Bachelor in Earth and Climate Dynamics at University of Padua
Three-year English-taught geosciences bachelor in Padua on solid Earth, oceans, atmosphere and climate, with remote sensing, GIS, drones, coding and modelling, field work, an internship and a thesis. Unlimited access with the CEnT-S test and English at B2.
Bachelor
3 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Earth and Climate Dynamics is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree (class L-34-R) taught in English at the University of Padua in Padua. Access is unlimited: you need a secondary school diploma that meets Padua's country rules, the CISIA CEnT-S test and English at B2. Regional scholarship winners are exempt from tuition, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Padua's Earth and Climate Dynamics bachelor has unlimited access: you need a secondary school diploma that meets the university's country rules, a CISIA CEnT-S test taken within the deadlines and English at B2 or higher. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
You need a secondary school diploma or an equivalent qualification. For foreign qualifications, the University of Padua publishes country-specific entry rules for 2027/28, and its Admissions and Welcome Unit decides whether a qualification meets them. You must complete your school studies by 31 July 2027. [3]
- India: a Standard XII diploma: the CBSE All India Senior School Certificate or the CISCE Indian School Certificate, each with at least 5 subjects, an Intermediate Examination Certificate, a Higher Secondary School Certificate or a Higher Secondary Examination Certificate Part II.
- Pakistan: a Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) or an Intermediate School Certificate.
- Bangladesh: a Higher Secondary Certificate with a final result of Second Division or higher.
- Sri Lanka: the GCE Advanced Level with at least an Ordinary Pass (S) in 3 subjects and at least 30% in the Common General Test.
- United Kingdom: GCE A levels in 3 subjects passed at grade E or above; AS levels are not considered.
Qualification documents are accepted in English or Italian. [2]
What this means for your school results
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a Class 12 result from CBSE, CISCE or a state Higher Secondary or Intermediate board in India, an HSSC in Pakistan, or three full A levels, as these are the qualifications Padua lists.
- Check carefully: a CBSE or ISC certificate with fewer than 5 subjects, a Bangladeshi HSC below Second Division, or Sri Lankan A levels without 3 passes or 30% in the Common General Test. Maths matters too: in the 2026/27 call, fewer than 5 correct answers in the CEnT-S Mathematics section led to an extra maths requirement.
- Often short: a Class 10 certificate, O levels or AS levels on their own, which do not appear among the listed entry qualifications.
The listed rules do not name a Class 12 stream, so we check your board, subjects and results against the country table before you apply. [1][3]
English
The degree is taught in English, and you need English at B2 (CEFR) or higher. [1][2] For applicants with a foreign qualification, each accepted certificate has a minimum score on the university's list and must be valid. A certificate with no expiry date must have been obtained within two years of the opening of the selection on 15 September 2026. You can submit it after applying, but no later than 31 July 2027. Exemptions are set out in a separate university list. [4]
CEnT-S test
The CISIA CEnT-S test is required for admission, but the programme has unlimited access, so there is no fixed number of places. You register directly with CISIA, and you can sit the test only once per macro-period. [1][2]
For 2027/28, the first macro-period runs from November 2026 to January 2027, with first dates on 26 November and 17 December 2026. [2] The test can be taken from abroad, online at home (CEnT@CASA) or in a university classroom (CEnT@UNI). [1]
The 2026/27 call sets no minimum score for admission. Enrolled students with fewer than 5 correct answers in the Mathematics section receive an additional learning requirement (OFA) in mathematics, an extra activity outside the grade average. [1]
2027/28 deadlines
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply on the University of Padua application portal from 7 January to 7 March 2027 (23:59 Central European Time). EU and equivalent applicants apply from 15 March to 7 April 2027, and non-EU citizens living in Italy use that call. You can apply to a degree programme only once per academic year, and studies start on 1 October 2027. [2]
School studies must be completed by 31 July 2027. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
No legalised documents are needed at the application stage. If a transcript is not available in English or Italian, you need official translations with verified copies of the originals. If you are admitted, you accept your place, then submit original and translated or legalised copies of your qualifications and bring the original documents to Padua. [2]
Universitaly pre-enrolment is required to apply for a study visa at the Italian diplomatic mission in your country of residence. [1]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Padua, School of Science. Call for admission, Earth and Climate Dynamics, unlimited-access degree programme in English, for candidates with an Italian entry title, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, application portal course page, Earth and Climate Dynamics, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Entry title requirements and specific entry requirements for qualifications awarded by non-Italian education systems, updated 15 September 2026, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, English language requirement for applicants with a foreign qualification, selection opening 15 September 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Earth and Climate Dynamics programme page (degree class, language, duration, location and access type). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Tuition fees for international students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Earth and Climate Dynamics is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree in class L-34-R (geological sciences), taught in English in Padua by the Department of Geosciences within the School of Science. Admission is open, subject to requirements and an assessment test.
The degree gives interdisciplinary training in Earth system sciences: solid Earth, oceans, climate, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere dynamics, and the complex ways they interact. Teaching combines classroom work with field activities. Students build technical skills in remote sensing, satellite data processing, GIS, drones, coding and basic modelling, which the department sees as increasingly important for tackling climate challenges. It suits school leavers with an interest in science who want to work on climate change and natural hazards.
What you will study
The first year lays the scientific base, the second moves to climate, observation methods and Earth system processes, and the third year covers hazards, coasts, resources and monitoring. Units in the 2027/28 plan include:
- Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
- Geology and Paleontology, and Mineralogy and Petrology
- Dynamics of Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Earth's Surface
- Structural Geology and Earth's Geodynamics, and Paleoclimatology
- Climatology and Climate Models
- Methods for Earth Observations and Data Management, and Field Monitoring and Thematic Mapping
- Fluvial Systems and Extreme Events, Geohazards and Risk Analysis, and Evolution of Coastal Systems
- Cryosphere, Minerals for Climate Actions, and Atmospheric Observations for Climate Monitoring
How the programme is taught
Field activities run alongside lectures, and the third year includes an internship and a final thesis. The Department of Geosciences has its own internship office and offers Erasmus+ exchanges.
Career paths
According to the university, graduates can continue to a master's degree or work in:
- Public and private laboratories for geological and environmental analyses
- Public and private research agencies
- Bodies for environmental management and protection, in Italy and abroad
- Protected areas, natural parks and marine reserves
Fees and scholarships
This degree is in fee Group B, the band for the School of Science. Under the 2026/27 fee rules, non-EU students with a household outside Italy pay a fixed yearly fee, with a lower rate for citizens of countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. [6] The regional scholarship, which the University of Padua runs for Veneto, exempts winners from the fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Applicants living abroad are also considered for merit scholarships and full fee waivers.
How to apply from outside the EU
This degree requires the CISIA CEnT-S test, used as an assessment test rather than for a fixed quota: register on the CISIA website, and note that you can sit it only once per macro-period. For 2027/28, the first macro-period runs from November 2026 to January 2027, with first dates on 26 November and 17 December 2026. Non-EU candidates living outside Italy apply on apply.unipd.it from 7 January to 7 March 2027. [2]
If you are admitted, you accept your place, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you apply for a type D study visa. Classes start on 1 October 2027. [2]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your school results against Padua's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your CEnT-S registration, online application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Padua DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What school results do I need for Earth and Climate Dynamics at Padua?
A secondary school diploma that meets Padua's country rules. For 2027/28 these include an Indian Standard XII diploma such as CBSE or ISC with at least 5 subjects, a Pakistani HSSC, a Bangladeshi HSC at Second Division or above, or three A levels. [3]
Is there an entrance test?
Yes. You must take the CISIA CEnT-S, registering directly with CISIA, and you can sit it once per macro-period. The 2026/27 call sets no minimum score: fewer than 5 correct maths answers leads to an extra maths requirement. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 (CEFR) or higher. Padua accepts certificates from its own list, each with a minimum score, and a certificate without an expiry date must be recent. You can submit it up to 31 July 2027, and we check which certificate or exemption fits your file. [2][4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2027/28, non-EU applicants living abroad apply on the University of Padua portal from 7 January to 7 March 2027. You also need a CEnT-S score, and the first test dates are 26 November and 17 December 2026. [2]
Can I apply before I finish school?
Yes. You can apply in your final school year, but for the 2027/28 intake you must complete your school studies by 31 July 2027. [3]
I studied Class 12 in the Commerce or Arts stream. Can I apply?
Possibly. Padua's country rules for India list Standard XII diplomas without naming a stream. The CEnT-S has a Mathematics section, and fewer than 5 correct answers there leads to an extra maths requirement, so Class 12 maths helps. We check your board and subjects first. [1][3]
What practical skills will I learn?
Remote sensing, satellite data processing, GIS, drones, coding and basic modelling, alongside field monitoring and mapping. The third year also includes an internship and a thesis.
What jobs do graduates do?
The university lists geological and environmental laboratories, research agencies, bodies for environmental management and protection, and protected areas, natural parks and marine reserves. Many graduates continue to a master's degree.
Can someone handle my whole application to Earth and Climate Dynamics at Padua?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against Padua's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Padua DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Earth and Climate Dynamics?
A Standard XII diploma, such as the CBSE All India Senior School Certificate or the CISCE ISC with at least 5 subjects, or a state Higher Secondary or Intermediate certificate, is listed in Padua's 2027/28 country rules. You also need the CEnT-S and English at B2. The steps are the CEnT-S, the online application and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [3] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Earth and Climate Dynamics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: CEnT-S test, online application on the university portal and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Earth and Climate Dynamics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: CEnT-S test, online application on the university portal and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Earth and Climate Dynamics are the same whatever your nationality, and your school results are assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: CEnT-S test, online application on the university portal and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
More English-taught programmes at this university
Other public universities in this city
They began right where you are
