Social Sciences Class

The Social Sciences Class selects each year students from those enrolling at the University of Padua in programs such as economics, law, sociology, political science, communication, and psychology. 

For the 5-years course, admission tests take place in September and include two written tests and two oral tests. The first written test involves an in-depth essay on a current affairs topic, while the second is chosen from the disciplines of law, economics, psychology, political science, and sociology.

After passing the written tests, candidates can take the two oral tests: chosen from the previously mentioned four disciplines (different from the one selected for the written exam). More information about the admission competition can be found on the admission notice page.

The essential features of the Social Sciences Class are interdisciplinarity, a strong international focus, a teaching offering primarily in English, and an emphasis on active learning.

The class’s curriculum is structured into semesters, two per academic year, covering a five-year program. The teaching activities for the first two years will mainly consist of lectures and seminar activities focusing on foundational courses in law, economics, sociology, communication, social psychology, etc. In subsequent academic years, particularly in the final two years, courses will serve as frameworks where the instructor stimulates, guides, and supervises student research-based learning, individual or group projects that provide direct and immediate exposure to the challenges, opportunities, and difficulties of research in the social sciences.