Master in Communication Strategies at University of Padua

Detailed entry requirements

Communication Strategies is the English-taught study track within Strategie di comunicazione. This section separates the current 2027/28 foreign-qualification application rules from the 2026/27 Italian-degree call. Sources were reviewed on 6 October 2026.

Relevant degree and preparation in communication

The foreign-qualification listing requires a minimum three-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, in communication or an equivalent discipline. The Academic Committee evaluates suitability and the qualification must meet the university’s foreign-award recognition rules. [1, 2]

The 2026/27 teaching regulation describes preparation in public, business, political, media and social communication; sociological and psychological theories of communication; basic statistical and computing tools; and communication techniques in cinema, television, radio and digital media. Expressive language skills must match the selected curriculum. [10]

For qualifications obtained abroad, the regulation says personal preparation is assessed under criteria established by the Course Council, using course averages. An overseas GPA is not automatically converted to a universal 27/30 rule: the current international listing also refers to country-specific requirements. [1, 3, 10]

Foreign qualifications: recognition and country-specific grades

A relevant degree and the programme’s subject preparation are required together with recognition of the qualification. The Admissions and Welcome Unit decides whether your foreign award permits entry to this master’s programme. Its country table is reference guidance rather than an exhaustive list: applicants whose country is absent may still apply. The university evaluates the qualification, its level, length and grade; meeting a listed minimum does not itself constitute an admission offer. [2, 3]

Examples below use the Master’s degree column of the table updated on 15 September 2026 for 2027/28. They are requirements for the education system that awarded your qualification, rather than a single percentage applying to every applicant. [3]

• India: a three- or four-year Honours bachelor’s degree; a four-, five- or five-and-a-half-year professional bachelor’s degree; or a three-year Pass/General bachelor’s degree plus a postgraduate bachelor’s degree or at least a one-year master’s degree. The listed minimums are 70/100, 7.0/10, 5.6/8 or 2.8/4, according to the grading scale. [3]
• Pakistan: accepted routes include a two-year Bachelor (Pass) plus a two-year master’s degree; a two-year Bachelor (Pass) plus an LL.B.; a Bachelor (Pass) plus Bachelor of Education route of three years in total; a three-year Honours bachelor’s degree; or a four- or five-year professional bachelor’s degree. Minimum GPA: 3.3/4. [3]
• Bangladesh: a four-year Honours bachelor’s degree or a four- or five-year professional bachelor’s degree, with minimum GPA 3.3/4. [3]
• Iran: a four- or five-year bachelor’s degree, or a two-year associate degree followed by a two-year discontinuous bachelor’s degree, with minimum GPA 15/20. [3]
• China: a bachelor’s degree certificate following a four-year undergraduate programme together with the graduation certificate and the specified CSSD verifications. The listed minimums are 75/100, 3.0/5 or 2.8/4. [3]
• Nigeria: at least a four-year bachelor’s degree, or a two-year Higher National Diploma plus the last two years of a bachelor’s degree, with minimum GPA 3.5/5. [3]
• Egypt: a four- or five-year BA, BSc or Licence, with minimum GPA 75/100 or 3.0/4. Other countries and qualification combinations are assessed under their own table entries and university recognition procedures. [2, 3]

English B2: accepted certificates and exemptions for foreign-degree applicants

The programme is taught in English and requires at least CEFR B2. For applicants using a foreign qualification, the current central policy allows the language certificate to be supplied after the application, but no later than 31 July 2027 for completion of enrolment. Certificates must be valid under the issuing body’s rules; where there is no expiry date, they must have been obtained within the two years preceding the opening of selection on 15 September 2026. [1, 4]

The current official B2 certificate list gives the following scores and qualifications. Higher-level certificates must meet the university’s corresponding C1 threshold where that level is relied upon. [5]

• IELTS Academic or General Training: 6.0. The university includes IELTS Home based tests and accepts one-skill retakes. [5]
• TOEFL iBT or Home Edition: 86 for tests taken up to 20 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new scale for tests taken from 21 January 2026. MyBest scores are accepted. [5]
• Cambridge B2 First: 173; Trinity ISE II; Oxford Test of English: 126; PTE Academic: 65; Pearson International Certificate: Level 3 Upper Intermediate; Duolingo English Test: 115. [5]
• Also listed: Gatehouse GA Level 1 ESOL International Classic B2; British Council Aptis ESOL General or Advanced with overall CEFR B2; and LanguageCert ESOL or Academic B2 Communicator covering four skills. Remote or online versions are accepted where the official list specifies them. [5]
• A certificate exemption applies to native English speakers from the university’s specified countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and United States. [6]
• An entirely English-medium entry or higher qualification can support exemption if the awarding institution is in one of those listed countries, an EU country or a Schengen country. An English-medium degree from any country is not a blanket exemption under this foreign-qualification policy. [6]
• The list also exempts specified entry qualifications completed entirely in English: IBDP, European Baccalaureate, GCE or IGCE, and a High School Diploma accompanied by three US Advanced Placements with scores from 3 to 5. We supply evidence for the exact exemption claimed. An Italian language certificate is not required when applying to this English-taught programme. [6, 7]

Application documents and pending graduation

The application needs colour scans in PDF format: an English CV, an English motivation letter, your academic transcript, your qualifying degree award, a passport or an eligible identity document, and language evidence when required. Applicants who have not yet graduated may use an official enrolment or provisional certificate at application stage. For the 2027/28 foreign-qualification route, the study cycle must be completed by 31 July 2027; an official completion certificate may evidence that completion while the final diploma is being issued. [2, 7]

English or Italian translations of the transcript and degree documents are added when necessary. No legalised documents are required at initial application stage. A residence permit is also required for non-EU applicants residing in Italy. We include any further programme-specific documents requested in your application checklist. The public listing does not establish a universal requirement for two recommendation letters or a fixed interview duration. [1, 7]

We use one applicant account and submit every required field and attachment. The central guidance permits applications to up to two programmes; the course listing allows only one application to the same programme in an academic year. Initial administrative checks are followed by an Academic Committee evaluation, so satisfying minimum requirements still requires a positive assessment. [1, 7]

Application calls: foreign qualifications, 2027/28

• Call One: 15 September-15 November 2026, closing at the listed 23:59:59 Central European Time. Studies commence on 1 October 2027 according to the listing. [1]
• Call Two: 1 December 2026-1 March 2027. [1]
• Call Three: 1 April-1 June 2027, only for EU applicants and eligible non-EU residents in Italy. Only one application to this programme is allowed in an academic year. [1, 7]

After an offer: acceptance and final enrolment

An offered place is accepted by the deadline in the offer. Final enrolment requires the original qualifying degree and transcript, translated into Italian or English and authenticated through the applicable procedure. The transcript should identify examinations, grades and, where possible, credits and the course syllabus. CIMEA comparability may be requested if the Admissions and Welcome Unit needs further qualification verification. [1, 7, 8]

Authentication normally uses legalisation or an apostille; the university also describes CIMEA Verification as an alternative and lists treaty-based exceptions. These are final-enrolment requirements, distinct from the initial application. Non-EU students residing abroad additionally complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and the study-visa process. We follow the intake-specific instructions and offer deadlines. The standing enrolment webpage contains older cycle references, so its unqualified calendar dates are not presented here as confirmed 2027/28 deadlines. [8]

Separate Italian-degree route and the 50-CFU curriculum assessment

The 2026/27 School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage call applies to qualifications obtained in Italy; it directs foreign-degree applicants to international procedures. The following numerical conditions come from that call, corroborated by Article 2 of the programme’s 2026/27 teaching regulation. [9, 10]

• An Italian L-20 degree or former class 14 satisfies the degree-class route. Otherwise, at least 50 CFU are required in L-FIL-LET/12,14; L-ART/06; L-LIN/01,12; M-STO/02,04; M-PSI/01,05; SPS/04,07,08; SECS-P/01,02; INF/01; ING-INF/03,05; SECS-S/01-05; and IUS/01,13,14, or the corresponding new sector names. [9, 10]
• Within the credit route, at least 6 CFU must be in L-FIL-LET/12 and/or L-ART/06; at least 6 in M-PSI/01 and/or SPS/08; and at least 6 in SPS/04 and/or SPS/07. These subgroup minimums do not replace the 50-CFU total. [9]
• Personal preparation under the Italian-degree call requires an arithmetic average of at least 27/30 in at least 50 CFU belonging to the listed sectors. This is an average across specified examinations, rather than a final-degree mark of 85/110. [9]
• Pre-enrolment closes on 29 January 2027 at noon; the curricular-assessment application closes that day at 15:00. The qualifying degree must be obtained by 29 January and enrolment completed by 15 February 2027. Transfers and course changes have earlier deadlines. These are the 2026/27 Italian-degree dates. [9]

Sources and verification

1. University of Padua, Apply Unipd: Communication Strategies, 2027/28 intake; reviewed 6 October 2026.
2. University of Padua, Specific entry requirements for qualifications awarded by non-Italian education systems, current 2027/28 guidance; reviewed 6 October 2026.
3. University of Padua, Specific entry requirements for qualifications awarded by non-Italian education systems, updated 15 September 2026, valid for 2027/28, Master’s degree column.
4. University of Padua, Language requirement for admission to degree programmes, 2027/28 foreign-qualification guidance; reviewed 6 October 2026.
5. University of Padua, English language certifications, currently linked official list; reviewed 6 October 2026. Publication date is not printed in the document.
6. University of Padua, Exemptions: English language certification, currently linked official list; reviewed 6 October 2026. Publication date is not printed in the document.
7. University of Padua, Study in English: How to apply, standing application guidance; reviewed 6 October 2026.
8. University of Padua, Study in English: How to enrol, standing enrolment guidance; reviewed 6 October 2026.
9. University of Padua, School of Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage open-access master’s programmes, 2026/27 call reserved for holders of qualifications obtained in Italy, Annexes 1 and 2 and deadline summary.
10. University of Padua, Teaching Regulation: Strategie di comunicazione, effective from 2026/27, Article 2.

What degree is required?

For the foreign-qualification route, a minimum three-year undergraduate degree or equivalent in communication or an equivalent discipline. The university assesses academic suitability, course preparation and qualification recognition.

Does the 27/30 requirement apply to every foreign degree?

The 2026/27 Italian-degree call requires that average in at least 50 CFU of specified subjects. The teaching regulation says foreign-degree averages are assessed under Course Council criteria; the international listing also uses country-specific qualification requirements.

What English level is required?

English B2. Current foreign-qualification examples include IELTS 6.0, PTE Academic 65 and Duolingo 115. TOEFL requires 86 on the old scale or 4.5 from 21 January 2026. We match your certificate to the official list or document an accepted exemption.

Can I apply before graduation?

Yes, the international application accepts an official provisional or enrolment certificate. For 2027/28, you must complete the qualifying study cycle by 31 July 2027. The Italian-degree 2026/27 route has its own dates.

When are the next international calls?

15 September to 15 November 2026 and 1 December 2026 to 1 March 2027 for 2027/28. The 1 April to 1 June 2027 call is reserved for EU applicants and eligible non-EU residents in Italy.

Is this the English or Italian track?

This page covers the English Communication Strategies study track. The same degree also has an Italian curriculum. We apply to the track you choose and check its language and application requirements.

Can someone handle my whole application to Communication Strategies 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 Communication Strategies?

For India, the university lists a three- or four-year Honours bachelor's, a four- to five-and-a-half-year professional bachelor's, or a three-year Pass bachelor's plus a postgraduate bachelor's or master's, with minimums such as 70/100 or 7.0/10 [3]. Your degree must be in communication or an equivalent discipline, with English at B2 [1][4]. The steps are an Apply Unipd application, an Academic Committee evaluation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. 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 Communication Strategies are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: an Apply Unipd application, an Academic Committee evaluation 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 Communication Strategies are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: an Apply Unipd application, an Academic Committee evaluation 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 Communication Strategies 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: an Apply Unipd application, an Academic Committee evaluation 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.