Bachelor in Information Engineering at University of Padua

Detailed entry requirements

Padua's Information Engineering bachelor has limited places: you need an upper secondary diploma after at least 12 years of schooling that meets the university's country rules, a CEnT-S score high enough to enter the ranking, and English at B2. For 2027/28 there are 100 places for non-EU applicants living abroad. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

School-leaving requirement

You need an upper secondary school diploma, or an equivalent qualification, after at least 12 years of schooling that gives access to higher education. [1] For foreign qualifications, the University of Padua publishes country rules for 2027/28, and its Admissions and Welcome Unit decides whether a qualification meets them. You can still apply if your country is not listed. [3]

• India: a Standard XII diploma: the CBSE All-India Senior School Certificate with at least 5 courses, the CISCE Indian School Certificate 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.
• Saudi Arabia: the General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihiyah).
• United Kingdom: 3 A levels passed at grade E or above, the Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, a mix of 3 A level and Pre-U subjects, or a BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma. AS levels are not considered.
• United States: a High School Diploma with 3 Advanced Placements scored 3 to 5 in subjects related to the course, or with a year of university-level study in which you passed all first-year exams, or with a Foundation year.
• Malaysia: the STPM, a Matriculation Certificate, or the Unified Examination Certificate with an average of 75% or higher.

You must complete your school studies by 31 July 2027. [3]

What this means for your school results

As a guide, based on the rule above:

• Usually a fit: Class 12 from CBSE with at least 5 courses, ISC with at least 5 subjects or a state Higher Secondary or Intermediate board, an HSSC from Pakistan, or three A levels, with maths and physics among your subjects, as these are the qualifications Padua lists and the CEnT-S sections that count.
• Check carefully: a CBSE or ISC certificate with fewer than 5 subjects, a Bangladeshi HSC below Second Division, Sri Lankan A levels without 3 passes or 30% in the Common General Test, or a Commerce or Biology stream with little maths, since the ranking needs at least 7 correct answers in Mathematics.
• Often short: a Class 10 certificate, O levels or AS levels on their own, or any qualification after fewer than 12 years of schooling.

The country rules do not name a Class 12 stream, so we check your board, subjects and results against the table before you apply. [1][3]

English

The degree is taught in English, and you need English at B2 (CEFR) or higher. [1][2] Accepted certificates at B2 include: [4]

• IELTS Academic or General Training 6.0
• TOEFL iBT 86 for tests taken until 20 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new scale from 21 January 2026
• Cambridge B2 First 173, PTE Academic 65, Duolingo English Test 115 or Oxford Test of English 126
• Trinity ISE II, LanguageCert B2 Communicator, British Council Aptis at B2, Pearson International Certificate Level 3 or Gatehouse Level 1 ESOL International (B2)

You do not need a certificate if you are a native speaker from a listed English-speaking country, such as the UK or the USA, if your previous education was entirely in English in one of those countries or in the EU or Schengen area, or if you hold an IB Diploma, European Baccalaureate, GCE or IGCE, or a US High School Diploma with 3 APs, taught entirely in English. School in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Gulf, Singapore or Malaysia is not on the exemption list unless you hold one of those qualifications. [4]

For 2027/28, certificates without an expiry date must date from the two years before 15 September 2026, and you can upload the certificate until 31 July 2027. [4]

CEnT-S test and ranking

Places are assigned by a ranking based on the CISIA CEnT-S test. You register directly with CISIA, and you can sit the test only once per macro-period, online at home (CEnT@CASA) or in a university classroom (CEnT@UNI). [1]

In the 2026/27 call, four sections counted, each with weight 1: Mathematics, Reasoning on texts and data, Physics and Chemistry. Biology did not count. To enter the ranking you needed a normalised weighted score of at least 38, with at least 7 correct answers in Mathematics. Your best valid score counts, and ties go to Mathematics, then Reasoning, Physics, Chemistry and finally the youngest candidate. If anomalies appear in test results, the programme can hold an interview. [1]

For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had to take the test by the end of the second macro-period (March 2026). For 2027/28, the first macro-period runs from November 2026 to January 2027, with first dates on 26 November and 17 December 2026, and you upload your weighted score as soon as it is issued, even after the deadline. [1][2]

2027/28 deadlines and places

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), for 100 places. EU and equated applicants apply from 9 March to 9 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]

In 2026/27 the non-EU window ran from 7 January to 7 March 2026, also for 100 places, and the ranking was published from 10 April 2026. [1]

You can apply before you finish school. School studies and the English certificate must be completed by 31 July 2027. [3][4]

Documents and non-EU steps

To apply you upload your passport, your CEnT-S registration and results, your school transcript and diploma if already obtained, official translations into Italian or English where needed, an English certificate if you have one, and a CV. [1] No legalised documents are needed at the application stage. [2]

Selected candidates receive an admission offer on the portal and accept it there to secure their place. Candidates without their diploma or English certificate are admitted conditionally until the 31 July deadline. [1][2]

To complete enrolment, the 2026/27 call asked by 31 October for one of: legalisation of the diploma by the Italian embassy or consulate, an apostille, or a CIMEA statement of verification. CIMEA's statement of comparability may also be requested. Universitaly pre-enrolment and the type D study visa follow admission. [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.

1. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Call for applications for non-EU students residing abroad, Bachelor's degree in Information Engineering, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Information Engineering course page on the university application platform, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Specific entry requirements for qualifications awarded by non-Italian education systems, updated 15 September 2026, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
4. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. English language requirement for admission to degree programmes, accepted certificates and exemptions, selection opening 15 September 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
5. University of Padua. Call for contributions and exemptions, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
6. University of Padua, Information Engineering programme page (degree class, language, duration, location and access type). Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What school results do I need for Information Engineering at Padua?

An upper secondary diploma after at least 12 years of schooling that meets Padua's country rules. For 2027/28 these include an Indian Standard XII certificate such as CBSE with at least 5 courses or ISC with at least 5 subjects, a Pakistani HSSC, a Bangladeshi HSC at Second Division or above, or three A levels. [1][3]

Is there an entrance test?

Yes, the CISIA CEnT-S. In the 2026/27 call, Mathematics, Reasoning on texts and data, Physics and Chemistry counted, and you needed a normalised weighted score of at least 38 with at least 7 correct maths answers to enter the ranking. [1]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at B2. Accepted certificates include IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new scale, Cambridge B2 First 173, PTE Academic 65 and Duolingo 115. School boards in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not on the exemption list, so most applicants from there need a certificate. [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, for 100 places. The first CEnT-S dates are 26 November and 17 December 2026. [2]

Can I apply before I finish Class 12?

Yes. You can apply before you receive your diploma, but for the 2027/28 intake you must complete school by 31 July 2027. An official certificate showing you completed your studies can stand in for the final diploma. [3]

I studied Commerce or Biology in Class 12. Can I apply?

Possibly. Padua's country rules for India list Standard XII certificates without naming a stream. The CEnT-S ranking for this degree counts Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, and the 2026/27 call needed at least 7 correct maths answers, so we check your maths and physics first. [1][3]

How are the fees set?

Non-EU students with a household abroad pay a fixed annual amount, reduced for citizens of countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Students eligible for the regional scholarship are exempt, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]

What can I do after the degree?

The university says the degree gives access to every ICT master's degree in Italy and abroad, including four English-taught masters in the same department, and to jobs in all areas of ICT, in companies or the public sector. [2][6]

Can someone handle my whole application to Information Engineering 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 Information Engineering?

A Standard XII certificate such as CBSE with at least 5 courses, ISC with at least 5 subjects or a state Higher Secondary or Intermediate certificate is on Padua's country list. You also need a CEnT-S score that enters the ranking, which rewards solid maths and physics, and English at B2. The steps are the CEnT-S, the online application and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][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 Information Engineering 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, acceptance of a ranked place 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 Information Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: CEnT-S test, online application on the university portal, acceptance of a ranked place 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 Information Engineering 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, acceptance of a ranked place 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.