University of Padova

The University of Padua was founded in 1222 and is one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities.

Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Andrea Vesalio, William Harvey, Pietro d’Abano, and Carlo Goldoni are just some of the scientists, physicians, philosophers, jurists, and writers who have made Padua a landmark for the discovery and spread of European science and culture.

It was at Padua that Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia became the world’s first woman to be awarded a degree when she graduated in Philosophy in 1678.

The University of Padua, loyal to its motto Universa Universis Patavina Libertas, has always been a bastion of free thought, study, and research.

Today, Padua is a major multidisciplinary university whose lecturers, students, and staff account for almost one-third of the town’s population. Its 8 schools (Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Economics and Political Science, Engineering, Law, Human, and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage, Medicine, Psychology, and Science) and 32 departments ensure that it offers a broad and varied range of subjects that cover all fields of learning.

The University is also the scientific and cultural heart of Italy’s industrious north-east, providing highly specialized training for the area’s 7-million-plus residents and its 650,000-plus businesses, a role made possible by its extensive network of campuses located across the Veneto region.

10 reasons for studying in Padua

1. A broad and multidisciplinary academic offer – University of Padua offers a comprehensive portfolio of degree programmes across a wide range of disciplines. The strong connections between different academic fields create a dynamic, innovative, and stimulating learning environment.
2. Excellence in education – Ranked among the world’s top universities, the University of Padua is widely recognized for the quality of its teaching and academic excellence. Students benefit from rigorous training, an interdisciplinary approach, and a strong academic foundation that prepares graduates for successful international careers.
3. A leading research university – The University is internationally renowned for the quality and impact of its research. Faculty and researchers contribute to cutting-edge scientific discoveries and innovative projects addressing major global challenges, while advancing knowledge, science, and society.
4. High-quality student experience – The University is strongly committed to student wellbeing and academic support, offering high-quality services, modern facilities, and a vibrant campus experience that consistently receives high levels of student satisfaction.
5. One of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities – Founded in 1222, the University of Padua has played a central role in the development of academic freedom and scientific progress for over eight centuries. Its students, scholars, and alumni have made lasting contributions to culture, research, and society worldwide.
6. A truly international community – Thousands of international students, researchers, and academics contribute to the University’s global outlook. International partnerships, exchange programmes, English-taught degrees, and worldwide research collaborations provide students with a highly international academic experience.
7. Scholarships and financial support – The University offers competitive tuition fees compared with other leading international institutions and provides a wide range of merit-based and income-based scholarships for international students.
8. A student-centered city – Padua is a vibrant university city where students represent a significant part of the local population. University buildings, departments, and research centers are integrated throughout the city, creating a unique and engaging student atmosphere.
9. An exceptional Italian setting – Padua combines rich history, art, and culture with innovation, entrepreneurship, and a high quality of life. The city offers an authentic Italian lifestyle within a safe, welcoming, and internationally connected environment.
10. A strategic location in Europe – Padua benefits from excellent rail, road, and air connections, allowing easy access to major Italian and European destinations, including Venice, Milan, and Bologna.

The City of Padua

Situated in the heart of north-eastern Italy, and less than 40 km from Venice, Padua is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, with over 3,000 years of history.

This rich cultural heritage, appreciated every year by thousands of tourists, includes the Scrovegni Chapel with its frescoes painted by Giotto - UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Prato della Valle - one of the biggest squares in Europe, the thirteenth-century Palazzo della Ragione - the world’s largest hall without supporting columns, the world’s oldest university Botanical Garden - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a historical city center, with picturesque squares, palaces, and museums.

Padua offers an extended cycling path network, multiple bike sharing, and electric scooter options with special discounts for students.

Thanks also to its close ties with the University, Padua is a lively and dynamic city offering numerous events in the fields of art, music, theatre, cinema, and sport throughout the year.

Bachelor's Degrees

To be eligible for admission to a Bachelor’s degree or a single-cycle degree, you need a minimum 12-year school record.

If you have been awarded a final diploma after a shorter program of study (i.e. less than 12 years), to become eligible you must:

• have attended at least 1 (in case of 11 years of schooling) or 2 (in case of 10 years of schooling) years of academic studies and passed all the scheduled exams. or
• have obtained a post-secondary qualification in a non-university higher education institution, certifying the additional one or two years of education. or
• have completed one or two-year preparatory courses (Foundation courses) to compensate for the missing years of schooling.

Foundation courses can also be used to fill other additional requirements necessary to access the programs, but they cannot replace the absence of an upper secondary school diploma.
The preschool year can be counted in the 12 years of schooling if it is officially recognized as an integral part of the school curriculum at the national level, provided that attendance is compulsory and includes teaching the language of the country (reading and writing) and the first elements of arithmetic.

If in the country where you achieved your qualification an entrance exam is set for admission to the University (e.g.: selectivity in Spagna, Prova de Aferiçao o Prova Geral de Acesso ao Ensino Superior in Portogallo, Vestibular o Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio in Brasile, Gao Kao in China, etc.), you must provide also a certificate which states that you have passed that test.

As an alternative to this certification, you must:

• have attended an additional one (in case of 12 years of schooling) or two (in case of 11 years of schooling) years of academic studies in another country and/or different foreign system and passed all the scheduled exams. or
• have obtained an official Italian or foreign post-secondary qualification in a non-university higher education institution with a minimum duration of one or two years. or
• have completed Foundation courses held at an Italian University.

These additional certificates only allow enrolment to the first year and cannot be further evaluated for shortening your degree program

Master's Degrees

To be eligible for admission to a Master’s degree, you need a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent foreign qualification with specific curricular requirements obtained from a higher education institution accredited according to the national educational accreditation system of the country where it is located.

Should your study title be issued by two or more universities (e.g. the awarding and the teaching institutions are not the same and pertain to different national education systems), each institution must be accredited according to the national educational accreditation system of the country where it is located.

• The University of Padua is a TOP 200 university in the World, that has been driving global change since its foundation in 1222.
• During eight centuries, students, researchers and alumni have provided key contributions to the advancement of knowledge, science and society.
• Padua offers a broad and comprehensive portfolio of programmes (over 250 programmes between Bachelor's and Master's degrees, of whIch more than 70 are held completely in English).
• Interconnections among the different disciplines generate a vibrant and stimulating learning environment, where international students (over 8,000), staff and alumni support the development of the University's mission at global level.

#1 in Italy for quality of teaching and research

ANVUR

#101-200

Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2025

#161-170

QS Employability Ranking 2022

#233

QS Ranking 2026

#201-250

Times Higher Education Ranking 2026

#151-200

ARWU - Shanghai Ranking 2025

• 29 libraries and over 40 study rooms
• University Language Centre and University Sports Centre
• Career Service
• Guidance and Tutoring Service (including Buddy tutors, senior university students who welcome and support international students upon their arrival in Padua)
• Inclusion Unit

The University affords a unique learning environment and is intertwined with the town and its layout. Padua is a welcoming and charming city, ensuring one of the finest experiences of Italian arts, culture and lifestyle. It combines history (over 3,000 years), culture and art with thriving businesses in every sector. Thanks also to its close ties with the University, Padua is a lively and dynamic city offering numerous events in the fields of art, music, theatre, cinema and sport throughout the year.