Master in Historical Sciences at University of Padua
Two-year master's in Padua whose English-taught Mobility Studies curriculum covers migration, borders, tourism and the movement of cultural heritage through historical or geographical pathways, with labs, a 6 ECTS internship and a Lancaster double degree option. Entry needs a related bachelor's and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Padua
Multiple
University of Padua
Historical Sciences (Scienze storiche, class LM-84-R) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree at the University of Padua whose Mobility Studies curriculum is taught in English. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years in historical and geographical studies or a related subject, plus English at B2. Regional scholarship winners are exempt from fees, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Padua's Historical Sciences master, through its English-taught Mobility Studies curriculum, asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years in historical and geographical studies or a related subject, a grade that meets the university's minimum for your country, and English at B2. There is no entrance test: the motivation letter carries particular weight, and the committee may hold an interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and subject requirements
You need an undergraduate degree of at least three years, or an equivalent, in historical and geographical studies or a related subject. The admissions portal gives these related subjects as examples, and the list is open: [1]
- Communication
- Cultural heritage
- Earth and environmental sciences
- Economics
- Foreign languages and literature
- Social and political sciences
- Statistics
- Urban planning
The degree must come from an institution accredited in its own country's education system. [4]
Country rules and minimum grades
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: an Honours BA in History or Geography, or an Honours degree in a listed related subject such as Political Science, Sociology, Economics, English or another foreign language and literature, Statistics or Environmental Science, with a grade above your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a three-year pass or general BA, B.Sc. or B.Com from India, which needs a postgraduate bachelor's or at least a one-year master's to meet the country rule, or a B.Com or BBA, where the link to economics or the other listed subjects depends on your units.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E. or BCA, since engineering and computing are not among the subjects the university lists.
English
The Mobility Studies curriculum asks for English at CEFR level B2 or equivalent. [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. [3]
Certificates must still be valid or, where they have no expiry date, be no more than two years old on 15 September 2026. A certificate can be uploaded after applying, up to 31 July 2027. 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. [3]
Selection
There is no entrance test: the programme has open admission with requirements. [6]
- Motivation letter: the committee gives it particular importance, and it must be written specifically for Mobility Studies. Generic letters, letters not tailored to the programme and letters generated with AI tools may not be considered. [1]
- Interview: the selection committee may invite you to an interview through the application platform. [1]
- CV and transcript: both are part of the application file. [4]
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 a 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 your passport, your transcript or marksheet, your degree certificate if you have already graduated, a CV, a motivation letter and your English certificate, all uploaded as PDF files. Diplomas and transcripts must be official and in Italian or English, or come with official translations. No legalised documents are needed at this stage. [1][4]
- If admitted, you accept your place online. [1][4]
- Non-EU citizens living outside Italy complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July 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. [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 Historical Sciences, Mobility Studies curriculum: entry qualification, language requirement, selection, 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, with the deadline to graduate, updated 15 September 2026 and valid for 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, Global Engagement Office. Admission of international students: how to apply, documents required for your application and how to enrol with a foreign qualification, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Tuition fees and exemptions notice, with the fixed fee for non-EU students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage. Historical Sciences programme page (degree class, access type, languages, duration and periods of study), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Historical Sciences, Scienze storiche in Italian, is a master's degree in class LM-84-R at the University of Padua, run by the Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World within the School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage. The degree is offered in Italian and English: its English curriculum, Mobility Studies, leads to a Master of Arts in Historical Sciences. It lasts two years, carries 120 ECTS and has open admission with requirements. [1][6]
Mobility Studies examines migration and other forms of mobility, from the movement of cultural heritage to tourism and changing urban mobility, through history, geography and social research. It suits graduates in history, geography and related humanities or social sciences who want to work on migration, heritage, tourism or urban change. [1]
What you will study
All students take core courses in global history, the geography of mobility, social research, and IT and data analysis. You then follow one of two pathways, whose themes include: [1]
- Historical pathway: history, demography and sociology of migration on a global scale
- Historical pathway: mobility of cultural heritage, such as manuscripts and museum collections
- Geographical pathway: cultural geographies and cartographies
- Geographical pathway: migration processes and borders
- Geographical pathway: tourism mobilities
- Geographical pathway: transformations of contemporary urban mobility
- Geographical pathway: geohumanities
The admissions portal notes that a new programme structure for 2027/28 is still to be approved, so course names can change. [1]
How the programme is taught
Both pathways include hands-on laboratory activities and a 6 ECTS internship. Up to four students each academic year can be selected for a double degree with Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. [1]
Career paths
The university points graduates towards public and private roles where mobility, migration and heritage meet. The sectors it lists include: [1]
- Government agencies
- Organisations working on migration
- Think tanks
- Cultural tourism and digital heritage
- Media
- Museums, archives and libraries
- Companies in the mobility sector
- Academic research
Fees and scholarships
Historical Sciences is in fee Group A. For 2026/27 non-EU students whose family lives abroad pay a fixed yearly fee, which is lower for students from countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Students who are eligible in the regional scholarship rankings are exempt from the fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5] Full rules are on the fees page.
How to apply from outside the EU
The motivation letter carries particular weight: tailor it to Mobility Studies, because generic letters or letters generated with AI tools may not be considered. We submit it on apply.unipd.it with your transcript, CV and English certificate. The selection committee may invite you to an interview. 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 academic year. [1][4]
Once admitted, you accept the place, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July, and you apply for a type D study visa. [1][4] 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. Classes start on 1 October 2027. [1][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 Historical Sciences at Padua?
A degree of at least three years in historical and geographical studies or a related subject, such as communication, cultural heritage, earth and environmental sciences, economics, foreign languages, social and political sciences, statistics or urban planning. Your grade must also meet Padua's minimum for your country. [1][2]
Is the Master in Historical Sciences taught in English?
The degree is offered in Italian and English. Its Mobility Studies curriculum, which leads to a Master of Arts in Historical Sciences, is taught in English and asks for English at CEFR B2. [1][6]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. The programme has open admission with requirements. The motivation letter carries particular weight and must be written for Mobility Studies, since generic or AI-generated letters may not be considered, and the committee may invite you to an interview. [1][6]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. For 2027/28 Padua accepts IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 86 (or 4.5 for tests from 21 January 2026), PTE Academic 65, Duolingo 115 and other listed tests. A degree taught in English in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka does not exempt you. [1][3]
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. You can apply only once per year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply while finishing your bachelor's, but you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027 to enrol for 2027/28. A B2 English certificate can also be uploaded after applying, up to 31 July 2027. [2][3]
I have a B.Com or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
A B.Com can work if it is strong in economics, one of the related subjects Padua lists, but a three-year pass B.Com from India also needs a postgraduate degree under the country rules. A B.Tech is often short, as engineering is not among the listed subjects. [1][2]
How much are the fees?
For 2026/27, non-EU students whose family lives abroad pay a fixed yearly fee, which is lower for countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Students eligible in the regional scholarship rankings are exempt, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]
Can someone handle my whole application to Historical 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 Historical Sciences?
Padua's 2027/28 country list covers Indian 3 or 4-year Honours bachelor's degrees, professional bachelor's degrees of 4 years or more, and 3-year pass degrees followed by a postgraduate degree, with a minimum of 70/100 or 7.0/10. Your degree should be in history, geography or a related subject, 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 Historical Sciences are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in Call One or Call Two, 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 Historical Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in Call One or Call Two, 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 Historical 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 in Call One or Call Two, 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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