University of Turin (UniTO): QS 371, a major Piedmontese university with 79,000 students and high employability
With 79,000 students, 210 degree programmes and 371st place in the QS 2026 ranking, the University of Turin is one of the major state universities in Northern Italy. Sixth among large universities in the CENSIS 2025-26 ranking (83.0/100), UniTO excels in biological sciences, philosophy, medicine and cognitive sciences, in a dynamic and strategic city between the Alps and Europe.
UniTO: a major comprehensive university at the heart of Piedmontese innovation
The University of Turin is one of Italy’s major state universities, with around 79,000 enrolled students, 210 degree programmes and 371st place in the QS World University Rankings 2026. UniTO ranks 6th in the CENSIS 2025-2026 ranking among large state universities, with a score of 83.0/100, and has a long tradition of excellence in biological and biomedical sciences, philosophy and history, cognitive sciences and political science.
UniTO’s academic offer is fully cross-disciplinary: all fields are represented with high-quality programmes. 6% of enrolled students are international, with a solid network of Erasmus+ agreements and double-degree programmes. The employment rate of master’s degree graduates is 81%. Around 55 programmes are available in English (source: Cineca).
Turin is a city with an extraordinary quality of life: the Egyptian Museum — the most important in Europe after Cairo — the Royal Museums, proximity to the Alps, Piedmontese cuisine and its strategic position between Italy, France and Switzerland make Turin one of Italy’s most complete university destinations. Living costs are significantly lower than in Milan and Rome, with excellent value for money for students away from home.
Turin’s innovation ecosystem — automotive, aerospace, artificial intelligence — also offers very high-level career opportunities for the university’s technical and scientific graduates.
Academic Areas
210 degree programmes across 27 departments with a strong scientific and humanities tradition
The University of Turin in numbers
From 1404 to the heart of Italian innovation: six centuries of science and culture
The University of Turin was founded in 1404 by the Duke of Savoy Ludovico, through a papal bull issued by Benedict XIII. In the 18th century, the Piedmontese Enlightenment led to a profound renewal of the university: Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy made it one of the most modern universities in Europe, introducing experimental sciences and clinical medicine.
During the Risorgimento, the University of Turin was the forge of the ruling class that guided Italian unification: Camillo Cavour, Massimo d'Azeglio and numerous key figures of the period studied or taught there. The 19th century also saw the birth of Turin’s criminological tradition, with Cesare Lombroso.
Among the most famous alumni of the 20th century are Nobel Prize winner Salvatore Luria, the philosopher Norberto Bobbio, the writer Primo Levi and many leading figures in Italian culture, politics and science. UniTO is now one of the largest and most respected universities in Northern Italy, in a city that is a global hub of industrial and technological innovation.
FAQ — University of Turin
Study in Italy: useful resources for your university journey
The University of Turin is one of the best Italian universities for those looking for a large comprehensive university with affordable living costs, high quality of life and a top-level employment ecosystem in the automotive, aerospace and artificial intelligence sectors. With ~55 programmes in English, it is also a concrete choice for international students. To explore Italy’s academic offer, consult the guide to master’s degree courses in Italy. If you are planning your move, the living and studying in Italy section guides you through visas, accommodation and university life. Finally, discover how admissions to Italian universities work and begin your journey at one of the most complete universities in Northern Italy.
