The Reichstag building in Berlin with the German flag flying above the glass dome at dusk.

Italy September 2027 intake: applications close 8 March 2027; scholarship consideration automatic with admission

Padua International Excellence Scholarship

The University of Padua International Excellence Scholarship awards EUR 8,000 per year (LKR 2.76M/year) plus a full tuition waiver to outstanding non-EU international undergraduate students. Padua tuition for non-EU students ranges from EUR 2,600 to EUR 3,500/year, so the full package (tuition + EUR 8,000) is worth approximately EUR 10,500-11,500/year (LKR 3.6M-4M/year). The University of Padua (founded 1222) is one of the world's oldest universities — Galileo Galilei taught here. It now offers a growing portfolio of English-taught Bachelor's programmes (Animal Care, Astronomy, Information Engineering, Psychological Science, Sustainable Agriculture, etc.). Sri Lankan applicants with strong academic profiles and an interest in studying in one of Europe's most historically significant academic environments are well-positioned.

University of Padua

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

EUR 8,000/yr + Tuition Waiver

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Duration

3 Years (renewable)

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Application

Automatic at Admission

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Padua Bachelor's Admission

You must be applying to one of Padua's English-taught Bachelor's programmes. Eligible programmes include Animal Care, Astronomy, Information Engineering, Sustainable Agriculture, Psychological Science, and others. Italian-taught Bachelor's are not part of this scholarship (separate Italian-language scholarships apply).

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Non-EU/EEA Citizenship

Open only to non-EU/EEA citizens. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible. EU/EEA citizens have separate Padua funding routes (and pay lower tuition baseline).

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Strong Secondary School Record

Top-decile academic performance. 3 As at A/L, IB 36+/45, or equivalent. Subject choices should align with the intended programme (e.g. Biology + Chemistry for Animal Care; Physics + Maths for Astronomy or Engineering).

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English Proficiency

Required: IELTS 6.0+ (no band below 5.5) or TOEFL iBT 80+. Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium A/Ls may qualify for the MOI-letter waiver. Italian is not required for academic purposes — free Italian classes are offered to international students.

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Apply via Padua Apply portal

Submit your Padua Bachelor's application via the Apply portal (uniweb.unipd.it) by 8 March 2027. Application fee approximately EUR 30. Required: school transcripts, A/L statement, IELTS/TOEFL, motivation letter, two references.

Submit international qualifications dossier

Padua requires a Diploma Supplement / academic statement of comparability (issued by CIMEA or directly accepted) for the Sri Lankan A/L qualification. Padua's International Desk supports candidates with this process — start early as it can take 4-6 weeks.

Automatic scholarship consideration

All admitted non-EU candidates are automatically reviewed for the International Excellence Scholarship. Selection is based on academic record + motivation letter quality. There is no separate scholarship application form. Awards typically announced May-June.

Acceptance + Italian visa

Successful applicants accept the offer and scholarship via the Padua portal. Use the offer + scholarship + financial documents to apply for the Italian student visa via the Italian Embassy in New Delhi (Sri Lankan applicants apply via Delhi consular district).

Why Padua?

The University of Padua was founded in 1222 — the second-oldest university in Italy and one of the oldest in the world. Galileo Galilei held the chair of mathematics here for 18 years; the world's first permanent anatomical theatre was built at Padua in 1594. Today the university has around 60,000 students and is consistently ranked among Italy's top 5. Located in the small city of Padua, 40 km west of Venice — easy access to the Veneto region and northern Italy. Cost of living significantly lower than Milan or Rome.