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Mediterranea University Reggio Calabria: architecture, engineering and agriculture on the Strait of Messina

The Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria is southern Italy's specialist architecture and engineering institution. With 8,000 students and 20 technical programmes, CENSIS 77.2/100 and a campus on the Strait of Messina — with views of Etna — it trains engineers and architects for the Mezzogiorno and the Mediterranean.

May 2026
Admin
~5 min read
Logo Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria
Architecture · Engineering · Strait of Messina2025–2026 · CENSIS Small 77.2/100 · Reggio Calabria
Table of Contents
    University Profile · Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria

    Mediterranea: architecture and engineering in the city of the Riace Bronzes, between Ionian and Tyrrhenian

    The Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria is a state university specialising in technical and scientific disciplines, with approximately 8,000 enrolled students and 20 degree programmes in architecture, civil, environmental and computer engineering, agriculture, law and communication sciences. Located in Reggio Calabria — the city of the Riace Bronzes, at the tip of the Italian boot — it trains technicians and professionals for the Mezzogiorno and the Mediterranean basin.

    The Faculty of Architecture is the university's heart: in a region rich in unique architectural and landscape heritage — from Magna Graecia to the Normans, from the Baroque to Art Nouveau — the Mediterranea's architecture programmes train professionals capable of working in historic heritage recovery, sustainable design and landscape planning. Environmental engineering and agricultural sciences complete a territorially oriented offering.

    The CENSIS 2025-2026 score is 77.2/100. The employment rate is 68% and 5% of students are international. Reggio Calabria is a city of great charm: overlooking the Strait of Messina directly, with an iconic view of Etna in Sicily, it is famous for the Riace Bronzes — the finest Greek statues ever found — and for 'nduja, bergamot and the beaches of the Costa Viola.

    Academic Programmes · Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria

    Academic Areas

    ArchitectureCivil EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringComputer EngineeringAgricultureLawCommunication Sciences
    Data & Statistics

    Mediterranea University by the numbers

    Active students
    Degree Programmes
    International Students
    Female Students
    CENSIS Score
    Small State
    Employment Rate
    Degrees in English
    Year founded
    Key Indicators
    CENSIS Reputation77.2/100
    Employment68%
    Female Students52%
    International Students5%
    Quality Profile
    History & Tradition · Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria

    From 1982 to the Riace Bronzes: the Mediterranea and the technical renaissance of southern Calabria

    The Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria was born in 1982 as the University of Reggio Calabria, with the mission of providing the city of the Strait with a technical-scientific university hub. The choice to specialise in architecture and engineering reflected the reconstruction and infrastructure development needs of a southern Calabria still bearing the consequences of the 1908 earthquake.

    In the 1990s the university adopted its current name, 'Università Mediterranea', emphasising its vocation towards the Mediterranean basin and relations with universities of African and Middle Eastern countries facing that sea. This identity choice has guided the university's internationalisation policies.

    Reggio Calabria is a city of extraordinary history and beauty: the Riace Bronzes — two fifth-century BC Greek statues recovered from the Ionian seabed in 1972 — are housed at the National Museum of Magna Graecia and are considered the absolute masterpiece of Greek bronzework. Studying at the Mediterranea means immersing oneself in this ancient history.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    FAQ — Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria

    The Mediterranea is southern Italy's only university specialising in architecture and environmental engineering with a Mediterranean vocation. Calabria offers one of Italy's richest architectural and landscape heritages — Magna Graecia, Norman castles, Baroque historic centres — as a natural laboratory for architecture students. Living costs are very low and the campus on the Strait is among Italy's most scenic.
    The university offers some courses in English, particularly in environmental engineering and architecture. It participates in Erasmus+ with European and Mediterranean university agreements. It has collaborations with Maghreb and Middle Eastern universities, consistent with its Mediterranean vocation. The international office supports foreign students.
    Reggio Calabria is a welcoming city overlooking the Strait with a spectacular view of Etna. Living costs are among Italy's lowest. The Riace Bronzes, the Costa Viola, the Aspromonte and the Strait sea are within easy reach. Calabrian gastronomy is authentic and extraordinary: bergamot, 'nduja, red onion of Tropea.
    Reggio Calabria has an international airport (REG) with direct flights to Rome, Milan and some European capitals. The ferry to Messina (Sicily) takes 20 minutes. The A2 motorway connects Reggio to Naples (3.5 hours) and Rome (5 hours). For students, the extreme southern position is offset by minimal costs and a unique natural and cultural environment.
    Related Resources

    Study in southern Calabria: useful resources

    The Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria is the technical choice par excellence among southern Italian universities for architecture and environmental engineering in the Mediterranean. Discover everything about living and studying in Italy.