University of Florence

Overview

University of Florence is one of the oldest and largest public research universities in Italy. Home to over 60,000 students, the university offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in a broad range of fields. It is further organized into 12 schools, namely Psychology, Physics and Natural Sciences, Architecture, Agriculture, Economics, Education, Arts, Mathematics, Political Science, Engineering, Law, Pharmacology, and Medicine and Surgery.

Established in 1321 by the Florentine Republic, the University of Florence began life as the Studium Generale. It is also the first medieval university in Italy recognized by Pope Clement VI. Initially, the Studium offered programs in medicine, literature, and civil and canon law. Some famous scholars also used to teach at the Studium, including Giovanni Boccaccio, poet and professor of Ancient Greek and Literature. Leonardo da Vinci also used to carry out anatomy studies at the Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, which is affiliated with the University of Florence today.

The university also has a long list of notable alumni, which includes world-recognized poets, architects, doctors, and political leaders. Pope Pius II, head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from August 19, 1458 to August 14, 1464, also finished his studies at the University of Florence, as well as Italian prime ministers Lamberto Dini and Matteo Renzi.

Over the years, the university has undergone a number of transformations, from being an imperial university under the monarchy of Emperor Carlo VII to becoming a full-fledged university recognized by the Government of Unified Italy in 1923. With a special Act of Parliament, the university was developed into its current state and organized into various faculties.

Faculties at the University of Florence are traditionally located based on their subject matter. For instance, the faculties of Economics, Law, and Political Sciences are located in the Polo delle Scienze Sociali, near a courthouse in the Novoli district. On the other hand, Close to a hospital in the Careggi district are the faculties of pharmacology, medicine, and surgery. Meanwhile, the faculties of Physical, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences can be found in Siesto Fiorentino. As for the faculties of history, literature, pedagogy, and philosophy, they are located in the center of Florence, which is considered as Italy’s capital of arts.

With a strong commitment to providing world-class education quality to students from all backgrounds, the university offers challenging academic programs that transform knowledge, learning, and cultural experiences into history-changing innovations.