State University
State University

University of Udine: CENSIS 3rd small state, 80% employment at the crossroads of Italy, Austria and Slovenia

With CENSIS 89.5/100 (3rd among small state universities) and an 80% employment rate, the University of Udine is a high-quality institution in Italy's most international region. 16,000 students, 50 programmes in engineering, medicine, agriculture, economics and languages. On the border with Austria and Slovenia, at the heart of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

May 2026
Admin
~5 min read
Logo Università degli Studi di Udine
#3 CENSIS Small State · Friuli · 80% empl.2025–2026 · Score 89.5/100 · European crossroads
Table of Contents
    University Profile · Università degli Studi di Udine

    UniUD: quality engineering, agriculture and medicine at the border between Italy, Austria and Slovenia

    The University of Udine ranks 3rd in the CENSIS 2025-2026 small state university ranking (89.5/100) with an 80% employment rate — one of the highest among small universities. With approximately 16,000 enrolled students and 50 degree programmes in engineering, medicine, agriculture and veterinary medicine, languages, economics, law and education sciences, it is the main university of western Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

    The university's geographical position is an extraordinary strength: Udine is 60 km from Slovenia, 80 km from Austria and 100 km from Venice. This three-border location creates unique collaboration opportunities with universities in three countries and access to the labour market of three advanced economies. The Faculty of Agriculture — in a Friuli renowned for wines (Friulano, Ribolla Gialla), San Daniele ham and Montasio cheese — and engineering are the most recognised strengths.

    The CENSIS score is 89.5/100 with 7% international students. Udine is a medium-sized city, elegant and safe, with a beautiful medieval historic centre, excellent gastronomy and a high quality of life. The Carnic and Julian Alps and the Adriatic sea are less than an hour away.

    Academic Programmes · Università degli Studi di Udine

    Academic Areas

    EngineeringMedicine and SurgeryAgriculture and VeterinaryLanguagesEconomicsLawEducation SciencesBiological Sciences
    Data & Statistics

    University of Udine by the numbers

    Active students
    Degree Programmes
    International Students
    Female Students
    CENSIS Score
    #3 Small State
    Employment Rate
    Degrees in English
    Year founded
    Key Indicators
    CENSIS Reputation89.5/100
    Employment80%
    Female Students56%
    International Students7%
    Quality Profile
    History & Tradition · Università degli Studi di Udine

    From 1978 to the European crossroads: the University of Udine and the development of autonomous Friuli

    The University of Udine was born in 1978, a few years after the devastating 1976 Friuli earthquake — one of the most tragic in modern Italian history — as an instrument of cultural and economic renaissance for the region. The university's founding was seen as an act of hope and investment in the future of autonomous Friuli.

    In subsequent decades the Udine university built a comprehensive offering, specialising in agriculture — connected to the Friulian wine and cheese district — and engineering — connected to the manufacturing district of the Pontebbana corridor and companies in the Trieste area. Proximity to Slovenia and Austria stimulated double degree programmes and cross-border cooperation.

    Today the University of Udine is recognised for teaching quality and the privileged student-faculty relationship that its small size guarantees. The CENSIS score of 89.5/100 places it consistently among Italy's best small state universities.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    FAQ — Università degli Studi di Udine

    The University of Udine ranks #3 CENSIS among small state universities with 89.5/100 and an 80% employment rate. The position at the crossroads of Italy, Austria and Slovenia offers job opportunities in three advanced economies. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of Italy's regions with the highest GDP per capita and lowest unemployment. Living costs in Udine are far lower than Trieste, Venice and Milan.
    UniUD offers master's programmes in English in engineering, biology and agriculture. It has Erasmus+ agreements with over 250 European universities and double degree programmes with Austrian and Slovenian universities. The Language Centre offers courses in Italian, German and Slovenian. The three-border setting creates a naturally multilingual environment.
    Udine is an elegant and safe city, with a beautiful medieval historic centre, excellent Friulian cuisine and very affordable prices. The Carnic Alps are 1 hour away, Venice 1.5 hours, Vienna 3 hours. Friuli is famous for wines, San Daniele ham and Montasio cheese. The university community is welcoming and facilities are of good quality.
    Yes. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a high-employment region with strong economic integration with Austria and Slovenia. Many UniUD graduates find employment at Austrian and Slovenian companies or at major regional firms (Danieli, Electrolux, Fincantieri). The Career Service organises recruitment days with north-east Italian and Alpine-Adriatic area companies.
    Related Resources

    Study in Friuli-Venezia Giulia: useful resources

    The University of Udine is the quality choice among Italian universities for those wishing to study engineering and agriculture at the border between three European countries. Discover everything about living and studying in Italy.