The University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna) is a public research university in Bologna, Italy. It is the oldest university in continuous operation in the world and the first degree-awarding institution of higher learning. Teaching began around 1088, with the university becoming organised as universitas scholarium — guilds of students — by the late 12th century. The university's emblem carries the motto Alma Mater Studiorum, meaning "Nourishing Mother of Studies," and the date A.D. 1088. 

Established in 1088, the University of Bologna was founded by students for students, when masters of grammar, rhetoric and logic began to devote themselves to law. Its earliest recorded scholar was a man named Irnerius, who catalogued Roman legal materials. Other early students included 12th-century Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket, and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Other notable alumni include the poet Dante Alighieri and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. 

The University of Bologna saw the first woman to earn a university degree and teach at a university — Bettisia Gozzadini — and the first woman to earn both a doctorate in science and a salaried position as a university professor, Laura Bassi. The University of Bologna had a central role in the sciences during the medieval age and the Italian Renaissance, when it housed and educated Nicholas Copernicus in addition to numerous other Renaissance mathematicians.

With a community of almost 100,000 students, the University of Bologna is one of Italy's largest universities, ranking first in Italy for the number of its students in exchange programmes abroad and within the top 5 universities in Europe for outgoing exchange students. Since its foundation in 1088, the University of Bologna has been student-centred, and — thanks to its five campuses in Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini, as well as a branch in Buenos Aires — it offers over 260 degree programmes within its 31 departments. 

The University of Bologna also has international branches in New York, Brussels, and Shanghai, reinforcing its strong global presence. It houses the fully funded boarding college Collegio Superiore di Bologna — the Bologna School of Advanced Studies — as well as the botanical gardens of Bologna, a large number of museums, libraries, and archaeological collections. 

The University of Bologna is deeply committed to sustainable development and actively contributes to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN's 2030 Agenda. As a comprehensive research university, it invests in a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to research and teaching. In the European landscape of research and academic cooperation, UniBo is among the most active institutions, having coordinated or participated in over 600 projects under FP7 and Horizon 2020, worth over €230 million.

The University of Bologna operates on a semester-based academic calendar. Two main intakes are available:

• Autumn Intake (September/October) — Primary intake for all undergraduate and most master's programs
• Spring Intake (February/March) — Available for select master's and PhD programs

Application Deadlines (Indicative for 2026–27):

Note: Application deadlines vary by program and nationality. Non-EU students must apply through the Italian government's Universitaly portal. Always verify the latest deadlines on the official UNIBO website (unibo.it).

The University of Bologna offers around 232 programmes, of which 84 are international degree courses and 68 are taught entirely in English. The university also enrolls students in 48 PhD programmes, 53 specialisation schools, and 86 first and second-level professional master's programmes, of which 14 are international. 

The university is organised into 11 Schools and 32 Departments. Key programs include:

• School of Engineering and Architecture — MSc in Civil Engineering, MSc in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Aerospace Engineering, MSc in Biomedical Engineering, MSc in Computer Science and Engineering, MSc in Electronics Engineering, MSc in Architecture
• School of Economics, Management and Statistics — BSc/MSc in Business & Economics, MSc in Management, MSc in Statistical Sciences, Executive MBA (Bologna Business School)
• School of Law — LLM in International and European Law, BSc in Law, MSc in Legal Studies
• School of Medicine and Surgery — MD in Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy
• School of Political Science — MSc in International Relations, MSc in Public Administration, MSc in Interdisciplinary Research and Studies on Eastern Europe (MIREES)
• School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine — MSc in Agrifood & Agriforest Sciences, MSc in Sustainable Agriculture
• School of Languages, Literatures, Translation and Interpretation — MA in Modern Languages, MA in Interpreting, MA in Specialised Translation
• School of Humanities — MA in Archaeology, MA in History of Art, MA in Classics, MA in History and Oriental Studies
• School of Pharmacy, Biotechnology and Sport Science — MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, MSc in Biotechnology
• Collegio Superiore / Bologna School of Advanced Studies — Honours programme with full scholarship for outstanding students from all degree programmes