Master in Social Sciences and Digital Data at University of Padua

Detailed entry requirements

Padua's Social Sciences and Digital Data master asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years, or a foreign equivalent, in sociology, education and training, communication sciences, psychology or political science (the 2026/27 call also accepted other fields with proven competence in social and political sciences, statistics or psychometrics), plus English at B2. Places are limited and, in 2026/27, were ranked on your grades, with no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree requirements

For 2027/28 the admissions portal asks for a degree of at least three years, or an equivalent, in sociology, education and training sciences, communication sciences, psychology or political science. [2]

The 2026/27 call listed political science together with international relations, and also accepted degrees in other fields with proven competence in social and political sciences, statistics, social statistics or psychometrics. [1]

Your degree must also be an accepted entry title for your country. You can apply before graduating: the 2026/27 call required the degree by 31 July 2026, and for 2027/28 the university's deadline to graduate is 31 July 2027. [1][3]

Country rules and minimum grades

The university's 2027/28 country list sets these master's entry titles and general minimum grades: [3]

• 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 2026/27 call set no separate programme minimum grade, but places were ranked on your grades. The university's Admissions and Welcome Unit makes the final decision on each qualification. [1][3]

What this means for your transcript

As a guide, based on the rules above:

• Usually a fit: a BA or B.Sc. (Honours) in Sociology, Psychology, Political Science or Education, or a degree in Communication or Mass Communication, since each matches a listed subject area.
• Check carefully: a BA in International Relations, which the 2026/27 call named alongside political science, or a B.Sc. in Statistics or an Economics degree with strong statistics, which fit the 2026/27 rule for other fields with proven competence in statistics or the social sciences. The 2027/28 portal names only the five main areas. 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, B.Com or BBA without clear units in social sciences, statistics or psychometrics, since the rule asks for a social science degree or proven competence in those areas.

Because the 2026/27 ranking used only your final grade or exam average, a strong average matters as much as subject fit. [1]

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. [4]

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. [4]

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. [4]

Selection

There is no entrance test. Places are limited and filled from a ranking list. [2] In the 2026/27 call, the ranking was based on your final degree grade or the average of the exams you had taken when you applied, and ties went to the younger candidate. [1]

The committee checks your academic background against the curricular requirements, counts only credits already earned when you apply, and may hold an online interview. Applicants who do not meet the requirements are not ranked. [1]

2027/28 deadlines

Non-EU applicants living abroad apply from 7 January to 7 March 2027, 23:59 Central European Time, for 40 places. Non-EU applicants already living in Italy apply in the EU and equated call, from 9 March to 9 April 2027. You can apply to a programme only once per academic year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [2]

In 2026/27 the non-EU window ran from 7 January to 7 March 2026, and the ranking list was published from 10 April 2026. The detailed 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][2]

Documents and non-EU steps

The 2026/27 call asked for your passport, your transcript with all exams, grades and grading scale, your degree certificate if already awarded, official translations into Italian or English where needed, your English certificate if you have it, and a CV. No legalised documents are needed at this stage. The application fee is €60. [1][2]

• If admitted, you accept your place by paying a non-refundable €208 fee. [2][5]
• Non-EU citizens living outside Italy complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July and apply for a type D study visa. [5]
• To complete enrolment, your degree and transcript must be legalised or apostilled, or covered by a CIMEA statement of verification. In 2026/27 the deadline for this was 31 October 2026. A CIMEA statement of comparability may also be requested if further checks are needed. [1][5]

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.

1. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Call for applications for non-EU students residing abroad, Master's degree in Social Sciences and Digital Data, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Padua, international application portal. Master's degree in Social Sciences and Digital Data: places, application windows, entry requirements, fees and programme structure, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. University of Padua, Global Engagement Office. Studying in English: how to enrol with a foreign qualification, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
6. University of Padua. Call for contributions and exemptions, with the fixed fee for non-EU students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
7. University of Padua. Social Sciences and Digital Data programme page (degree class, school, language, teaching mode, access type and overview), undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for Social Sciences and Digital Data at Padua?

A degree of at least three years, or an equivalent, in sociology, education and training sciences, communication sciences, psychology or political science. The 2026/27 call also accepted other fields with proven competence in social and political sciences, statistics, social statistics or psychometrics. [1][2]

Is there an entrance exam?

No. Places are limited and filled from a ranking list. In the 2026/27 call the ranking was based on your final grade or exam average, ties went to the younger candidate, and the committee could hold an online interview. [1][2]

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][4]

When is the 2027/28 deadline for non-EU students?

Non-EU applicants living abroad apply from 7 January to 7 March 2027, 23:59 Central European Time, for 40 places. The application fee is €60, you can apply only once per year, and classes start on 1 October 2027. [2]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes. You can apply while finishing your bachelor's and be admitted conditionally, but you must graduate by 31 July 2027 to enrol for 2027/28. Only credits already earned when you apply are assessed. [1][3]

I have a B.Sc. in Statistics, a BCA or a B.Com. Can I apply?

Possibly. The 2026/27 call accepted other fields with proven competence in statistics, social statistics or psychometrics, so a statistics degree can fit, although the 2027/28 portal lists only five main subject areas. A BCA or B.Com needs clear units in statistics or the social sciences. [1][2]

What are the two tracks?

Digital Innovation Strategist covers technology and culture, ethics and artificial intelligence, digital politics, sustainability and science and technology studies. Digital Data Strategist covers statistics for social and digital data, data analysis with R, machine learning and fair data cultures. [2]

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. [6]

Can someone handle my whole application to Social Sciences and Digital Data 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 Social Sciences and Digital Data?

A recognised Indian bachelor's in sociology, psychology, political science, education or communication 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 in 2026/27 places were ranked on your grades. You need English at B2. The steps are the online application, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2][3] 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 Social Sciences and Digital Data are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in the limited-access call, a place on the ranking list, 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 Social Sciences and Digital Data are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the limited-access call, a place on the ranking list, 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 the limited-access call, a place on the ranking list, place acceptance and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.