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Sapienza University of Rome

Ranked
Italy
=185th in World University Rankings 2025
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About

Basic information and contact details for Sapienza University of Rome

institution

The Sapienza University of Rome, originally named Studium Urbis, was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, making it Rome’s oldest university. Its motto ‘Il futuro è passato qui’ translates as ‘the future was here.’

After relocating to a new building in 1660, the university began to be known as Sapienza because of the inscription on its main gate, which read ‘Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini’ (the beginning of wisdom is the feat of the Lord). Sapienza is situated in the very centre of Rome, within walking distance of the main rail station, Termini.

Sapienza is the largest university in Europe, supporting over 115,000 students, including 5,500 international students, and almost 4,000 academic staff. It offers 250 degree programmes and 200 specialist courses across 63 departments, with 59 libraries available for student use (the largest number of any Italian university) as well as 21 museums.

Through the Erasmus exchange programme, Sapienza is partnered with at least 400 other universities, and maintains a strong international presence.

The university’s tuition fees are relatively low compared to most European universities and its School for Advanced Studies extends training in specific courses every year to gifted high school students alongside free accommodation and tuition.

Sapienza also offers subsidised tuition fees for students from developing countries and provides financial support for enterprises designed to improve academic and student movement to and from developing countries. Projects already funded are located in Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Palestine, Tanzania and Yemen.

The university counts six Nobel Prize winners among its faculty and alumni.

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Rankings

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Impact Rankings

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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at Sapienza University of Rome

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
61 F : 39 M (1)
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International student percentage
7% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
27.6 (1)
student
Student total
64504 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

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Subjects Taught at Sapienza University of Rome

See below for a range of subjects taught at Sapienza University of Rome

Life Sciences251–300th

  • Biological Sciences

Law70th

  • Law

Arts and Humanities=43rd

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Archaeology
  • Art, Performing Art and Design
  • Architecture

Business and Economics176–200th

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Business and Management
  • Accounting and Finance

Clinical and Health201–250th

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Other Health

Computer Science101–125th

  • Computer Science

Engineering151–175th

  • General Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Social Sciences251–300th

  • Sociology
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Geography
  • Communication and Media Studies

Psychology101–125th

  • Psychology

Physical Sciences97th

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Mathematics and Statistics