Sapienza University of Rome

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Sapienza University of Rome

Sapienza was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, who issued the bull In suprema praeminentia dignitatis, and was first called the Studium Urbis. In 1660 it moved to Corso Rinascimento and became known as “Sapienza” after the motto on its main gate. The present “città universitaria” campus, designed by Marcello Piacentini, opened in 1935. Antonella Polimeni became the first woman rector in December 2020.^[7]

The university has 11 faculties and 58 departments, one School for Advanced Studies and a post-degree School of Aerospace Engineering.^[1] The faculties are Architecture; Arts and Humanities; Civil and Industrial Engineering; Economics; Information Engineering, Informatics and Statistics; Law; Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences; Medicine and Dentistry; Medicine and Psychology; Pharmacy and Medicine; and Political Science, Sociology and Communication Science.^[8] Its orientation brochure calls it the largest university in Europe and the oldest in Rome.^[8]

How is Sapienza University of Rome ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Sapienza is 111th in the world, its best result in its history. Politecnico di Milano is 87th, and Bologna is 123rd.^[2]

Sapienza’s own news item on its international rankings lists further results: ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026, 153rd; CWUR 2026, 129th; Times Higher Education 2027, 147th (170th in 2026); QS European University Rankings, 77th; and first in the world for Classics and Ancient History in the QS subject ranking 2026.^[9] The page is dated 15 September 2026 but reports THE results said to be published on 30 September 2026, so its dates do not agree; treat the THE figure with care. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Sapienza University of Rome?

Sapienza lists 311 bachelor’s and master’s programmes, 200 advanced professional courses, 98 PhD programmes and 87 specialisation schools.^[1] The number taught in English is given differently on its pages:

• “over 73” degree programmes in English (about page, no year);^[1]
• 8 bachelor’s and 45 master’s programmes in English (international students page, 2026/27);^[10]
• 8 bachelor’s and 46 master’s programmes in English, plus 9 master’s programmes in Italian that also use the pre-selection (orientation brochure, March 2026).^[8]

A Foundation Year, taught in Italian, prepares students who do not meet the Italian minimum schooling requirements for admission tests at Italian state universities.^[10] The course catalogue at corsidilaurea.uniroma1.it holds each programme’s call for applications.^[4]

How much does Sapienza University of Rome cost?

Fees are paid in three instalments of 30, 35 and 35 percent through PagoPA. Students without a valid ISEE by the deadline pay the maximum, and the page says the maximum fees “have remained unchanged from previous years” for 2026/27.^[11] The schedule below is on a page that still shows 2025/26 payment dates, so confirm the amounts for your intake.^[3]

Band membership follows each country’s GDP adjusted for purchasing power; band C includes countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany. If you earn income abroad you cannot use an “ISEE parificato”; the flat contribution applies.^[3] The international admissions page for 2026/27 gives the same span: tuition for bachelor’s and master’s programmes of €300 to €1,500 a year, depending on the country of residence.^[4]

Students with income in Italy can lower their fee with an ISEE. A first-year student with an ISEE of up to €24,000 can be fully exempt if other requirements are met.^[12] The fee page does not state an ordinary bachelor’s maximum. Late payments carry a €65 fine, and a €10 TOLC test fee is listed.^[11]

How do you apply to Sapienza University of Rome?

The route depends on your passport, whether you need a visa and whether you already live in Italy.^[10] Deadlines change each year, so we give none. For non-EU applicants living abroad who need a study visa, the 2026/27 steps are:^[5]

1. Pre-selection on MoveIn. Required for English-taught courses and nine Italian-taught master’s courses, and mandatory for non-EU residents abroad when the course requires a pre-acceptance letter. It costs €30 per application, and you can apply for at most two courses. A positive result does not guarantee enrolment.^[5][4][8]
2. Pre-enrolment on Universitaly, choosing the Italian embassy or consulate in your country of residence and uploading the mandatory documents. For restricted-access courses, validation depends on your place in the official ranking.^[5]
3. Study visa, decided by the Italian diplomatic mission; validation of the pre-enrolment does not guarantee a visa.^[5]
4. Language proof for Italian-taught courses (see below).
5. Admission: read the call for your course; for master’s programmes book the requirements assessment on Infostud (€10), email your documents to the international office and pay tuition.^[5]
6. Residence permit: request it at an Italian post office within eight days of arrival.^[5]

Eligibility is a high school diploma after at least 12 years of study for a bachelor’s, and a bachelor’s degree of at least three years in a relevant discipline for a master’s. Some programmes, such as Medicine and Surgery, require an admission test; the page we read does not mention TOLC for international applicants.^[4]

Required documents for most programmes are your passport, diplomas, transcript, language certificate and, depending on the programme, a personal statement and a reference letter (one page lists the reference letter as optional).^[4][8] The International Student Office is at Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Palazzo dei Servizi Generali.^[5]

Which language level do you need?

Italian-taught degrees. Non-EU citizens living abroad who need a visa must certify at least level B2 in Italian (the CEFR scale runs from A1 to C2; B2 is upper-intermediate). You can use a CELI, CILS, CERT.IT or PLIDA certificate, or pass the online Italian test run by CISIA with at least 55 points.^[8][5]

English-taught degrees. No Italian is needed to enrol, but most programmes require level B2 in English. Accepted certificates include IELTS, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, Cambridge Assessment English, MET, Pearson English International Certificate and the Oxford Test of English, at B2 minimum. Some programmes waive the requirement after an online interview, and Duolingo certificates are never accepted. The exact minimum is in each call for applications.^[8]

More about studying in Italy

• Italy: best universities
• Study in Italy: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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