Sapienza University of Rome

Sapienza University of Rome (Sapienza Università di Roma) was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, making it the oldest university in Rome. It is the largest university in Europe with 125,332 students (2023-2024), 3,574 academic staff and 58 departments organised into 11 faculties. Its academic offer includes 311 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes — over 73 taught in English — 200 advanced professional courses (Masters), 98 PhD programmes and 87 specialisation schools. The university is ranked #1 among Italian generalist universities (QS World University Rankings), #1 Italian university (ARWU Shanghai), #1 in the world in Classics (QS by Subject), and placed 147th globally in the THE World University Rankings 2026. Research spans archaeology, physics, astrophysics, humanities, cultural heritage, nanotechnology, cell and gene therapy, design, aerospace and social sciences. The main campus — Città Universitaria — is located in central Rome. Additional facilities include 44 libraries (some open 24 hours), the SapienzaSport centre with over 100,000 m² of facilities, 19 university museums, the Orto Botanico, orchestras, choirs and the Nuovo Teatro Ateneo. Over 11,000 international students and 3,500 students per year on international mobility programmes attend Sapienza.