Sapienza University of Rome, founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, is one of the oldest universities in the world, and a top performer in international university rankings.
Since its foundation, Sapienza has constantly played a significant role in Italian history and has been directly involved in key changes and developments in society, economics and politics.
Merging centuries of tradition with cutting-edge didactic activities, research and innovation, Sapienza provides top quality education and research opportunities. The main campus is a real city within the city located in the heart of Rome. Sapienza University is an extraordinary place for students and teachers from around the world to meet, exchange and develop new ideas and philosophies.
The 111,602 students enrolled at Sapienza can choose from over 350 degree programmes (Bachelors, Masters and PhDs) and over 350 specialisation and professional courses, while the “School of Advanced Studies” runs honours programmes and free tuition for its best students.
Sapienza has 11 Faculties, 63 Departments and various research centres that drive high levels of excellence in archaeology, physics and astrophysics, as well as humanities and cultural heritage, environmental studies, nano technology, cellular and gene therapy, design and aerospace.
Sapienza University of Rome is a public institution that was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII. The Italian university was originally called the Studium Urbis but became known as Sapienza in 1660. Its main campus, known as Città Universitaria, is located near the Rome city center. The institution also has facilities in different parts of Rome and the greater Lazio region. More than 110,000 students attended Sapienza University in a recent year. The cost of tuition varies by academic subject, and some university-affiliated student housing is available.
The university has 11 academic divisions: architecture; arts and humanities; civil and industrial engineering; economics; information engineering, informatics and statistics; law; mathematics, physics and natural sciences; medicine and dentistry; medicine and psychology; pharmacy and medicine; and political science, sociology and communication science. There is also a school of aerospace engineering. Sapienza uses a semester-based academic calendar, with courses beginning in September and February.
Almost all of the university's undergraduate programs are taught in Italian, though there are a few English-taught master's programs. International joint degree programs – offered in conjunction with other universities – are also available, giving Sapienza students the opportunity to study in Rome and abroad. Sapienza's research facilities include centers focused on transport and logistics as well as cyber intelligence and information security. The university’s other academic resources include nearly 60 libraries and a network of 20 museums, including a herbarium and a museum of classical art.
The Sapienza University of Rome, originally named Studium Urbis, was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, making it Rome’s oldest university. Its motto ‘Il futuro è passato qui’ translates as ‘the future was here.’
After relocating to a new building in 1660, the university began to be known as Sapienza because of the inscription on its main gate, which read ‘Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini’ (the beginning of wisdom is the feat of the Lord). Sapienza is situated in the very centre of Rome, within walking distance of the main rail station, Termini.
Sapienza is the largest university in Europe, supporting over 115,000 students, including 5,500 international students, and almost 4,000 academic staff. It offers 250 degree programmes and 200 specialist courses across 63 departments, with 59 libraries available for student use (the largest number of any Italian university) as well as 21 museums.
Through the Erasmus exchange programme, Sapienza is partnered with at least 400 other universities, and maintains a strong international presence.
The university’s tuition fees are relatively low compared to most European universities and its School for Advanced Studies extends training in specific courses every year to gifted high school students alongside free accommodation and tuition.
Sapienza also offers subsidised tuition fees for students from developing countries and provides financial support for enterprises designed to improve academic and student movement to and from developing countries. Projects already funded are located in Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Palestine, Tanzania and Yemen.
The university counts six Nobel Prize winners among its faculty and alumni.