics and Finance: course record 2026
Rules change every year: always confirm dates in the official call for your year.