University of Siena

Established in 1240, the Università degli Studi di Siena is one of Italy’s oldest, and the first to be publicly funded.It has grown from a small medieval studium to a modern university hosting about 15,500-16,000 students.Its academic strengths lie especially in law, medicine & surgery, economics & management, and humanities and natural sciences.The university offers a wide range of courses (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral) across many departments (e.g. political science; medicine; mathematics, physics & natural sciences; pharmacy; engineering; arts & humanities).Siena is known for its rigorous research output, strong academic reputation especially in legal and medical fields, and attracting both Italian and international students. Its facilities include a university hospital (Policlinico Le Scotte), botanical garden, libraries, etc.Life in Siena for students is rich in cultural heritage—Siena itself is a historic city, with art, architecture, local culture providing a stimulating setting outside academic life.