University Profile

More than 800 years of history. It was 1222 when the Studium Patavinum was founded in Padua, a place of learning ready to welcome ‘scholars and doctors’, also from various European countries, in search of freedom of culture and expression. That freedom is expressed by the motto which still identifies the University today and conveys its essence: Universa universis patavina libertas.

A history, that of the University of Padua, which is intertwined with that of many illustrious figures who lived, studied and taught in this city, and whose presence, from the earliest centuries onwards, bears witness to the attractiveness and international vocation of its University. Famous names that changed the cultural and scientific history of humanity, from Copernico to Vesalio, from Galilei to Harvey, up to the more modern Tullio Levi-Civita, Concetto Marchesi, Bepi Colombo and many others.

The University of Padua has always been a pioneer, with the world’s first university botanical garden, founded in 1545 and included by UNESCO in the World Heritage List, the first permanent anatomical theatre inaugurated in 1594, and the first woman in the world to be awarded a degree, Elena Lucrezia Cornaro.

Even today, Padua is a University of great numbers.

With 76,000 students, 2,700 teaching staff, more than 2,800 administrative and technical staff, more than 15,000 graduates every year, 11,800 scholarships awarded, 32 departments, over 2 million books available in 30 libraries, and excellent degree courses that are continuously evolving.
These are organised into 229 bachelor’s, master’s and single-cycle degree courses plus seven newly introduced ones (including 114 bachelor’s degree courses, 107 master’s degree courses, 15 single-cycle master’s degree courses, 64 taught in English) (data academic year 2026-2027); 127 master’s programmes (data academic year 2025-2026); 67 specialisation schools (academic year 2025-2026); 25 advanced courses (academic year 2025-2026); 20 higher education courses (academic year 2025-2026); 43 PhD schools (academic year 2025-2026) and, finally, one school of excellence, the Galilean School of Higher Education, with a wide availability of courses taught in English and delivered online.

A result also confirmed by the figures relating to scientific output, a cutting-edge sector which in the academic year 2020/2021 alone recorded almost 13,000 publications and hundreds of active projects.

A University, that of Padua, which today looks to the future with an approach increasingly focused on internationalisation and innovation. Drawing on a long tradition and solid relationships with numerous institutions, bodies and foreign universities, the University of Padua is a member of international networks and takes part in research and education projects involving students and teaching staff from all over the world.