The University of Bologna is a public institution that traces its roots back to 1088. In a recent year, around 85,000 students attended the Italian university, and roughly seven percent of the student body was international. The institution has five campuses located in Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini. The university’s main campus is in Bologna; about three-quarters of the student body studies there. The university also has a campus in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tuition costs vary by subject and are not higher for international students. Student housing, which an outside organization manages, is available.
The university has 11 schools: agriculture and veterinary medicine; arts, humanities and cultural heritage; economics, management and statistics; engineering and architecture; foreign languages and literatures, interpreting and translation; law; medicine; pharmacy, biotechnology and sport science; political sciences; psychology and education; and science. In all, the university offers around 200 degree programs. The University of Bologna’s academic calendar is semester-based, though start dates and examination dates can vary from school to school. The primary language of instruction for nondoctoral programs is Italian, but some programs at these levels are taught in English, including a variety of international degree programs. Some of the international programs lead to dual or joint degrees. At the doctoral level, many programs accept or require English. Some of the university's research centers are the “Giorgio Prodi” Cancer Research Center and the University of Bologna Experimental Farm.
Established in 1088, the University of Bologna is the oldest university in the western world, founded by students for students, when masters of grammar, rhetoric and logic began to devote themselves to law.
Its earliest recorded scholar was a man named Irnerius, who catalogued Roman legal materials. Other early students included 12th century Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Other notable alumni include the poet Dante and former Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi.
Between the 12th and 13th centuries, a woman named Bettisia Gozzadini reputedly taught at the university, attracting crowds that were so big her lessons had to be held in the city’s public squares.
Today, with a community of more than 85,000 students, the university is among the largest in Italy, offering 200 degree programmes and two-year specialised courses across 33 departments and 11 schools.
It is a multi-campus institution with sites across northern Italy in Cesena, Forli, Ravenna and Rimini, as well as Bologna. It has an overseas campus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which offers interdisciplinary programmes.
Sport is a big part of student life at the university with physical activity considered an integral part of education.
The university also encourages its students to take up internships in sectors spanning industry, commerce, public institutions and professional firms, and runs a job placement service for graduates that supports their entry into the job market.
Bologna itself is Italy’s seventh most populous city, where the university’s students make-up nearly a third of the population. It is one of the less expensive Italian cities for students to live in, where cinemas and theatres are discounted for students and many of Bologna’s museums are free to access.
The university is also home to several libraries, including the Bologna University Library, which houses major collections of antique and modern books, as well as conservation and historical and scientific research facilities.
Founded in 1088, Bologna University has been student-centred whilst attracting prominent figures from science and the arts. Today it is a leader in the European Higher Education Area and famous for its beauty and integration with the city.Its teaching catalogue is diversified and tailored to the needs of present-day society: over 215 degree programmes among its 33 Departments, 11 Schools and over 84,000 students. A further 5000 are candidates for its PhDs and 3rd cycle programmes. The calibre of its graduates, its internationally renowned teachers and its quality research give it a competitive edge, especially in the job market. Bologna is the best Italian university for attraction of FP7 funds.Bologna has always favoured a multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural approach; it invests in international, multicultural training, research and services. It has formed knowledge alliances with industry and public/private organizations, and is a hub of international networks. Of its international and joint-degree programmes, 49 are taught in English. Besides the five campuses (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, Rimini), there is an overseas branch (Buenos Aires) coordinating research, post-graduate training and academic liaison with Latin America. Beyond its close European links Bologna enjoys multiple international connections, with North America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
