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23 Best Arts, Design & Architecture Universities in Italy

Politecnico di Milano leads the 23 Arts, Design & Architecture universities in Italy at #87 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Next come Sapienza University of Rome (QS World #128) and University of Roma "La Sapienza" (QS World #128). The universities on this list offer 74 matching courses between them.

23 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1Best overall
PO Politecnico di Milano logo
QS World #87 #1 in Italy Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Politecnico di Milano

Public University · 6 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture

All 6 courses →
EUR 3,500 – EUR 4,500/yrTuition (indicative)
1863Founded
48,000Students
9,000International
Admissions open
#87 QS World University Rankings 2027
#1 in Italy
2Top pick
SA Sapienza University of Rome logo
QS World #128 #3 in Italy Rome, Lazio, Italy
#128 QS World University Rankings 2026
#3 in Italy
3Top pick
UR University of Roma "La Sapienza" logo
QS World #128 #4 in Italy Italy
#128 QS World University Rankings 2026
#4 in Italy
6Ranked
UG University of Genoa logo
QS World #547 #19 in Italy Italy
#547 QS World University Rankings 2025
#19 in Italy
17Ranked
UI University Institute of Modern Languages logo
#66 in Italy Italy
#66 in Italy · by research impact
57,760 citations · h-index 110
20Ranked
UI University Institute of Teacher Training "Suor Orsola Benincasa" logo
#73 in Italy Italy
#73 in Italy · by research impact
13,986 citations · h-index 56
21Ranked
JC John Cabot University logo
#74 in Italy Italy
#74 in Italy · by research impact
13,702 citations · h-index 54

How these universities are ranked

7 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #87 (Politecnico di Milano) to #580 (Polytechnic Institute of Bari); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Sapienza University of Rome is cited most (21,051,911 citations). 2 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

23 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, Lombardy (1), Lazio (1) and Emilia-Romagna (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of Bologna, founded in 1088. Sapienza University of Rome is the largest, with 112,000 students.

Inside the course list

By level: 40 bachelor's, 32 master's and 1 professional. The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 97% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (97% of courses with a stated intake). University of Roma "La Sapienza" offers the widest choice, with 10 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 4 of these universities. Sapienza University of Rome is the least expensive at USD 3,000 a year and Politecnico di Milano the most at USD 4,200; the middle of the range is about USD 3,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Italy for Arts, Design & Architecture?

Politecnico di Milano (QS World #87), Sapienza University of Rome (QS World #128) and University of Roma "La Sapienza" (QS World #128) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Arts, Design & Architecture in Italy?

Of those with published fees, Sapienza University of Rome is the least expensive at about USD 3,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Arts, Design & Architecture in Italy?

23 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does an Arts, Design & Architecture course take in Italy?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.

When do Arts, Design & Architecture courses start in Italy?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Which university has the most Arts, Design & Architecture courses in Italy?

University of Roma "La Sapienza", with 10, ahead of University of Genoa (7).

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