The University of Padua (Università di Padova), founded in 1222, is one of the oldest universities in the world, and Galileo Galilei taught there. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 204th in the world, its best result to date, and the fourth-highest-ranked university in Italy. It’s known for medicine, psychology, engineering, astronomy and the natural sciences.
Padua runs a simple online application system for international students, with fixed fees for non-EU students and applications for 2027-28 already open. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Padua’s own guidance and official Italian government information.
1. Find your programme on apply.unipd.it
Padua offers a growing number of bachelor’s degrees taught in English, such as Information Engineering and Psychological Science, alongside many programmes taught in Italian. For English-taught programmes (except Medicine and Surgery), you apply online at apply.unipd.it, where each course factsheet shows the requirements, places and dates. University of Padua online applications.
2. Apply in the right call
For 2027-28, Padua’s first call for most programmes opened on 15 September 2026 and closes on 15 November 2026, and a second call runs from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. A third call, from 1 April to 1 June 2027, is only for EU students and non-EU students living in Italy. Some bachelor’s programmes have their own dates: Information Engineering, for example, has a call for non-EU students from 7 January to 7 March 2027. Padua: admission of international students.
3. Check how many places are reserved for you
Many English-taught bachelor’s programmes reserve places for non-EU candidates living outside Italy. For 2027-28, Information Engineering has 100 such places and Psychological Science has 45, so check the factsheet for your programme and apply early.
4. Prepare for the CEnT-S test
Many of Padua’s English-taught bachelor’s programmes use the CISIA CEnT-S, an entrance test in English, and some programmes have their own online test, such as Psychological Science. Check which test your programme requires, register with CISIA in good time and practise beforehand.
5. Make sure your qualification is eligible
You need at least 12 years of schooling. If you have 10 or 11 years, you can become eligible with one or two years of university study, a post-secondary qualification or a foundation course, and Padua runs its own Foundation Year. If your country requires a university entrance exam, such as the Gaokao or the Selectividad, you must also show that you passed it.
6. Meet the English requirement
English-taught programmes usually require English at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or an equivalent. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
7. Understand the fees
Since 2023-24, non-EU students who aren’t resident in Italy pay a fixed, all-inclusive fee: €2,790 a year for humanities programmes and €2,990 for scientific programmes, or €930 and €996.66 for students from countries with a low human development index. When you enrol in your first year, you also pay €208, which covers the regional tax for the right to study and stamp duty. University of Padua fees.
8. Apply for scholarships and look for housing early
Some of Padua’s departments offer merit scholarships for international students on English-taught programmes, which can include a grant and a fee waiver. The regional right-to-study agency also offers grants and housing based on family income. Padua is a busy student city, so start looking for accommodation as soon as you’re admitted.
9. Pre-enrol on Universitaly and get your study visa
EU citizens don’t need a visa to study in Italy. If you’re from outside the EU and live abroad, you must pre-enrol for your programme on the national Universitaly portal, and once the University of Padua has validated your pre-enrolment you apply for a type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country. You’ll need to show that you can support yourself, with a minimum amount set each year by the Ministry of University and Research (about €6,000 a year in recent years), as well as accommodation and health insurance. The national deadline for 2027-28 study visa applications is 31 October 2027, but universities set much earlier pre-enrolment deadlines, so follow the University of Padua’s dates. Within eight working days of arriving in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit for study (permesso di soggiorno). Universitaly portal.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
With a residence permit for study, you can work up to 20 hours a week, up to a maximum of 1,040 hours a year. After you graduate, you can convert your study permit into a work permit if you find a job, or apply for a permit to look for work for up to 12 months, as long as you register with your local job centre (Centro per l’Impiego) before your study permit expires. Rules can change, so check the latest guidance with the Questura (police immigration office) or the University of Padua’s international office.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Padua?
Padua offers many master’s programmes taught in English, and you apply through apply.unipd.it in the same calls as bachelor’s programmes, with a bachelor’s degree that meets the programme’s subject requirements. For a PhD, Padua publishes an annual call for doctoral programmes. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Places for non-EU students are limited, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Bologna and Politecnico di Torino. Our guide to studying in Italy explains how the Italian system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Padua’s official admissions, programme and fee pages, Italian government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on the University of Padua’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Padua.