The University of Naples Federico II was founded in 1224 by Emperor Frederick II and is a public university with more than 80,000 students, 26 departments and four schools.[1] It is ranked 401st in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2][3]
Fees for 2026/27 depend on ISEEU (the Italian university household-income indicator) and on study progress: first-year students with an ISEEU up to €30,000 are exempt from the enrolment contribution, and the regional tax of €130, €151 or €173 plus a €16 stamp duty is still due.[4] For non-EU citizens the guide lists a full exemption from the contribution, so they pay the regional tax and the stamp duty only; the university’s international page shows different regional-tax and EU figures, which we flag below.[4][5] Italian-taught programmes require Italian at level B2; English-taught programmes do not.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II |
| Location | Naples, Campania, Italy (rectorate: Corso Umberto I 40, 80138 Naples); the university has no single campus[1] |
| Type | Public university[1] |
| Founded | 5 June 1224, by Emperor Frederick II; current name since 7 September 1987[6] |
| Students | More than 80,000 enrolled[1] |
| Staff | More than 2,500 faculty[1] |
| Structure | 4 schools and 26 departments[1] |
| Degree programmes | 176 or 178 degree courses (the university’s pages give both figures), 37 PhD programmes[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 401st[2] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-EU students (per the 2026/27 enrolment guide) | Exempt from the enrolment contribution; regional tax €130, €151 or €173 (students with household abroad: €151) plus €16 stamp duty[4] |
| Tuition 2026/27, first year, ISEEU above €30,000 | Fixed €1,011.50 plus a variable part; up to €2,384 without an ISEEU declaration[4] |
| Language of teaching | Italian (Italian B2 for foreign applicants) or English, by programme[5] |
| Official website | unina.it |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the University of Naples Federico II
The university was founded by the Swabian emperor Frederick II, whose name it carries, through a charter of 5 June 1224.[1] It calls itself the world’s oldest public university.[1] Wikipedia adds that the university took its current name on 7 September 1987.[6]
The university reports more than 80,000 enrolled students, more than 2,500 faculty members, 26 departments in four schools, 43 research centres and 37 PhD programmes.[1] It has no single campus: its oldest buildings are in the historic centre of Naples, and Wikipedia says it is spread across the city and Portici.[1][6] The four schools are Medicine and Surgery; Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Humanities and Social Sciences; and Polytechnic and Basic Sciences.[6]
How is the University of Naples Federico II ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Naples Federico II is 401st in the world. A press report lists it outside the Italian top ten, after Pavia (395th) and just ahead of the University of Turin (405th).[2] A second report gives the same position, 401, with a score of 38.1 points.[3] We read the position in Italian press, because topuniversities.com blocks automated access.
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 Naples Federico II?
The university says it offers 178 degree courses on its home page and 176 on its “About us” page, spread over thirteen teaching areas.[7][1] It does not publish a single count of English-taught programmes on the pages we read; the international course catalogue lists them, among them an English-taught Medicine and Surgery degree.[5]
Some degrees have limited places. For international applicants the university names Medicine and Surgery (including the English-taught version), Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, Veterinary Medicine and the courses that train architects as programmes with an admission test.[5] The Ministry’s circular adds that Architecture and the master’s in Primary Education Sciences have a mandatory admission test.[8]
How much does the University of Naples Federico II cost in 2026/27?
| Group | What the 2026/27 enrolment guide says |
|---|---|
| First-year students, ISEEU up to €30,000 | Exempt from the contribution; pay only regional tax and €16 stamp duty |
| First-year students, ISEEU above €30,000 | Fixed €1,011.50 plus a variable part by ISEEU, up to €2,384 for those without an ISEEU declaration |
| Non-EU citizens | Exempt from the contribution; regional tax and €16 stamp duty only |
| Citizens of other EU countries | Fixed contribution of €200 (if the contribution due is €200 or more) |
The university sets the contribution by ISEEU and by progress (credits earned and year of enrolment). Beyond the first year, further reductions and surcharges apply by credits earned.[4] The guide says that for foreign citizens, amounts are distinguished only by citizenship, EU or non-EU, and that foreign students enrol at the student offices instead of online.[4]
Regional tax and stamp duty
The regional tax for the right to study comes on top, in three bands: €130 for ISEEU up to €25,500 and for students from the particularly low-income countries on the ministerial list; €151 for ISEEU between €25,500.01 and €51,000 and for students whose household lives abroad; and €173 above €51,000 or without an ISEEU. A stamp duty of €16 is also due.[4]
Fees are paid in three instalments (60% of the contribution plus the regional tax and stamp duty first, then 20% and 20%).[4] Living costs are not part of the fee. See our Italy guide and the Study in Italy guide.
How do you apply to the University of Naples Federico II?
The route depends on where you live and your citizenship. We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme.
- Non-EU citizens living abroad who need a visa: the first step is a pre-enrolment application on the Ministry’s Universitaly portal, where you name the university, the degree programme and the embassy or consulate for your visa. Pre-enrolment alone does not grant admission; you must also meet the entry requirements and pass the admission procedure of your programme. The university does not issue admission letters for visa purposes.[5]
- EU citizens, and non-EU citizens living in Italy without a visa requirement: you send your academic documents to the course coordinator, who checks whether you meet the requirements. Non-EU citizens living regularly in Italy do not need to pre-enrol on Universitaly.[5]
- Programmes with reserved access: you register online for the admission test; admission depends on the test score and your ranking. The call on the programme’s website gives the procedure.[5]
- Enrolment: after the selection, you enrol at the secretariat of your course, which provides the fee payment form. Documents include a copy of your passport, a passport photo, a tax code and, for a foreign qualification, a Declaration of Value or an ENIC-NARIC certificate of validity.[5]
The Ministry’s circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28 sets the general rules for pre-enrolment, and a validated pre-enrolment does not guarantee a visa.[8]
Which language level do you need?
For three-year, master’s and single-cycle degrees taught in Italian, foreign applicants need Italian at level B2. You prove it with a CLIQ-system certificate at B2 or higher, uploaded with the Universitaly pre-enrolment, or by passing an Italian language test whose procedure the course coordinator sends by email. Some applicants are exempt under the Ministry’s list.[5]
For degrees taught in English, B2 Italian is not required. The university notes that an international English certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and so on) is useful for the visa application.[5] The Ministry’s circular is stricter in wording: for courses taught in another language, the applicant must still provide a suitable certificate of the course language in the pre-enrolment.[8] Ask your programme which certificate it accepts.
B2 is upper-intermediate on the CEFR scale (the European scale from A1 to C2).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the University of Naples Federico II cost for non-EU students?
According to the 2026/27 enrolment guide, non-EU citizens are exempt from the enrolment contribution and pay only the regional tax and a €16 stamp duty; for students with a household abroad the regional-tax band is €151.[4] The university’s international page lists €140 plus €16 instead, so confirm the amount with the student office.[5]
Is the University of Naples Federico II free?
How is the University of Naples Federico II ranked?
Do I need Italian to study at the University of Naples Federico II?
Only for programmes taught in Italian, which need Italian at level B2 (CLIQ certificate or university test). English-taught degrees do not require Italian.[5]
How do non-EU students apply to the University of Naples Federico II?
You pre-enrol on the Universitaly portal, then take the entry requirements or admission test of your programme, and apply for a study visa. Enrolment at the university follows after the visa.[5]
More about studying in Italy
- Italy: best universities
- Study in Italy: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Italy
- Bocconi University
- LUISS Guido Carli
- Politecnico di Milano
- Politecnico di Torino
- Sapienza University of Rome
- Scuola Normale Superiore
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
- University of Bologna
- University of Florence
- University of Genoa
- University of Milan
- University of Milano-Bicocca
- University of Padua
- University of Pavia
- University of Pisa
- University of Rome Tor Vergata
- University of Siena
- University of Trento
- University of Turin
Sources
[1] University of Naples Federico II: About us (page without a date; degree courses given as 176 here and 178 on the home page)
[2] QuiFinanza: Italian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 22 Jun 2026)
[3] Borsa e Finanza: QS 2027 ranking, best universities in the world and in Italy (article of 21 Jun 2026)
[4] University of Naples Federico II: Enrolment guide, academic year 2026-27 (Guida all’iscrizione, in Italian) (document of 10 Jul 2026; dates may change)
[5] University of Naples Federico II, International portal: Admission regulation (page without a date; fee figures differ from the 2026/27 guide)
[6] Wikipedia: University of Naples Federico II (history, name and schools; secondary source; the article gives conflicting student figures)
[7] University of Naples Federico II: home page (page without a date; shows about 80,000 students and 178 degree courses)
[8] Ministry of University and Research: Circular on the entry and enrolment of international students, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 (document in Italian; valid for 2026/27 and 2027/28)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.