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University of Padua
Why the University of Padua stands out
If you want to study in Italy in English at one of the most respected public Italian universities, the University of Padua (Università degli Studi di Padova) is a prime option. Founded in 1222, it is one of Europe’s oldest universities and still leads on research and innovation today. It regularly features near the top of national rankings and is well placed globally. The university offers a growing catalogue of English-taught programs in Italy, making it easier for international students to access world-class teaching and labs without a language barrier. Because Padua follows the same income-based fee rules used across tuition-free universities Italy, many students can study at low or even zero tuition, especially when they combine fee waivers with the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy.
A quick snapshot
- Over eight centuries of academic excellence.
- Strong international research networks and doctoral schools.
- Wide range of STEM, social sciences, medicine, agriculture, and humanities programmes.
- Multiple English-medium bachelor’s and master’s tracks.
- Transparent, income-linked tuition with generous funding options.
- A vibrant student city with a compact centre, safe streets, and a dynamic cultural calendar.
Academic strengths and key departments
Padua covers almost every subject. Areas with particularly strong reputations include:
- Medicine and Surgery, with linked university hospitals and cutting-edge research centres.
- Engineering and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), including AI, automation, data science, cybersecurity, and aerospace.
- Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, supported by national and European research collaborations.
- Agricultural, Food, and Forest Sciences, with a focus on sustainability and climate action.
- Economics, Management, and Political Science, offering international tracks and data-driven training.
- Psychology, Neuroscience, and Cognitive Science, with advanced laboratories and clinical exposure.
- Environmental Sciences, Geosciences, and Earth Observation, tied to European green policy agendas.
Most faculties now offer at least one path in English. This increases mobility and allows students to work on multinational research projects from the first semester.
English-taught programs in Italy: how Padua meets your needs
Choosing a university with English-medium instruction allows you to:
- Start studying immediately, without waiting to reach C1 Italian.
- Access international professors and visiting lecturers.
- Prepare for PhD or global career paths where English is the working language.
- Join multinational research teams and publish early in your master’s journey.
At the same time, the university offers free or low-cost Italian language courses so you can integrate locally, apply for internships, and expand your job options after graduation.
Costs, DSU grant, and scholarships for international students in Italy
Padua follows the national model that has made tuition-free universities Italy a realistic dream for many. Tuition scales with household income: students below a threshold pay nothing, and even at the top of the scale, fees are far lower than in many other European systems. Combine this with the DSU grant—financial support that can include accommodation, meals, and study materials—and the total cost of study becomes highly competitive.
Funding options include:
- DSU grant (Diritto allo Studio Universitario): income-based, with merit requirements for renewals.
- University merit scholarships for top applicants or high-performing students.
- National scholarships for international students in Italy, which may include monthly stipends and health insurance.
- Fee reductions linked to credit completion and grades.
- Part-time campus work (international students can typically work up to 20 hours per week).
Padua, the city: liveable, connected, and student-centred
Padua is a medium-sized, safe, and bike-friendly city. It offers a calm lifestyle compared with bigger Italian urban centres, yet it is close to Venice, Verona, and the Dolomites. This balance makes study and research easier while still giving quick access to travel options.
Climate
The climate is temperate. Summers are warm, winters are cool but not extreme. You can cycle much of the year, and public parks and riverside paths are popular with students.
Public transport
Padua has an efficient tram line, frequent buses, and well-marked bike routes. Students enjoy discounted monthly passes. Trains connect the city to Milan, Bologna, and Florence within a few hours. Venice Marco Polo Airport and Treviso Airport are close, making European travel easy and often cheap.
Affordability
While cheaper than Milan or Rome, Padua is still a northern Italian city, so plan your budget. Shared flats near the university cost less than in bigger hubs, but you should apply early—especially if you want university residence halls that are often subsidised. The DSU grant can dramatically reduce your monthly spend on food and housing.
Culture and student life
Padua’s historic centre is lively and compact, filled with cafés, libraries, theatres, and student clubs. ESN (Erasmus Student Network) and faculty associations organise social events, language tandems, and short trips. Historic landmarks—such as the Scrovegni Chapel and the University’s anatomical theatre—coexist with modern science parks and incubators.
Job and internship opportunities
Padua is part of the Veneto region, one of Italy’s most industrial and export-oriented areas. This means strong links to:
- Advanced manufacturing and mechatronics.
- ICT, data science, and software engineering.
- Biomedical devices, pharma, biotech, and clinical research.
- Agriculture, food tech, and environmental engineering.
- Financial services, consulting, and logistics.
- Cultural heritage and tourism management.
The university’s Career Service and departmental offices organise internships and placement fairs. Many programmes include compulsory work experience, often paid. English-medium programmes attract companies that operate globally and welcome multilingual talent.
Innovation hubs and tech transfer
Padua has a growing start-up scene, supported by university incubators, regional funds, and EU projects. Students in engineering, biosciences, data science, and economics often join cross-disciplinary teams to test business ideas. Access to wet labs, prototyping spaces, HPC clusters, and mentoring makes translation from research to market more realistic.
How international students benefit
- A clear admissions timeline with transparent requirements.
- English-taught entry exams and interviews for many courses.
- Dedicated international desks to help with enrolment, residence permits, and health insurance.
- Italian language courses to support internships and daily life.
- Networking through international student associations, alumni clubs, and research groups.
What industries you can target by field of study
- Engineering, Automation, and ICT: software, embedded systems, AI, robotics, cybersecurity, Industry 4.0.
- Life Sciences and Medicine: biotech, medical devices, clinical data analysis, pharma.
- Environmental Sciences: climate modelling, green finance, smart cities, renewable energy.
- Economics and Management: consulting, private equity, corporate strategy, policy think-tanks.
- Humanities and Social Sciences: cultural heritage management, publishing, diplomacy, NGOs.
- Psychology and Neuroscience: clinical research, UX research, HR analytics, cognitive tech.
- Agriculture and Food Sciences: precision agriculture, sustainable food systems, agribusiness management.
International outlook
Padua participates in European university alliances, Erasmus+ exchanges, joint degrees, and doctoral networks. You can spend a semester abroad or co-supervise your thesis with a partner institution. The academic calendar aligns with European standards, so credits and grants transfer easily.
Student support and wellbeing
The university invests in counselling, disability support, mentorship, and career coaching. You can attend workshops on academic writing, CVs, pitch decks, and interview practice. Research students access grant-writing labs and peer-review training—essential if you want to publish or apply for doctoral funding.
Admissions: what you should prepare
While requirements vary, expect to provide:
- Academic transcripts and diploma(s).
- English-language certificate (often B2 or higher).
- A motivation letter and CV (structured and concise).
- For some programmes: GRE/GMAT, a portfolio, or coding/math tests.
- For art, design, or architecture: sample projects or research proposals.
Most master’s programmes offer a pre-evaluation stage; applying early increases your chance of fee waivers and scholarships.
Why University of Padua + Padua city is a strong combination
- A long academic tradition plus modern labs and funding.
- A city that feels safe and manageable, with quick access to major Italian and EU hubs.
- English-taught programs in Italy that are carefully designed for international learners.
- An income-based fee system that makes high-quality education within reach, characteristic of tuition-free universities Italy.
- Real career prospects in one of Europe’s industrial powerhouses, across disciplines and levels of study.
Final words
The University of Padua gives you history, research strength, and a clear path to a career or PhD. The city supports your studies with a student-centred lifestyle, strong transport, and a vibrant cultural scene. With income-based fees, the DSU grant, and multiple scholarships for international students in Italy, you can focus on learning, building a strong portfolio, and starting your future with confidence.
In two minutes we’ll confirm whether you meet the basic entry rules for tuition-free, English-taught degrees in Italy. We’ll then quickly see if we still have space for you this month. If so, you’ll get a personalised offer. Accept it, and our experts hand-craft a shortlist of majors that fit your grades, goals, and career plans. Upload your documents once; we submit every university and scholarship application, line up multiple admission letters, and guide you through the visa process—backed by our admission-and-scholarship guarantee.
Human Rights and Multi-level Governance (LM‑52) at University of Padua
Human Rights and Multi-level Governance (LM‑52) is a forward‑looking master’s for students who want to study in Italy in English at one of the most respected public Italian universities. It belongs to the expanding ecosystem of English-taught programs in Italy and is supported by the affordability model that characterises tuition-free universities Italy. With the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy, you can focus on building skills for policy, advocacy, and research rather than worrying about fees.
Why choose this LM‑52 to study in Italy in English
This programme trains you to navigate how human rights are protected, limited, or advanced across different layers of authority: local governments, national courts, the European Union, regional organisations, and global institutions. You learn how public law, international law, and soft‑law standards interact with politics, economics, and civil society strategies.
You will also study the mechanics of governance: who decides, on what basis, and with what accountability. The “multi-level” focus means you go beyond treaties to see how rights are negotiated in real time between cities, states, regions, and international bodies. This standpoint is crucial for careers in NGOs, IGOs, think tanks, and public administration.
As part of a historic public Italian university, the programme respects Bologna Process standards, supports mobility, and uses transparent fee rules. That is why it stands out inside English-taught programs in Italy for law, policy, and international relations.
What makes it distinctive
- A deep legal base, combined with policy and management tools.
- A comparative approach that treats cities, regions, states, and supranational bodies as co‑producers of rights.
- Practical training in project cycle management, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy.
- A strong research culture that helps you publish, speak at conferences, and apply for PhDs.
- Access to income‑based fees, the DSU grant, and scholarships for international students in Italy.
Curriculum, methods, and the skills you will master
The degree spans two years (120 ECTS) and mixes law, politics, economics, and empirical methods. You move from theory to practice through simulations, policy memos, grant proposals, and internships.
Core legal and policy pillars
- International Human Rights Law: sources, enforcement, derogations, and limitations.
- European Human Rights System and EU Fundamental Rights: Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights, Charter of Fundamental Rights.
- Comparative Constitutional Law: rights protection, judicial review, emergency powers.
- Public International Law and Global Governance: UN system, treaty bodies, sanctions, humanitarian law intersections.
- Multi-level Governance and Decentralisation: subsidiarity, federalism, regions’ and cities’ roles in rights implementation.
- Administrative Law and Good Governance: transparency, participation, anti‑corruption, accountability.
Cross‑cutting themes and special topics
- Migration, Asylum, and Citizenship Regimes.
- Digital Rights, Platform Governance, Data Protection, and AI ethics.
- Gender, LGBTQIA+, Disability Rights, and Intersectionality.
- Environmental and Climate Justice, Indigenous Rights, and Future Generations.
- Business and Human Rights (due diligence, value chains, ESG compliance).
- Conflict, Peacebuilding, and Transitional Justice.
Methods, tools, and professional training
- Research methods for law and social sciences: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods.
- Policy design, impact assessment, and theory of change.
- Monitoring and evaluation frameworks (logframes, indicators, outcome mapping).
- Project cycle management for EU and international funding.
- Advocacy labs: campaign design, stakeholder mapping, negotiation and mediation.
- Data and evidence: statistics for policy, visualisation, and reproducibility.
Thesis or internship (30 ECTS)
Your final semester centres on a thesis or an internship (or both). Options include:
- A legal‑analytical thesis evaluating a new court ruling, directive, or treaty, and its policy effects.
- A policy report for an NGO or public body with clear recommendations, indicators, and budget.
- An empirical study combining interviews, surveys, and document analysis on a rights issue.
- A project proposal for EU or UN calls, with a logical framework, risk analysis, and M&E plan.
Learning outcomes: what you can actually do after graduation
By the end of LM‑52 you will be able to:
- Analyse multi‑level legal frameworks and identify the correct venue for action.
- Draft concise, evidence‑based policy briefs, legal memos, and advocacy documents.
- Design and evaluate rights‑focused projects with clear indicators and data plans.
- Use qualitative and quantitative methods to support arguments with solid evidence.
- Communicate complex legal ideas in clear, accessible English to non‑lawyers.
- Work ethically with sensitive data and vulnerable communities.
- Navigate grants, tenders, and institutional partnerships with confidence.
Careers: where graduates work and why they are needed
Human Rights and Multi-level Governance (LM‑52) opens diverse paths:
- International organisations: UN agencies, Council of Europe, OSCE, EU bodies.
- NGOs and civil society: advocacy, programme management, policy analysis.
- Public administration: ministries, independent authorities, regional and municipal governments.
- Research institutes and think tanks: rights monitoring, policy design, evaluation.
- Corporate and consulting roles: ESG compliance, business and human rights, due diligence.
- Media and communication: rights reporting, fact‑checking, public education.
- PhD programmes: law, political science, public policy, sociology.
Sectors currently hiring include migration governance, digital regulation, climate justice, gender equality, health rights, and corporate accountability. Employers want people who can translate legal norms into workable policies and measurable results—exactly what this programme teaches.
Ethics, inclusion, and responsible research
Human rights work demands ethical sensitivity:
- Protecting personal data and ensuring informed consent.
- Avoiding harm and re‑traumatisation of vulnerable participants.
- Managing conflicts of interest and being transparent about funding.
- Using inclusive and respectful language and frameworks.
- Practising open science where appropriate, without compromising safety.
The programme ensures you understand how to research and act responsibly, especially when dealing with at‑risk communities.
Digital rights, AI, and the future of governance
Rights and governance are moving online. You will learn:
- How data protection, algorithmic transparency, and platform governance affect human rights.
- Where EU law (like the GDPR or AI regulation) leads the global conversation.
- How to design governance models that include accountability for private platforms.
- How to use digital tools for monitoring, advocacy, and participatory policymaking.
This digital literacy is key for roles at the intersection of law, policy, and technology.
Project cycle management, M&E, and evidence
Employers value graduates who can deliver more than theory. You will practise:
- Drafting calls, budgets, logical frameworks, and risk matrices.
- Selecting indicators that capture both outputs and outcomes.
- Building mixed‑method evaluation plans.
- Communicating results to boards, donors, and the public.
- Iterating programmes based on evidence, not assumptions.
These skills help you move directly into programme roles in NGOs, IGOs, and public agencies.
Soft skills that raise your profile
Beyond legal and policy analysis, the programme develops:
- Clear writing for different audiences, from policymakers to communities.
- Public speaking and media training to advocate effectively.
- Negotiation and mediation across sectors and levels of government.
- Team leadership in multicultural, interdisciplinary contexts.
- Time and project management under tight deadlines and limited resources.
Pathway to a PhD
If you aim for an academic career, LM‑52 equips you with:
- A strong legal and methodological base.
- Early exposure to peer review, conferences, and publishing.
- Faculty supervision for proposal writing and funding applications.
- Access to a broad network of European and global partner institutions.
You can continue to doctoral research in human rights law, public law, governance, political science, sociology, or global studies.
Final perspective
Human Rights and Multi-level Governance (LM‑52) at the University of Padua (Università degli Studi di Padova) gives you the legal depth, policy tools, and ethical grounding to work where rights are designed, contested, and defended. As one of the strongest English-taught programs in Italy housed within a leading public Italian university, it combines academic excellence with the affordability mechanisms typical of tuition-free universities Italy. With the DSU grant and scholarships for international students in Italy, you can build a professional path that is both impactful and sustainable.
Ready for this programme?
If you qualify and we still have a spot this month, we’ll reserve your place with ApplyAZ. Our team will tailor a set of best-fit majors—including this course—and handle every form and deadline for you. One upload, many applications, guaranteed offers, DSU grant support, and visa coaching: that’s the ApplyAZ promise. Start now and secure your spot before this month’s intake fills up.
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