University of Pisa: QS 382, CENSIS 3rd among large universities, STEM excellence and home of Galileo
Founded in 1343, the University of Pisa is among the oldest and most prestigious universities in Italy. With 50,000 students, 130 degree programmes and 3rd place in the CENSIS 2025-26 ranking among large state universities (84.7/100), UniPI excels in STEM sciences and is part of a unique ecosystem of excellence together with the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna.
UniPI: STEM excellence in the heart of university Tuscany
The University of Pisa is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Italy, ranking 382nd in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and achieving an excellent 3rd place in the CENSIS 2025-2026 ranking among large state universities, with a score of 84.7/100 — up 3 positions compared with the previous year. With around 50,000 students and 130 degree programmes, UniPI is a large comprehensive university with a strong internationally recognised STEM vocation.
The University of Pisa is particularly renowned for mathematical, physical, computer and engineering sciences. Pisa’s system of excellence — with UniPI alongside the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna — creates a scientific ecosystem unique in Italy. The Department of Computer Science is among the oldest and most renowned in Italy: in 1969 the first Italian computer network was connected here, a precursor to the Internet. Collaboration with the CNR and CERN laboratories is intense and productive.
7% of enrolled students are international, with extensive Erasmus+ agreements and doctoral programmes in English. The employment rate of master’s degree graduates is 82%, with peaks in computer science, engineering and pharmacy.
Pisa is a quintessential small university city — the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery, the Monumental Cemetery in Piazza dei Miracoli — with an intense academic atmosphere and living costs among the most affordable among major Italian university cities.
Academic Areas
130 degree programmes across 20 departments with a strong STEM vocation
The University of Pisa in numbers
From 1343 to today: Galileo, Fermi and the first Italian computer network
The University of Pisa has origins dating back to 1343, when Pope Clement VI recognised the pre-existing Pisan Studium as a general university. In 1543, Cosimo I de' Medici reopened and strengthened it, creating the Botanical Garden — the oldest in Italy still in its original location — and bringing in the best scientists of the time.
Galileo Galilei taught in Pisa from 1589 to 1592, conducting the experiments that marked the beginning of modern mechanics. The physicist Enrico Fermi graduated in Pisa in 1922, at only 21 years old, with a thesis that amazed the examiners for its depth and originality. The establishment of the Scuola Normale Superiore in 1810 consolidated Pisa’s leading role in academic excellence.
In the 20th century, the university continued its tradition of scientific excellence: in 1969, the first Italian computer network connection, a precursor to the Internet, was created in Pisa. Today UniPI is one of Italy’s main research centres, with cutting-edge laboratories, strong collaborations with the CNR and CERN, and a growing presence in international academic networks.
FAQ — University of Pisa
Study in Italy: useful resources for your university journey
The University of Pisa is one of the best Italian universities for those aiming for excellence in STEM sciences, from computer science to physics, from engineering to medicine. Thanks to ~26 programmes in English and affordable living costs, it is also a concrete choice for international students. To navigate Italy’s academic offer, consult the guide to master’s degree courses in Italy. If you are planning your arrival in the country, the living and studying in Italy section offers everything you need on visas, accommodation and university life. Finally, discover how admissions to Italian universities work and start planning your academic path at one of the universities with the longest and most fascinating histories in Italy.
