The University of Padova, one of the most ancient universities in the world, has a long tradition in the promotion of excellence of its students, regardless their nationality, gender, beliefs, or interests.

Accordingly, every year the University of Padova promotes a program of excellence, the Galilean School of Higher Education.

Now, the Call for foreign students is open for the admission to the 4th year of the Galilean School of Higher Education, University of Padova, Italy.

The deadline is 22 May 2017.

The Galilean School recruits up to four highly-motivated international students who are about to begin their 2-years master degree. Admitted students will share the same duties and rights of the other Galilean students (www.unipd-scuolagalileiana.it/en) The privileges are really appealing; from free lodging and meals to a contribution for placement expenses and the reimbursement of one round-trip ticket to the country of origin for each academic year. Admitted students have also the possibility to claim partial or total exemption from tuition fees and taxes.

For more information, please follow the link. 

A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE

Students and teachers from all over Europe contributed to the foundation – in 1222 – of a University in Padova. Throughout the centuries, Padova provided a protected and rich environment for the progression of science and culture which attracted a significant number of renowned scientists and teachers, such as Andrea Vesalio, Gianbattista Morgagni, Gabriele Falloppio,

Among them was Galileo Galilei, who spent “the best eighteen years of his life” in Padova. Galilei was one of the founding fathers of modern science, most famous for his efforts to free it from the constraints of religion. Among the alumni were Francesco Guicciardini, Leon Battista Alberti, Tommaso Campanella, Erasmus of Rotterdam, Nicholas Copernicus and William Harvey. In 1678, for the first time in the world, the University of Padova released a University degree to a woman, Elena Cornaro Piscopia.

THE GALILEAN SCHOOL AT A GLANCE

The Galilean School offers a five-years-long learning program, which develops parallel to the regular University degree that students attend. The purpose is that of providing a perspective that covers multiple disciplines, and creating a varied, yet complementary, range of competences, following the footprints of Galileo Galilei himself.
The School is organized in three classes, Moral Sciences, Natural Sciences and, since 2014, Social Sciences. The Class of Moral Sciences is designed to provide a general, interdisciplinary background into research and advanced methods and techniques, relevant to the study of literature, philosophy, history and archaeology. The Class of Natural Sciences is designed to provide an advanced knowledge, both of the language and methods, of physical sciences, life sciences and engineering. The Class of Social Sciences offers complements in economics, law, political sciences and sociology. Each year 30 students, at the beginning of their bachelor, are admitted to the Galilean School after a very selective procedure, including both written and oral examinations. Admission depends exclusively on performance in these tests. Admitted students, the Galileiani, attend the courses and activities of their degree at the University of Padova, and in addition they take the internal courses and seminars offered by the School. Students may complement their formation through internships and visiting periods. Eventually, after obtaining their Master degree at the University of Padova, students write a Galilean thesis and are granted the Galilean Diploma. During the five years spent at the School, students are assisted by personal tutors. Free of charge, single-room accommodation is provided at “Cittade a de o S tudente”, which is near to Co egio Morgagni, a 16th-century historical palace, close to the town centre and the main university buildings, where students share their classes and community life; expenses for meals at University canteens are also covered by the School. Free-of-charge study of at least two foreign languages is provided. Furthermore, students receive a contribution for educational materials, cultural tours or visiting periods in Italian and foreign universities. Opportunities to spend time abroad include the Erasmus+ program, MoU with ENS, Paris, and Purdue University, and a wide range of arrangements with major European and non- European universities. To keep the benefits and privileges offered by the School, students must keep an outstanding academic record all over their career. They are required to pass all the exams included in the annual study plan, with grades not less than 24/30 in any single exam and a grade point average not less than 27/30. The same rules apply also regarding the internal courses. At the end of each academic year students who failed to meet these requirements are excluded from the school, although they can continue their regular career at the University of Padova.