University of Bologna
Via Zamboni, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
€ 700 - 1,100 / Month
€ 2,000 - 3,000 / Year
2
Overview
About
The University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum - UNIBO) is universally celebrated as the oldest university in continuous operation in the Western world, founded in 1088. As the historic birthplace of higher education, UNIBO pioneered modern university governance and established the foundational frameworks of Western law and scientific inquiry.
Today, UNIBO is a world-class public comprehensive research institution operating across an innovative multi-campus structure spanning Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini. The university hosts over 87,000 students and features an extensive suite of English-taught degree programs spanning artificial intelligence, quantitative finance, aerospace engineering, economics, and international relations.
35 - 45 Students
11%
Facilities
- Archiginnasio Anatomical Theatre & Library: Historic 16th-century palace housing over 800,000 volumes, rare manuscripts, and anatomical dissection chambers.
- CINECA Partnership & Leonardo Supercomputer: Direct access to Leonardo, one of the world's top 5 most powerful supercomputers located in Bologna Technopole.
- Multi-Campus Research Laboratories: Aerospace labs in Forlì, Food Science centers in Cesena, and Marine Ecology stations in Ravenna.
- CUSB Sports Association: 4 modern sports complexes offering athletics, rugby, fencing, tennis, and university championship leagues.
Notable Alumni
Ranking
- #133 in QS World University Rankings (#1 Comprehensive University in Italy)
- Top 100 Worldwide across 20+ disciplines including Classics, Law, Agriculture, Modern Languages, and History
- #1 in Italy for Erasmus+ Student Mobility and International Research Collaboration
- Top 150 Worldwide in Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
- Founding signatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum Europearum defining academic freedom worldwide
Available Courses
Master in Artificial Intelligence
Master in Quantitative Finance
Single-Cycle Master in Medicine and Surgery
Master in Aerospace Engineering
Master in Automation Engineering
Master in International Management
Scholarship
UNIBO offers premier funding opportunities for international applicants:
- Unibo Action 1 & 2 Study Grants: Up to €11,000 gross per year plus complete tuition fee exemptions awarded on the basis of SAT, GRE, or TOLC test scores.
- ER.GO Emilia-Romagna Regional Scholarships: Need-based grants providing cash subsidies up to €6,800/year, subsidized university dining, and free student housing.
- Collegio Superiore Fellowships: Full board and lodging in prestigious university residences for top-ranking honors students.
Finances
Tuition fees at UNIBO are calculated progressively based on family income (ISEE parificato). For non-EU students whose family income is verified below €25,000, tuition is as low as €157 per year (administrative fee only). Maximum tuition for high-bracket international students is capped between €2,200 and €3,000 per year.
Accommodation
Student housing is coordinated through ER.GO residences and the SAIS Student Accommodation Information Service. Monthly student room rentals in Bologna average €380–€600. Bologna is legendary for its vibrant, welcoming student culture, earning the nickname La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa (The Learned, The Fat, The Red).
Cost Of Living
Average living costs in Bologna: Rent (€350–€550), Groceries (€180–€260), TPER Bus Pass (€27/month), Miscellaneous (€100–€150). Total monthly cost: €700–€1,100.
University of Bologna Entry Requirements
Master’s degree requirements: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with minimum 65% aggregate; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 85 / PTE 60; GRE or curriculum evaluation as specified by individual course boards. Pre-enrollment via Universitaly portal is required.
University of Bologna Fees
Standard annual fee is approximately €2,000 to €3,000 without ISEE, reducible to €157–€1,000 with ISEE parificato submission.
University of Bologna Placement
UNIBO graduates achieve an 89% employment rate within one year of graduation. Bologna’s location in Emilia-Romagna—home to Italy’s "Packaging Valley" and "Motor Valley"—provides direct recruitment pipelines to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati, Barilla, Yoox Net-A-Porter, Datalogic, and international consulting firms.
FAQ'S of University of Bologna
The University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum) is located in Bologna, the vibrant capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. Founded in 1088, it is considered the oldest university in continuous operation in the Western world. In addition to its historic Bologna city campus, the university has a multi-campus structure with specialized centers in Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini.
Yes, the University of Bologna offers over 80 international degree programs taught entirely in English across fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantitative Finance, International Management, Data Science, and Humanities. All degrees are fully accredited and recognized worldwide under the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) Bologna Process.
International students enrolling at the University of Bologna can apply for the ER.GO regional scholarships, which offer full tuition fee exemptions, university canteen meal cards, and housing grants based on family financial evaluation (ISEE-parificato). Additionally, the university provides Unibo Action 1 & 2 study grants worth up to €11,000 gross per year for deserving international applicants.
The university maintains an active Career Service and Job Placement office, organizing international career fairs and facilitating internships across Italy's prosperous Emilia-Romagna industrial corridor (famous for automotive, packaging, and biomedical industries). International graduates are entitled to apply for Italy's 12-month post-graduation work search permit.
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