Who we are

150+ years of history / 23,000+ students / 27,000+ alumni

We are a public university, founded on 6 August 1868 as Scuola Superiore di Commercio. We have reached a high national and international standing with the quality of our research and teaching, which reaches across countries and disciplines. Our university community includes over 23.000 students and 1.400 faculty and staff from all over the world. The main campus is in a large Gothic palace in the heart of Venice, overlooking the Grand Canal, and other venues are spread across the historic centre of Venice, plus Mestre and Treviso. We are part of EUTOPIA, an alliance of ten European universities, and our Alumni community counts 80.000 contacts worldwide.

History

The history of Ca' Foscari spans over more than one hundred and fifty years. Our University was founded in Venice 1868 and was the first Business School in Italy and the second in Europe. The study of languages and that of diplomatic sciences mingled here, laying the foundations of a forward-looking institution.

Rector’s page

Tiziana Lippiello, a sinologist, is Ca’ Foscari’s Rector since 1 October 2020.
She is also a member of the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) and president of Eutopia.

Rankings

In the QS World University Rankings, we are in the top 3% of the world's higher education institutions. In the QS European Ranking we are the fourth university in Europe and the first in Italy for outgoing student mobility.

Eutopia

We are part of EUTOPIA, one of the first university alliances funded by the European Universities Initiative programme. Established in 2019, the network aims to improve the competitiveness of European universities internationally and help strengthen European identity.

AlmaLaurea [ITA]

Employment rates are above average: one year after graduating from Ca' Foscari, 78,6% of graduates are employed (Italian average 77,1%). Five years after graduation, employment is 89,8% (national average 88,7%).

Ca' Foscari Alumni [ITA]

Our worldwide association of graduates has a network of over 27.000 members and 80.000 contacts in 90 countries. Ca' Foscari Alumni creates a network of people and skills, promoting initiatives aimed at innovation and discovery.

Enjoy Ca' Foscari

We are in the heart of Venice, a universally renowned capital of art and a Unesco world heritage site. The city and its lagoon are an international crossroads of cultures, an open-air research laboratory for the development of humanities, environmental sciences and cultural heritage. From here we open ourselves to the world, cultivating an international academic community.

Figures

People

  • + 27.000 alumni
  • + 23.000 students
  • + 1.500 international students per year
  • + 7.000 newly enrolled students
  • + 5.000 graduates per year
  • + 1.400 faculty, researchers, staff
  • + 100 visiting professors 

Organisation

  • 8 Departments
  • 3 Schools
  • 6 Libraries
  • 1 International college
  • 1 Language centre
  • 1 Theatre
  • 1 Sports centre

Opportunities

  • + 500 student mobility agreements
  • +13.000 internship agreements
  • +370 international research projects
  • +30 double or joint degrees

Our mission

Global community / innovation / inclusion

Excellence in research and education is key to address global challenges and make an impact across disciplines. We promote a comprehensive study experience: teaching is geared to research and aware of the needs of stakeholders, student life is engaging and rewarding. We attract and support a diverse and international community of people who study, teach and do research in the heart of a unique city. As an institution we are transparent and accountable, and promote an open and inclusive learning and working environment.

Excellence in research

1000+ researchers / top 10 for "Marie-Curie" / 4 Departments of excellence

We contribute to scientific progress through excellent research that addresses global challenges and has an impact across disciplines. We promote frontier research with the active application of the hard sciences and digital sciences to the centuries-old tradition rooted in the social sciences, humanities and economics. We are among the top institutions in Europe for number of Marie Curie fellowships funded by the EU, and first in Italy for European Research Council (ERC) funding. For the quality of their scientific projects, four departments have been acknowledged by MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research) as "Departments of Excellence".

Innovative and interdisciplinary education

27 Double or joint degrees / 40+ languages / 37 Master’s programmes

We put our best human and technological resources into innovative and interdisciplinary study programmes in various fields, and we make sure they are always open to the world. The university curriculum is enriched by innovative teaching courses, activities and workshops, so as to offer an education in line with the highest European standards. We support our community in all aspects and stages of their university career. We offer welcome, orientation and career services to promote inclusion and wellbeing, and support our graduates entering the world of work. An extensive international network facilitates our participation in international education and research programmes, and we encourage foreign exchanges of all members of our community: students, faculty, and staff.

Research and education as public and social engagement

500.000+ people involved per year / 300+ events / 16 spin-offs

Ca’ Foscari organises many Public engagement activities. The aim is to enhance and promote academic research by investing in open and accessible education and in technology and knowledge transfer, and to open up to society at large, sharing activities and resources. We have established ourselves over the years as a scientific point of reference, an agent for innovation and social progress in the Venice area and in the Veneto region. We promote knowledge transfer by networking with companies and organisations, by setting up training and professional opportunities, and by organising public events.

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Last update: 27/02/2024