If you search University of Padua Scholarships 2026, the biggest mistake is assuming there is one single scholarship. Padua does not work like that. It offers multiple funding routes, and choosing the wrong one is the main reason applicants miss out.
For most international students, the real strategy is not “apply for Padua scholarship” but identifying which route fits your profile — merit-based, fee-waiver, departmental, or external funding.
One-line takeaway: The Padua International Excellence Scholarship and the 100 fee-waivers are the most practical starting points, but they are not fully funded, and applying in the wrong period can significantly reduce your chances.
University of Padua Scholarships 2026 (Quick Summary)
- Main scholarship: Padua International Excellence Scholarship
- Funding: €8,000/year + tuition fee waiver
- Other options: 100 fee-waivers, departmental scholarships, MAECI, Invest Your Talent in Italy
- Fully funded: ❌ Not fully funded (living costs not fully covered)
- Application: automatic with degree application
- Best strategy: apply in the first application period
Compared to universities like Bologna or Sapienza, Padua offers a more structured merit-based system with clearly separated scholarship routes. However, those universities may offer broader or more fully funded options. Padua is stronger in clarity and process, but weaker if your goal is full living-cost coverage.
If you are looking for stronger full funding, you should also compare fully funded scholarships in Italy 2026, as Padua’s main routes do not fully cover living costs.
For broader options, check Europe scholarships 2026 to compare multiple countries and funding levels.
University of Padua Scholarships 2026 (Quick Answer)
- Main scholarship route: Padua International Excellence Scholarship
- Other major routes: 100 fee-waivers, departmental scholarships, MAECI, Invest Your Talent in Italy, Regione Veneto
- Padua International Excellence funding: €8,000 gross per year + tuition fee-waiver
- Main Excellence/departmental call size: up to 69 Padua International Excellence Scholarships + up to 30 departmental scholarships
- Fee-waivers: 100 full tuition fee-waivers
- Best for: international students applying to English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees
- Key tradeoff: Padua has strong funding routes, but not all of them are fully funded
- Official sources: University of Padua scholarship pages and 2026/27 official call
You can also explore other universities in Italy offering scholarships, such as Bologna and Sapienza, which follow slightly different funding structures.
University of Padua Scholarships 2026 Overview
| Scholarship route | Funding | Study level | Who it fits best | Key 2026/27 note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padua International Excellence Scholarship | €8,000 gross per year + tuition fee-waiver | Bachelor’s / Master’s / some single-cycle English-taught programmes | high-achieving international students | up to 69 scholarships |
| Departmental scholarships | under the same 2026/27 call, scholarships include €8,000 gross + tuition fee-waiver per academic year | selected English-taught programmes | strong applicants in specific departments | up to 30 additional scholarships |
| Fee-waivers | exemption from the second and third tuition instalments; first instalment still payable | English-taught degree programmes | students who want cost reduction even without stipend support | 100 full tuition fee-waivers |
| MAECI scholarships | external government scholarship | usually Master’s / higher study routes depending call | students eligible for Italian government funding | separate external process |
| Invest Your Talent in Italy | subsistence allowance + fee-waiver + internship support | selected English-taught Master’s fields | Engineering, IT, Management, Economics applicants | external national programme |
| Regione Veneto scholarships | support for low-income students; awarded partly in cash and partly in services | Bachelor’s / Master’s / PhD | income-based applicants | not a merit-first scholarship |
What Makes University of Padua Scholarships 2026 Different
Padua is different because it does not rely on one vague “international scholarship” label. It offers a stack of scholarship paths that serve different applicant types.
This matters because many university scholarship pages are hard to use: they mix merit awards, regional aid, and external scholarships into one confusing list. Padua is stronger than many competitors here because the main routes are clearly separated:
- merit route: Padua International Excellence
- cost-reduction route: 100 fee-waivers
- department-specific route: additional scholarships in selected programmes
- low-income route: Regione Veneto
- government-linked route: MAECI and Invest Your Talent
The tradeoff is that the page is broader than a single-scholarship article. That means students need to choose the right route instead of assuming every Padua scholarship works the same way.
Benefits of University of Padua Scholarship (With Real Meaning)
1. Padua International Excellence Scholarship
The official 2026/27 call states that the scholarship includes:
- €8,000 gross per academic year
- a tuition fee-waiver
- payment in 2 instalments of €4,000 gross each year
This is important because it is more than a simple discount, but it is not fully funded in the strict sense. Travel, insurance, and other costs are not included.
2. Departmental Scholarships
The 2026/27 English-taught scholarships call also covers:
- up to 30 additional scholarships from selected departments
The same call states the scholarship includes:
- €8,000 gross per academic year
- a tuition fee-waiver
This is better for students applying to specific departments, because it creates more seats beyond the main Excellence pool.
3. Fee-Waivers
Padua also offers:
- 100 full tuition fee-waivers for students enrolling in English-taught degree programmes
The official page says:
- you still pay the first instalment
- you are exempt from the second and third instalments
This is better for students who may not win a cash scholarship but still need a serious cost reduction.
4. External and Regional Routes
The university also lists:
- MAECI
- Invest Your Talent in Italy
- Regione Veneto scholarships
This matters because University of Padua Scholarship is not just one scholarship competition. It gives students multiple funding angles:
- merit
- government
- departmental
- low-income
Core Eligibility for the Main Padua Excellence / Departmental Call
To be eligible under the 2026/27 call, applicants must:
- hold a non-Italian upper secondary qualification for Bachelor’s / single-cycle entry, or a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree for Master’s entry
- not have Italian citizenship, except dual citizenship including Italian
- not already reside in Italy under the call rules
- apply for one or more English-taught degree programmes at the University of Padua
- apply within the programme deadlines
- note that you can apply to up to 2 degree programmes
This matters because the main Padua Excellence route is tied directly to the degree application, not a separate scholarship form.
Core Eligibility for Fee-Waivers
The fee-waiver page states that applicants should:
- be talented prospective international students
- have obtained their previous degree outside Italy
- wish to enrol in an English-taught degree programme at Padua
- not possess Italian citizenship, except dual citizenship including Italian
- not reside in Italy
- apply to an eligible English-taught programme
Who should NOT treat University of Padua Scholarship as the right first target?
This guide is not ideal if:
- you only want a fully funded scholarship with living costs fully covered
- you are applying only to non-English programmes
- you already reside in Italy and do not meet the non-resident condition for the main merit routes
- you want one scholarship application form separate from admission
The tradeoff is clear: Padua is strong, but the best-known routes are mainly for international students outside Italy entering English-taught programmes.
Required Documents for University of Padua Scholarship
For the main Padua merit-based routes, the official call is clear:
- there is no separate scholarship application form
- there are no extra scholarship documents beyond what is required for the selected degree programme
In practice, that means your main document burden comes from the degree application itself, such as:
- prior academic qualification
- transcripts
- degree-specific admission documents
- language-related proof if required by the programme
- passport / identity documents used for admission
For external routes like MAECI or Invest Your Talent, requirements are separate and follow their own official calls.
Step-by-Step Application Process of University of Padua Scholarship
Step 1: Choose the right Padua route
Do not start by thinking “Padua scholarship” as one thing. First choose whether you are targeting:
- Padua International Excellence
- departmental scholarships
- fee-waivers
- MAECI
- Invest Your Talent
- Regione Veneto
For most international students, the first practical target is Excellence + fee-waiver consideration.
Step 2: Apply for an eligible degree programme
For the main Padua Excellence and fee-waiver routes, you must apply to an English-taught degree programme.
This matters because scholarship consideration is attached to admission.
Step 3: Watch the application period that applies to your programme
The 2026/27 call says scholarship results depend on programme type and admission period.
For the main Excellence / departmental call:
- unlimited access programmes, 1st period: 2 November 2025 to 2 February 2026
- limited access programmes, 1st period: 7 January 2026 to 7 March 2026
- limited access programmes, 2nd period where needed: 10 March 2026 to 10 April 2026
- unlimited access programmes, 2nd period where needed: 2 March 2026 to 2 May 2026
Step 4: Understand that selection is automatic
If you meet the requirements, you are automatically considered.
- no separate scholarship form
- no additional scholarship documents for the main call
This is better for applicants who want a simpler workflow.
Step 5: Check results on the official schedule
The 2026/27 call says scholarship selection results are published:
- from 11 March 2026 for unlimited access degree programmes in the first period
- from 10 April 2026 for limited access programmes in the first period
- from 7 May 2026 for limited access programmes where scholarships were not awarded in the first period
- from 4 June 2026 for unlimited access programmes where scholarships were not awarded in the first period
- after entry test results for the relevant Medicine programmes
Step 6: Accept the offer and complete enrolment
If selected, you must:
- accept the admission and scholarship offer
- pay the admission fee by the deadline
- not benefit from other incompatible scholarships
- complete enrolment properly
- meet visa conditions if applicable
Strategy Section: How to Increase Your Chances to get University of Padua Scholarship
1. Prioritize the first application period
The official call says scholarships are mainly reserved for candidates applying in the first application period.
This matters because waiting for the second period reduces your chances unless scholarships remain unassigned.
2. Apply to the right English-taught programme, not just any programme
This is better for students who are choosing carefully. Padua’s scholarship routes are not generic cash awards — they are tied to specific English-taught degree options and, in some cases, specific departments.
3. Treat academic strength as the main lever
Padua explicitly selects on:
- academic excellence
- quality
- records from prior learning
The tradeoff is that broad motivation alone is unlikely to be enough. This is a merit-heavy route.
4. Use fee-waivers as the backup route
If you miss the Excellence Scholarship, the 100 fee-waivers still matter. This is important because many applicants focus only on cash awards and ignore major tuition relief.
5. Be realistic about cost coverage
Even the stronger Padua merit routes are not a full living-cost package. If you need full support, compare Padua with broader fully funded scholarships 2026 or other Italy scholarships 2026 routes.
Applying in the second application period significantly reduces your chances, because the official call states that most scholarships are allocated during the first period. Many applicants miss this and apply too late, which is one of the main reasons strong candidates fail to secure funding at Padua.
Who Should Apply to University of Padua Scholarship?
This guide is better for:
- international students targeting English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes
- strong academic applicants
- students comfortable with merit-based competition
- applicants who want automatic scholarship consideration through admission
- students comparing scholarship routes in Italy and Europe
Who Should NOT Apply to University of Padua Scholarship?
This is not ideal for:
- students who need a guaranteed full living-cost package
- applicants focused only on non-English degree programmes
- students who want one separate scholarship application process
- applicants who already reside in Italy and may not fit the non-resident rule for the main merit routes
Is University of Padua Scholarship 2026 Fully Funded?
Not in the strict sense.
For the main Excellence and departmental call, the official benefit is:
- €8,000 gross per year
- tuition fee-waiver
But the call also says:
- travel costs are not included
- insurance and other expenses are not covered
So this is a strong merit scholarship, but it is not the same as a full stipend-plus-accommodation package.
Can You Apply Without a Separate Scholarship Application?
Yes, for the main Padua Excellence and fee-waiver routes.
This is one of University of Padua biggest advantages. The official pages say you are automatically considered if you meet the scholarship conditions and apply to the eligible degree programme.
This matters because it reduces friction compared with scholarships that require a separate portal, essays, and another deadline.
Does University of Padua Scholarship Cover Living Costs in Italy?
Partly, but not fully.
The €8,000 annual scholarship helps, but Padua’s own call says travel, insurance, and other costs are not included. That makes this better than a fee-only discount, but weaker than a true full-support scholarship.
Common Mistakes to avoid while applying to University of Padua Scholarship
- treating University of Padua scholarship 2026 as one single award
- ignoring the difference between Excellence, fee-waivers, and Regione Veneto
- applying in the second period without understanding scholarships are mainly reserved for the first period
- assuming €8,000 + fee-waiver means all living costs are covered
- focusing only on the cash scholarship and ignoring the 100 fee-waivers
- missing the fact that the main merit routes are tied to English-taught programmes
FAQ about University of Padua Scholarship
Does University of Padua offer scholarships in 2026?
Yes. The official university scholarship pages and the 2026/27 call confirm scholarship routes including Padua International Excellence Scholarships, departmental scholarships, and 100 fee-waivers.
How much is the Padua International Excellence Scholarship?
The official call states it includes:
- €8,000 gross per academic year
- a tuition fee-waiver
Is there a separate application for Padua International Excellence Scholarship?
No. The official call says eligible applicants are automatically considered when applying for the chosen degree programme.
How many Padua International Excellence Scholarships are there in 2026/27?
The official 2026/27 call states there are up to 69 Padua International Excellence Scholarships.
Does University of Padua also offer fee-waivers?
Yes. The official page states Padua offers 100 full tuition fee-waivers for students enrolling in English-taught degree programmes.
Conclusion
The correct way to approach University of Padua Scholarships 2026 is to treat it as a system, not a single opportunity. If you apply without understanding the different routes, you will likely target the wrong option or apply too late.
If you are a strong applicant aiming for an English-taught degree, University of Padua Scholarship offers one of the most structured scholarship systems in Italy. However, it is not fully funded in the strict sense, so it should be combined with other Italy scholarships 2026 or fully funded scholarships 2026 options if you need full financial support.
If you identify the right route early and apply in the first period, Padua becomes a strong and realistic scholarship option. If not, it becomes easy to miss.
Official sources
- Scholarships for international students: https://www.unipd.it/en/en/studying-padua/funding-and-fees/scholarships-international-students
- Padua International Excellence Scholarship page: https://www.unipd.it/en/padua-excellence
- Fee-waivers page: https://www.unipd.it/en/studying-padua/funding-and-fees/fee-waivers-and-incentives
- Regione Veneto scholarships page: https://www.unipd.it/en/regional-government-scholarships
- 2026 internationalisation news update: https://www.unipd.it/news/supporting-talent-and-safeguarding-research-unipds-action-plan-international-academic