University of Turin

The University of Turin is one of the most ancient and prestigious Italian Universities. Hosting about 70.000 students, 4.000 academic, administrative and technical staff, 1800 post-graduate and post-doctoral students and with 120 buildings in different areas in Turin and in key places in Piedmont, the University of Turin can be considered as “city-within-a-city”, promoting culture and producing research, innovation, training and employment.

The University of Turin is today one of the largest Italian Universities, open to international research and training. It carries out scientific research and organizes courses in all disciplines, except for Engineering and Architecture. It is an integral part of the community, acting for reviving urban and suburban areas, promoting cultural interaction, social integration and development, encouraging dialogue and insight into current realities.

The University of Torino was founded in 1404 by a papal Bull issued by Pope Benedict XIII. It then developed on the initiative of Prince Ludovico of Savoia-Acaja, who was willing to establish a University on his own land, at a crossroads between the Alps, Liguria and Lombardy.

The early decades were marked by interruptions caused by epidemics and crises that plagued the region; moreover there were difficult relationships between the University and the local administrative authorities, in fact between the 1420s and the 1430s Piedmont territories were annexed to the Duchy of Savoia. After a series of disruptions to its activities, the University was moved to Chieri (between 1427 and 1434) and later, in 1434, to Savigliano. In 1436, when the Institution returned to Torino, Ludovico of Savoia introduced a new order of studies, under which the Government gained greater control over the University.

The University of Turin virtually covers every field of knowledge; its Medical Diagnostic, Biosensoristics and Nanotechnologies research centers are amongst the best ones in Italy.

Some of the degree courses offered are unique in Italy, such as Military Strategy, Biotechnology, Sport Sciences, Restoration and Conservation (in Venaria). The University of Turin has a remarkable research tradition in traditional subjects such as history, philosophy, law, economics and medicine but it is currently branching out into important modern sectors, such as food science, social politics, IT, performing arts and communication sciences.