University of Pisa, Italy

Among the first 10 universities in Italy and the best 1-2% in the world, at the University of Pisa you will have the certainty of high-level teaching and research in all the departments, where international students study side by side with Italian students, attending courses in Italian and English. Outside the university walls, they will be able to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the dozens small pubs scattered along the river Arno and in the medieval streets of the city.

Famous all over the world for its Leaning Tower & Cathedral and its charming historical centre, our beautiful Tuscan city boasts a pleasant climate - and excellent food! It is located just a few kilometres from the sea and the mountains as well as from more celebrated cities such as Florence and Siena, and 3 hours by train from Rome, Venice and Milan. The city is also provided with an international airport at a walking distance from the very centre. A Ryanair hub, it connects Pisa with many destinations in Italy and Europe but also in several non-European countries, such as Morocco, Turkey, etc.

Pisa multicultural population totals around 100,000 people, in addition to the more than 50,000 students coming from all over Italy and many different foreign countries. A lively cultural life can be enjoyed because of museums, cultural associations, cinemas and theatres, and makes Pisa a great place to live and study.

About the University of Pisa

University of Pisa: Historical, Excellence, Research, Innovation, Inclusion

City of Pisa: CityCampus, Artistic, Multicultural, Friendly, Cycling

Officially founded in 1343, the University of Pisa has always been one of the most important in Italy. Among its past glories is Galileo Galilei, who was born in Pisa and here studied and became professor of mathematics in 1589.

The university also counts several Nobel winners among its alumni, including Giosuè Carducci (1906, Literature), Enrico Fermi (1938, Physics), Carlo Rubbia (1984, Physics) and two Fields Medalists (Mathematics), Enrico Bombieri (1974) and Alessio Figalli (2018).

A public institution with twenty departments and high-level research centres in the fields of agriculture, astrophysics, computer science, engineering, medicine and veterinary medicine, the University has also close relations with the Pisa Institutes of the National Research Council (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR), with many cultural institutions of national and international prominence and information technology companies - which went through a phase of rapid expansion during the nineteen sixties and seventies (Pisa was the first university to set up a Computer Science degree course in 1969 and the city where the first Internet connection was set in 1986) and are still among its most important partners.

The University of Pisa is a modern and prestigious centre of advanced teaching and research. It offers 59 undergraduate courses (first cycle), 72 master’s degree courses (second cycle) and 9 single-cycle degree courses, all in the main fields of advanced professional knowledge and education. Besides, 36 PhD, 48 specialization and 70 one-year post-degree courses. Research and teaching coexist in all areas and at all levels.

We boast an excellent reputation in all areas, but notable are the 2022 QS rankings by subject for Classical Studies (21st in the world), Physics and Astronomy (78th), Veterinary Sciences (44th).

Academic information & course offers

Courses offered for the Circle U. mobility

The Circle U. course catalogue showcases a selection of course within the Circle U. thematic areas available for exchange students. Please refer to our course catalogue for a full list of courses available to exchange students.

International students are warmly welcomed to the University of Pisa. 

If you are planning to come to Pisa for a mobility ‒ whatever it is ‒ please look at this page and consider that we have English-taught courses.

If you want to apply for an Erasmus mobility, please refer to this portal. On the right you will find all the info you may need to apply to the University of Pisa as an Erasmus student. But first of all remember to contact the International Coordinator of the Department you are interested in! 

Language of instruction

Italian and English 

See here for further information on English-taught courses or contact a specific International Coordinator to have a comprehensive list of English-taught courses within a specific department/degree programme.

Language learning

Intensive Italian language courses for international students are offered each year in September and October by the CLI (Centro Linguistico Interdipartimentale/Interdepartmental Language Centre). CLI also offers regular Italian courses during the year for different proficiency levels.

For further information and to register visit the CLI webpage. At the CLI you will also have the chance to learn many foreign languages (French, English, Italian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, German) from A1 to C2 levels. Finally, CLI provides courses to prepare international exams such as CILS, DELE, TOEFL and Cambridge certificates (IELTS, FCE, CAE, CPE) and is also an exam centre for STBFL (Bulgarian), DELF and DALF (French), CILS (Italian), PLE (Portuguese), DELE (Spanish) and Test DaF (German).

Academic year

The academic year is divided into two semesters: autumn and spring.

Courses of the autumn term start on the last week of September and finish on the second week of December; those of the spring term start on the third week of February and finish by 31 May.

Exams of the autumn term are in January and in early February, while those of the spring term take place between June and July.

Each Department publishes its own calendar at the beginning of the academic year.

How to apply for mobility at the University of Pisa

• Partner universities appoint students for mobility c/o University of Pisa on the basis on existing bilateral or multilateral agreements.
• Nominated students should immediately contact the International Coordinator of the relevant department in order to have specific info regarding their mobility (deadlines, language requirements, etc.). Info can change depending on the mobility you choose, so it is vital to contact the International Coordinator as soon as possible.
• If you are an Erasmus student, please see here.
• If you are coming to attend a Summer School, please check this page.
• If you decide to give Free Mover a try, please see here.
• If your university send you to the University of Pisa as an exchange student, contact the International Coordinator of the relevant department in order to have specific info regarding your mobility and check this page.

If you decide to complete a study period or an internship at a department within the University of Pisa as Visiting Student, please see here.

Contact

• Erasmus – erasmus.incoming@unipi.it
• Summer School – support.summerschool@unipi.it 
• Free Mover – international@unipi.it
• Exchange student – exchange@unipi.it
• Visiting student – International Coordinator of the relevant department

Chat with our international students and staff.