Master in Management for Sustainable Firms at University of Padua
Two-year English-taught LM-77-R master's at the University of Padua in sustainable management and digital transformation, with tracks in smart manufacturing, marketing and digital transformation, or people and organisation. Entry needs a management-focused bachelor's and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Management for Sustainable Firms is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-77-R) taught in English at the University of Padua. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years with proven skills in management, accounting and finance, and economics and quantitative subjects, plus English at B2. GMAT or GRE scores help but are not mandatory. Regional scholarship winners are exempt from fees, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Padua's Management for Sustainable Firms master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years, indicatively in management and administration, with proven academic skills in management, accounting and finance, and economics and quantitative subjects, plus English at B2. There is no entrance test: an Academic Committee reviews your file, and GMAT or GRE scores and a C-level English certificate count in your favour. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and subject requirements
You need an undergraduate degree of at least three years, or an equivalent, indicatively in management and administration or a related field. It must show extensive academic skills in the core area of management and proven academic skills in two further areas: [1]
- Management: for example strategy, marketing, operations and supply chain management, and organisation and human resource management.
- Accounting and finance: for example management accounting, auditing, control and corporate finance.
- Economics and quantitative subjects: for example microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics and statistics.
Only academic skills gained through an undergraduate degree that meets these mandatory requirements are considered. [1] The degree must come from an institution accredited in its own country's 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 BBA, BMS or B.Com with courses in strategy, marketing, operations or human resources, plus accounting, corporate finance, micro and macroeconomics, mathematics and statistics, and a grade above your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a three-year pass or general B.Com or BBA from India, which needs a postgraduate bachelor's or at least a one-year master's to meet the country rule, or a BA or B.Sc. in Economics with few management courses.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc. or BCA without management, accounting and finance courses, since only skills from your undergraduate degree count.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. A C-level certificate is a preferential element for admission, and the Academic Committee considers it only if you upload it before you apply. [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. The C1 scores include IELTS 7.0, PTE Academic 76 and Duolingo 135. [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 B2 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. An Academic Committee evaluates your application. [1]
- GMAT or GRE: not mandatory, but candidates are strongly encouraged to take one, and high scores are a preferential element. The committee counts a score only if you took the test before applying. An unofficial GMAT score or a GRE examinee score report is accepted at first, but the committee may ask for the official score.
- CV, motivation letter and reference letters: these are also favourably considered.
- Interview: the committee may ask you to sit an online interview.
The university describes the ideal candidate as a recent graduate with solid preparation in management, accounting and finance, and economics or quantitative subjects. [1]
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 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. Reference letters and a GMAT or GRE score strengthen it. 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 then accept your place. [1]
- 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 Management for Sustainable Firms: entry qualification, preferential requirements, 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, 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 Economics and Political Science. Management for Sustainable Firms programme page (degree class, access type, specialisations and Managerial Lab), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Management for Sustainable Firms is a master's degree in class LM-77-R (Economics and Business Sciences), taught entirely in English in Padua by the School of Economics and Political Science and the Department of Economics and Management. It lasts two years and 120 ECTS and has open admission with requirements. [1][6]
The degree prepares managers and consultants for companies and consulting firms that build strategies and services around ecological transition, digital transformation, innovation and diversity, equity and inclusion. It suits graduates in business, management or economics who want a management career with a sustainability angle.
What you will study
The first year gives an integrated view of management: strategies, organisational structures, business economics and accounting systems. In the second year you choose one of three specialisations, each with its own internship, electives and thesis. Topics in the 2027/28 plan include: [1]
- First year: business strategy and organisational structures
- First year: business economics and accounting systems
- Smart Manufacturing track: lean management, sustainable manufacturing, supply chain and machine learning for operations management
- Marketing and Digital Transformation track: relational marketing, economics of innovation, digitalisation and product-service innovation, and quantitative methods and analytics for marketing
- People and Organization track: talent management, diversity and inclusion, and performance management and compensation
- A Managerial Lab with companies in each specialisation
The university's programme page still lists the earlier names of the three specialisations: Production and Supply Chain, Marketing and Digitalization, and Organization and Human Capital Management. [1][6]
How the programme is taught
Each specialisation includes a Managerial Lab, a practical activity run with companies to build the management skills needed for managerial roles in firms and professional roles in consulting. The second year also includes an internship, elective courses and a final thesis. [1][6]
Career paths
Graduates can take managerial positions in companies or consulting roles linked to sustainability and business transformation. The university lists these fields:
- Operations and supply chain management
- Operational excellence and lean management
- Human resources and talent management
- Business and organisation consultancy
- Digital marketing and customer relationship management
- Business innovation development
Fees and scholarships
The degree belongs to the School of Economics and Political Science, fee Group A. Non-EU students whose household lives abroad pay a fixed yearly fee, which is reduced for those from a country on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Veneto regional scholarship winners are exempt, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students, and applicants living abroad are considered for merit scholarships and fee waivers. [5] See the fees page.
How to apply from outside the EU
On apply.unipd.it we upload your transcript, CV, motivation letter, English certificate and, ideally, a GMAT or GRE score and reference letters; the committee may invite you to an online interview. For 2027/28, non-EU applicants abroad can apply 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 Management for Sustainable Firms at Padua?
A degree of at least three years, indicatively in management and administration, with extensive skills in management and proven skills in accounting and finance and in economics and quantitative subjects such as mathematics and statistics. Your grade must also meet the university's minimum for your country. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam? Do I need the GMAT or GRE?
There is no entrance test. The GMAT or GRE is not mandatory, but candidates are strongly encouraged to take one and high scores are a preferential element. A score counts only if you took the test before applying. The committee may also hold an online interview. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, and a C-level certificate uploaded before you apply is a preferential element. For 2027/28 the university 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 at B2. [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.Tech or a B.Sc. Can I apply?
Only if your undergraduate degree itself gives you extensive management skills and proven skills in accounting and finance and in economics and quantitative subjects. Only skills from a degree that meets these requirements count, so a technical degree without management courses is often short. [1]
Which specialisations can I choose?
For 2027/28 there are three second-year tracks: Smart Manufacturing, Marketing and Digital Transformation, and People and Organization. Each includes an internship, elective courses and a thesis, and the university describes a Managerial Lab run with companies in each specialisation. [1][6]
What jobs do graduates do?
The university names operations and supply chain management, operational excellence and lean management, human resources and talent management, business and organisation consultancy, digital marketing and customer relationship management, and business innovation development. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Management for Sustainable Firms 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 Management for Sustainable Firms?
Padua's 2027/28 country list covers Indian 3 or 4-year Honours bachelor's degrees and professional bachelor's degrees of 4 years or more, with a minimum of 70/100 or 7.0/10. Your degree should cover management, accounting and finance, and economics and quantitative subjects, 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 Management for Sustainable Firms 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 Management for Sustainable Firms 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 Management for Sustainable Firms 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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