Master in Materials Science at University of Padua
Two-year English-taught master's at the University of Padua on the design, synthesis and characterisation of functional materials and devices, with laboratory courses, an internship, a thesis and a double degree option in Giessen. Entry needs maths, chemistry and physics credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Materials Science is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM Sc.Mat.) taught in English at the University of Padua, with an optional double degree with Justus Liebig University Giessen. Entry needs a three-year bachelor's with at least 12 maths, 20 chemistry and 18 physics credits, 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 Materials Science master asks for a three-year bachelor's in materials science, chemistry, physics or a related field with at least 12 maths, 20 chemistry and 18 physics credits, a minimum grade of 85/110 or equivalent, a degree that meets the university's country rules, and English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and subject credits
You need a three-year bachelor's degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable, plus specific curricular requirements and adequate personal preparation. [1] The admissions portal describes this as a minimum three-year degree in materials science, chemistry, industrial chemistry, physics or a related field, such as chemical or materials engineering, with proven skills in chemistry, physics and mathematics. [2]
The programme's teaching regulations, which apply from the 2025/26 cohort, set these minimum credits: [1]
- Mathematics: 12 CFU (sectors MAT/01 to 09).
- Chemistry: 20 CFU (sectors CHIM/01 to 12).
- Physics: 18 CFU (sectors FIS/01 to 08).
You are also expected to have basic knowledge of mathematics and computer science, physics (classical, quantum and solid-state), and inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry, plus practical skills in chemistry, general physics and materials laboratories. For foreign degrees, the admission committee checks the curricular requirements. Graduates with strong preparation from a path that does not fully match may be given a different initial study path or specific admission tests. [1]
Minimum grade and country rules
The regulations set a minimum grade of 85/110, or equivalent, for the degree used for admission. For foreign degrees, the degree programme council sets the criteria for checking the grade and the English level. [1]
The university's 2027/28 country list sets these master's entry titles and minimum grades: [6]
- 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 Honours bachelor's, a 4 or 5-year professional bachelor's, or a 2-year pass bachelor's plus a 2-year master's (or the listed LL.B. and B.Ed. combinations). 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.
- Nepal: a 3, 4 or 5-year bachelor's. Minimum GPA 3.0/4.0 or 65/100.
The list is a reference, and the university's Admissions and Welcome Unit makes the final decision on each qualification. [6]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: an Honours B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry or Materials Science, or a three-year B.Sc. in these subjects followed by an M.Sc., where the transcript shows solid maths, chemistry and physics with laboratory work, and a grade above your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Chemical, Materials, Metallurgical or Nanotechnology Engineering, which usually covers the maths but must also show 20 chemistry credits and 18 physics credits, including quantum and solid-state physics. A three-year pass or general Indian B.Sc., even with physics, chemistry and maths, also needs a postgraduate bachelor's or at least a one-year master's to meet the country rule.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Biology, Biotechnology or Computer Science, a B.Pharm, BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely reach both 20 chemistry and 18 physics credits.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. [2] The regulations specify B2 in the receptive skills, reading and listening. [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, LanguageCert B2 Communicator and Duolingo English Test 115. [7]
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 submit one after applying, up to 31 July 2027. [7]
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. [7]
Selection
The portal lists no entrance test, and the programme has open admission with requirements. [2][3] The Admissions and Welcome Unit first checks your application, then an Academic Committee evaluates it. For programmes without a cap on places, the outcome is sent through the application platform. [8] The regulations allow a different initial path or specific admission tests for strong candidates whose background does not fully match. [1] The portal does not publish a scoring scale. [2]
2027/28 deadlines
For 2027/28 there are three calls. Non-EU applicants living outside Italy can use the first two: [2]
- Call One: 15 September to 15 November 2026
- Call Two: 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027
- 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. [2] You can apply before you graduate, but you must complete your degree by 31 July 2027. [6] Studies start on 1 October 2027. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on the university's application platform and pay a non-refundable €60 application fee. For master's programmes the platform asks for: [2][8]
- A CV and a motivation letter in English.
- Your transcript of records.
- Your bachelor's degree certificate, or an enrolment or provisional certificate if you have not graduated yet.
- Your passport.
- Your English certificate, if you already have it.
Documents must be in English or Italian, or come with official translations. No legalised documents are needed at application, and the Admissions and Welcome Unit may ask for a CIMEA statement of comparability if it needs to verify your degree. [2][8]
If admitted, you accept your place by paying a non-refundable €208 fee. Non-EU citizens living outside Italy complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July and apply for a type D study visa. At enrolment you submit your degree and transcript translated into English or Italian and legalised or apostilled, or a CIMEA certificate of verification instead. [2][8]
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, Department of Chemical Sciences and School of Science. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Materials Science, including admission requirements, applying from the 2025/26 cohort. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, international application portal. Materials Science course page: entry qualification, language requirement, fees, programme structure and application calls, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua. Materials Science programme page: degree class, school, department, access type, language and career opportunities, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Department of Chemical Sciences. Master's degree in Materials Science: presentation, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Padua, Department of Chemical Sciences. Materials Science double degree with Justus Liebig University Giessen, with the selection call for academic year 2026/27. 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. Study in English: how to apply and how to enrol with a foreign qualification, academic year 2027/28. 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.
About the programme
Materials Science is a two-year master's degree in class LM Sc.Mat. (Scienze dei materiali), taught in English in Padua by the Department of Chemical Sciences within the School of Science. It is worth 120 ECTS and has open admission for applicants who meet the requirements. [2][3]
The course trains highly qualified professionals for research and development of innovative functional materials. Its interdisciplinary approach draws on chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering and geology, and combines theoretical foundations with applied research. Students learn to design, produce and characterise new materials and devices, with a focus on renewable energy, sustainability and environmentally friendly technologies. [2][3] It is aimed at graduates in materials science, chemistry, industrial chemistry, physics or a related field such as chemical or materials engineering, with a solid grounding in chemistry, physics and mathematics. [2][4]
What you will study
The first year is a common core of physics, chemistry and laboratory work on materials. The 2027/28 entry on the admissions portal lists these first-year units: [2]
- Advanced Laboratory for the Preparation and Characterization of Materials
- Fundamentals of Nanoscience
- Organic Functional Materials
- Physical Chemistry of Materials
- Physical Methods for Materials Characterization with Laboratory
- Physics and Technology of Semiconductors
- Surface Structure and Dynamics
The second year adds Materials Technology and optional units such as Computational Methods for Materials Science, Materials for the Sustainable Built Environment, Physics of Disordered Materials, Superconducting Materials, Sustainable Energy: Materials and Technologies, Artificial Intelligence for Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Nanomaterials, Electrochemistry of Materials, Nanofabrication, and Optics and Laser Physics. [2]
How the programme is taught
The degree closes with a unit on Essential Industry Skills for Scientists, an internship and a thesis. [2] The thesis is original experimental, theoretical or computational work on a materials science topic, carried out in a university research laboratory or at an external public or private body, then written and defended in English. Attendance is compulsory for the activities the study plan sets, including at least 90% of laboratory hours. [1]
A double degree with Justus Liebig University Giessen in Germany is also available. Selection takes place during the first year among enrolled students, and those selected spend the second year in Giessen, earning 60 ECTS through their thesis internship in one of its research laboratories. [5]
Career paths
The university says graduates can work in industry and in public and private research institutions, in research and development, in the exploitation and optimisation of industrial processes and methods, and in high-tech companies as experts and consultants for advanced instruments and materials. Roles it names include: [2][3]
- Research and development
- Industrial process optimisation
- Specialised consulting on advanced instruments and materials
- Management
Fees and scholarships
School of Science degrees such as this one are in fee Group B. The 2026/27 fee call sets a fixed €2,990 a year for non-EU students whose household is abroad, or €996.66 for citizens of countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries; an ISEE parificato only reduces the regional fee. [9]
Students who are eligible in the regional scholarship ranking 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 the most deserving international students on English-taught programmes, with no separate application. [9] The admissions portal lists €2,950 a year for 2027/28, and the 2027/28 fee notice is not yet published. [2]
How to apply from outside the EU
Before you apply, we check that your transcript shows the maths, chemistry and physics credits the regulations ask for, and that your grade meets your country's rule. [1][6]
We submit your application on the university's application portal. We upload your CV and motivation letter in English, your transcript, your degree certificate or a provisional certificate, your passport and your English certificate, plus the €60 application fee. Legalised documents are not needed to apply. [2][8] For 2027/28, non-EU applicants living outside Italy can use Call One, 15 September to 15 November 2026, or Call Two, 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. [2]
After admission you pay a non-refundable €208 fee to accept your place, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July, and you apply for a type D study visa. At enrolment your degree and transcript must be translated into English or Italian and legalised or apostilled, or covered by a CIMEA certificate of verification. [2][8] Studies start on 1 October 2027. [2]
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 Materials Science at Padua?
A three-year bachelor's in materials science, chemistry, industrial chemistry, physics or a related field such as chemical or materials engineering. The regulations ask for at least 12 credits in maths, 20 in chemistry and 18 in physics, and a minimum grade of 85/110 or equivalent. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No entrance test is listed for 2027/28. Admission is open with requirements: the Admissions and Welcome Unit checks your file, then an Academic Committee evaluates it. The regulations allow specific admission tests for strong candidates whose background does not fully match. [1][2][8]
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, Cambridge B2 First 173, Duolingo 115 and other listed tests. Degrees from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not on the exemption list. [2][7]
When is the 2027/28 deadline for non-EU students?
Non-EU applicants living outside Italy can apply in Call One, 15 September to 15 November 2026, or Call Two, 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027. Call Three is only for EU students and non-EU students living in Italy. Studies start on 1 October 2027. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply with an enrolment or provisional certificate, as long as you complete your degree by 31 July 2027. An official certificate showing you completed your studies by then can stand in for the final degree. [6][8]
I have a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering or a B.Sc. in Physics. Can I apply?
Possibly. A physics B.Sc. usually covers the 18 physics and 12 maths credits but can fall short of 20 chemistry credits. A chemical engineering B.Tech usually covers maths and chemistry but must show 18 physics credits. India's country rule also needs an Honours or four-year professional degree, or a pass degree plus a postgraduate degree. [1][6]
Is there a double degree option?
Yes. An agreement with Justus Liebig University Giessen in Germany lets selected students earn both degrees. Selection takes place during the first year among enrolled students, and those selected spend the second year in Giessen, earning 60 ECTS through their thesis internship. [5]
What careers does it lead to?
The university names research and development in industry and in public and private research institutions, the optimisation of industrial processes and methods, and expert or consulting roles on advanced instruments and materials in high-tech companies, with management positions also possible. [2][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Materials Science 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 Materials Science?
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 at least 70/100 or 7.0/10. Your degree needs at least 12 maths, 20 chemistry and 18 physics credits, and you need English at B2. The steps are the online application, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2][6] 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 Materials Science 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 Materials Science 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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