University of Palermo: il più grande ateneo di Sicily tra cultura mediterranea e ricerca interdisciplinare
Con 45.000 studenti, 125 corsi e il 7° posto CENSIS 2025-26 tra i mega atenei statali (82,3/100), l'University of Palermo è il principale ateneo della Sicily. Medicina, ingegneria, scienze biologiche marine e patrimonio culturale millenario in una delle città più affascinanti del Mediterraneo con costi della vita molto accessibili.
UniPa: the Mediterranean academic hub between the Palatine Chapel, marine biological research and medical excellence
The University of Palermo is the main and largest state university in Sicily, with around 45,000 enrolled students and 125 degree programmes covering all academic disciplines: engineering, architecture, medicine, economics and business, law, humanities, languages, natural sciences and mathematics.
The University Hospital of Palermo is one of the leading university hospitals in Southern Italy, with recognised excellence in neurosurgery, cardiology and oncology. Marine biological sciences, Mediterranean archaeology and the history of medieval Sicilyn art are areas in which UniPa has internationally renowned researchers. The Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences is recognised for the quality of its research in the Mediterranean basin.
The CENSIS 2025-2026 score is 82.3/100, placing it 7th among state mega-universities. 4% of enrolled students are international, with active Erasmus+ agreements with European and Mediterranean-basin universities. The employability rate for master’s graduates is 71%.
Palermo is one of Italy’s most fascinating cities: the millennia-old layering of cultures — Arab, Norman, Swabian, Aragonese and Bourbon — has produced an artistic heritage of exceptional richness. Living costs are very affordable, with rent and everyday expenses among the lowest in Italyn university cities.
Academic Areas
125 degree programmes across all disciplinary areas, with excellence in medicine, biological sciences and engineering
University of Palermo in numeri
From 1805 to Mediterranean sciences: two hundred years of culture, art and research in Sicily
The University of Palermo was founded in 1805 during the period of the Kingdom of Sicily under Ferdinand IV of Bourbon. Its roots, however, are much older: higher education in Palermo dates back at least to the 13th century, when Frederick II of Swabia promoted the study of medicine and law in the Norman capital.
During the 19th century, the university was a centre of liberal and patriotic thought: the physician Francesco Crispi, future Prime Minister, studied there. In the 20th century, the university expanded across all disciplinary sectors, developing excellence in marine biological sciences, Mediterranean archaeology and the history of medieval Sicilyn art. Among its most distinguished alumni is the painter Renato Guttuso.
Today, UniPa is an active research hub in biotechnology, environmental sciences and advanced materials, with internationally significant laboratories and strong collaborations with institutions across the Mediterranean basin.
FAQ — University of Palermo
Study in Sicily: useful resources for your university career
L'University of Palermo is the natural choice among the Italian universities for those who want to study in one of the most fascinating cities in the Mediterranean, with excellent educational offerings in medicine, natural sciences, and the humanities, and affordable living costs. Consult the guide to Master's degree courses in Italy, find out everything about on live and study in Italy and how they work on admissions to Italian universities to begin your journey into the heart of the Mediterranean.
