- Sapienza was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII and is the oldest university in Rome, not the first university in Europe
- It ranks 111th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and first in the world for Classics and Ancient History in QS by Subject 2026
- International students who declare foreign income pay EUR 300, EUR 700 or EUR 1,500 a year depending on their country band, and India sits in Band A at EUR 300
- For 2026-27 the non-EU pre-selection window ran from 22 December 2025 to 15 May 2026, with Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026.
Sapienza University of Rome is Italy's largest public university and one of the most affordable options in Western Europe for Indian students. It combines a seven-century history with modern research strength, 311 degree programmes, more than 73 of them taught in English, and an income-banded fee system that keeps tuition for most international students at a few hundred euros a year.
What Is Sapienza University of Rome?
Sapienza University of Rome is a public research university founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII as the Studium Urbis. It is the oldest university in Rome and one of Europe's largest, teaching 125,332 students across 11 faculties, 58 departments and 311 bachelor's and master's degree programmes.
A common claim in older guides is that Sapienza was the first university in Europe. That is wrong. Sapienza itself describes the institution as one of the oldest Italian universities, founded in 1303, while the University of Bologna dates its foundation to 1088 and presents itself as the oldest university in the Western world. Sapienza's accurate distinction is that it is the oldest university in Rome.
- Founded 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII with the papal bull In suprema praeminentia dignitatis, originally named Studium Urbis
- 125,332 students, of whom more than 11,000 are international and over 30,000 come from other Italian cities
- 3,574 professors, supported by 2,513 technical and library staff
- 311 bachelor's and master's degree programmes, over 73 of them taught entirely in English
- 200 Advanced Professional Courses, 98 PhD programmes and 87 specialisation schools
- 11 faculties, 58 departments, 44 libraries and 19 university museums, mostly on the Citta Universitaria campus at Piazzale Aldo Moro
Where Does Sapienza Rank in 2026?
Sapienza places 111th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2027, first among Italian generalist universities, 170th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 and 153rd in the 2026 Shanghai ARWU list. In QS by Subject 2026 it ranks first globally for Classics and Ancient History.
| Ranking (2026-27 Editions) | Sapienza Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 111th | First among Italian generalist universities |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | 170th | |
| ARWU Shanghai Ranking 2026 | 153rd | First in Italy |
| QS by Subject 2026, Classics and Ancient History | 1st in the world | Sixth consecutive year at number one |
| QS by Subject 2026, Archaeology | 7th | Up from 11th |
| QS by Subject 2026, History of Art | 7th | Up from 18th |
| QS by Subject 2026, Physics and Astronomy | 38th | |
| THE by Subject 2026, Arts and Humanities | 33rd | First in Italy for the twelfth year running |
What Are the Tuition Fees for International Students?
Sapienza charges international students who declare foreign income a flat annual contribution of EUR 300, EUR 700 or EUR 1,500, set by the GDP band of their country of residence. India sits in Band A, so Indian students pay EUR 300 a year, plus a EUR 140 regional tax and EUR 16 stamp duty.
| Fee Band 2026-27 | Annual Contribution | Instalments | Who It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | EUR 300 | EUR 90 + EUR 105 + EUR 105 | Lower GDP per capita (PPP) countries, including India |
| Band B | EUR 700 | EUR 210 + EUR 245 + EUR 245 | Middle-income countries such as Argentina and Uruguay |
| Band C | EUR 1,500 | EUR 450 + EUR 525 + EUR 525 | High-income countries such as Switzerland and Saudi Arabia |
| Regional tax (all bands) | EUR 140 | One payment | Lazio regional right-to-study levy |
| Stamp duty (all bands) | EUR 16 | One payment | Mandatory administrative charge |
| Pre-selection application fee | EUR 30 per application | On submission | Maximum two applications per academic year, non-refundable |
These bands apply to students who earn income abroad and therefore cannot file the Italian ISEE income declaration. Band assignment is based on each country's GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity, and the full country list sits on Sapienza's own registration fee page. Late payment attracts a EUR 65 fine, which doubles if the delay runs beyond 60 days.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Bachelor's applicants need a school-leaving qualification obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, and master's applicants need a recognised bachelor's degree. Every candidate must prove at least upper-intermediate (B2) English or Italian, depending on the language of the programme, and have their foreign qualification assessed by the Hello International Student Office.
- Bachelor's degree: a secondary school diploma awarded after a minimum of 12 years of study, recognised as valid for university entry in the country of issue
- Master's degree: a completed bachelor's or equivalent first-cycle degree from a recognised university, assessed for academic content by the relevant Sapienza faculty
- Language: at least B2 in English for English-taught programmes, or B2 in Italian for Italian-taught programmes
- Programmes such as Medicine and Surgery are subject to national admission tests, which run separately from the ordinary pre-selection route
- Foreign qualifications are evaluated by the Hello International Student Office, which also liaises with Italian embassies and consulates
Which Documents Are Required?
You need a valid passport, your school-leaving certificate or degree certificate with official transcripts, certified translations where required, proof of English or Italian at B2, and your Infostud student registration number. Non-EU applicants resident abroad also submit the study visa and, after arrival in Italy, the residence permit receipt.
- Valid passport or identity document
- Secondary school diploma, plus the university degree certificate for master's applicants
- Official academic transcripts listing subjects, credits and grades
- Certified translation and legalisation of qualifications where the issuing country requires it
- English or Italian language certificate at B2 level or above
- Infostud student registration number generated at online registration
- Study visa for type D study purposes, for non-EU citizens resident abroad
- Residence permit application receipt, submitted within eight working days of arrival in Italy
How Do You Apply for Admission in 2026-27?
Apply through Sapienza's MoveIn pre-selection platform: for 2026-27 non-EU candidates needing a visa applied between 22 December 2025 and 15 May 2026, and EU and equivalent candidates by 31 July 2026, with Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026. Each application costs EUR 30, maximum two per year. Both windows have now closed.
- Choose up to two programmes and submit the pre-selection application on the MoveIn platform, paying EUR 30 for each submission
- Create an Infostud account to receive your student registration number
- Wait for the academic evaluation and, if successful, the pre-acceptance letter from the faculty
- Follow the programme-specific call for applications, normally published in late June
- Non-EU applicants complete the mandatory study visa pre-enrolment on the Universitaly portal by the cycle deadline, which was 30 June 2026 for 2026-27, then book the visa appointment at the Italian embassy or consulate
- After arrival, finalise enrolment on Infostud, pay the first instalment and apply for the residence permit
Universitaly is run by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and is the only official route through which a non-EU student can pre-enrol for a study visa. Validation by the university is a precondition for the visa application, not a guarantee that the visa will be issued.
Best countries to study abroad for Indian studentsRead →Who Are Sapienza's Notable Alumni?
Sapienza's official list of illustrious alumni and professors names ten Nobel laureates, among them Guglielmo Marconi, Enrico Fermi, Emilio Segre, Carlo Rubbia, Franco Modigliani and Giorgio Parisi. Its graduates include Maria Montessori, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi and Pope Pius XII, Eugenio Pacelli.
- Maria Montessori, physician and pedagogue, who graduated in medicine in 1896
- Mario Draghi, economist, former President of the European Central Bank and former Prime Minister of Italy, who graduated in economics in 1970
- Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic
- Giorgio Parisi, Nobel laureate in Physics 2021, who held the Chair of Theoretical Physics from 1992 to 2018
- Enrico Fermi, Nobel laureate in Physics 1938, Chair of Theoretical Physics from 1926 to 1938
- Emilio Segre, Nobel laureate in Physics 1959, Chair of Physics from 1928 to 1935
- Eugenio Pacelli, who became Pope Pius XII
- Nicolaus Copernicus and Aldo Moro are among the historic figures who taught or studied at the Studium Urbis
Are There Scholarships and Financial Support?
Sapienza lists merit scholarships, STEM awards for women, study-abroad and thesis grants, housing support and student-collaboration internships worth EUR 1,295 for 150 hours. Regional right-to-study grants and accommodation are handled separately by DiSCo Lazio, the Lazio agency responsible for scholarships and housing assignments, which international students may also apply to.
- Student-collaboration internships of 150 hours, paid EUR 1,295 tax free, one per student per academic year
- Merit-based scholarships for outstanding students, including awards for graduates joining Sapienza from other universities
- STEM scholarships reserved for women
- Study abroad, mobility and thesis research grants
- Housing assistance and reimbursement schemes, including study materials and psychological counselling
- DiSCo Lazio, the regional right-to-study agency, handles need-based scholarships and accommodation assignments for students in Lazio