Address: Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Sicilia, Italy
Engineering, Architecture, Computer Science
Higher education in Palermo goes back to 1498, when a royal order established a general Studium in the city. In the sixteenth century the Jesuits ran a college in the city. After the Jesuits were expelled from Sicily in 1767, their former seat became a royal academy, and in 1779 the Reale Accademia degli Studi was founded. A royal act of 1806 raised it to the Reale Università degli Studi, with power to confer final degrees.
The Università degli Studi di Palermo, commonly known as UniPa, is a public university in the capital of Sicily. Teaching and research are organised in departments instead of the older faculties, and the Department of Engineering is one of them. The chemist Stanislao Cannizzaro (1826-1910) is among the best-known scientists connected with the university, and the astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi, a Theatine priest who founded the Palermo observatory, was also part of its academic history.
Its central offices are in Palazzo Steri, a historic building on Piazza Marina in the city centre. The Department of Engineering has its own campus buildings on Viale delle Scienze. Published figures for the number of students and degree courses change from year to year, so applicants should read the degree-course listings and the international student pages on the official site.
Domains taught:
Agriculture, AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Food Science, Geotechnics, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Marine Science, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology and Genetics, Physics, Process Control, Robotics, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
UNIMED, EUA. Collaborations with Mediterranean basin universities and local entities.
Research:
Renewable energy, Agrifood sciences, ICT for cultural heritage, Marine biology, Materials science.
Famous Alumnis:
Stanislao Cannizzaro, Sergio Mattarella
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2500
Current students***:
40000
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
200000
Pros
Largest university in Sicily, comprehensive course offerings, important cultural and research hub for the region.
Cons
Bureaucracy, facilities can be outdated in some departments, socio-economic challenges in the region.
Best For
Key comprehensive university in Sicily for engineering, sciences, and humanities.
Università degli Studi di Catania is a public university in Sicily with engineering, physics and computer science as main fields, the closest peer on the same island.
Università degli Studi di Messina is public and lists engineering, life sciences and chemical sciences, another Sicilian university with a similar spread of subjects.
Università degli Studi di Cagliari is a public island university covering engineering, computer science and environmental sciences.
Università degli Studi della Calabria is public with computer engineering, environmental engineering and materials science as main fields, a southern Italian technical alternative.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Leeds in the United Kingdom is a public university with engineering, business and medicine as main fields, a large comprehensive comparison.
University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom is public and lists engineering, business and pharmacy, giving a technology-leaning alternative.
Jagiellonian University in Poland is a public university with physics and astronomy, chemistry and computer science as main fields, an old comprehensive university.
Université Clermont Auvergne in France is public with physics and materials science and chemistry among its main fields.
Universität Bremen in Germany is a public university with marine and environmental sciences and materials science among main fields.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When did Palermo get its university?
A general Studium was authorised in 1498, a royal academy followed in 1779, and the institution became a full university by royal act in 1806. Wikipedia gives 1806 as the official foundation date.
What role did the Jesuits play?
In the sixteenth century the Jesuits ran a college in Palermo. When the Jesuits were expelled from Sicily in 1767, their building was used for a royal academy.
How is the university organised?
It works through departments, including engineering, which replaced the former faculty system. Each department coordinates teaching and research for its own degree courses.
Which well-known scientists belong to its history?
Stanislao Cannizzaro, remembered for his decisive contribution to modern atomic theory, is linked with Palermo, and the astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi founded the city's astronomical observatory. Their work is often cited in accounts of the university's scientific tradition.
Where is the university based?
The seat of the central administration is Palazzo Steri on Piazza Marina in Palermo, Sicily. The Department of Engineering is on the Viale delle Scienze campus.
How do I find degree courses and fees?
Degree courses, tuition and admission rules are listed on the university's website in Italian and, for international students, in English. Requirements differ by course, so each course page should be checked.
Agriculture, Architecture, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Innovation, Materials, Renewable Energy
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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