Overview
The University of Cagliari is the larger of Sardinia’s two universities and the island’s main academic centre. It is a comprehensive state university with engineering, architecture, medicine, pharmacy, biology, environmental sciences, economics, law, humanities and languages, and it has a particular profile in marine and environmental research, drawing on Sardinia’s coast and ecosystems. The university hospital and biomedical departments are on a dedicated campus in Monserrato, just outside the city.
Teaching is mainly in Italian, with a small number of English-taught master’s degrees in fields such as engineering, economics and sciences. International students should plan to learn Italian, and the university runs language courses to help them. The international office provides admissions guidance for non-EU students, help with residence permits and support with fee calculation based on income documents.
Cagliari is one of the most relaxed and safe cities in Italy. It has a historic hilltop district, a long city beach at Poetto, a mild climate and a cost of living well below the mainland’s big cities. The trade-off is isolation: Sardinia is an island, flights and ferries are the only way off, and the job market is smaller than in the north. Students who want a quiet, sunny base and a strong sense of place tend to be very happy here.
Who it suits
Cagliari suits students who can study in Italian and want a safe, affordable, seaside city, particularly in engineering, medicine, biology, environmental science and economics. It fits applicants who are comfortable with island life and a slower pace, and who are not relying on a large local job market after graduation.
What to check before applying
- Check whether your programme has an English-taught option; most do not.
- Verify the Italian certificate level required for your course.
- Confirm whether your programme is in the city or at the Monserrato campus.
- Apply to ERSU Cagliari for residence places and grants when the call opens.
- Factor flight costs and connections into your budget, as the island is only reachable by air or sea.