Padua International Excellence Scholarship 2027/28 in Italy: Eligibility, Benefits and How to Apply

The Padua International Excellence Scholarship is the University of Padua’s main merit award for international students. It gives 8,000 euros a year plus an exemption from tuition fees to students on bachelor’s and master’s degrees taught in English. Up to 76 scholarships are offered. There is no scholarship form: when you apply for an English-taught degree, you are considered automatically. Call One for 2027/28 closes on 15 November 2026.

This guide explains what the scholarship pays, who can apply, the application calls, how winners are chosen, the rule for keeping the award and how to apply step by step. It was last checked against the university’s website on 4 October 2026.

Padua International Excellence Scholarship 2027/28 at a glance

About the University of Padua

The University of Padua, in north-east Italy near Venice, was founded in 1222 and is one of the oldest universities in the world. It offers a growing number of bachelor’s and master’s degrees taught entirely in English, in areas such as engineering, science, economics, psychology and the humanities.

What does the scholarship cover?

• 8,000 euros gross each academic year, paid in two instalments of 4,000 euros
• Exemption from tuition fees for each scholarship year. You pay only the regional fee and a revenue stamp.
• Up to two years for master’s degrees, and up to three years for bachelor’s or single-cycle degrees

The 8,000 euros is your support for living costs. Travel and housing are not paid separately, so check the cost of living in Padua against this amount.

Who can apply?

• You are not an Italian citizen. Dual citizens can apply.
• You hold a school diploma or degree from outside Italy.
• You are not resident in Italy when you apply.
• You apply for an English-taught degree at the University of Padua within the deadline.
• You are not receiving another scholarship.

The application calls for 2027/28

The detailed 2027/28 scholarship call is due in November 2026 and will confirm which calls count for the scholarship. Applying in Call One keeps you eligible whichever rule applies.

How winners are chosen

The teaching committee of each degree course selects the winners. The university states two criteria:

• Academic excellence in your field of study
• The quality and results of your previous academic career

Because the committee uses your admission application, the documents you submit for the degree are also your scholarship application.

Keeping the scholarship

The award can be withdrawn if you earn fewer than 20 ECTS credits by 30 November of the following academic year, or if you withdraw or transfer. Plan your first-year exams with this in mind.

What you will still pay

• The regional fee and a revenue stamp each year. The tuition itself is waived.
• Your living costs, which the 8,000 euros is meant to help with.
• Your travel to Italy, visa and health cover.

Work out a yearly budget before you accept. The scholarship is paid in two instalments, so you need enough money to cover the first months.

If you do not win this scholarship

The university also offers fee waivers, and the Veneto region runs need-based grants for students on low incomes. Their rules and dates are on the university’s website. Check them at the same time as you apply for admission.

How to apply, step by step

1. Choose an English-taught degree at the University of Padua.
2. Read the admission notice for that degree and check its entry requirements.
3. Prepare your documents: usually passport, diploma or degree certificate, transcripts, CV and proof of English.
4. Submit your degree application in Call One, before 15 November 2026.
5. Check the scholarship results on the date given in the admission notice.
6. Accept the scholarship and enrol by the dates in your award notice.

Tips and mistakes to avoid

• Submit clear, complete transcripts. They are what the committee ranks.
• Apply early in Call One, not on the last day.
• Do not wait for a separate scholarship form. There is none.
• Do not accept another scholarship alongside this one. It is not allowed.

More ways to strengthen your application

• Choose a degree that matches your previous studies. The committee judges your academic career in that field.
• Include your grading scale or class rank with your transcripts, so your results can be read correctly.
• Write a clear CV and, where the degree asks for one, a focused motivation letter.

Is this scholarship right for you?

It suits you if:

• you have strong grades and want a bachelor’s or master’s degree taught in English in Italy;
• you can add your own money to the 8,000 euros for living costs and travel;
• you can apply early, in Call One.

Look elsewhere if:

• you need every cost covered, including flights and housing;
• you already live in Italy, which makes you ineligible;
• you want a PhD, which this scholarship does not fund.

How to prepare each document

Transcripts and diploma

These matter most, because winners are chosen on academic results. Send complete official transcripts with the grading scale. If your university gives a class rank or a percentile, include it.

CV

Keep it to one or two pages. List your education, grades, projects, awards and any work experience linked to the degree. The Europass CV format is widely accepted in Italy.

Proof of English

Check the admission notice of your degree for the tests and scores it accepts. Some degrees accept a certificate that your earlier studies were in English. Book a test early if you need one.

Motivation letter

Where the degree asks for one, explain why this subject, why Padua and what you plan to do afterwards. Our motivation letter template gives a structure.

A preparation plan for Call One

1. Six weeks before 15 November: choose your degree and read its admission notice in full.
2. Five weeks before: request official transcripts and your diploma, with translations if needed.
3. Four weeks before: take or book your English test.
4. Three weeks before: write your CV and motivation letter.
5. Two weeks before: create your account on the university’s application portal and upload your documents.
6. One week before: check every upload and submit.

After you apply

The teaching committee of your degree assesses your admission application. Scholarship results are published on the university’s website on the date given in the admission notice. If you win, you accept the scholarship by the deadline in your award notice and then complete enrolment. Students from outside the EU also go through pre-enrolment and a study visa application at the Italian embassy or consulate, which takes time, so start as soon as you have your admission letter.

Living in Padua

Padua is a mid-sized university city, about half an hour from Venice by train. Costs are lower than in Milan or Rome, but rent is still your largest expense. Look for housing as soon as you are admitted, because rooms near the university fill early. The scholarship is paid in two instalments, so bring enough money for your deposit, your first months of rent and the regional fee.

Similar scholarships to consider

• Scholarships in Italy: other Italian university awards we cover, including Politecnico di Milano.
• Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: fully funded joint master’s programmes across Europe.
• ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship: a master’s scholarship in Switzerland for top students.

Final checklist before you submit

• The degree you chose is taught in English and is open to international applicants.
• You are applying in Call One, before 15 November 2026.
• You are not resident in Italy and do not hold Italian citizenship alone.
• Your transcripts show every year of study, with the grading scale.
• Your diploma or degree certificate is uploaded, or a statement of expected graduation.
• Your proof of English matches what the admission notice asks for.
• Your CV and, where required, motivation letter are attached.
• You have not accepted another scholarship that would conflict with this one.

After you submit, note the date on which scholarship results are published. If you win, the acceptance deadline is short, and missing it means the scholarship passes to the next student on the list.

If you are waiting for a result

Use the weeks after you apply to prepare for the visa. Students from outside the EU need to complete pre-enrolment and book an appointment at the Italian embassy or consulate, and appointments fill quickly in spring and summer. Having your documents translated and legalised early saves time later.

Frequently asked questions

Is this scholarship fully funded?

No. It gives 8,000 euros a year and a tuition fee exemption. It does not add a housing or travel allowance.

Do I need to apply separately?

No. Applying for an English-taught degree enters you automatically.

Is IELTS required?

English-taught degrees ask for proof of English. Each degree’s admission notice lists what it accepts.

Can bachelor’s students apply?

Yes, for bachelor’s degrees taught in English.

Can I apply in Call Two?

You can apply for admission in Call Two. Whether Call Two counts for the scholarship will be confirmed in the 2027/28 scholarship call, due in November 2026.

How is the scholarship paid?

In two instalments of 4,000 euros each academic year.

Where to apply

Read the official Padua International Excellence Scholarship page. See our Padua scholarship scholarship page and our guide to scholarships in Italy.