Rankings: The 58 best universities in Italy for 2024/2025

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 2024	THE Ranking 2024	ARWU Ranking 2023
Politecnico di Milano	123	201	201
Sapienza University of Rome	134	181	101
University of Bologna	154	155	201
University of Padua	219	201	151
Politecnico di Torino	252	401	601
University of Milan	276	351	151
University of Naples Federico II	335	351	201
University of Pisa	349	401	151
University of Florence	358	351	301
University of Turin	364	401	201
University of Trento	429	351	401
University of Pavia	469	301	401
University of Milano-Bicocca	481	351	301
University of Rome Tor Vergata	489	301	501
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore	505	301	401
University of Genoa	530	401	401
Polytechnic University of Bari	556	501	–
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University	595	251	401
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano	641	351	801
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia	641	401	801
Ca' Foscari University of Venice	661	501	–
University of Perugia	661	–	501
University of Trieste	691	501	601
Marche Polytechnic University	721	601	601
University of Siena	731	501	601
University of Bari Aldo Moro	741	601	401
University of Brescia	791	401	601
University of Salerno	801	501	801
University of Verona	801	401	501
University of Catania	851	401	501
University of Ferrara	851	501	601
University of Messina	851	501	801
University of Palermo	851	601	501
University of Parma	851	601	501
Roma Tre University	901	601	–
University of Calabria	951	501	801
Parthenope University of Naples	1001	601	–
Tuscia University	1001	601	–
University of Chieti-Pescara	1001	601	901
University of Salento	1001	601	–
University of Udine	1001	601	701
University of Bergamo	1201	801	–
Humanitas University	–	251	401
Kore University of Enna	–	801	–
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies	–	201	–
Scuola Normale Superiore	–	168	501
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma	–	401	–
Università degli Studi dell’Insubria	–	601	–
University of Camerino (Unicam)	–	801	–
University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”	–	601	601
University of Eastern Piedmont	–	601	801
University of Foggia	–	601	–
University of L'Aquila	–	501	–
University of Macerata	–	1501	–
University of Sannio	–	601	–
University of Sassari	–	601	–
University of Urbino	–	1001	–
University of Cagliari	–	–	801

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