University of Genoa

Key facts

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

About the University of Genoa

The University of Genoa (UniGe) gives 1481 as its foundation year.^[1] It has 5 schools, 22 departments and 15 libraries, about 36,000 students (more than 3,000 of them international), 1,335 PhD students and about 2,500 staff.^[1] The main university building is in Via Balbi in the historic centre of Genoa; the university also has campuses in Imperia, Savona and La Spezia.^[5][1]

English-language Wikipedia traces the university to a college of theology created by papal bull in 1471 and a medicine statute of 1481. That article carries “citation needed” tags for these passages.^[6]

How is the University of Genoa ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Genoa is 502nd in the world, up 28 places on the previous edition, and 16th in Italy among more than 1,500 ranked universities. The university reports improvements in academic reputation, research impact and sustainability.^[2] A press report of the Italian top 20 gives the same position (502, score 32.3).^[10]

Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at the University of Genoa?

UniGe offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and 7 single-cycle degrees, among them Medicine and Law, plus PhDs, specialisation schools and university master’s programmes.^[7] The course catalogue for 2026/27 is on the courses website.^[11]

The university’s international admissions page names three programmes taught in English with early selection closures: the master’s in Medical Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, the bachelor’s in Maritime Science and Technology and the bachelor’s in Computer Engineering. This is not a complete list of English-taught courses.^[8]

How much does the University of Genoa cost in 2026/27?

The student contribution for a bachelor’s, master’s or single-cycle degree has three parts: stamp duty, regional tax and the university contribution. It is paid in three instalments.^[3]

The contribution is set by the ISEE-U, by the course’s contribution class (1st class: humanities and social area; 2nd class: medical, health and scientific-technical area) and by the student’s contribution group, which depends mainly on progress in credits. New full-time first-year students are in group 1. With an ISEE-U above €100,000, or without an ISEE-U, the maximum applies: €3,025 or €3,300.^[3] Part-time enrolment pays 25% or 50% of the ordinary contribution, depending on the study plan.^[3]

ISEE-U for foreign students

Foreign students who are not resident in Italy, and Italian students resident abroad, obtain the equalised ISEE-U (ISEE-U parificato) through an affiliated CAF to receive a reduction of the university contribution and the regional tax. The service is free; documents from abroad must come from the competent authorities and be translated into Italian by the Italian diplomatic authorities.^[4] Late submission after the standard deadline adds a charge of €100 or €200.^[4]

Late payments

A late payment costs €20 up to 30 days late and €52 beyond that.^[3] Students who apply for a study grant from ALISEO Liguria pay only the €16 stamp duty at the first instalment.^[3]

For rent and living costs in Genoa, see our Italy guide and the Study in Italy guide.

How do you apply to the University of Genoa?

Anyone with a non-Italian qualification, whether Italian, EU or non-EU, starts on UniGeApply, the university’s pre-selection platform for international admissions. The same applies to an Italian diploma obtained abroad.^[8]

• Non-EU students living abroad (visa applicants): after an approved UniGeApply application, you apply on the ministry’s Universitaly portal, then pre-enrol on UniGe’s online services and, after arrival in Italy, complete enrolment by uploading the final documents.^[12]
• Italian and EU students, and non-EU students already resident in Italy, with a foreign qualification: UniGeApply first, then pre-enrolment and the upload of final documents.^[8]
• Courses with a fixed number of places: these have their own calls and entrance tests; the UniGeApply application is made close to the test registration date.^[8]

Selection runs in sessions for visa applicants and for resident students, and some English-taught courses close early. We give no dates because they change every year; check the deadlines on the international enrolment page.^[8] The university notes that it cannot influence embassy appointments.^[12]

Which language level do you need?

Knowledge of Italian is not required for courses taught in English. For courses taught in Italian with scheduled access, it is considered verified by passing the entrance test.^[8] For open-access courses taught in Italian, applicants need Italian at level B2 (upper-intermediate on the European scale, A1 to C2), shown by a certificate or by the university’s Italian test.^[9]

Accepted certificates at B2 or higher are CILS, CELI, PLIDA and those of Roma Tre, the Dante Alighieri University for Foreigners of Reggio Calabria and the Centro di Studi Italiani, issued on or after 1 January 2024. Chinese students of the Marco Polo Programme need B1. Other proofs include an Italian high school diploma, also from a recognised Italian school abroad.^[9] Certificates are uploaded on a dedicated page after a successful UniGeApply application.^[9]

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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