It depends a lot on the programme. Many bachelor's degrees have open access or an orientation test, while for others (engineering, economics, sciences) you take the TOLC (Test OnLine CISIA), which assesses mathematics, logic and reading comprehension. Programmes with numerus clausus such as Medicine and Surgery or Psychology have competitive national or local tests, with limited places, so they are the hardest. For Romanians, the high school diploma (Baccalaureate) is recognised through pre-enrolment on Universitaly. A good Baccalaureate average and serious TOLC test preparation are the key. Our mentors help you choose the programme that suits your profile.

As an EU citizen you pay EU fees, and the contribution is calculated through ISEE. With an ISEE up to roughly 27,000 euros you enter the no-fee bracket and pay 0 euros tuition, only the fixed regional and stamp taxes (~160 euros per year). For higher incomes, the contribution rises progressively up to roughly 2,500-2,700 euros per year. Accommodation Padua: 300-550 euros per month. Food: 200-350 euros per month. Total cost of living: ~600-1,000 euros per month. Total 3 years of a bachelor's all-in: roughly 25,000-38,000 euros, drastically lower than the UK or the US. Note: bachelor's degrees in Italy usually last 3 years (180 ECTS).

ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente) is the official Italian indicator that summarises your family's economic situation, taking into account income, assets and the number of members. At Padua, the annual contribution depends directly on ISEE: the lower it is, the less you pay, and up to roughly 27,000 euros you pay 0 euros tuition. As an EU citizen you use ISEE parificato, calculated through a CAF (Centro di Assistenza Fiscale) based on income documents from Romania. Important: if you do not submit ISEE, the university automatically applies the maximum contribution, regardless of actual income. That is why ISEE is a mandatory step for any Romanian who wants correct EU fees.

The DSU grant through ESU Padova: the Veneto region offers grants for students with a low ISEE, including EU citizens, which can cover tuition, a sum of money and meals or accommodation in halls. Merit-based fee exemptions: students with good academic results can receive additional reductions. Erasmus+: if you come initially on an academic exchange, you receive a monthly grant. Grants from Romania's Ministry of Education for studies abroad, plus local programmes run by town halls and county councils in Romania, which can be combined with the Italian ones. Important: EU fees through ISEE (from 0 euros) are already a major advantage over non-EU students.

Most bachelor's degrees at Padua are taught in Italian, so you need level B2, proven through CILS, CELI or PLIDA certificates, or through an Italian test by the university. However, UNIPD has an increasingly broad set of programmes in English, especially at master's level and for certain bachelor's degrees (engineering, sciences, international economics). For programmes in English you need IELTS 6.0-6.5 or an equivalent TOEFL iBT. Tip for Romanians: if you do not know Italian, look for bachelor's degrees in English; if you want the full offering, learn Italian to B2, for which UNIPD offers courses for international students.

Padua is renowned for sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Astronomy, with the historic Galileo connection), Medicine and Surgery (with centuries of tradition and the first anatomical theatre in the world), Psychology (among the best in the world in this subject), Engineering (computer science, mechanical, electronics), Law, Economics and Political Science. The university is also a strong research centre, in the top one percent of universities in the world. Note: Medicine and Psychology have numerus clausus, so the most competitive admission tests.

Yes, as an EU citizen! Unlike the United Kingdom or the US where you need a work visa, as a Romanian (EU) citizen you have the automatic right to work in Italy without a visa. Italy is the third largest economy in the eurozone, and the Veneto region (where Padua is) is one of the most industrialised and prosperous areas, with engineering, pharma, fashion and technology companies. Padua has a technology park and many university spin-offs. Main industries: engineering and manufacturing, pharma and biotechnology, IT, fashion and design, agri-food. With an EU degree you can work anywhere in the European Union without a visa, which makes Padua a solid base for a European career.

Galileo Galilei was a professor of mathematics at Università di Padova between 1592 and 1610, the 18 years he called "the best of my life". In Padua he carried out some of his research, including early astronomical observations, and taught in the Aula Magna at Palazzo Bo, where his lectern is preserved to this day as a relic. Padua is also home to the first permanent anatomical theatre in the world (1594), and in 1678 it was the university where Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia became the first woman in the world with a university doctorate. This scientific heritage explains why Padua remains a benchmark for sciences, medicine and research.