Master in Psychology, Neuroscience and Human Sciences at University of Pavia
Two-year English-taught psychology master at the University of Pavia, run with IUSS Pavia, with Cognitive or Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience curricula, 20 ECTS of practical training and a final exam valid as the Italian psychologist state exam.
Master
2 years
Pavia
English
University of Pavia
The Master in Psychology, Neuroscience and Human Sciences is a two-year, 120 ECTS degree (class LM-51-R) taught in English at the University of Pavia with IUSS Pavia. It offers cognitive and clinical curricula and a final exam that qualifies for the psychologist profession in Italy. Non-EU students pay a flat rate by country or an income-based fee.
Entry requirements
- A three-year bachelor's degree in psychology or equivalent. Foreign degrees are compared with the Italian degree in psychological sciences and techniques (L-24) and/or the EuroPsy certificate; Italian graduates need 88 credits in at least seven psychology sectors (M-PSI/01 to M-PSI/08).
- English at B2 level, written and oral, shown by a recognised certificate or checked by the committee.
- Selection by ranking out of 100 points: up to 50 for your academic record and up to 50 for your CV, reference and motivation letters and a possible interview; you need at least 50.
- Limited places: for 2026/27, 70 for non-EU applicants living abroad, 35 per curriculum.
- An application on apply.unipv.eu within the degree's own call, with the €35 fee.
About the programme
Psychology, Neuroscience and Human Sciences is a two-year master's degree in class LM-51-R, psychology, taught in English in Pavia and worth 120 ECTS. It is organised by the University of Pavia's Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences together with the Department of Humanities and Life Sciences of IUSS Pavia, and the University of Pavia runs admission and enrolment. Access is restricted, with its own annual call and separate places for non-EU applicants living abroad.
The degree links psychology with neuroscience and with the humanities and social sciences to study the human brain and behaviour. Its final exam has the value of the Italian state exam for the psychologist profession, so it suits psychology graduates who want to practise, specialise or move into research.
What you will study
Applicants rank two curricula in order of preference: Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience, or Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience. Each has an 18 ECTS core course and three 6 ECTS units in the first year, plus electives in both years. Units in the study plan include:
- Cognitive Neuroscience (Cognitive curriculum)
- Social Cognition (Cognitive curriculum)
- Social Cognitive Development (Cognitive curriculum)
- Health Psychology (Cognitive curriculum)
- Clinical Neuroscience (Clinical curriculum)
- Applied Clinical Neuroscience (Clinical curriculum)
- Applied Social Cognition (Clinical curriculum)
- Applied Language Abilities (both curricula)
How the programme is taught
The second year centres on 20 ECTS of practical evaluative training (tirocinio pratico valutativo): at least 14 ECTS at accredited external organisations and up to 6 at the university, each credit worth at least 20 hours, supervised by a registered psychologist as tutor. The final exam combines a practical evaluation test on this training, before a panel that includes members of the professional order of psychologists, with the public defence of an original thesis. Students can also study abroad through Erasmus+; there is no double degree.
Career paths
Through the procedures set by Italian law, graduates can join the Italian Register of Psychologists (Albo degli Psicologi) and practise as psychologists. The degree also leads to:
- Postgraduate specialisation, including psychotherapy training
- PhD programmes
- Psychological assessment, intervention, rehabilitation and prevention in clinical, developmental, social and forensic settings, as described in the degree regulations
- Research and teaching in psychology and neuroscience
Fees and scholarships
For fee purposes this degree is in the science area. For 2026/27 non-EU students can choose a flat rate set by citizenship, €390 a year in bracket 1 (countries like India, Pakistan and Nigeria), €1,520 in bracket 2 or €4,550 in bracket 3, or an income-based fee from an equivalent ISEE. With an ISEE up to €32,000 the all-inclusive fee is zero, which gives zero euro tuition for eligible students; regional tax and €16 stamp duty remain. The EDiSU Pavia scholarship needs the income-based route.
How to apply from outside the EU
This degree has its own call, separate from the general calendar. For 2026/27, applications on apply.unipv.eu ran from 23 February to 23 March 2026 with a €35 fee; rankings came out on 27 April 2026 and enrolment closed on 5 May 2026. You state up to two curriculum preferences, and 70 places (35 per curriculum) were reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad. The 2027/28 call was not yet published in September 2026.
Admitted non-EU students had to complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 August 2026 and then apply for a type D study visa, which the consulate decides.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Is the Master in Psychology, Neuroscience and Human Sciences taught in English?
Yes. The degree is taught in English, and you need English at B2 level in writing and speaking, shown by a recognised certificate or checked by the admissions committee.
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the call offered 70 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, 35 in each curriculum, and another 70 for EU applicants and non-EU residents in Italy.
How are applicants selected?
There is no entrance test. A committee ranks applicants out of 100: up to 50 points for the academic record and up to 50 for CV, letters and a possible interview. You need at least 50 points.
When is the application deadline?
The degree has its own call. For 2026/27 it ran from 23 February to 23 March 2026. The 2027/28 call had not been published by September 2026.
Does the degree qualify me as a psychologist?
Its final exam has the value of the Italian state exam for the psychologist profession, so graduates can join the Italian Register of Psychologists through the procedures set by law.
What bachelor's degree do I need?
A three-year degree in psychology or equivalent. Foreign degrees are compared with the Italian bachelor's degree in psychological sciences and techniques (L-24) and/or the EuroPsy certificate.
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