University of Bologna facts for kids
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Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna
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| Latin: Universitas Bononiensis | |
| Motto | Petrus ubique pater legum Bononia mater (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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St. Peter is everywhere the father of the law, Bologna is its mother |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | c. 1088 |
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Academic affiliations
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Coimbra Group European Universities Association Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities International Association of Universities Scholars at Risk Europaeum Una Europa Mediterranean Universities Union Utrecht Network |
| Rector | Giovanni Molari |
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Academic staff
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2,917 |
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Administrative staff
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2,965 |
| Students | 90,291 |
| Undergraduates | 47,253 |
| Postgraduates | 36,266 |
| 4,239 | |
| Location |
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Italy
44°29′38″N 11°20′34″E / 44.49389°N 11.34278°E |
| Campus | University town 103 hectares (256 acres) |
| Colours | Red |
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The University of Bologna (also called Unibo) is a public research university in Bologna, Italy. It was started in 1088 by a group of students. This makes it the oldest university in the world that is still open today. It was also the first place to give out official degrees for higher learning. The word universitas (meaning a community of scholars and students) was first used when this university was founded.
The University of Bologna has over 90,000 students. This makes it one of the biggest universities in Europe. Many famous people have studied here. This includes the first woman to earn a university degree and teach, Bettisia Gozzadini. Also, Laura Bassi was the first woman to get a science doctorate and a paid job as a university professor.
The university played a big part in science during the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance. Famous thinkers like Nicolaus Copernicus studied here. It has campuses in other Italian cities like Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini. It also has centers in places like Buenos Aires and New York City.
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Discovering the University's History
The exact year the University of Bologna began is not fully known. In 1158, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa gave the university a special document called a charter. However, in the 1800s, historians found that the university likely started in 1088. This date would make it the oldest university still running. But the university grew slowly over time. Some historians believe it became a true "university" between the 1150s and 1180s.
How the University Started
The university began with groups of foreign students. These groups were like "mutual aid societies" and were called "nations" because students were grouped by their home country. They helped protect each other from local laws. These students then hired teachers from existing schools in Bologna. They learned subjects like law, liberal arts, and theology.
At first, classes were held in informal schools. Over time, these student groups decided to form a larger organization called a Studium. This became the university. The students had a lot of power. They could bargain with the city because foreign students brought a lot of money. If students were not treated well, they could leave. This helped them get more rights.
Students also bargained with their professors. They could even threaten a "student strike" to get what they wanted. Students could decide what was taught and how much professors were paid. A student committee even watched professors to make sure they finished classes on time! Later, the city took over paying professors. This made it a public university.
The university was especially known for teaching church law and civil law. It was created to study the Digest, an important Roman law text found in Italy in 1070. Until modern times, the only degree given was a doctorate.
Pioneering Women in Education
Bettisia Gozzadini earned a law degree in 1237. She was one of the first women in history to get a university degree. She taught law from her home for two years. In 1239, she taught at the university. This made her the first woman to teach at a university.
Laura Bassi was born in Bologna to a wealthy family. She was taught at home from age five. A church leader, Prospero Lorenzini Lambertini, noticed her intelligence. He became her supporter. In 1732, when Bassi was twenty, she publicly defended her ideas on "Philosophica Studia." The University of Bologna gave her a doctorate degree on May 12. She became the first woman to get a doctorate in science. She was also the second woman in the world to earn a philosophy doctorate.
In October 1732, the university made Bassi a professor of natural philosophy. She taught physics. This made her the first woman in the world to have a paid teaching job at a university. She also became the first woman to join a scientific group when she was elected to the Academy of Sciences of Bologna. Bassi helped make Newtonian physics popular in Italy.
How the University is Organized
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Universities in Europe are working to make their education systems similar. Today, the University of Bologna offers many different degrees. There are 101 first-level degrees (called "Laurea" or "Laurea breve") which take three years. After that, there are 108 second-level degrees (called "Laurea specialistica" or "Laurea magistrale") which take two more years.
Some courses, like medicine and dentistry, are longer. They take five or six years to complete in one continuous study cycle. After getting a first-level degree, you can get a one-year Master's diploma. After a second-level degree, you can go on to a second-level Master's, specialisation schools, or even a research doctorate (PhD).
University Schools
The university has 11 main Schools. These Schools replaced 23 older faculties. They help organize different study areas:
- School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
- School of Economics, Management and Statistics
- School of Engineering and Architecture
- School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Interpreting and Translation
- School of Law
- School of Arts, Humanities, and Cultural Heritage
- School of Medicine and Surgery
- School of Pharmacy, Biotechnologies and Sport Sciences
- School of Political Sciences
- School of Psychology and Education Sciences
- School of Sciences
University Departments
The university also has 33 departments. These departments group together similar research areas. They combine activities from one or more Schools. For example, there are departments for:
- Architecture
- Chemistry
- Arts
- Pharmacy and Biotechnology
- Physics and Astronomy
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering
- Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Interpreting and Translation
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Agricultural Sciences
- Management
- Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences
- Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences
- Education Studies
- Economics
- Legal Studies
- Medical and Surgical Sciences
- Veterinary Medical Sciences
- Political and Social Sciences
- Statistical Sciences
- History and Cultures
Special Programs and Institutions
Collegio Superiore
The Collegio Superiore is a special program within the University of Bologna. It helps talented students by offering extra learning programs. It was started in 1998.
The Collegio Superiore gives students more courses in different subjects. All students in this program get a full scholarship. They also get help from a personal tutor and free housing. To stay in the Collegio Superiore, students must keep high grades in both their regular degree and the extra courses.
Famous People Who Studied or Taught Here
Many important people have been part of the University of Bologna. They include popes, writers, scientists, and politicians.
Notable Alumni
- Pope Alexander VI: A former Pope.
- Petrarch: A famous Italian poet and scholar.
- Carlo Goldoni: A well-known Italian playwright.
- Guglielmo Marconi: An Italian inventor and pioneer of radio.
- Dante Alighieri: The famous Italian poet who wrote The Divine Comedy.
- Nicolaus Copernicus: A scientist who developed the idea that the Earth goes around the Sun.
- Laura Bassi: The first woman to have a university job in a scientific field.
- Enzo Ferrari: The founder of the famous Ferrari car company.
- Umberto Eco: A well-known Italian writer and philosopher.
- Pierluigi Collina: A famous football referee.
- Stefano Domenicali: The CEO of Formula One Group.
Notable Faculty and Staff
Many important scholars have taught at the university over the centuries. These include:
- Irnerius (11th century)
- Bettisia Gozzadini (13th century)
- Nicolaus Copernicus (15th century)
- Paracelsus (16th century): A founder of the study of poisons.
- Marcello Malpighi (17th century)
- Laura Bassi (18th century)
- Luigi Galvani (18th century)
- Guglielmo Marconi (20th century)
- Umberto Eco (20th century)
University Rankings and Reputation
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 201-300 (2023) |
| CWUR World | 185 (2023) |
| CWTS World | 120 (2023) |
| QS World | =154 (2024) |
| THE World | =155 (2024) |
| USNWR Global | 122 (2022-23) |
The University of Bologna is known as a top university around the world. In 2024, the QS World University Rankings placed it 154th globally. It was also ranked 73rd for its academic reputation. This makes it the 1st in Italy and 18th in Europe for reputation. The same group also put it in the top 100 universities for helping graduates find jobs.
The 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked it 155th worldwide. In 2023, it was ranked 5th in Europe and 23rd globally for its work on sustainable development. This shows its commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda. For 14 years in a row, Bologna has been the top large public university in Italy.
Places to Visit
- Orto Botanico dell'Università di Bologna: The university's botanical garden.
- L'Orto Agrario "Filippo Re" (Translate to English: Google, Bing): The "Filippo Re" Agricultural Garden.
Images for kids
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Bolonia para niños
- Bologna declaration
- Bologna Process
- List of medieval universities
- List of universities in Italy
- Medieval university
