TOLC-I Engineering Admission Test – Polytechnic University of Bari
To enroll in the first year of the Bachelor’s Degree Courses in Engineerin at the Polytechnic University of Bari, you must pass the CISIA Online Test for Engineering TOLC-I.
The test is mandatory and aims to assess candidates’ preparation and aptitude for study.
The following may take the admission test for Engineering:
– students enrolled in their final year of high school to enroll in the 2026/27 academic year.
– students enrolled in their fourth year of high school to enroll in the 2027/28 academic year.
– anyone who, on the date of the test, has a five-year secondary school diploma.
The test, which lasts a total of 125 minutes, consists of 50 questions on mathematics, logic, physics and chemistry, and verbal comprehension, plus 30 questions assessing knowledge of the English language.
The test is administered via a dedicated IT platform provided by the Interuniversity Consortium for Integrated Access Systems (CISIA).
The number of places available, the timetable, how to register for the test and, subsequently, how to enroll at the Polytechnic University of Bari will be published on poliba.it in the “didattica-ammissioni” (teaching-admissions) section.
The test results are available immediately, but the ranking list of those admitted will be published on poliba.it at the end of all the exam rounds for each session.
TOLC-I TEST SESSIONS
For all information regarding the admission procedure for the Bachelor’s Degree Programmes in Engineering (academic year 2026/27), please refer to the specific Call for Applications no. 91/2026.
If you are a non-EU candidate requiring a STUDY VISA, you must also follow the application procedures established by the Italian Ministry of University and Research for entry, residence, and enrolment in higher education institutions for students applying for visas to attend higher education courses in Italy.
In this case, you must submit the pre-enrolment application via the Universitaly portal (www.universitaly.it).
Note: Applicants who will obtain their Upper Secondary School Diploma in 2027 (school year 2026/2027) and who pass the TOLC-I with a suitable score must apply for the admission competition through Poliba Esse3 and subsequently enrol in the 2027/2028 academic year.
All instructions regarding application to the competition and enrolment will be published in February 2027.
Test dates administered at the Polytechnic University of Bari (TOLC@CASA mode only):
- 24–25 February 2026
- 26–27 March 2026
- 21–22 April 2026
- 19–20 May 2026
- 11 June 2026
Registration dates for the tests on the CISIA portal (subject to availability):
According to the deadlines and procedures published on www.cisiaonline.it.
Registration dates for the admission competition on the Esse3 Portal of the Polytechnic University of Bari:
From 03 February 2026 to 25 June 2026 at 14:00 (GMT+2).
Competition title: “Prima Sessione Anticipata Test di Ammissione Lauree Triennali in Ingegneria 2026”, or “P-Tech Taranto Prima Sessione Anticipata 2026” (only for candidates applying to the P-Tech programme offered exclusively at the Taranto campus).
Note: Registration for the competition on the ESSE3 portal of the Polytechnic University of Bari is mandatory, as it is required to choose the Degree Programme and to be included in the ranking list.
Registration on the ESSE3 portal does not allow you to select the test date, which must be chosen exclusively via the CISIA portal and is not displayed on the ESSE3 portal.
The TOLC-I is administered exclusively in TOLC@CASA mode, from the candidate’s home. Registration on the ESSE3 portal does not allow the selection of a different test delivery mode.
Enrolment Dates
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For admitted candidates ranked in eligible positions:
From 17 July 2026 at 00:01 (GMT+2) to 24 July 2026 at 14:00 (GMT+2). -
For candidates admitted through the “ripescaggio” (reallocation) procedure pursuant to Art. 11 of the Call:
From 28 July 2026 at 00:01 (GMT+2) to 31 July 2026 at 14:00 (GMT+2).
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
To register for the test, you must first register in the CISIA Test reserved area of the cisiaonline.it portal using the appropriate form, choosing your login credentials, in order to receive from the system, at the email address indicated during registration, the link to activate your profile on the CISIA portal. Once your profile has been activated, you can use your credentials to register for a Tolc-I session administered by the Polytechnic University of Bari and pay the CISIA competition fee of €35.
Register on the Poliba Esse3 portal (if you have already registered in the past, you can skip this step).
Using the credentials obtained from the Esse3 portal, you must register in the “Admission Test” section for one of the admission competitions for three-year engineering degrees on the dates specified in the Call for Applications no. 91/2026.
Communications received after these deadlines will not be accepted and, in this case, it will not be possible to access the respective rankings and any subsequent enrollments. Register with the credentials obtained in the “Admission Test” section for one of the admission competitions for three-year engineering degrees.
COME PARTECIPARE
At the Polytechnic University of Bari, you can only take the test online via TOLC@CASA. The University does not offer any other methods of taking the test. Therefore, each candidate can take the test from the comfort of their own home, on the day chosen from those made available by the Polytechnic University of Bari and at the times that will be communicated by CISIA.
To take the test, you will need a stable internet connection, a device equipped with a video camera and microphone, and a laptop (desktop computers are not allowed). You must follow all the instructions provided by CISIA. We recommend that you run the simulations and stability tests for your internet connection available at cisiaonline.it.
Remember to:
– download and install Horizon on the laptop you will be using on the day of the test. You can download it for free from the Practice and Placement area.
In order for the test to be considered valid, it is essential that you are continuously connected to the internet for the entire duration of the test, both with your laptop and your mobile device.
All technical and detailed information is available on cisiaonline.it in the “TOLC Regulations” and “The Day of the TOLC” sections.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU TOOK THE TEST AT ANOTHER UNIVERSITY
If you took the TOLC-I at another university, you only need to notify the Student Secretariat of the test results by sending a copy of the PDF file, which can be downloaded from your personal CISIA page starting the day after the test, via the ticketing service, accessible from the helpdesk.poliba.it.
TEST SCORE
The scores assigned to each answer are:
Correct answer: + 1
Incorrect answer: – 0.25
No answer: 0
The English questions do not contribute to the test score.
The minimum score for admission is 18/50 for the early session tests, while it drops to 12/50 for the standard and extraordinary session tests.
Please remember that the spots available for each Degree Course may be filled as early as the early session; therefore, we strongly urge you to take it to have a better chance of enrolling in your preferred program.
If, during the early session, you obtain a score higher than 12/50, to be included in the ranking for the standard session you will only need to register again for the admission competition on the Poliba Esse3 without retaking the TOLC-I. Alternatively, by booking the procedure again through CISIA, you may retake the TOLC-I to try and achieve a higher score and improve your position in the ranking.
TOLC CISIA – TUTORIALS AND VIDEO RESOURCES
We have selected a series of video resources for you that will help you better understand what the TOLC is, what its advantages are, and what you need to do to register and participate.
TOLC@CASA: what to do
Watch the tutorial that will help you understand how to set up the room, which devices you will need to use, and what you must do on the day of the test!
THE ADVANTAGES
The TOLC offers many advantages for you as a test-taker! Find out what they are by watching our tutorial, which will help you understand how to use your TOLC certification.
TOLC AREA REGISTRATION – HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO
To take a TOLC, you must upload a personal image (passport-sized photo) to your reserved TOLC area.
HOW TO INSTALL THE HORIZON APP
Discover, step by step, how to download and install the new APP for TOLC@CASA. Once downloaded and installed, no further action is required; when the test starts, the Horizon APP will run automatically. Remember that it is necessary to download and install the APP by the day before the test. In case of doubts or needs:
TEST CONTENT
WHAT YOU MUST STUDY
To take the test, it is necessary to prepare in the following subjects:
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Mathematics (20 questions / 50 minutes);
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Logic (10 questions / 20 minutes);
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Science, Physics, and Chemistry (10 questions / 20 minutes);
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Verbal Comprehension (10 questions / 20 minutes);
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English (30 questions / 15 minutes).
Discover all the contents of the individual sections in the Syllabus.
HOW YOU CAN PRACTICE
In your reserved area on the CISIA portal, you will find several tools to help you prepare for the TOLC:
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Simulations: You can practice using the same interface as the real test;
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Examples of previous tests: You can view and download tests from previous years to understand the type of questions asked;
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MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses): Free online courses designed specifically to help you review the main topics covered in the syllabus.
RANKINGS, PROCEDURES, AND USEFUL LINKS
In this section, you will find: the TOLC-I dates for the 2026/2027 Academic Year, session by session; the TOLC-I ranking lists, selection by selection; the enrollment procedures and other useful links.
TEST SUCCESSFULLY PASSED
If you have received a score sufficient to participate in the selection sessions (18/50 for the Early Session and 12/50 for the other Sessions), and if you have placed in a successful position in the competition ranking list, you will be able to enroll by the dates that will be published on poliba.it in the “Ammissioni” (“Admissions”) area.
Please remember that you will lose all rights to enroll at the Politecnico di Bari if you do not respect the established deadlines.
dott.ssa Valentina Bozzi
Segreteria Studenti
For assistance, open a ticket on the Poliba Help Desk by selecting the Concorsi e immatricolazioni (Competitions and Enrollments) section.
On www.cisiaonline.it , you can find the most frequently asked questions about TOLC@CASA and everything you need to participate in the TOLC-I. To consult the FAQ section, click on the button below.