Rankings: The 56 best universities in Italy for 2021/2022

Italy seems to have it all: Amazing landscapes from coasts to mountains, an impressive history, and a remarkably tasty and diverse cuisine. Not to mention it was here that the very first university in Europe was founded, nearly one thousand years ago.

Today, several of Italy’s institutions are among the top-ranked universities in Europe. That includes centuries-old traditional universities like the University of Bologna, Sapienza University of Rome or the University of Padua - but also younger modern universities like Roma Tor Vergata or the University of Milan. Among dozens of world-class schools, it can be difficult to pick one when you are planning to study in Italy.

Top ranked universities in Italy

University	QS Ranking 2021	THE Ranking 2021	ARWU Ranking 2020
Politecnico di Milano	137	351	201
University of Bologna	160	167	201
Sapienza University of Rome	171	201	151
University of Padua	216	251	201
University of Milan	301	351	151
Politecnico di Torino	308	501	601
University of Pisa	383	401	151
University of Naples Federico II	392	401	301
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University	392	251	401
University of Trento	403	301	401
University of Florence	432	401	301
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore	511	–	601
University of Rome Tor Vergata	511	401	501
University of Turin	521	401	201
University of Milano-Bicocca	521	351	301
University of Pavia	601	401	401
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano	601	401	–
University of Genoa	651	401	501
University of Siena	651	401	601
University of Trieste	701	501	601
Ca' Foscari University of Venice	751	601	–
Polytechnic University of Bari	751	401	–
University of Brescia	751	401	701
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia	751	401	701
University of Perugia	751	–	401
University of Catania	801	501	401
University of Bari Aldo Moro	801	401	401
University of Salerno	801	401	601
University of Ferrara	801	501	501
University of Palermo	801	601	501
University of Verona	801	401	501
University of Parma	801	601	501
University of Calabria	801	601	801
Roma Tre University	801	601	–
Marche Polytechnic University	801	601	801
University of Udine	801	601	801
University of Messina	–	501	801
University of L'Aquila	–	501	701
University of Foggia	–	801	–
University of Eastern Piedmont	–	601	701
University of Chieti-Pescara	–	601	801
University of Bergamo	–	601	–
Università degli Studi dell’Insubria	–	501	901
Tuscia University	–	501	801
Scuola Normale Superiore	–	181	401
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies	–	170	–
Parthenope University of Naples	–	601	–
University of Urbino	–	501	701
University of Sassari	–	501	–
University of Sannio	–	401	–
University of Salento	–	601	701
University of Cagliari	–	–	801
University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”	–	–	701
International School for Advanced Studies	–	–	701
Humanitas University	–	–	601
Bocconi University	–	–	501

Explained: How do the university rankings work?

The QS World University Rankings are among the most important, most-referenced rankings. The QS ranking relies heavily on its academic survey, asking thousands of academics worldwide about the reputation of universities.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Equal weight is put on teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact through citations (meaning how often a university’s research is referenced elsewhere).

The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (often just Shanghai Ranking, or ARWU) focuses on research output and quality, for example measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni winning the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.

Study in Italy

Italy offers the perfect combination of stunning history, academic tradition, and innovative research and education. In the birthplace of Europe’s first university, many of Italy’s institutions are today among the best in the world. International students are flocking to the Southern European country to receive world-class education and enjoy la dolce vita - “the sweet life”.