80 Best universities for History in Italy

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Italy ranked based on their research performance in History. A graph of 9.24M citations received by 377K academic papers made by 80 universities in Italy was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Sapienza University of Rome

For History

#33 in Europe

#109 in the World

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

2. University of Bologna

Emilia-Romagna | Bologna

For History

#37 in Europe

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 96,945
Founded: 1088

3. University of Padua

For History

#61 in Europe

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 70,000
Founded: 1222

4. University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For History

#67 in Europe

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 65,234
Founded: 1924

5. Polytechnic University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For History

#72 in Europe

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 48,645
Male:Female: 65:35
Founded: 1863

6. University of Florence

Tuscany | Florence

For History

#76 in Europe

#219 in the World

Founded: 1321

7. Federico II University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For History

#83 in Europe

#241 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1224

8. University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For History

#97 in Europe

#280 in the World

Founded: 1404

9. University of Pisa

For History

#108 in Europe

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 47,736
Founded: 1343

10. Polytechnic University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For History

#136 in Europe

#365 in the World

Founded: 1859

11. University of Genoa

Liguria | Genoa

For History

#148 in Europe

#390 in the World

Enrollment: 36,728
Founded: 1481

12. University of Palermo

Sicily | Palermo

For History

#174 in Europe

#456 in the World

Founded: 1806

13. University of Bari

For History

#199 in Europe

#495 in the World

Founded: 1924

14. University of Milano-Bicocca

Lombardy | Milan

For History

#202 in Europe

#508 in the World

Enrollment: 33,741
Founded: 1998

15. University of Catania

Sicily | Catania

For History

#206 in Europe

#524 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 44,338
Founded: 1434

16. University of Trento

Trentino-South Tyrol | Trento

For History

#207 in Europe

#530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 16,239
Founded: 1962

17. University of Rome Tor Vergata

For History

#212 in Europe

#535 in the World

Founded: 1982

18. Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For History

#220 in Europe

#551 in the World

Founded: 1868

19. University of Pavia

Lombardy | Pavia

For History

#223 in Europe

#558 in the World

Enrollment: 23,849
Founded: 1361

20. University of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For History

#236 in Europe

#585 in the World

Enrollment: 26,732
Founded: 1308

21. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Lombardy | Milan

For History

#242 in Europe

#603 in the World

Founded: 1921

22. University of Parma

Emilia-Romagna | Parma

For History

#243 in Europe

#613 in the World

Founded: 1117

23. University of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For History

#256 in Europe

#640 in the World

Founded: 1240

24. University of Salerno

Campania | Salerno

For History

#260 in Europe

#654 in the World

Enrollment: 33,332
Founded: 1944

25. Bocconi University

Lombardy | Milan

For History

#265 in Europe

#662 in the World

Founded: 1902

26. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Emilia-Romagna | Modena

For History

#266 in Europe

#664 in the World

Founded: 1175

27. Polytechnical University of Marche

Marche | Ancona

For History

#269 in Europe

#669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1969

28. University of Cagliari

Sardinia | Cagliari

For History

#273 in Europe

#675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 26,069
Founded: 1620

29. University of Calabria

Calabria | Cosenza

For History

#277 in Europe

#693 in the World

Founded: 1972

30. Roma Tre University

For History

#281 in Europe

#700 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1992

31. University of Verona

Veneto | Verona

For History

#283 in Europe

#708 in the World

Enrollment: 23,000
Founded: 1959

32. University of Ferrara

Emilia-Romagna | Ferrara

For History

#286 in Europe

#712 in the World

Enrollment: 22,800
Founded: 1391

33. University of Trieste

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For History

#306 in Europe

#776 in the World

Founded: 1877

34. University of Messina

Sicily | Messina

For History

#330 in Europe

#841 in the World

Enrollment: 24,780
Founded: 1548

35. University of Udine

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Udine

For History

#334 in Europe

#849 in the World

Founded: 1978

36. University of Salento

For History

#336 in Europe

#854 in the World

Enrollment: 19,401
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1966

37. University of Brescia

Lombardy | Brescia

For History

#338 in Europe

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 16,800
Founded: 1982

38. University of Sassari

Sardinia | Sassari

For History

#340 in Europe

#862 in the World

Founded: 1558

39. University of Aquila

Abruzzo | L'Aquila

For History

#344 in Europe

#877 in the World

Founded: 1596

40. G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti

Abruzzo | Chieti

For History

#364 in Europe

#943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 24,716
Founded: 1965

41. University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

Campania | Caserta

For History

#369 in Europe

#956 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1991

42. University of Tuscia

Lazio | Viterbo

For History

#377 in Europe

#979 in the World

Founded: 1979

43. Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

For History

#404 in Europe

#1067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1987

44. Free University of Bozen

Trentino-South Tyrol | Bolzano

For History

#419 in Europe

#1118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 4,216
Founded: 1997

45. Polytechnic University of Bari

For History

#424 in Europe

#1138 in the World

Founded: 1990

46. Basilicata University

Basilicata | Potenza

For History

#431 in Europe

#1162 in the World

Enrollment: 6,631
Founded: 1982

47. University of Bergamo

Lombardy | Bergamo

For History

#433 in Europe

#1168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1968

48. Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria

Calabria | Reggio Calabria

For History

#444 in Europe

#1213 in the World

Enrollment: 8,950
Founded: 1982

49. University of Insubria

Lombardy | Varese

For History

#467 in Europe

#1273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1998

50. International School for Advanced Studies

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For History

#481 in Europe

#1326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1978

51. Parthenope University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For History

#492 in Europe

#1374 in the World

Founded: 1895

52. University of Cassino and Southern Lazio

Lazio | Cassino

For History

#502 in Europe

#1415 in the World

Founded: 1979

53. Normal School of Pisa

For History

#503 in Europe

#1417 in the World

Founded: 1810

54. Carlo Bo University of Urbino

Marche | Urbino

For History

#517 in Europe

#1463 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1506

55. University of Eastern Piedmont

Piedmont | Vercelli

For History

#523 in Europe

#1484 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1998

56. University of Foggia

Apulia | Foggia

For History

#536 in Europe

#1533 in the World

Founded: 1999

57. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

Lombardy | Milan

For History

#552 in Europe

#1580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1996

58. University of Molise

Molise | Campobasso

For History

#557 in Europe

#1601 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1982

59. University of Camerino

Marche | Camerino

For History

#577 in Europe

#1666 in the World

Founded: 1727

60. University of Sannio

Campania | Benevento

For History

#585 in Europe

#1696 in the World

Founded: 1998

61. IUAV University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For History

#588 in Europe

#1716 in the World

Founded: 1926

62. LUISS University

For History

#606 in Europe

#1830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 9,080
Founded: 1974

63. University of Macerata

Marche | Macerata

For History

#640 in Europe

#1977 in the World

Enrollment: 9,646
Founded: 1290

64. University of Catanzaro

Calabria | Catanzaro

For History

#658 in Europe

#2072 in the World

Founded: 1998

65. Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome

For History

#683 in Europe

#2199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

66. University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Campania | Naples

For History

#714 in Europe

#2369 in the World

Founded: 1732

67. University of Teramo

Abruzzo | Teramo

For History

#747 in Europe

#2522 in the World

Enrollment: 5,057
Founded: 1993

68. Kore University of Enna

For History

#804 in Europe

#2901 in the World

Founded: 2005

69. IULM University

Lombardy | Milan

For History

#833 in Europe

#3014 in the World

Enrollment: 5,741
Founded: 1968

70. Foro Italico University of Rome

For History

#846 in Europe

#3133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 2,377
Founded: 1998

71. University of Gastronomic Sciences

For History

#941 in Europe

#3631 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 273
Founded: 2004

72. Maria Santissima Assunta Free University

For History

#980 in Europe

#3828 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1939

73. Carlo Cattaneo University

Lombardy | Castellanza

For History

#1005 in Europe

#3950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1991

74. University of Italian Studies for Foreigners of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For History

#1148 in Europe

#4732 in the World

Founded: 1925

75. Pontifical Gregorian University

For History

#1151 in Europe

#4750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 2,754
Founded: 1551

76. Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For History

#1186 in Europe

#4920 in the World

Founded: 2004

77. Pontifical University Antonianum

For History

#1225 in Europe

#5131 in the World

Enrollment: 1,873
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1933

78. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

For History

#1265 in Europe

#5361 in the World

Founded: 1984

79. University of Italian Studies for Foreigners of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For History

#1333 in Europe

#5786 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1917

80. Salesian Pontifical University

For History

#1378 in Europe

#6028 in the World

Enrollment: 1,738
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1940

The best cities to study History in Italy based on the number of universities and their ranks are Rome, Bologna, Padua, and Milan.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Italy

Broadcast Journalism19

Classics and Ancient History64

Communications and Public Relations70

Criminology and Criminal Justice40

Early Childhood Education13

Education Majors71

Forensic Science39

Gender Studies58

Human Rights Law30

Intellectual Property and Patent Law28

International Law31

International Relations and Diplomacy20

Journalism and Digital Media51

Law Enforcement27

Library and Information science69

Media Studies38

Military science23

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution28

Occupational Safety and Health33

Political Economy41

Political Science80

Public Policy / Administration49

Radio and Television broadcasting19

Special Education31

Sports / Exercise science41

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies76

Urban and Regional planning57