If you are looking at Italy for university, postgraduate study or research, the University of Trento is one of the institutions worth knowing about.
Over the years, UniTrento has achieved strong results in Italian rankings for research, internationalisation and student services. It is also one of the institutions that has helped shape Trentino’s development as a research and innovation ecosystem.
Founded in 1962 as a University Institute of Social Sciences, UniTrento has grown into a public university with a distinctive degree of autonomy while retaining some of the features that still define it today: a relatively compact scale, a strong international outlook and a clear focus on scientific research.
And the rankings help put that into perspective. In the 2026/2027 Censis ranking, the University of Trento placed third among Italy’s medium-sized public universities, with an overall score of 92.7 out of 110. For internationalisation, it achieved the maximum score of 110/110, placing it at the top nationally for this indicator.
A university integrated into Trento and Rovereto
The University’s facilities are mainly distributed across Trento and Rovereto, with departments and services integrated into the urban fabric rather than concentrated in a single isolated campus. Libraries, canteens, student residences and study spaces are therefore part of everyday city life, alongside cultural activities, public services and access to the surrounding landscape.
UniTrento today:
- 11 Departments
- 4 University Centres
- more than 70 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes
- 18 PhD programmes
- 5 Master’s programmes
- 7 postgraduate schools
- more than 18,000 students
- over 850 professors and researchers
Research with an international dimension
Research is one of the University of Trento’s core activities. Between 2020 and 2025, the University secured funding for:
- 405 European and international projects
- 644 national and regional projects
In 2025 alone, competitive research funding generated €47.8 million. The University takes part in international networks and works with companies, public institutions and research centres in Italy and abroad.
Digital services are also part of everyday university life. Tools such as UniTrentoApp give students quick access to information on classes, timetables, payments, libraries and other services.
Support throughout the student experience
Students can access dedicated services for tutoring, guidance, international mobility, psychological support and university sport.
The University also offers scholarships, degree awards, merit-based support and initiatives promoting inclusion and gender equality.
And the relationship with the labour market does not end at graduation. Career services, career days and established collaborations with companies and research organisations help students and graduates connect their studies with professional opportunities.
More than a university on its own
For an international student or researcher, one of Trento’s strengths is what surrounds the University.
UniTrento is part of a broader scientific ecosystem that includes organisations such as Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) and Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), alongside companies, innovation hubs and public research institutions.
All of this is concentrated within a relatively small Alpine province. That means studying or doing research here is not only about joining a university. It can also mean entering a network where academia, applied research, technology and industry are closely connected.
Studying here also means living here
Education and quality of life are part of the same decision, especially if you are moving from another country. Trento and Rovereto are relatively compact cities, while the wider province offers access to nature, public services and a very different pace from that of a large metropolitan area. Whether you are considering an undergraduate degree, a PhD, postgraduate study or a research position, UniTrento offers one way into a much wider Trentino ecosystem.
Want to explore more opportunities? Trentino for Talent can help you find:
- jobs and internships for highly skilled professionals;
- practical information on housing, study and career development;
- stories and resources for people considering moving to Trentino.
