Highly talented international students planning to study in Europe in 2026 should already be preparing their application documents, as the Padua International Excellence Scholarship will open in March 2026 for the 2026/27 academic year. Offered by the University of Padua, this highly competitive scholarship is designed to attract outstanding global students into English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in Italy.
With limited awards and a selection process tied directly to degree applications, early preparation can make a decisive difference.
What the Padua International Excellence Scholarship Offers?
The Padua International Excellence Scholarship is one of Italy’s most prestigious merit-based awards for international students. It combines financial support with full tuition relief, making it a strong option for students seeking high-quality European education with manageable living costs.
Successful scholars receive:
- A full tuition fee waiver
- An €8,000 gross scholarship per academic year
- Only minor mandatory costs remain, limited to regional tax and marca da bollo
Scholarship holders are also expected to act as academic ambassadors, representing the University of Padua at selected institutional events.
Padua Scholarship Duration by Degree Level
The duration of the scholarship depends on the chosen programme:
- Up to 2 continuous years for Master’s degree students
- Up to 3 continuous years for Bachelor’s and Single-Cycle degree students
After the funded period ends, students must independently cover tuition fees and living expenses until graduation.
Who Can Apply?
The Padua Italian scholarship targets high-achieving international applicants worldwide who intend to study fully in English at the University of Padua.
You may be eligible if you:
- Do not hold Italian citizenship (dual citizens including Italian are excluded)
- Hold a non-Italian secondary school diploma (for Bachelor’s/Single-Cycle) or a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree (for Master’s)
- Do not reside in Italy
- Apply to an English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at the University of Padua
There is no separate scholarship application. Eligible applicants are automatically considered once they apply for an eligible degree programme.
Why You Should Prepare Your Documents Now?
Although the official Call for this Padua Italy Scholarship Applications for 2026-2027 cohort will be published in March 2026, therefore right now is the best time to prepare for its required documents which are:
- Academic transcripts and certified translations
- Degree certificates or provisional completion letters
- English-language proficiency documents (ELPC) (if required by the programme)
- CVs and academic profiles aligned with the chosen field
- Programme-specific application materials
- Research proposal.