URome, Rectorate

Sapienza University of Rome is a public, autonomous and free university, involved in the development of society through research, higher level of education and international cooperation. Professor Luigi Frati is its Rector since November 2008. He has started a great innovation process envisaging full tax exemption for outstanding students, amelioration of the academic and administrative structures, and reorganisation of faculties and departments.

Sapienza was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII. With over 700 years of history, it is the first university in Rome and the largest in Europe: a city within a city, 145.000 students, over 4.500 professors, and almost 5.000 people working as administrative and technical staff. Over 30.000 out of the 145.000 enrolled students come from all around Italy, over 7.000 are regularly enrolled international students. Incoming and outgoing Erasmus students are about 2.000 per year. Sapienza is implementing ICT services for students, such as online enrolment, personal university e-mail address and wireless hotspots around the campus. It has 116 libraries and 21 museums as well as efficient student services such as Ciao (Information, welcoming and counselling centre), SoRT (Counselling and tutorship services) and assistance for disabled students, and a Welcome office for international students.

Sapienza has a wide academic offer including over 300 degree programmes and 250 one or two year professional courses. The complete academic offer for the academic year 2010-2011 is available, only in Italian, at the following internet address:
http://www.uniroma1.it/documenti/studenti/procedure/Man2011/Manifesto_2011.pdf .

There are also more than 150 PhD programmes available, which include almost all major fields of knowledge. Sapienza also has an academic offer in English, above all Master and professional courses. Details are available at: http://www.uniroma1.it/eng/AcademicProgrammes.php .

Sapienza plans and carries out as well important scientific research in almost all disciplines, achieving high-standard results both on a national and on an international level, thanks of the work of its 13 faculties, 67 departments, and 30 centres dedicated to scientific research as well as several laboratories spread in the main national scientific research centres. The first University in Rome is proud to have had many famous scholars among his students, such as the poet Giuseppe Ungaretti, and, within the field of Physics, the members of the so called ‘Via Panisperna Group’, including the scientists Enrico Fermi, Edoardo Amaldi and Emilio Segrè, who gave a crucial contribution, and left an important heritage in subjects like Quantum Physics, Physics of Disordered Systems and Astrophysics.

All major fields of knowledge are covered, from Classical Studies, History, Philosophy to Economics and Law, from Sociology to Psychology, from Communication Sciences to Medicine, Architecture, Engineering, Physics, ... Within Sapienza there is the Scientific Research Value and Innovation Office aimed at enhancing knowledge and expertise through technology transfer to private industry/enterprises, and fostering a dynamic and valuable exchange between technological research and practical applications. The SRVI Office promotes a variety of initiatives, from traditional research agreements and collaborations to the more developed licensing of patented technologies or high-tech spin-offs.

As far as the European Framework Programme is concerned, during its 6th edition (2001-2006), Sapienza carried out 121 projects for a total amount of 29.152.000,00 euros. In the 7th and current edition of the FP, scheduled from 2007 to 2013, Sapienza has been awarded 86 projects for a total amount of 47.140.000,00 euros so far.
Sapienza organises yearly a Research Day in order to illustrate the main outcomes achieved during the last years within the several scientific fields of action. An International Committee also selects the best recently issued research works, and the best researchers under 40 years age receive a money award.
Besides, Sapienza supports research programmes by offering opportunities also to international human resources. Thanks to a special initiative for visiting professors, many international researchers and academics periodically come to Sapienza, strengthening quality of education and research activities.

At present Sapienza manages more than 1.000 inter-institutional agreements for the LLP Erasmus project signed with more than 400 universities in all countries joining the programme. Every year there are more than 2.000 students moving from and to Sapienza. Academic staff mobility is increasing, too.

Apart from Erasmus mobility programme, Sapienza offers to international students several other opportunities to spend a study or research period in Rome.
•    LLP Erasmus placement
•    Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Windows
•    Erasmus Mundus Master Courses
•    Interuniversity Bilateral Agreements - Additional Protocols for students’ mobility

Exchange students, guests of Sapienza, can enjoy a wide range of services such as counselling and tutoring services (SOrT), info and reception(Ciao and Welcome office), helpdesk for people with disabilities, cafeterias, libraries, sporting facilities, cultural centres (concerts and choir associations, museum, laboratories, etc.), religious centres (University Chapel), technological facilities (wireless network for free wireless connection, pc workstations, internet connections, digital libraries), psychological counselling. Inside the Campus it is also possible to find bank and postal services. For additional information concerning students dormitories (http://www.laziodisu.it/default.asp?id=534), students can download the Sapienza Exchange Students’ Guide at the following address:
http://www.uniroma1.it/documenti/eng/internazionale/InternationalExchangeGuide.pdf .

For international students that join a whole degree or Master course at Sapienza there is an International Students’ Guide, available at the following address:
http://www.uniroma1.it/documenti/eng/internazionale/InternationalStudentGuide.pdf .

The two guides deal with all procedures concerning pre- and post-arrival of international students in Rome: visa, permit of stay, tax identification code (fiscal code), information about life in Rome, how to find accommodation, how and where to open a bank account. The Exchange Students’ Guide also focuses on academic programmes while the International Students’ Guide mainly refers to tuition fees and available scholarships.
During the year the university organises events for students, such as cinema, concerts, counselling days, international meetings. Each Thursday the Press and Communication Office of Sapienza disseminates a weekly newsletter dealing with all events organised by the university for the next-coming week

Over the years Sapienza promoted an increasing number of agreements and regional programmes of international university cooperation throughout the world as well as various initiatives aiming at a qualitative improvement of its own teaching and scientific heritage by means of initiatives called “La Sapienza Days” supported by a clear strategy of welcoming foreign representatives. Cultural heritage through archaeological missions in the Mediterranean area, professional masters in humanitarian affairs, initiatives with UNESCO to enhance students mobility, inter-university cooperation in the Balkans, cooperation programmes and networks with Latin America, double degrees, support and development of particular areas such as the Galapagos Islands, contacts and agreements with universities all over the world, Sapienza Millennium University, institutional presence of the rector in the co-ordination of the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - General Directorate of Development Cooperation, special projects carried out in Africa in the medical field: these are only a few examples of the cooperation activity of Sapienza across the last decade.

Rome, also known as the ‘Eternal City’, is not just the capital of Italy but has been a city of crucial importance throughout the world since ancient times. Its history dates back to nearly 2,800 years ago; Rome has been the seat of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire, the Papal States, the Kingdom of Italy and the Italian Republic. Since the 1st century AD Rome has been the centre of Catholic Christianity. Thanks to its history, Rome is a unique capital that has a great abundance of various styles coming from different ages: from Roman to Medieval architecture, from Renaissance perfection to Baroque splendour. There is therefore a wide variety of historic sites, monuments, churches, museums, art galleries, ancient palaces, fountains, gardens and villas, and many other places of interest. The historical centre of Rome and the properties of the Holy See in Rome have got extraterritorial rights, and the properties and monuments within the walls of Urban VIII have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The significant presence of ancient temples, synagogues, churches and shrines makes Rome one of the best cities to experiment the variety of religious traditions together with their art masterpieces.

Rome is a comfortable place to live because of a mild Mediterranean climate, the hospitality of Roman people and the cultural offer which includes theatres, cinemas, concerts.

Contact details for MULTIC

Direct link to University of Rome La Sapienza.