About the University of Pavia
A University with Over 650 Years of Knowledge
Founded in 1361, the University of Pavia (Università degli Studi di Pavia) is one of the oldest universities in the world and among the most prestigious in Italy.
Its long academic tradition is paired with a modern outlook, offering a dynamic research environment that attracts scholars from across the globe.
Pavia’s university community includes collegiate residences (a system inspired by Oxford and Cambridge), a vibrant student life, and a strong commitment to international collaboration.
Notable alumni include Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery, and Ugo Foscolo, one of Italy’s greatest poets — reflecting the blend of science and humanities that still defines Pavia today.
Nestled along the Ticino River, just 35 km south of Milan, Pavia is a small but historically rich city.
Once the capital of the Kingdom of the Lombards, Pavia boasts a remarkable architectural and cultural heritage: the Certosa di Pavia monastery, San Michele Maggiore, and its charming medieval streets and towers.
But Pavia is also a living, breathing university town. Its size makes it walkable, welcoming, and intellectually stimulating.
Pavia is home to a diverse ecosystem of research centers and institutions that make it one of Italy’s strongest hubs for higher education and biomedical research. It hosts the IUSS Pavia (Institute for Advanced Study): an interdisciplinary center offering graduate programs in cognitive science, neuroscience, linguistics, and more; the San Matteo Hospital and Research Foundation: a leading medical and clinical research center with international collaborations; and the Mondino Foundation (IRCCS Mondino Neurological Institute): a national reference center for neurological research and clinical neuroscience.