Master in Local Development at University of Padua
Two-year English-taught LM-81-R master in Padua on local development and development cooperation, drawing on economics, sociology, statistics, geography, pedagogy and anthropology, with a second-year research internship and an Arqus mobility window in Graz. Entry needs a degree in a related field and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Local Development is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-81-R) taught in English at the University of Padua. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years with proven skills in a field such as geography, sociology, development studies or economics, a good grade (95/110 for Italian degrees) and 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 Local Development master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent, with proven skills in at least one listed field such as development studies, geography, sociology, political science or economics, a good final grade (95/110 is the minimum for Italian qualifications) and English at B2. There is no entrance test, but the committee may invite you to an interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and grade requirements
You need an undergraduate degree of at least three years, or an equivalent, with proven skills in at least one of these fields: [1]
- Development studies, geography, or urban and regional planning
- Environmental and sustainability studies, or tourism and regional development
- Sociology, anthropology, public policy or political science
- International relations and diplomacy
- Economics or management
- Intercultural communication
The academic committee looks at your final graduation mark or, if there is none, the average grades on your transcript. The minimum for Italian qualifications is 95/110. Where your grade cannot be compared directly with the Italian scale, the committee considers your overall results. [1]
Your degree must also be an accepted entry title for your country. You can apply before graduating, but for 2027/28 you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027. [1][2]
Country rules and minimum grades
The university's 2027/28 country list sets these master's entry titles and general 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.
These are general minimums. The programme's committee also assesses your grade, with 95/110 as its benchmark for Italian qualifications. The university's Admissions and Welcome Unit makes the final decision on each qualification. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. (Honours) in Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, International Relations, Economics or Development Studies, or a planning degree such as a B.Plan, since each matches a listed field.
- Check carefully: a B.Com, BBA, BA in Tourism or Mass Communication, or a B.Sc. in Environmental Science, where your transcript needs to show real work in economics, management, tourism and regional development, intercultural communication or sustainability. A three-year pass or general Indian degree also needs a postgraduate qualification under the 2027/28 country list.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or a pure science degree, unless your transcript shows substantial work in one of the listed fields, such as planning or sustainability.
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. [3]
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. [3]
You are exempt if you are a native speaker from a listed English-speaking country, such as the UK, the US or Canada, 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. Access is open with admission requirements: the selection committee assesses your degree, grades and application, and may invite you to an interview through the application platform. [1][6]
2027/28 deadlines
For 2027/28 there are three calls, each closing at 23:59 Central European Time: [1]
- Call One: 15 September to 15 November 2026, open to non-EU applicants living abroad.
- Call Two: 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027, open to non-EU applicants living abroad.
- Call Three: 1 April to 1 June 2027, only for EU students and non-EU students living in Italy.
You can apply to a programme only once per academic year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on the university's portal with your entry qualification documents, which are accepted in English or Italian. If your transcript is not issued in one of these languages, you need official translations with verified copies of the originals. No legalised documents are needed at this stage, and the application fee is €60. [1]
- If admitted, you accept your place by paying a non-refundable €208 fee. [1][4]
- Non-EU citizens living outside Italy complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July and apply for a type D study visa. [4]
- To enrol, your degree and transcript must be translated into Italian or English and legalised or apostilled, or covered by a CIMEA statement of verification. You bring the originals to Padua, where they are checked in person unless your degree comes from a country in Italy's automatic recognition database or you hold the CIMEA statement. [1][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 Local Development: entry requirements, minimum grade, language requirement, application calls, fees and programme overview, 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, 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. Studying in English: how to enrol with a foreign qualification, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Call for contributions and exemptions, with the fixed fee for non-EU students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Local Development programme page (degree class, school, language and access type), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World. Local Development course pages: course objectives, programme structure, career opportunities and Arqus mobility window, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Local Development is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree in class LM-81-R (Sciences for Development Cooperation), delivered entirely in English in Padua. [1][6]
It belongs to the School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage, is run by the Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World, and has open admission with requirements. [1][6]
The degree gives a thorough understanding of the social, organisational, economic, territorial and institutional forms and dynamics that shape local development in different geographical contexts. [1][7]
It suits graduates in geography, development studies, planning, the social sciences or economics who want to work on development projects and cooperation, in a class that the university describes as multicultural and multilingual. [1]
What you will study
Teaching is multidisciplinary. It covers the methods used to formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate local development programmes, and how to promote sustainability processes. The study plan draws on these disciplinary areas: [1][7]
- Economics
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Historical and geographical studies
- Socio-pedagogical studies
- Anthropology
How the programme is taught
The course opens with a kick-off seminar that brings together teaching staff, social partners and alumni. In the second year an on-site internship with local development agencies, NGOs, public administrations, associations or enterprises lets you carry out research that can become the starting point of your final dissertation. [1][7]
International partnerships and mobility agreements support the degree's international profile: since 2025/26 students can join an Arqus mobility window at the University of Graz, taking pre-selected courses in Sustainability and Innovation Management or in Climate Change and Transformation Science. [7]
Career paths
Graduates work as local development and development cooperation professionals in different social and geographical contexts. The university names these roles and settings: [1][7]
- Managerial roles in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of local development projects
- Governmental organisations at local, national and international level
- Non-governmental organisations
- Trade and citizenship associations, and enterprises
Fees and scholarships
Local Development is in fee Group A, like all degrees of its School. [5]
For 2026/27, non-EU students whose household is not resident in Italy pay a fixed €2,790 a year, or €930 as citizens of countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. [5]
An ISEE parificato changes only the regional tax. Students who are eligible for the Veneto regional scholarship are exempt from the fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. For 2026/27 the university also offered up to 100 fee exemptions to international students on degrees taught entirely in English, awarded on academic merit with no separate application. [5]
See the fees page.
How to apply from outside the EU
We apply on apply.unipd.it; the selection committee may invite you to an interview through the application platform. We upload your entry qualification documents in English or Italian and your English certificate, plus the €60 application fee; no legalised documents are required to apply. [1][3]
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), and can apply only once per academic year. [1]
Admitted students pay a non-refundable €208 fee to accept, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July, and they apply for a type D study visa. [1][4] To enrol, your degree and transcript must be translated into Italian or English and legalised or apostilled, or covered by a CIMEA statement of verification. [4]
The year starts on 1 October 2027. [1]
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 Local Development at Padua?
A degree of at least three years, or an equivalent, with proven skills in at least one listed field: development studies, geography, urban and regional planning, environmental and sustainability studies, tourism, sociology, anthropology, public policy, political science, international relations, economics, management or intercultural communication. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. Access is open with admission requirements. The committee assesses your degree and grades, with 95/110 as the minimum for Italian qualifications, and may invite you to an interview through the application platform. [1][6]
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][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, closing at 23:59 Central European Time. 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 before finishing your bachelor's, but for 2027/28 you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027. A provisional certificate is accepted if it shows you finished your studies in time. [2]
I have a B.Com, BBA or B.Tech. Can I apply?
A B.Com or BBA can fit if your transcript proves skills in economics or management, both listed fields. A B.Tech is often short unless it shows real work in planning or sustainability. A three-year pass or general Indian degree also needs a postgraduate qualification under Padua's 2027/28 country list. [1][2]
Does the programme include an internship or study abroad?
Yes. In the second year an on-site internship with development agencies, NGOs, public bodies, associations or enterprises supports research for your final dissertation, and since 2025/26 students can join an Arqus mobility window at the University of Graz. [7]
How much are the fees?
For 2026/27, non-EU students whose family lives abroad pay a fixed €2,790 a year, or €930 if they come from a country on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Students eligible for the regional scholarship are exempt. [5]
Can someone handle my whole application to Local Development 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 Local Development?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in a listed field, such as geography, sociology, political science, economics or development studies, can meet the degree rule. Padua's 2027/28 country list accepts 3 or 4-year Honours degrees, with a general minimum of 70/100 or 7.0/10, 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 Local Development 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, 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 Local Development are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in Call One or Call Two, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: online application in Call One or Call Two, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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