Bachelor in Animal Care at University of Padua
Three-year English-taught bachelor in Legnaro, near Padua, on the care and welfare of individual animals, with third-year options in wild and zoo animals, animals in scientific research or aquatic animals.
Bachelor
3 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Animal Care is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor (class L-38-R) taught in English by the University of Padua in Legnaro, on animal welfare, behaviour and health. Places are limited and admission uses the CEnT-S test. Non-EU students with family abroad pay a fixed €2,990 a year (2026/27), waived for regional scholarship winners.
Entry requirements
- A secondary school diploma (or equivalent) that meets the country-based entry requirements the university publishes for 2027/28.
- A good command of mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry, with analytical and logic skills.
- English at B2 level of the CEFR, shown by a certificate from the university's accepted list unless an exemption applies.
- The CISIA CEnT-S entry test, which you can sit once per macro-period; places are assigned through a ranking list.
- Qualification documents in English or Italian, with originals required at enrolment.
About the programme
Animal Care is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree in class L-38-R (animal science and animal production technologies), delivered in English by the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. It is taught in Legnaro, in the province of Padua, and managed by the Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science. Enrolment is limited: for 2027/28 there are 8 places for non-EU candidates living outside Italy.
The degree focuses on animal care and welfare, with specific attention to the individual animal. Students learn to observe and interpret animal behaviour, understand the biological and ethological needs of different species and apply welfare principles, in terrestrial and aquatic settings, in scientific research and in nature protection. Graduates can carry out animal protection and monitoring activities and coordinate care with other specialists. It suits school leavers with a good grounding in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics.
What you will study
The first two years are common to all students and cover STEM subjects, bioethics and legislation, animal biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology, welfare and behaviour, nutrition and reproduction, pathology and disease prevention, communication, pharmacology and toxicology. In the third year you choose one of three options. The plan includes:
- Animal biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology
- Animal welfare, behaviour and bioethics
- Nutrition, reproduction, pathology and disease prevention
- Pharmacology and toxicology
- Third-year option: Wild and Zoo Animals
- Third-year option: Animals in Scientific Research, accredited by the Italian Ministry of Health
- Third-year option: Aquatic Animals
Career paths
The degree prepares graduates to assess and look after animal welfare in settings such as zoos, scientific research and wildlife rehabilitation. The university lists work in:
- Zoos and wildlife parks
- Public and private aquariums
- Animal welfare and conservation programmes
- Rehabilitation and rescue centres
- Research facilities
- Animal-assisted activities and public or private animal health organisations
Fees and scholarships
Degrees of the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine are in fee Group B. For 2026/27, non-EU students whose family lives abroad pay a fixed €2,990 a year, or €996.66 as citizens of a country on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries; an ISEE parificato changes only the regional tax. The regional scholarship exempts winners from the fee, which means zero euro tuition for eligible students. Applicants living abroad are also considered automatically for merit scholarships and full fee waivers for English-taught degrees.
How to apply from outside the EU
Places go through a ranking list, and the degree requires the CISIA CEnT-S entry test: register on the CISIA website and pay its €55 fee. From 2026/27 the test runs in macro-periods, and you can sit it once per macro-period. If you apply only to bachelor's degrees that use CEnT-S, you do not pay the university's €60 application fee. Non-EU candidates living abroad apply on apply.unipd.it from 7 January to 7 March 2027.
After admission you pay a €208 non-refundable deposit, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. For limited-access degrees your diploma must be legalised, apostilled or verified by CIMEA by 31 July.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Is Animal Care taught in English?
Yes. It is an international three-year degree delivered in English. You need English at B2 level of the CEFR, shown by a certificate from the university's accepted list unless an exemption applies.
Where is the degree taught?
In Legnaro, in the province of Padua. It belongs to the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and is managed by the Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science.
Is there an entrance test?
Yes, the CISIA CEnT-S test. You register and pay €55 on the CISIA website and can sit it once per macro-period. The 8 places for non-EU candidates living abroad are assigned through a ranking list.
When can I apply for 2027/28?
Non-EU candidates living outside Italy apply on apply.unipd.it from 7 January to 7 March 2027. Classes start on 1 October 2027.
How much are the fees?
For 2026/27, non-EU students with family abroad pay a fixed €2,990 a year, or €996.66 if from a country on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Regional scholarship winners are exempt.
What jobs do graduates do?
The university lists zoos and wildlife parks, aquariums, animal welfare and conservation programmes, rehabilitation and rescue centres, research facilities, animal-assisted activities and animal health organisations.
Similar programmes
More programmes in this city
They began right where you are
