Master in Social Sciences and Digital Data at University of Padua
Blended, English-taught master in Padua combining social science and data science, with Digital Innovation Strategist and Digital Data Strategist tracks covering digital politics, AI ethics, statistics, R and machine learning.
Master
2 years
Padua
English
University of Padua
Social Sciences and Digital Data is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-88-R) taught in English in blended mode at the University of Padua, with 40 places for non-EU applicants living abroad. Non-EU students with family abroad pay a fixed €2,790 a year (2026/27); regional scholarship winners are exempt.
Entry requirements
- A bachelor's degree of at least three years (or equivalent) in sociology, education and training sciences, communication sciences, psychology or political science.
- A final grade that meets the country-based entry requirements the university publishes for 2027/28.
- English at B2 level of the CEFR, shown by a certificate on the university's accepted list unless an exemption applies.
- Limited access: the 40 places for non-EU applicants living abroad are assigned through a ranking list, under the criteria in the official call.
- Entry qualification documents in English or Italian; originals are checked at enrolment.
About the programme
Social Sciences and Digital Data is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree in class LM-88-R (Sociology and Social Research), taught in English in Padua. It belongs to the School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage and is run by the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology. Access is limited, with 40 places for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2027/28.
The degree brings the social sciences and data science together, giving skills in collecting, organising, processing and analysing digital data. It combines sociology, statistics, computer science, psychology, philosophy, economics and pedagogy with laboratories, and examines the social, political and ethical implications of digital data in global, multicultural contexts.
What you will study
You follow one of two tracks. Digital Innovation Strategist is about designing digital strategies that combine social and technological analysis; Digital Data Strategist is about managing, analysing and ethically using digital data alongside data scientists and decision-makers. Topics named for each track include:
- Technology and Culture (Digital Innovation Strategist)
- Ethics and Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Politics (Digital Innovation Strategist)
- Sustainability and Digital Data, and Science and Technology Studies (Digital Innovation Strategist)
- Statistics for Social and Digital Data (Digital Data Strategist)
- Data Analysis with R, and Introduction to Machine Learning (Digital Data Strategist)
- Building Fair Data Cultures (Digital Data Strategist)
- Data, Artificial Intelligence and Human Knowledge (Digital Data Strategist)
How the programme is taught
The course page says the degree is delivered in English and in blended mode, while the admissions portal lists it as a full-time degree in Padua, so check attendance rules with the department before you plan your stay. The interdisciplinary training runs from digital sociology to computer science and philosophy, including topics such as digital capitalism and surveillance.
Career paths
Graduates use advanced analysis techniques such as digital methods, machine learning and generative artificial intelligence in education, research, innovation, business, health and communication. The profiles the degree prepares for are:
- Quality Data Manager
- AI Mediator
- Digital Data Strategist
- Digital Prompter
- Digital Social Scientist
Fees and scholarships
This degree is in fee Group A. In 2026/27, non-EU students whose family lives outside Italy pay a fixed €2,790 a year; citizens of countries on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries pay €930. An ISEE parificato only lowers the regional tax. If you win the Veneto regional scholarship you are exempt, meaning zero euro tuition for eligible students. International applicants living abroad are also considered, with no separate application, for merit scholarships and fee waivers. See the fees page.
How to apply from outside the EU
Places are limited and ranked, and the call for non-EU applicants living abroad runs only from 7 January to 7 March 2027 (23:59 CET). Apply on apply.unipd.it with your transcript, CV, motivation letter and English certificate and pay the €60 fee; legalised documents are not needed to apply. Non-EU citizens living in Italy apply in the EU and equated call instead.
If you are admitted, you pay a non-refundable €208 fee, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. For limited-access degrees, legalised, apostilled or CIMEA-verified documents are due by 31 July 2027. Classes start on 1 October 2027.
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 degree taught in person?
The course page says teaching is in English and in blended mode, while the admissions portal lists it as a full-time degree in Padua. Check the attendance rules with the department before planning your stay.
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2027/28 there are 40 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, assigned through a ranking list. The criteria are set out in the official call for admission.
Which bachelor's degrees are accepted?
A degree of at least three years in sociology, education and training sciences, communication sciences, psychology or political science, plus English at B2 level of the CEFR.
When is the application window?
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply on apply.unipd.it from 7 January to 7 March 2027 (23:59 CET) and pay a €60 fee. Classes start on 1 October 2027.
What are the two tracks?
Digital Innovation Strategist, on digital strategy, AI ethics and digital politics, and Digital Data Strategist, on statistics, data analysis with R and machine learning.
How much are the fees?
For 2026/27, non-EU students with family abroad pay a fixed €2,790 a year, or €930 if from a country on the ministry's list of particularly poor countries. Veneto regional scholarship winners are exempt.
Similar programmes
More programmes in this city
They began right where you are
