Master in Archaeological Sciences at University of Padua
Two-year master in Padua whose English curriculum applies scientific methods to archaeological materials and sites, from geoarchaeology and dating to remote sensing and conservation, with a double degree option with Bordeaux Montaigne. Entry needs a related three-year degree and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Padua
Multiple
University of Padua
Archaeological Sciences is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-2-R) at the University of Padua whose Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage, Materials and Sites curriculum is taught in English. Entry needs a three-year bachelor's in a listed science, engineering, heritage or humanities field, proven motivation in archaeological science and English at B2. A regional scholarship brings a fee exemption, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Padua's Archaeological Sciences master, in its English-taught Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage, Materials and Sites curriculum, asks for a bachelor's of at least three years in a listed science, engineering, heritage or humanities field, proven skills or motivation in archaeological sciences, an entry title and grade that meet Padua's rules for your country, and English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a minimum three-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, in one of these fields: [1]
- Chemical and physical sciences, or applied sciences and technologies
- Engineering or computer sciences
- Architectural and environmental sciences, or geological sciences
- Geography or tourism sciences
- Cultural heritage or archaeology
- Humanities and historical sciences
You also need proven skills or motivation in archaeological sciences and the conservation of cultural heritage. [1] Padua sets entry titles and minimum grades country by country, and its Admissions and Welcome Unit decides whether a foreign qualification meets them. [3]
Entry titles and grades for South Asia
Padua's 2027/28 country list sets these rules for a master's degree: [3]
- India: a 3 or 4-year Honours bachelor's, a professional bachelor's of 4, 5 or 5.5 years, or a 3-year pass or general bachelor's plus a postgraduate bachelor's or at least a 1-year master's. Minimum GPA 70/100, 7.0/10, 5.6/8 or 2.8/4.
- Pakistan: a 3-year bachelor's (Honours), a 4 or 5-year professional bachelor's, or a 2-year pass bachelor's plus a 2-year master's, an LL.B. or a B.Ed. Minimum GPA 3.3/4.0.
- Bangladesh: a 4-year Honours bachelor's or a 4 or 5-year professional bachelor's. Minimum GPA 3.3/4.0.
- Sri Lanka: a 4-year bachelor's or a Special Degree. Minimum GPA 3.0/4.0.
The list is for reference, and you can still apply if your country is not on it. [3]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. (Honours) in Chemistry, Physics or Geology, a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil or Materials Engineering, a B.Arch, or a BA (Honours) in Archaeology or History, when you can also show a clear interest in heritage science.
- Check carefully: a BCA, a B.Sc. in Computer Science, Environmental Science or Geography, or a BA in Tourism. These are in listed fields, but your CV and motivation letter need to show skills or motivation in archaeological science. A three-year pass B.Sc. or BA also needs a postgraduate degree on top under Padua's rule for India.
- Often short: a B.Com or BBA, which are not in the listed fields.
English
English at CEFR B2 or equivalent. [1] Padua's list sets minimum scores, for example IELTS Academic or General Training 6.0, Cambridge B2 First 173, PTE Academic 65, Duolingo 115, and TOEFL iBT 86 for tests taken until 20 January 2026 or 4.5 on the new scale from 21 January 2026. [4]
Certificates must be valid, and those without an expiry date must date from the two years before 15 September 2026. You can upload yours after applying, up to 31 July 2027. [4]
Exemptions cover native speakers from listed English-speaking countries and applicants who completed their previous education entirely in English in those countries or in the EU or Schengen area. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not on that list, so plan on a certificate. [4]
Selection
There is no entrance test. The programme has open admission with requirements, and the selection committee assesses your application. During the assessment it may invite you to an interview through the application platform. You can apply to a programme only once per academic year. [1][7]
2027/28 application calls
- Call One: 15 September to 15 November 2026 (11:59 pm CET).
- Call Two: 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027.
- Call Three: 1 April to 1 June 2027, only for EU students and non-EU students living in Italy.
Studies begin on 1 October 2027. [1]
You can apply before you graduate, as long as you complete your degree by 31 July 2027. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Padua's admissions portal. [1] You upload, in PDF: [6]
- Your passport
- Your transcript or marksheets
- Your degree certificate, if already obtained
- A CV and a motivation letter
- Your English certificate
Diplomas and transcripts must be official and in Italian or English, or come with official translations. No legalised documents are needed to apply. [1][6]
If you are admitted, you accept your place. You then submit original and translated or legalised copies of your previous qualifications, and bring the originals when you arrive. [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, admissions portal for international applicants. Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage, Materials and Sites course page: entry qualification, language requirement, application calls and fees, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Department of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music. Archaeological Sciences, curriculum Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage Materials and Sites: course website with the 2026/27 educational offer, course structure, double degrees, careers and dissertation guidance. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Specific entry requirements for qualifications awarded by non-Italian education systems, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Language requirement for degree programmes taught in English, with the list of accepted English certificates and exemptions, 2027/28 selection. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Tuition fees and exemptions notice, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, admissions portal. Documents required for your application, 2027/28 calls. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage. Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage Materials and Sites programme page (degree class, access type, language and duration). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Archaeological Sciences, Scienze archeologiche in Italian, is a master's degree in class LM-2-R (Archaeology) at the University of Padua, part of the School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage and run by the Department of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music.
The degree has two curricula, one in Italian and one, Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage, Materials and Sites, taught entirely in English in Padua. It lasts two years, carries 120 ECTS and has open admission with requirements.
The English curriculum gives the theory and the practical skills needed to apply scientific methods to archaeological and cultural heritage materials, at every scale from surveys of whole sites down to diagnostics at molecular and atomic level.
It suits graduates in the sciences, engineering, geology or architecture who want to work on heritage, and archaeology or humanities graduates who want a stronger scientific toolkit.
What you will study
The first year concentrates on the analysis of materials and the investigation of landscapes and sites; the second year moves to conservation and applied technologies. Course units listed for the Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage, Materials and Sites curriculum include:
- Integrated analysis of cultural heritage materials
- Geomorphology of archaeological landscapes and sites
- Geoarchaeology and micromorphology
- Dating techniques
- Geophysics for cultural heritage
- Macromolecules and genetics
- Remote sensing for archaeology
- Materials properties and conservation, from stone, binders and biomaterials to ceramics, pigments, metals and glass
How the programme is taught
Alongside the science units, the plan covers historical buildings and sites, databases and data processing, authentication techniques, the history and theory of restoration, urban history, communication and digital experience in cultural heritage, and the management and promotion of heritage.
The thesis is usually written in English, with an extended abstract in Italian. [2]
Selected students can earn a double degree in Archaeological Sciences with the University of Bordeaux Montaigne: students who enrol in 2026/27 can choose it in 2027/28. The double degree with the University of Haifa in maritime archaeological heritage is currently suspended. [2]
Career paths
The university lists roles that join archaeology with scientific diagnostics, conservation and heritage management. Graduates can work as:
- Archaeologists and archaeological scientists
- Consultants and planners for diagnostic programmes on sites and heritage objects
- Managers of archaeological sites
- Consultants and planners for museums
- Consultants and planners for conservation programmes
In Italy, graduates can specialise further and join the list of professional archaeologists. [2]
Fees and scholarships
Degrees of the School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage are in fee Group A.
For 2026/27, non-EU students whose household lives outside Italy pay a fixed yearly fee, which is lower for countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. [5]
Winners of the regional scholarship, which the University of Padua administers, are exempt from the fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Details are on the fees page.
How to apply from outside the EU
Show your interest in heritage science clearly, because the committee looks for proven skills or motivation and may call you for an interview.
We apply on apply.unipd.it with your transcript, CV, motivation letter and English certificate.
For 2027/28, non-EU applicants living abroad can use Call One (15 September to 15 November 2026) or Call Two (1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027). Classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
Admitted students accept the place, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, and they apply for a type D study visa. To enrol, you present your original qualification documents with translated or legalised copies, and you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027. [1][3]
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 transcript against Padua's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application on Padua's admissions portal, place acceptance 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 bachelor's degree do I need for Padua's Archaeological Sciences master?
A bachelor's of at least three years, or equivalent, in a listed field such as chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, architecture, geology, geography, tourism, cultural heritage, archaeology or the humanities, plus proven skills or motivation in archaeological science and heritage conservation. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No. The programme has open admission with requirements. The selection committee assesses your application and may invite you to an interview through the application platform. You can apply only once per academic year. [1][7]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. Padua accepts IELTS 6.0, Cambridge B2 First 173, PTE Academic 65 and other listed certificates. A degree taught in English in South Asia is not an exemption, so plan on a certificate. You can upload it up to 31 July 2027. [4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2027/28, non-EU applicants living abroad can apply from 15 September to 15 November 2026, or from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. The third call is only for EU students and non-EU students living in Italy. Classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply before you finish your degree, as long as you complete it by 31 July 2027. A certificate showing you have completed the study cycle can stand in for the final diploma. [3]
I have a B.Sc. in Chemistry or a BA in History from India. Can I apply?
Possibly. Chemical sciences and humanities and historical sciences are both listed fields. Padua asks Indian applicants for an Honours or professional degree, or a pass degree plus a postgraduate degree, with at least 70/100 or 7.0/10, and a clear interest in heritage science. [1][3]
Is there a double degree?
Yes. Selected students can earn a double degree in Archaeological Sciences with the University of Bordeaux Montaigne, and students who enrol in 2026/27 can choose it in 2027/28. The double degree with the University of Haifa is currently suspended. [2]
How much are the fees?
For 2026/27, non-EU students whose household lives outside Italy pay a fixed yearly fee, which is lower for countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Students eligible for the regional scholarship are exempt, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]
Can someone handle my whole application to Archaeological Sciences at Padua?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript 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 Archaeological Sciences?
A three or four-year Honours bachelor's, a professional bachelor's, or a three-year pass degree plus a postgraduate degree can fit if it is in a listed field such as chemistry, geology, engineering, architecture, archaeology or history, with at least 70/100 or 7.0/10 and English at B2. The steps are the online application, accepting your place 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 Archaeological Sciences are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, acceptance of the 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 Archaeological Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, acceptance of the 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 Archaeological Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: online application, acceptance of the 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.
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