The University of Siena (Università di Siena in italian) which was founded in 1240 under the name of “Stadium Senese” is known as one of the oldest universities in Europe. The University of Siena is the first Italian publicly funded university located in Siena, where also the first bank in the world was founded. Due to its historical and unique features that makes it unique and more attractive for foreign tourists, Siena has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
Today, around 20,000 enrolled students make up almost half of the population of the city. The University of Siena is especially known for its achievements in the fields of Law, Medicine and Economics.
The University of Siena has 15 faculties, 32 undergraduate programs, 29 master’s programs, 24 doctoral programs, 11 dual degree programs, 729 research and teaching staff and 997 technical and administrative staff. It also attracts the attention of students in many fields with its Internet access, educational scholarships and agreements with numerous Italian companies.
Notable alumni of the University of Siena include Pietro Ispano, Pope John XXI, Cino da Pistoia, Antonio de Venafro, Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, Pope Julius III, Francesco Accarigi, Piero Calamandrei, Richard M. Goodwin, Norberto Bobbio, Frank Hahn, Jean Blondel, Samuel Bowles, Antonio Tabucchi, Paul Ginsborg and Yusuf Garaad Omar.
Where is the University of Siena Located?
The University of Siena is located in the city of Siena in the Tuscany region and is considered one of the oldest universities in Europe and Italy. The city is located in the central part of Italy, about 70 km from Florence.
The University of Siena is one of the oldest universities, founded in the 13th century and both the facilities of the university and the city structure are historical and cultural monuments.
You can also take a look at our article “Cities to Visit in Italy” on the subject.
Student Life in Siena | University of Siena
The University of Siena is a student-friendly educational institution in terms of its facilities. The university offers many summer schools and courses related to Italian culture and society to help students develop and familiarize themselves with Italy.
There are reading rooms in almost every faculty and dormitory and plenty of libraries. Every institution and place is within walking distance of each other, which makes many things easier. This includes the dining halls. There are also opportunities for those who want to participate in student exchange programs, such as the dual degree program or Erasmus.
You can also check our articles about “Erasmus Study in Italy” and “Summer Schools in Italy“.
Life in Siena
Siena is important enough to be a World Heritage Site and historic enough to be included in the World Heritage List. What makes Siena so attractive is the preservation of Renaissance artifacts and the atmosphere of that period all around the city. At the same time, students studying in this city discover Italian cuisine and witness the Palio, a horse racing event that has been held in the city for centuries.
Winters in Siena are cold but snowfall is almost does not exist. In summer it is quite hot but not humid and sweltering like other Mediterranean cities. If you want to do sports and exercise, you can go to Fortezza park, and if you are interested in culture and art, you can find activities for you.
Palio Event
What makes Siena so appealing is that it keeps its charming Renaissance atmosphere and structure, has some of the most authentic and high quality Italian cuisine and wines and perhaps most importantly, it is home to the Palio.
To briefly explain the Palio, we can say that it is a kind of horse race with a centuries-old tradition.
This big and exciting event is held twice every summer in Piazza del Campo, the main square of the city, where jockeys representing the Contradas (neighborhoods) of the city compete and make great profits both for the city and for themselves.
This event, which is almost as important as life itself for the people of Siena, is really worth seeing and will add a different perspective to your life.
World Ranking of the University of Siena
The University of Siena is a world-ranked educational institution. According to THE Times Higher Education (THE) 2020-21 data, it is among the top 500 universities worldwide. It is in the list of the 150 most important universities in the field of Archaeology. It is also ranked between 51 and 75 according to THE European Teaching Rankings 2019 data. In accordance with the CWUR 2020-21 ranking, it is 460th in the list.
You can also check our article about “Italian Universities in the Top 500“.
University of Siena Facilities
The University of Siena has an ideal environment for those who want to focus on their studies. Almost every faculty and dormitory has reading rooms and plenty of libraries. The fact that every institution and place is within walking distance of each other makes things easier. This includes dining halls. If you win the DSU scholarship (dormitory-dining hall and the institution responsible for the scholarship in Tuscany), you can enjoy free lunch and dinner, and of course other privileges.
It is also possible to work part-time in the library or in the international relations office at the university.
Another point that we do not want to go unnoticed is that the international relations office has genuinely helpful, friendly and friendly staff. Furthermore, the University of Siena cooperates with many European and non-European universities and institutions. We recommend that students who want to participate in student exchange programs with a dual degree program or Erasmus methods should follow up.
The University of Siena’s Place in the World Rankings
University of Siena is a world-ranked educational institution. According to THE Times Higher Education (THE) 2020-21 data, it is among the top 500 universities worldwide. It is among the 150 most important universities in the field of Archeology. In addition, it is shown between 51-75 according to THE European Teaching Rankings 2019 data. It is shown in the 460th place according to the CWUR 2020-21 ranking.
Additionally, you can review our article “Top 500 Italian Universities” .
Departments of University of Siena
The undergraduate programs at the University of Siena last 3 years.
Undergraduate Programs taught in English
- Economics and Banking
- Economics and Business
5-6 Year Undergraduate Programs
You can study dentistry that is taught in English in Italy by virtue of the Department of Dentistry, which is only available at the University of Siena.
Undergraduate Programs taught in Italian
- Law
- Cultural Heritage, Education, Literature, Languages, History and Philosophy
- Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics
- Medicine and Surgery
- Environmental Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Geology
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology
- Pharmacy
- Physics, Engineering, Mathematics
Master’s Programs taught in English
- Economics
- Finance
- International Studies
- Accounting and management
- Public and Cultural Diplomacy,
- Language and Mind. Linguistics and Cognitive Studies
- Computer and Automation Engineering
- Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Applied Mathematics
- Engineering Management
- Medical Biotechnologies
- Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics
- Biology
- Chemistry
Additionally, don’t forget to check out our articles about “University Education in Italy (Bachelor’s Degree)” and “Postgraduate Education“!
Tuition Fees and Scholarship Opportunities | University of Siena
Tuition fees at the University of Siena that located in the center of Tuscany, vary, in the range between 600 and 2300 euros per year. Criteria such as the student’s country of origin and family income might effect the amount of tuition fees.
Simultaneously, Italy is among the most affordable countries to study abroad as it is a very advantageous in terms of scholarship opportunities. Thanks to these scholarships provided by the Italian government to international students, students can easily cover their living costs and education expenses.
Accommodation Fees at the University of Siena
There is no housing facilities allocated for students at the University of Siena, but there are different accommodation options for students, such as private rooms and dormitories all around the city. There are 11 university houses in Siena, some of them are located in the city center and the rest are a little bit out of the city. Dormitory prices vary between 200 and 400 euros per month.
You can also check our article about “Accommodation in Italy” .
What are the Application and Admission Requirements at Siena University?
Undergraduate degree program requirements
- Completion of the 12 years of education
- Having exceeded the minimum score in the university entrance exam
- B2 level language proficiency on IELTS or TOEFL exams is required for programs taught in English
- Programs taught in Italian also require a B2 level language qualification (CELI and CILS exams)
- To complete student visa, passport issuance and other consular procedures
Postgraduate and Master’s Programs requirements
- To have completed any undergraduate degree program
- B2 language proficiency is required for programs taught in English or in Italian
- Master’s or doctoral (PhD) programs must be compatible with the obtained undergraduate program
- Meeting the prerequisites of programs having prerequisites
- All other necessary paperwork such as student visa, passport and translation of bachelor’s degree certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Siena public or private?
The University of Siena is a public university. Today, it is one of the oldest and 89 public universities in Italy. There are departments from various different fields at the university.
Does the University of Siena teach in English
The University of Siena offers many undergraduate, graduate and master’s programs taught in English. These include business, economics, medicine, dentistry, political science, law, computer science and humanities such as physics and chemistry.
What are the accommodation options at the University of Siena?
Students who will study at Università di Siena can benefit from private or public dormitories close to the educational institution. Students who cannot benefit from dormitory facilities will be able to consider low-cost options such as room rental and shared apartment rental which are widely preferred in Italy.
What are the social activities at the University of Siena?
The University of Siena organizes many social events for students. These include sports tournaments, cultural excursions, music events and social clubs. There are also language courses for international students in order to help them learn Italian.
How much the tuition fees at the University of Siena cost?
Fees at the University of Siena are paid annually and the amount range from 600 to 2300 euros on average. The tuition fees at the university vary according to family income and the preferred program.
What are the internship and job opportunities at the University of Siena?
The University of Siena offers students various internships and job opportunities. Students can contact with many companies and organizations on and off the campus. Simultaneously, during the study period, students will be able to work part-time in Italy.
How much does it cost to live in Siena?
Living costs in Siena are slightly higher compared to other cities of Italy, with average monthly living costs in the range of 800 to 1000 euros. On the other hand if we consider affordable accommodation options as student dormitories and room rentals, living costs for students can be much lower than this amounts.
