Rankings: The 57 best universities in Italy for 2023/2024

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.

All study programmes in Italy

Top ranked universities in Italy

University	QS Ranking 2023	THE Ranking 2022	ARWU Ranking 2022
Politecnico di Milano	139	351	201
University of Bologna	167	172	201
Sapienza University of Rome	171	197	101
University of Padua	243	201	151
University of Milan	324	301	151
Politecnico di Torino	325	601	601
University of Pisa	404	401	151
University of Naples Federico II	416	401	201
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University	436	201	401
University of Trento	457	351	401
University of Florence	460	401	301
University of Turin	475	401	201
University of Rome Tor Vergata	499	301	501
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore	511	–	301
University of Pavia	561	351	401
Polytechnic University of Bari	591	501	–
University of Milano-Bicocca	601	301	301
University of Genoa	651	401	501
University of Trieste	701	501	601
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano	701	401	801
University of Siena	751	601	601
Roma Tre University	801	601	–
University of Parma	801	601	501
University of Catania	801	601	501
Marche Polytechnic University	801	601	601
Ca' Foscari University of Venice	801	601	–
University of Perugia	801	501	401
University of Messina	801	501	801
University of Bari Aldo Moro	801	501	401
University of Verona	801	401	501
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia	801	401	501
University of Ferrara	801	401	601
University of Brescia	801	351	501
University of Udine	1001	601	701
University of Palermo	1001	601	501
University of Calabria	1001	601	801
Parthenope University of Naples	1001	601	–
Tuscia University	1001	501	901
University of Salerno	1001	401	601
University of Bergamo	1201	601	–
University of Chieti-Pescara	1201	601	801
University of Urbino	–	501	901
University of Sassari	–	501	–
University of Sannio	–	501	–
University of L'Aquila	–	501	801
University of Camerino (Unicam)	–	501	–
Università degli Studi dell’Insubria	–	401	901
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies	–	201	–
Scuola Normale Superiore	–	197	501
University of Salento	–	801	901
University of Foggia	–	801	–
University of Eastern Piedmont	–	801	–
Bocconi University	–	–	901
University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”	–	–	701
International School for Advanced Studies	–	–	901
University of Cagliari	–	–	801
Humanitas University	–	–	401

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”.

Read more about studying in Italy

Find the right study programme for yourself:

Relevant links

• Studying abroad in Italy: Basic information for international students
• Study programmes in Italy
• Visit the website of the QS World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities