Alma Mater Studiorum
New Beginnings, | Finding wonder in change
Think differently
The first step towards living together with respect for all uniqueness: from gender to culture, from age to abilities
Who we are
The history of the Alma Mater and lots of useful information on the university, its planning and regulations.
Get to know the University
Our history
The origins of the University of Bologna go way back, and it is considered to be the oldest university in the Western world. Its history is intertwined with that of the great names of science and literature, it is a keystone and a point of reference for European culture.Alma Mater Studiorum
Nine centuries of history
Nine centuries of Alma Mater Studiorum: from as far back as 1088, conventionally referred to as the year in which the Studium of Bologna was founded, through the bustling Middle Ages and the eclectic Renaissance to the stagnation of the modern age and its revival in the contemporary era. The oldest University in the Western world presents itself. Alma Mater Studiorum
Famous people and students
The lives of the illustrious students and professors who over the centuries wrote the history of the University of Bologna.
The University today: numbers and innovation
The presence throughout the territory, the international outlook, the research, the programme catalogue, the information services: in these and many other areas, today the Alma Mater paves the way for innovation. Alma Mater Studiorum
The University of Bologna is made up of 31 Departments
There are also 7 Interdepartmental Research Centres and 11 interdepartmental research and/or training facilities. Alma Mater Studiorum
98 libraries and facilities provide bibliographic and documentary services to support education as well as teaching, research, professional and cultural activities. The University Museum Network comprises 15 Museums and Collections dedicated to various disciplines.
96,984 students have chosen the University of Bologna (2022/23 a.y.), including 8,526 international students. A total of 1,036,109.13 square metres are allocated to curricular and extracurricular activities in the following locations: Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini.
3,250 international students took part in exchange programmes and 3,604 University of Bologna students spent a period of study abroad in 2022/23 a.y. Alma Mater Studiorum
260 Degree Programmes are on offer in 2023/24 academic year, of which 104 first-cycle Degree Programmes, 142 second-cycle Degree Programmes and 14single-cycle Degree Programmes. They include 107 international Degree Programmes, 89 of which are taught in English.
51 PhD Programmes (2022/23 a.y.), 59 Specialization Schools, and 94 first and second-level Professional Master’s Programmes are also on offer. Alma Mater Studiorum
6,617 people work at the University of Bologna, including 3,382 members of the teaching staff and 3,235 members of the professional staff.
Since January 2023, there are 11 Departments of excellence funded by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research.
Over 670 of our research projects are funded by the EU, more than 780 received national funding and over 570 received regional and local funding.
28 projects were approved under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
There are 58 active and accredited spin-offs and start-ups and there are 800 registered patents and vegetable varieties.
Mission and values
Our commitment: training, research and third mission
Our values
The University of Bologna bases its activities on one belief: every person has unique potential. We are committed to facilitating the full expression of every talent, opening the door to a vast array of possibilities.
The awareness of being able to make a relevant contribution to the common good permeates all the activities of the University of Bologna through direct involvement in the co-creation of value with our community and society as a whole.
A strong imprint of values, a decisive political line and an ambition inspired by our history and ideals, renewing them every day. Ambition that translates into the ability to promote broad and significant relations at local, national and international level.
The people
With more than nine centuries of history, the Alma Mater Studiorum is constantly growing in numbers and size, but always aspires to the highest educational and scientific quality.
In the mutual intertwining of teaching, research and third mission, a cohesive academic community oriented to the realisation of our statutory values continues to grow.
The University of Bologna’s long history, daily effort and constant orientation towards the future enable it to be a community of people where seemingly incompatible values and goals coexist, integrate harmoniously and strengthen each other.
The University of Bologna is an institution nurtured every day by the commitment of the entire university community: academic staff, technical-administrative staff and students.
In response to the challenges and opportunities of the future, multiplicity becomes our distinguishing feature: we believe that an environment that cultivates different perspectives and relationships can achieve more meaningful growth and development.
Our vision
We aim for ever greater inclusion and equity, promoting a culture of diversity and valuing each person's talent and merit. Listening and dialogue, fundamental to the co-creation of value, guide our work.
In the field of education, we are renowned for our pioneering approach that recognises the importance of innovation in responding to the growing needs of people and society. We explore advanced teaching methods, adapting to the dynamics of educational developments in order to provide effective and relevant responses to people's growing needs and offering tools and skills in line with the changing needs of the contemporary world.
