Studying at the University of Bologna: A Complete Guide to Unibo and Life in Bologna

The oldest university in the Western world

The University of Bologna was founded in 1088 and is widely recognised as the oldest university in continuous operation in the Western world. Its official name, Alma Mater Studiorum — "the nourishing mother of studies" — is where the phrase "alma mater" comes from. Nicolaus Copernicus studied here, and the writer Umberto Eco taught here for decades.

Today Unibo is one of Italy's largest universities, with tens of thousands of students and a multi-campus structure: the main campus in Bologna, plus campuses in Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini.

What you can study — and in which language

Unibo offers Bachelor's, single-cycle (such as Medicine) and Master's degrees across almost every field: engineering, computer science, economics and management, law, medicine, architecture, political science, agriculture and the humanities.

For international students, the key point is that the university runs a large number of international degree programmes taught entirely in English, especially at Master's level. Each program has its own admission requirements — usually a recognised previous degree, a minimum GPA or entrance test, and an English certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL. Non-EU students also go through pre-enrolment on the Universitaly portal before applying for a student visa.

Tuition fees and ER.GO scholarships

Like other Italian public universities, the University of Bologna calculates tuition fees based on your family income and assets, so students from lower-income families pay much less — sometimes only a small fixed fee.

Bologna is also in Emilia-Romagna, whose regional scholarship agency, ER.GO, runs the DSU scholarship. Eligible international students can receive a yearly cash grant, a place in student residences or a housing contribution, subsidised meals and a tuition waiver. Deadlines are strict and documents must be prepared months in advance — this is one of the most common places students lose money by applying late.

Bologna: the Learned, the Fat and the Red

Italians describe Bologna with three nicknames. La Dotta, "the learned", because of its university. La Grassa, "the fat", because it is the food capital of Italy — home of tagliatelle al ragù (locals will tell you "spaghetti bolognese" does not exist here), tortellini, lasagne and mortadella. And La Rossa, "the red", for its red-brick rooftops and its long political history.

The historic centre is one of the best preserved in Europe. Its famous porticoes — covered walkways stretching for dozens of kilometres — are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means you can walk across the city in the rain without an umbrella. Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica of San Petronio, the Neptune Fountain and the Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda) are the landmarks you will pass every week.

The people of Bologna

Bolognesi are known for being open, direct and proud of their city. With so many students, Bologna feels young and international — you will hear dozens of languages in the university district around Via Zamboni. Locals love long conversations over food, and once you learn a few Italian words, doors open quickly.

Student life and lifestyle

Student life in Bologna happens on the street. Evenings start with an aperitivo — a drink with snacks — in the university area or around the Quadrilatero, the medieval food market streets near Piazza Maggiore. There are free concerts, film screenings in Piazza Maggiore in summer, student associations, sports clubs and language exchanges almost every night.

The city is compact and walkable, and many students get around by bike. Bologna Centrale is a major high-speed rail hub, so Florence is under an hour away and Milan and Venice are easy day trips.

Work and career opportunities

Bologna sits in one of Italy's strongest economic regions. Emilia-Romagna is known as the "Motor Valley" — Ducati is based in Bologna, and Lamborghini and Ferrari are nearby. The area is also a world centre for packaging and automation machinery, food production, and big international trade fairs at BolognaFiere.

During your studies you can work part-time, usually up to 20 hours per week. Common student jobs include hospitality, tutoring, language teaching and paid part-time positions inside the university itself. After graduation, you can stay in Italy to look for work.

Cost of living and practical tips

Bologna is cheaper than Milan but not the cheapest Italian city. Housing is the biggest challenge: demand from students is very high, so start looking for a room as soon as you are admitted, and never send a deposit for a room you have not verified. Food is affordable if you shop at local markets, and university canteens offer low-cost meals — even cheaper with an ER.GO scholarship.

Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold and often foggy, so pack for both.

Small details only locals know

Look for the "little window" on Via Piella: open it and you will see a canal — a reminder that Bologna once had a network of waterways. Under the Voltone del Podestà, whisper into one corner and a friend in the opposite corner will hear you clearly. Walk the portico to the Sanctuary of San Luca, the longest portico in the world, for the best view of the city. And a student superstition says you should never climb the Asinelli Tower before you graduate — or you never will.