56 Best universities for Theoretical Physics in Italy

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Italy ranked based on their research performance in Theoretical Physics. A graph of 2.23M citations received by 63.9K academic papers made by 56 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. International School for Advanced Studies

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Theoretical Physics

#6 in Europe

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1978

2. Sapienza University of Rome

For Theoretical Physics

#9 in Europe

#36 in the World

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

3. University of Pisa

For Theoretical Physics

#35 in Europe

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 49,108
Founded: 1343

4. University of Trieste

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Theoretical Physics

#42 in Europe

#100 in the World

Founded: 1877

5. University of Padua

For Theoretical Physics

#49 in Europe

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 62,876
Founded: 1222

6. University of Bologna

Emilia-Romagna | Bologna

For Theoretical Physics

#56 in Europe

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 79,999
Founded: 1088

7. University of Rome Tor Vergata

For Theoretical Physics

#57 in Europe

#130 in the World

Founded: 1982

8. University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Theoretical Physics

#67 in Europe

#147 in the World

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

9. Polytechnic University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Theoretical Physics

#73 in Europe

#155 in the World

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

10. Normal School of Pisa

For Theoretical Physics

#77 in Europe

#160 in the World

Founded: 1810

11. Polytechnic University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Theoretical Physics

#100 in Europe

#206 in the World

Founded: 1859

12. University of Trento

Trentino-South Tyrol | Trento

For Theoretical Physics

#101 in Europe

#207 in the World

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

13. University of Florence

Tuscany | Florence

For Theoretical Physics

#106 in Europe

#214 in the World

Founded: 1321

14. University of Salerno

Campania | Salerno

For Theoretical Physics

#109 in Europe

#223 in the World

Enrollment: 33,332
Founded: 1944

15. University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Theoretical Physics

#111 in Europe

#227 in the World

Founded: 1404

16. Federico II University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Theoretical Physics

#133 in Europe

#277 in the World

Enrollment: 73,553
Founded: 1224

17. University of Pavia

Lombardy | Pavia

For Theoretical Physics

#139 in Europe

#292 in the World

Enrollment: 23,849
Founded: 1361

18. University of Bari

For Theoretical Physics

#152 in Europe

#314 in the World

Founded: 1924

19. University of Milano-Bicocca

Lombardy | Milan

For Theoretical Physics

#153 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 33,741
Founded: 1998

20. University of Parma

Emilia-Romagna | Parma

For Theoretical Physics

#163 in Europe

#339 in the World

Founded: 1117

21. Roma Tre University

For Theoretical Physics

#170 in Europe

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1992

22. University of Genoa

Liguria | Genoa

For Theoretical Physics

#174 in Europe

#359 in the World

Enrollment: 36,728
Founded: 1481

23. University of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For Theoretical Physics

#214 in Europe

#464 in the World

Enrollment: 26,732
Founded: 1308

24. University of Salento

For Theoretical Physics

#216 in Europe

#469 in the World

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

25. University of Aquila

Abruzzo | L'Aquila

For Theoretical Physics

#217 in Europe

#471 in the World

Founded: 1596

26. University of Catania

Sicily | Catania

For Theoretical Physics

#219 in Europe

#478 in the World

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

27. University of Palermo

Sicily | Palermo

For Theoretical Physics

#228 in Europe

#506 in the World

Founded: 1806

28. University of Udine

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Udine

For Theoretical Physics

#229 in Europe

#509 in the World

Founded: 1978

29. University of Cagliari

Sardinia | Cagliari

For Theoretical Physics

#238 in Europe

#533 in the World

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

30. University of Camerino

Marche | Camerino

For Theoretical Physics

#257 in Europe

#587 in the World

Founded: 1727

31. University of Ferrara

Emilia-Romagna | Ferrara

For Theoretical Physics

#281 in Europe

#651 in the World

Enrollment: 22,800
Founded: 1391

32. University of Eastern Piedmont

Piedmont | Vercelli

For Theoretical Physics

#288 in Europe

#678 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1998

33. University of Insubria

Lombardy | Varese

For Theoretical Physics

#289 in Europe

#681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1998

34. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Emilia-Romagna | Modena

For Theoretical Physics

#298 in Europe

#708 in the World

Founded: 1175

35. University of Calabria

Calabria | Cosenza

For Theoretical Physics

#300 in Europe

#715 in the World

Founded: 1972

36. Polytechnic University of Bari

For Theoretical Physics

#321 in Europe

#789 in the World

Founded: 1990

37. University of Messina

Sicily | Messina

For Theoretical Physics

#338 in Europe

#864 in the World

Enrollment: 24,780
Founded: 1548

38. Bocconi University

Lombardy | Milan

For Theoretical Physics

#340 in Europe

#872 in the World

Founded: 1902

39. University of Bergamo

Lombardy | Bergamo

For Theoretical Physics

#347 in Europe

#887 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1968

40. University of Brescia

Lombardy | Brescia

For Theoretical Physics

#357 in Europe

#914 in the World

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

41. Carlo Bo University of Urbino

Marche | Urbino

For Theoretical Physics

#361 in Europe

#935 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1506

42. Polytechnical University of Marche

Marche | Ancona

For Theoretical Physics

#372 in Europe

#974 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1969

43. University of Verona

Veneto | Verona

For Theoretical Physics

#379 in Europe

#995 in the World

Enrollment: 23,000
Founded: 1959

44. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Lombardy | Milan

For Theoretical Physics

#398 in Europe

#1072 in the World

Founded: 1921

45. University of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For Theoretical Physics

#408 in Europe

#1120 in the World

Founded: 1240

46. Basilicata University

Basilicata | Potenza

For Theoretical Physics

#416 in Europe

#1140 in the World

Enrollment: 6,631
Founded: 1982

47. University of Sannio

Campania | Benevento

For Theoretical Physics

#450 in Europe

#1302 in the World

Founded: 1998

48. Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For Theoretical Physics

#451 in Europe

#1303 in the World

Founded: 1868

49. Free University of Bozen

Trentino-South Tyrol | Bolzano

For Theoretical Physics

#514 in Europe

#1564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 3,886
Founded: 1997

50. University of Sassari

Sardinia | Sassari

For Theoretical Physics

#516 in Europe

#1570 in the World

Founded: 1558

51. Parthenope University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Theoretical Physics

#538 in Europe

#1697 in the World

Founded: 1895

52. LUISS University

For Theoretical Physics

#546 in Europe

#1730 in the World

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

53. G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti

Abruzzo | Chieti

For Theoretical Physics

#583 in Europe

#1896 in the World

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

54. Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria

Calabria | Reggio Calabria

For Theoretical Physics

#584 in Europe

#1903 in the World

Enrollment: 8,950
Founded: 1982

55. University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

Campania | Caserta

For Theoretical Physics

#586 in Europe

#1916 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1991

56. University of Cassino and Southern Lazio

Lazio | Cassino

For Theoretical Physics

#622 in Europe

#2166 in the World

Founded: 1979

The best cities to study Theoretical Physics in Italy based on the number of universities and their ranks are Trieste, Rome, Pisa, and Padua.

Physics subfields in Italy

Acoustical Engineering71

Applied/Engineering Physics46

Astrophysics and Astronomy70

Atomic and Molecular physics53

Condensed Matter Physics59

Materials Science73

Medical Physics44

Nanotechnology65

Nuclear Physics64

Optical Engineering72

Quantum and Particle physics77