Master in Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology at University of Padua

Detailed entry requirements

Padua's Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent, in psychology, with proven competence in general psychology, psychobiology and physiological psychology, and psychometrics, a high grade (at least 85% of the maximum in the 2026/27 call) and English at B2. Places are limited and assigned through a 100-point ranking, with no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree and subject requirements

You need an undergraduate degree of at least three years, or an equivalent qualification, in psychology, with proven competence in general psychology, psychobiology and physiological psychology, and psychometrics. In the 2026/27 call, non-EU applicants also needed a GPA of at least 85% of the maximum grade in the grading system of the country where the degree was awarded. [1]

For holders of Italian degrees, the 2026/27 call asks for a psychology degree in class L-24 with at least 50 CFU in general psychology, psychobiology and psychometrics (sectors M-PSI/01, 02 and 03) and an exam average of at least 25/30. [7]

Your degree must also be an accepted entry title for your country. You can apply before graduating: the 2026/27 call required the degree by 31 July 2026, and for 2027/28 the university's deadline to graduate is 31 July 2027. [1][3]

Country rules and minimum grades

The university's 2027/28 country list sets these master's entry titles and general minimum grades: [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. 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.

These are general minimums. In 2026/27 this programme's own rule of 85% of the maximum grade was higher than all of them. The university's Admissions and Welcome Unit makes the final decision on each qualification. [1][3]

What this means for your transcript

As a guide, based on the rules above:

• Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. (Honours) in Psychology, or a four-year psychology bachelor's, with several units in general or cognitive psychology, biological or physiological psychology, and statistics or psychometrics, and an average of at least 85% of the maximum, for example 8.5 out of 10.
• Check carefully: a three-year pass or general Indian BA or B.Sc. with psychology, which also needs a postgraduate qualification under the 2027/28 country list, or a psychology degree that is light on psychobiology or psychometrics, since subject congruence carries 40 of the 100 ranking points.
• Often short: a degree in biology, biotechnology, medicine, neuroscience, computer science or engineering, since the call asks for a degree in psychology, or a psychology degree with an average below 85% of the maximum.

Your bachelor's is also checked for 10 ECTS (250 hours) of practical traineeship. If it is missing, the credits are added to the 500-hour traineeship in the master's. [1]

English

English at CEFR level B2 or higher. [1] For 2027/28 the university's accepted B2 scores include IELTS Academic or General Training 6.0, TOEFL iBT 86 for tests taken until 20 January 2026 or 4.5 for tests taken from 21 January 2026, PTE Academic 65, Cambridge B2 First 173, Trinity ISE II, Oxford Test of English 126 and Duolingo English Test 115. [4]

Certificates must still be valid or, where they have no expiry date, have been obtained within two years of 15 September 2026. You can upload one after applying, up to 31 July 2027. [4]

You are exempt if you are a native speaker from a listed English-speaking country, such as the UK or the US, or completed your qualification entirely in English in one of those countries or in the EU or Schengen area. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not on that list. [4]

Selection

There is no entrance test. Places are limited and filled from a ranking list. [2] In the 2026/27 call, your transcript and evaluation form were scored out of 100: [1]

• Average grade: up to 30 points, from the average of the exams you have taken when you apply.
• Congruence: up to 40 points, for how closely your exams match general psychology, psychobiology and physiological psychology, and psychometrics.
• Activities: up to 30 points, for relevant work, internships, research, mobility and publications.

You need at least 60/100 to be ranked, and ties go to the younger candidate. The committee counts only credits already earned when you apply and may hold an online interview. Applicants who do not meet the requirements are not ranked. [1]

2027/28 deadlines

Non-EU applicants living abroad apply from 7 January to 7 March 2027, 23:59 Central European Time, for 20 places. You can apply to a programme only once per academic year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [2][5]

In 2026/27 the non-EU window ran from 7 January to 7 March 2026, and the ranking list was published from 10 April 2026. The detailed 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][2]

Documents and non-EU steps

The 2026/27 call asked for your passport, your transcript with all exams, grades and grading scale, your degree certificate if already awarded, official translations into Italian or English where needed, your English certificate if you have it, the programme's evaluation form and a CV. No legalised documents are needed at this stage. [1][2][5]

• If admitted, you must formally accept your place. [2][5]
• Non-EU citizens living outside Italy complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July and apply for a type D study visa. [5]
• To complete enrolment, your degree and transcript must be legalised or apostilled, or covered by a CIMEA statement of verification. In 2026/27 the deadline for this was 31 October 2026. A CIMEA statement of comparability may also be requested if further checks are needed. [1][5]

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, Master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Padua, international application portal. Master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology: places, application window, entry requirements, fees and programme structure, 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 and valid for academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
4. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Language requirement for admission to degree programmes, with the list of accepted English certificates and exemptions, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
5. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Studying in English: how to apply and how to enrol with a foreign qualification, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
6. University of Padua. Tuition fees and exemptions notice, with the fixed fee for non-EU students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
7. University of Padua, School of Psychology. Call for admission to the English-taught master's degrees in psychology, candidates with an Italian entry title, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
8. University of Padua. Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology programme page (degree class, school, language and access type), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology at Padua?

A degree of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent, in psychology, with proven competence in general psychology, psychobiology and physiological psychology, and psychometrics. In the 2026/27 call, non-EU applicants also needed a GPA of at least 85% of the maximum grade in their country's system. [1]

Is there an entrance exam?

No. Places are limited and, in the 2026/27 call, applicants were ranked out of 100: up to 30 points for the average grade, 40 for how well the exams match the required subjects and 30 for relevant activities. You need at least 60 to be ranked, and an online interview is possible. [1]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at CEFR B2. For 2027/28 the university accepts IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 86 (or 4.5 for tests from 21 January 2026), PTE Academic 65, Cambridge B2 First 173, Duolingo 115 and other listed tests. A degree taught in English in India or Pakistan is not on the exemption list. [1][4]

When is the 2027/28 deadline for non-EU students?

Non-EU applicants living abroad apply from 7 January to 7 March 2027, 23:59 Central European Time, for 20 places. You can apply only once per year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [2][5]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes. You can apply while finishing your bachelor's and be admitted conditionally, but you must graduate by 31 July 2027 to enrol for 2027/28. Only credits already earned when you apply are assessed. [1][3]

I have a BA in Psychology or a B.Sc. in Biology from India. Can I apply?

A psychology degree can fit: a three-year Indian degree must be Honours or be followed by a postgraduate qualification, and in 2026/27 you also needed 85% of the maximum grade. A biology, biotechnology or neuroscience degree is often short, since the call asks for a degree in psychology. [1][3]

Can I practise as a psychologist in Italy after this degree?

Yes. Since 2023/24 the degree lets graduates register with the Italian Board of Psychologists, after 30 ECTS (750 hours) of practical traineeship: 10 ECTS in the bachelor's and 20 in the master's. Missing bachelor's credits are added to the master's traineeship. [1]

How are the fees set?

For 2026/27, non-EU students whose family lives abroad pay a fixed yearly fee, with a lower rate for countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Students eligible for the regional scholarship are exempt. [6]

Can someone handle my whole application to Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology 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 Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology?

Your bachelor's must be in psychology, with solid work in general psychology, psychobiology and psychometrics. Padua's 2027/28 country list accepts Indian 3 or 4-year Honours bachelor's degrees, and in 2026/27 this programme also asked for a GPA of at least 85% of the maximum. You need English at B2. The steps are the online application, place acceptance 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 Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in the limited-access call, a place on the ranking list, place acceptance 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 Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the limited-access call, a place on the ranking list, place acceptance 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 Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology 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 in the limited-access call, a place on the ranking list, place acceptance 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.