Master in Cybersecurity at University of Padua
Two-year English-taught LM-66-R master's at the University of Padua in cryptography, ethical hacking, network security, digital forensics and machine learning. Entry needs a computing-focused bachelor's, a grade of at least 84/110 or equivalent and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Cybersecurity is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-66-R) taught in English at the University of Padua. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years with proven skills in programming, communication networks and information systems, a final grade of at least 84/110 or equivalent, and English at B2. There is no entrance test. Regional scholarship winners are exempt from fees, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Padua's Cybersecurity master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent that meets the country rules, with proven skills in computer science and information engineering, a final grade of at least 84/110 or equivalent, and English at B2. There is no entrance test: you apply in one of the 2027/28 calls and an academic committee reviews your file. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and grade requirements
You need a bachelor's degree of at least three years, or an equivalent foreign qualification, with proven skills in computer science and information engineering, such as the basics of programming, communication networks and information systems. [1] The degree must come from an institution accredited in its own country's system. [4]
The admission committee reviews foreign degrees. Your final grade must be at least 84/110 or equivalent, and the committee analyses your curriculum and course programmes, with particular attention to programming, communication networks and information systems. Holders of Italian degrees need at least 42 CFU: 24 in computer science, computer engineering or telecommunications and 18 in mathematics. [3]
The university's 2027/28 country list sets these master's entry titles and minimum grades: [2]
- 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.
The list is a reference, and the university's Admissions and Welcome Unit makes the final decision on each qualification. [2]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, IT or Electronics and Communication, with programming, networking and information systems on the transcript and a grade above both minimums.
- Check carefully: a BCA, B.Sc. Computer Science or B.Sc. IT. These usually cover programming, but a three-year Indian degree must be an Honours degree, or be followed by a postgraduate qualification, to meet the 2027/28 country rule, and networks and information systems should appear on the transcript.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely include programming, communication networks or information systems.
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 and Duolingo English Test 115. [5]
Certificates must still be valid or, where they have no expiry date, be no more than two years old on 15 September 2026. You can upload one after applying, up to 31 July 2027. [5]
You are exempt if you are a native speaker from a listed English-speaking country, 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. [5]
Selection
There is no entrance test. The Admissions and Welcome Unit checks your application first, then an academic committee evaluates it. [4] For 2026/27, the programme had 50 places for non-EU students living abroad, 10 of them for China's Marco Polo programme, while EU citizens and non-EU residents of Italy had open access. [3]
2027/28 deadlines
Non-EU applicants living abroad can apply in Call One, from 15 September to 15 November 2026, or Call Two, from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. Call Three, from 1 April to 1 June 2027, is only for EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy. You can apply to this programme only once per academic year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
You can apply before graduating, but you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
The application needs a CV and motivation letter in English, your transcript, your degree certificate (or an enrolment or provisional certificate if you have not graduated), your passport and your English certificate. No legalised documents are needed at this stage, but documents not in English or Italian need a translation. [1][4]
- If admitted, you accept your place by paying a non-refundable fee. [1]
- Non-EU citizens living outside Italy complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. [4]
- At enrolment, your degree and transcript must be translated into Italian or English and legalised or apostilled, or covered by a CIMEA certificate of verification. The university may also ask for a CIMEA statement of comparability. [4]
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, international application portal. Master's degree in Cybersecurity: entry qualification, language requirement, fees and application calls, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- 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.
- University of Padua, Departments of Mathematics and Information Engineering. Master's degree in Cybersecurity, study plan and admission requirements, 2026/27 call. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Admission of international students; Study in English: how to apply and how to enrol, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- 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.
- University of Padua, Department of Mathematics. Call for applications no. 4/2026 for ten study prizes for enrolment in master's degrees, including Cybersecurity, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Student fees and the fixed fee for non-EU students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Cybersecurity is a master's degree in class LM-66-R (Cybersecurity), taught entirely in English in Padua. It belongs to the School of Science and is run by the Department of Mathematics together with the Department of Information Engineering.
It lasts two years and 120 ECTS and has open admission with requirements.
The degree tackles the security and privacy of ICT systems and critical infrastructure with an interdisciplinary approach that draws on computer science, engineering, statistics and economic and legal studies, with teaching staff from Italy and abroad.
It suits graduates in computer science, computer engineering or information engineering who already know programming, networks and information systems.
What you will study
A block of compulsory units covers the core of the field, from cryptography to forensics, and you complete the plan with optional units. The compulsory units listed for 2027/28 are:
- Cybersecurity and Cryptography: Principles and Practices
- Information Security
- Machine Learning
- Stochastic Processes
- Ethical Hacking
- Digital Forensics and Biometrics
- Advanced Topics in Computer and Network Security
How the programme is taught
The optional units let you shape the degree towards systems, law or management.
They include Mobile and IoT Security, Quantum Cryptography and Security, Web Applications, Law and Data, Security and Risk: Management and Certifications, Software Verification, Formal Methods for Cyber-Physical Systems, Wireless Networks, Game Theory and Human Computer Interaction.
The course also covers wider computing topics such as computer architecture, operating systems, search engines, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Career paths
The programme prepares graduates for technical and business roles in international and local organisations, protecting IT systems and critical infrastructure. The university lists these job titles:
- Cyber security consultant or specialist
- Security analyst
- Information security architect
- Security auditor
- Computer forensics expert
- Privacy-by-design consultant
Fees and scholarships
As a School of Science degree, Cybersecurity is in fee Group B.
For 2026/27, non-EU students whose family is not resident in Italy pay a fixed yearly fee, which is lower for students from countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. [7] The ISEE parificato only reduces the regional tax.
Regional scholarship winners in Veneto are exempt from the fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students, and applicants living abroad are also considered for merit scholarships and fee waivers. See the fees page.
For 2026/27 the Department of Mathematics also offered two study prizes of €8,000 a year for new students on this programme. They were open to applicants under 25 with a strong degree grade who were EU citizens, Italian residents or holders of an Italian study visa. The next call sets new terms. [6]
How to apply from outside the EU
We apply on apply.unipd.it, uploading your transcript, CV, motivation letter and English certificate; no legalised documents are needed at this stage.
Non-EU applicants living abroad can apply for 2027/28 from 15 September to 15 November 2026 or from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027, and only once per programme in the year. [1]
There is no entrance test. An academic committee reviews your degree, your final grade and the content of your courses. [3][4]
If you are admitted, you pay a non-refundable fee to accept your place, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you apply for a type D study visa. At enrolment you present your degree and transcript translated into Italian or English and legalised or apostilled, or a CIMEA certificate of verification, and you must have graduated by 31 July 2027. [2][4]
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 application on the university 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 Cybersecurity at Padua?
A bachelor's of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent, with proven skills in computer science and information engineering, such as programming, communication networks and information systems. The admission committee also checks that your final grade is at least 84/110 or equivalent. [1][3]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. There is no written test. The Admissions and Welcome Unit checks your application, then an academic committee evaluates it, looking at your final grade and the content of your courses. [3][4]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. For 2027/28 the university accepts IELTS 6.0, PTE Academic 65, Duolingo 115, Cambridge B2 First 173 and other listed tests. A degree taught in English in India or Pakistan is not on the exemption list, so plan on a certificate. [1][5]
When is the 2027/28 deadline for non-EU students?
Non-EU applicants living abroad can apply in Call One, from 15 September to 15 November 2026, or Call Two, from 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. Call Three is only for EU citizens and non-EU residents of Italy. Classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply with an enrolment or provisional certificate, but you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027. An English certificate can also be uploaded after you apply, up to 31 July 2027. [2][4][5]
I have a BCA or a three-year B.Sc. Can I apply?
Possibly. The 2027/28 country list for India covers 3-year Honours degrees, while a 3-year pass or general degree needs a postgraduate bachelor's or at least a one-year master's on top. Your transcript should also show programming, communication networks and information systems. [2][3]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the programme had 50 places for non-EU students living abroad, 10 of them reserved for China's Marco Polo programme. EU citizens and non-EU residents of Italy had open access. [3]
What jobs do graduates do?
The university lists cyber security consultant and specialist, security analyst, information security architect, security auditor, computer forensics expert and privacy-by-design consultant, in technology companies, financial services, critical infrastructure, public administration and government agencies. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Cybersecurity 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 Cybersecurity?
Padua's 2027/28 country list for India covers 3 or 4-year Honours bachelor's degrees and professional bachelor's degrees of 4 years or more, which is where a B.Tech or B.E. sits, with a minimum of 70/100 or 7.0/10. Your transcript should show programming, networks and information systems, and you need English at B2. The steps are the online application, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2] 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 Cybersecurity are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, admission decision, 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 Cybersecurity are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, admission decision, 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 Cybersecurity 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, admission decision, 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.
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