University of Bologna

Over the years, the Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, the oldest university in the Western world, has paved the way for innovation thanks to an increasingly rich programme catalogue, cutting-edge research, a convincing third mission strategy and a strong international perspective.

Since its foundation in 1088, the University of Bologna has been student-centred. With five campuses across Emilia-Romagna (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini) and a branch in Buenos Aires, it offers its students a varied course catalogue tailored to the needs of present-day society: over 260 degree programmes within 31 departments.

Its community of almost 100,000 students makes UniBo one of Italy’s largest universities, ranking first in the country for the number of students in exchange programmes abroad and among the top five universities in Europe for outgoing exchange students. Moreover, the Alma Mater consistently ranks among the top five Italian universities in major international rankings (QS, Shanghai, Times Higher Education, GreenMetric).

The University of Bologna is deeply committed to sustainable development and actively contributes to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. As a comprehensive research university, it invests in a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to research and teaching, considered inseparable parts of the same mission.

In the European landscape of research and academic cooperation, UniBo is among the most active institutions. It maintains strong alliances with industries as well as public and private organisations, and represents a crucial hub for international networks, with lively relations across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. It is also one of the founding members of the prestigious Una Europa alliance, which is striving to build the integrated university of the future.

Fill the shoes of a first-year international student and live his journey to the University of Bologna through our podcast Unibo Global - LifeBites. Enjoy your listening while exploring international students’ hopes, best memories, thoughts and fears on the podcast Unibo Global - LifeStories. And finally, read the stories of our international Student Ambassadors and get to know better the University of Bologna and its community.