University of Palermo
Università degli Studi di Palermo
Sicily's largest university, founded in 1806, with a handful of English-taught degrees and fees tied to family income.
- Students
- 44,439
- 36,907 undergraduates
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 32.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €211
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1806
About UniPa
The University of Palermo grew out of the Accademia Panormitana degli Studi, which Ferdinand III of the Bourbon dynasty raised to university status in 1806. It is the main university of central-western Sicily, with its rectorate in the medieval Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri, its main campus on Viale delle Scienze, and further sites in Agrigento, Caltanissetta and Trapani. With about 44,000 students enrolled on degree courses in 2024/25, it is one of Italy's largest universities.
Teaching and research are organised in 16 departments and a School of Medicine and Surgery, spanning architecture, engineering, law, the sciences, agriculture, economics, psychology and the humanities. UniPa reports 163 degree programmes, 44 medical specialisation schools and 33 PhD programmes. Almost all bachelor's teaching is in Italian, but a small group of bachelor's degrees are taught in English: Economics and Finance, Economics and International Cooperation for Sustainable Development, Industrial and Information Engineering, and Nursing.
UniPa is a good fit for students who want a large, affordable public university in a Mediterranean city with a long history. Italian students pay according to family income (ISEE), with no contribution below an ISEE of 25,000 euros, and non-EU students living abroad pay a flat fee of a few hundred euros a year set by their country of origin. Most students are Sicilian, so international students should expect an Italian-speaking environment outside the English-taught programmes.
Why students choose UniPa
Non-EU students living abroad can choose a fixed annual fee of 211, 267 or 378 euros depending on their country of origin, instead of an income-based fee.
Four bachelor's degrees are taught in English, including Economics and Finance and Industrial and Information Engineering, with free access (no entrance test) for the English-taught economics and engineering degrees.
Italian students with a university ISEE up to 25,000 euros pay no contribution (only the 156-euro tax), and first-year students with a school-leaving grade of 95 or more get a 25% to 50% reduction.
The rectorate sits in the 14th-century Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri, and the university also runs Palermo's historic Orto Botanico.
Admissions
Academic year 2027/28 (dates below are from the 2026/27 cycle)
Selectivity
UniPa does not publish an overall admission rate. The English-taught economics and engineering bachelor's degrees are free access, with applications checked by the admissions office and evaluated by the course coordinator. Limited-number programmes use local entrance calls, and Medicine and Surgery (including the MedIT technology track and the Caltanissetta site), Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine follow the national limited-access procedure.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school diploma | A high school diploma that gives university access, translated into Italian or English and legalised, plus a Declaration of Value from the Italian consulate or a CIMEA Statement of Comparability and Verification |
|---|---|
| English-taught bachelor's degrees | English at B2 or higher: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE 46, or Trinity ISE, British Institutes or Cambridge certificates |
| Italian-taught bachelor's degrees | Italian at CEFR B2 (CELI, CILS, CERT.IT or PLIDA) or a pass in UniPa's Italian language test; applicants requiring a visa must show this before final approval on Universitaly |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 Minimums for English-taught programmes: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE (General and Academic) 46, or equivalent B2 certificates. Applicants with a qualification from a programme taught entirely in English may be exempt. |
Deadlines
- English-taught bachelor's degrees: 1st call (UniPa portal) Non-binding Passed20 July 2026 (2026/27 cycle)
Applications opened 15 April 2026. Universitaly pre-enrolment then ran from May to 23 August 2026 for candidates who had started a UniPa application.
- Italian-taught free-access bachelor's degrees: 1st call (UniPa portal) Non-binding Passed20 July 2026 (2026/27 cycle)
Applications opened 15 April 2026; Universitaly pre-enrolment ran from May to 4 August 2026. Italian proficiency test dates were 30 July and 15 September.
- Enrolment and first fee payment Non-binding Passed30 September 2026 (2026/27 cycle)
Payment window opened 1 August 2026; late payment with a penalty fee accepted from 1 October to 31 December 2026.
UniPa has not yet published its 2027/28 calendar; the dates shown are from the 2026/27 cycle and are likely to be similar. Limited-number programmes have their own calls with course-specific deadlines. Pre-enrolment on Universitaly does not guarantee a visa appointment, so non-EU applicants should apply early.
How to apply
Register on the UniPa student portal and submit an enrolment application for your chosen degree with your passport, photo, diploma and language certificate. Non-EU applicants living abroad must also complete pre-enrolment for a study visa on the national Universitaly portal; for English-taught degrees this follows the course coordinator's positive evaluation. Final enrolment requires the legalised diploma with a Declaration of Value or CIMEA statement and payment of the first fee instalment. EU citizens and non-EU citizens legally resident in Italy follow a separate procedure without Universitaly.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary qualification that gives access to university in your home country, with a Declaration of Value or CIMEA statement.
- Proof of English at B2 for English-taught degrees, or Italian at B2 for Italian-taught degrees.
- For English-taught bachelor's degrees, a positive evaluation of your application by the course coordinator.
- For limited-number programmes, a place in the ranking from the local or national selection.
Tips for applying to UniPa
- 1 Start your UniPa portal application well before 20 July (2026/27 dates): Universitaly pre-enrolment for English-taught degrees was only open to candidates who had already applied on the UniPa portal.
- 2 Order your Declaration of Value or CIMEA statement early, because enrolment cannot be finalised without it.
- 3 Compare the two fee options for non-EU students: the fixed country-based fee (211 to 378 euros) or an income-based ISEE Parificato, which needs 2024 family income, bank statements and property documents.
- 4 If you want an Italian-taught degree and have no B2 certificate, plan for UniPa's Italian test (30 July or 15 September in 2026).
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Italian students with a university ISEE up to 25,000 euros pay only the 156-euro tax, and new students with a school-leaving grade of 95 or more get 25% to 50% off the first-year contribution. The regional agency ERSU Palermo awards income-based scholarships, free accommodation in its residences and merit awards through yearly calls open to international students. UniPa also offers 20 Just Peace scholarships for students from Palestine, Ukraine and other war-torn countries, and non-EU students can apply for Italian government (MAECI) scholarships.
- University ISEE up to 25,000 euros
- No tax area (Italian and EU students)
- 211, 267 or 378 euros a year
- Non-EU fixed fees by country list
- 25% to 50% off the contribution with a final grade of 95 or more
- First-year reduction for strong school grades
- 20 scholarships for students from Palestine, Ukraine and other war-torn countries
- Just Peace Scholarships
Academics
Economics and Finance (BSc, English-taught)
A free-access bachelor's taught in English with an Economics and Global Markets curriculum.
Economics and International Cooperation for Sustainable Development (BSc, English-taught)
English-taught bachelor's with a Development and International Cooperation curriculum.
Industrial and Information Engineering (BSc, English-taught)
An English-taught engineering bachelor's spanning two national degree classes (L-8 and L-9).
Medicine and Surgery, including MedIT
Single-cycle medicine offered in Palermo and Caltanissetta, with a technology-focused MedIT track, admitted through the national procedure.
Agriculture and water resources
Among UniPa's strongest subject rankings: QS Agriculture and Forestry 251-300 (2025) and ShanghaiRanking Water Resources 201-300.
Research
- The ATeN Center is a biotechnology research hub for human health, with shared laboratories focused on interdisciplinary work and technology transfer.
- The Department of Physics and Chemistry is named after Emilio Segrè, who taught at Palermo and later won the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physics.
- UniPa is a member of the FORTHEM European University Alliance with partners in eight other countries, offering funded mobility, joint labs and online courses.
Schools & faculties
- Department of Architecture
- Department of Engineering
- Department of Law
- Department of Economic, Business and Statistical Sciences
- Department of Physics and Chemistry - Emilio Segrè
- Department of Mathematics and Informatics
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences
- Department of Earth and Sea Sciences
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies
- Department of Political Sciences and International Relations
- Department of Humanities
- School of Medicine and Surgery
UniPa does not publish a single graduate employment figure on its English pages. In the Censis 2026/27 ranking of Italian 'mega' universities it was 7th overall, with its highest scores for communication (99) and scholarships (89).
Student life
UniPa's main campus is on Viale delle Scienze in Palermo, with the international students' office in Building 18. UniPa runs a free housing service that lists private rooms pre-visited by its staff, while ERSU Palermo allocates beds in its residences by a ranking based on income. Canteens near the departments serve daily menus, the university sports centre CUS Palermo offers athletics, football, rowing, water polo and more, and the Student Ambassador programme pairs newcomers with current students. International students are few, so learning some Italian makes daily life much easier.
- Student Ambassador programme answering questions about applications, fees and life in Palermo.
- CUS Palermo sports centre with athletics, football, swimming, basketball, water polo, volleyball, rowing and tennis.
- 18 libraries with 35 service points and a 'Biblioteca in tasca' app to book study seats.
- Free medical assistance for the university community through the AMU clinic with the Paolo Giaccone University Hospital.
- ITASTRA Italian language courses for international students, plus summer and winter schools.
Housing. UniPa has no guaranteed housing; ERSU Palermo allocates residence places by income-based ranking, and UniPa's housing service lists pre-visited private rooms.
Location
Palermo is Sicily's capital and largest city, a Mediterranean port known for its Arab-Norman monuments, street markets and historic centre, where the university's rectorate occupies the medieval Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri. The main campus is on Viale delle Scienze. UniPa also teaches in Agrigento, Caltanissetta and Trapani, so check where your degree is based before you apply.
Nearest airport: Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO)
Notable alumni
- GF Giovanni FalconeAnti-Mafia magistrate; studied law at Palermo
- PB Paolo BorsellinoAnti-Mafia magistrate; law degree with honours (1962)
- FC Francesco CrispiPrime Minister of Italy; law degree (1837)
- GM Gaetano MoscaPolitical scientist who developed elite theory; law degree (1881)
- RG Renato GuttusoPainter; studied at the University of Palermo
- LP Luigi PirandelloNobel Prize-winning playwright; enrolled in law and letters before moving to Rome (did not graduate at Palermo)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the University of Palermo cost for international students?
Non-EU students living abroad can pay a fixed fee of 211, 267 or 378 euros a year depending on their country of origin, or opt for an income-based fee with the ISEE Parificato. Italian and EU students pay 156 euros plus an ISEE-based contribution of up to 3,431 euros.
Does the University of Palermo teach bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes, a few: Economics and Finance, Economics and International Cooperation for Sustainable Development, Industrial and Information Engineering, and Nursing. All other bachelor's degrees are taught in Italian and require B2 Italian.
What IELTS score does the University of Palermo require?
IELTS Academic 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72 (or PTE 46) for English-taught programmes.
Do I need to use Universitaly to apply to Palermo?
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply on the UniPa portal and must also complete pre-enrolment on Universitaly to get a study visa. EU citizens and non-EU citizens legally resident in Italy do not use Universitaly.
When is the application deadline for the University of Palermo?
For 2026/27 the first call for bachelor's degrees ran from 15 April to 20 July 2026, with fees due by 30 September. 2027/28 dates have not been published yet but are likely to follow the same pattern.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Palermo: Unipa in national and international rankings
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- University of Palermo: About Palermo University
- University of Palermo: Discovering UniPa, International Student's Guide 2026/27 (PDF)
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