Italian Universities That Accept the SAT
Several leading Italian universities accept the SAT as part of their admissions process for international degree programs taught in English, including Bocconi, LUISS Guido Carli, the University of Bologna, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and Politecnico di Milano. If you are planning to study in Italy, your SAT score can be a decisive part of your application.
Are you preparing for the SAT to apply to an Italian university? EPIC Prep works with students across Europe — and beyond — every year to help them reach the scores they need. Get in touch with our team for a consultation.
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What SAT Score Do You Need for Italian Universities?
There is no single SAT score that applies to all Italian universities. Each institution sets different thresholds by program, and many evaluate the score as part of a complete application rather than as a hard minimum. In general, a total SAT score above 1300 is considered competitive for most international programs in Italy. For technical programs such as those at Politecnico di Milano, a Math score above 680 is commonly expected.
The Digital SAT — the current format of the exam — is scored on a scale from 400 to 1600. The two sections are Reading and Writing (RW) and Math, each with a maximum score of 800. To understand exactly how the SAT score is calculated and what your target should be, read our dedicated SAT Scoring Guide.
Which Italian Universities Accept the SAT?
A significant number of Italian universities accept the SAT for their international undergraduate programs — far more than most students realize when they begin the application process. Among these, five stand out as the most sought-after destinations for international students: Bocconi University in Milan, LUISS Guido Carli in Rome, the University of Bologna, Politecnico di Milano, and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. These five are the institutions EPIC students most commonly target, and the ones this guide focuses on in detail. All five consider the SAT as part of a broader admissions process.
The test is most relevant for their international programs taught in English, so you should always verify the requirements for your specific degree on the university’s official website before registering for the exam.
If you are still deciding whether taking the SAT makes sense for your situation, read our guide on whether it is worth taking the SAT if you study in Europe.
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What SAT Score Do you Need to Get Into Bocconi University?
Bocconi does not publish a fixed minimum SAT score, but the admissions process is highly competitive and a strong score between 1350 and 1450 is essential. If your goal is to study at one of Europe’s most prestigious universities in Italy, the SAT is one of the key elements Bocconi uses to evaluate candidates.
Bocconi evaluates applications using multiple components, though in practice strong SAT scores and academic performance carry the greatest weight. A motivation letter may support the application in certain cases, but it is not a primary factor.
What to know before you apply:
- Bocconi uses both an Early Decision and a Regular Decision calendar. Deadlines vary by year, so check the official calendar on bocconi.eu well in advance.
- The admissions team looks at your full profile, not just your test score.
- Recommended SAT score: requires a competitive score of around 1400, though this varies by program and student’s school report.
If you are preparing in Milan, our SAT preparation in Milan is designed for exactly this goal.
How Does LUISS Guido Carli Evaluate Your SAT Score?
LUISS considers the SAT as one component of a complete application, alongside your school transcript and a motivation letter. Unlike Bocconi, which relies heavily on the holistic profile, LUISS places its selection test at the center of the process for certain degrees — meaning your SAT score alone will not determine the outcome. Understanding exactly how each program weighs these elements is worth confirming directly with the LUISS admissions office before you begin preparing.
The English-language programs at LUISS include International Management, Economics and Business, and Political Science, among others.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Check the specific program page, as SAT requirements differ between faculties and degree types.
- Recommended SAT score: sets a minimum of 1200 for both EU and non-EU students.
- LUISS has strict application deadlines. Missing them means waiting a full year, so plan your SAT registration well in advance.
What SAT Score Does Politecnico di Milano Expect for Its Engineering Programs?
For Politecnico di Milano, the Math section of the SAT is the most important part of your score. Polimi is consistently ranked among the top technical universities in Europe, and its admissions process for international engineering and design programs reflects that standard. A high total SAT score matters, but a weak Math score will work against you regardless of how strong your overall result is.
English-language undergraduate programs at Polimi include Computer Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Design, and Architecture. Students targeting these programs should prioritize SAT Math preparation from the very start of their study plan and use Boost Your Prep — the only European SAT preparation software, available exclusively through EPIC Prep courses — to focus their practice on the question types that appear most frequently in the Math section.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Polimi may require additional tests alongside the SAT for certain degrees. Verify whether a TOLC or equivalent applies to your program on polimi.it.
- Politecnico di Milano accepts students with a minimum score of 1240.
What SAT Score Does the University of Bologna Require?
The University of Bologna does not apply a single SAT threshold across all its international programs and requirements vary significantly by degree. Before registering for the exam, check the specific program page on unibo.it to confirm whether the SAT is required for your chosen degree and what the current score expectations are.
For programs with a strong quantitative component, the Math section carries more weight. A strong SAT Math score is particularly relevant for science, engineering, and economics degrees at Bologna.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Bologna’s international programs are spread across multiple faculties with different selection criteria. Do not assume that what applies to one program applies to another.
- Recommended SAT score: the University of Bologna recommends scores in the 1200–1300 range or above.
- Taking at least one SAT practice test under timed conditions before your official exam date is one of the most effective ways to close the gap between your current score and your target.
How Does Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Use the SAT in Admissions?
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore uses the SAT as one element of a broader admissions process for its international undergraduate programs. What makes Cattolica different from the other universities on this list is its breadth — with campuses in Milan, Rome, Brescia, Piacenza, and Cremona, and programs spanning humanities, economics, law, medicine, and science, it is one of the most diverse private universities in Europe. This also means that SAT requirements vary considerably between faculties and campuses, more so than at a single-campus institution.
For students based in Milan, Cattolica’s Milan campus covers a wide range of disciplines and is worth researching alongside Bocconi and Politecnico as part of your university shortlist.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- SAT requirements at Cattolica depend heavily on the specific program and campus. Check unicatt.it for the exact requirements for your degree before registering.
- Recommended SAT score: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore recommends a minimum of 560 per section, equivalent to 1120 on the full test.
When Can You Take the SAT in Italy?
The SAT is offered in Italy eight times per year — in August, September, October, November, December, March, May, and June — with test centers available in Milan, Rome, and other Italian cities. Always verify center availability in your city and register at satsuite.collegeboard.org, as not every date is available at every international location.
For students targeting September admission in the following academic year, taking the exam by December — or March at the latest — is strongly advisable. This leaves time to retake the test if your first result falls short of your target. Many students find that repeating the SAT is one of the best decisions they make.
How Long Does SAT Preparation Take for Italian University Admission?
SAT preparation for Italian university admission takes between 3 and 6 months of structured study on average, depending on your starting level and target score. Students with a strong foundation in mathematics and English can reach significant improvements in 10 to 12 weeks of intensive preparation.
EPIC Prep is based in Milan — as well as in Madrid, Barcelona, and Zurich — and specializes in SAT preparation for students targeting top universities in Italy and abroad. Jaclyn Caruana, co-founder of EPIC Prep and author of the Desmos SAT Hacks book, helped to create Boost Your Prep, the only SAT preparation software developed by a European prep company, with over 3,000 exercises and a personalized study dashboard, available exclusively through EPIC Prep courses.
For a complete overview of how to structure your preparation, read our guide on how to improve your SAT score.
Is the SAT Mandatory for Italian Universities?
The honest answer is: it depends. Whether the SAT is required, recommended, or entirely optional varies by university, by program, and sometimes by the type of secondary school diploma you hold. This is why checking the admissions requirements for your specific degree on the university’s official website is always the right first step — and doing it early, before you register for the exam, can save you a significant amount of time and money.
What is true across all five universities on this list is that submitting a strong SAT score — even when it is not strictly required — strengthens your application. Admissions teams at competitive institutions like Bocconi and LUISS receive far more applications than they can accept. A strong SAT score is one of the few objective, internationally recognized data points in your file, and it gives the admissions team a clear signal about your academic readiness that grades alone cannot always provide.
If you are unsure whether your target program requires the SAT, contact the admissions office of your chosen university directly — they are the only source that can give you a definitive answer for your specific degree and diploma type. For more clarity on whether submitting the SAT makes sense for your application at all, our guide SAT Mandatory, Test Optional & Test Blind is a good place to start.
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Is the Digital SAT Accepted by Italian Universities?
Yes, all Italian universities that accept the SAT accept the current Digital SAT format. The Digital SAT replaced the paper-based version in March 2023 for international students. It is shorter than the previous version — approximately 2 hours and 14 minutes — and is taken on a computer rather than on paper. The scoring scale remains 400 to 1600. For everything you need to know about the current format, including what changes between the paper and digital versions and how to prepare, read our guide to the new Digital SAT.
How Does EPIC Prep Help Students Get Into Italian Universities?
EPIC Prep has been preparing students across Europe for the SAT since 2010, with an average score improvement of 225 points and 95% of students reaching their target score. For students targeting Italian universities specifically, that preparation is built around the score thresholds and program requirements covered in this guide.
One recent example: Carlotta, 18, started her preparation with a score of 1080 — below the threshold for most programs on this list. Three months later she scored 1420, a 340-point improvement, and was admitted to Bocconi. Her preparation followed a personalized plan built on weekly sessions, error analysis, and guided practice with official exams.
Those results rest on four pillars: specialized tutors who are native speakers and graduates of universities in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland; exclusive in-house materials updated continuously based on the latest exam analysis; a practical approach where every session is built around exam-style exercises; and data analytics through Boost Your Prep — the only SAT preparation software developed by a European company — which tracks progress at the skill level and adjusts the plan as preparation evolves.
If you are preparing for Bocconi, LUISS, Politecnico, or any other Italian university, contact our team for a consultation.
We hope this article has answered your questions. If you have any questions about your preparation, please contact us and we will be happy to explain how EPIC Prep can help you achieve your goals.
