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What are university rankings and how do they work?
University rankings evaluate and compare the best universities worldwide. They consider a wide range of indicators, including research quality, learning environment, gender equality, services supporting wellbeing and inclusion, international outlook, and commitment to environmental and social sustainability.
The University of Siena among the World’s Best Universities
The University of Siena is a medium-sized institution and one of the oldest universities in the world. It is consistently featured in all major international rankings that evaluate universities able to operate and compete at high international standards in both research and teaching.
In every ranking, the University of Siena scores above the average and competes effectively alongside much larger institutions known for excellence in education and research.
The University of Siena is ranked 607th in the world. This year, it confirmed its upward trend, gaining about 80 positions compared to the previous edition—well above the average among the 1,500 universities evaluated by QS.
At the national level, it ranks among the top universities in Italy, placing 18th out of 43 best Italian institutions included in the QS ranking.
What strengths does QS highlight in the 2026 edition?
- High-quality, impactful research: Siena ranks 288th worldwide for the number of research citations.
- A supportive learning environment: The University stands out for its excellent student-to-faculty ratio, ranking 8th in Italy, allowing for more personalized attention and academic support.
- A welcoming and international setting: Siena ranks 9th nationally for its strong international environment, attracting students from over 100 countries and fostering a multicultural, dynamic atmosphere.
- Academic reputation: Scholars around the world recognize the quality of Siena’s research.
- Employer reputation: Graduates are seen as well-prepared for the job market, thanks to the university’s strong academic programs.
- Sustainability commitment: Ranked 433rd globally, Siena is recognized for its efforts in environmental and social sustainability, not only in research but also in teaching and everyday practice
The University of Siena has achieved a positive and improving result in this ranking for the third consecutive year, moving up to position 262 (+17 compared to 2025) out of 958 universities evaluated in Europe.
In Italy, the University of Siena ranks 18th out of 64 universities included in the ranking.
The positive result is mainly driven by academic reputation, the number of publications per faculty member, and actions and research in the field of environmental and social sustainability.
Once again, the University of Siena confirms its strong performance in terms of incoming and outgoing student mobility, ranking 2nd and 3rd in Italy respectively (38th and 22nd in Europe). This highlights the many opportunities the University offers enrolled students to undertake a study experience abroad, as well as the opportunities it provides international students to study in Siena.
For the most heavily weighted indicator in the ranking, academic reputation (30%), the University of Siena gains 18 positions in Europe this year, rising from 241st to 223rd. For the number of publications per faculty member, it moves up to 45th place, gaining 9 positions. In terms of sustainability, it reaches 179th place, climbing 21 positions.
The University of Siena also improves its performance compared to last year across other indicators, positioning itself in both Europe and Italy among the universities with the highest standards in teaching and research.
Outgoing exchange students
- 22nd in Europe
- 3rd in Italy
Incoming exchange students
- 22nd in Europe
- 2nd in Italy
Publications per faculty member
- 45th in Europe
- 10th in Italy
The University of Siena continues its commitment to sustainability and rises to 392nd place in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026.
It climbs 44 positions compared to the previous edition of this ranking, which evaluates 1,994 universities worldwide.
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability takes into account:
- the impact of research in the field of environmental and social sustainability
- the educational offerings on these topics
- the attention given to the well-being and health of students and the entire university community
- equality and inclusion policies
- the opportunities offered to students and graduates
- governance strategies
- Subject rankings for the University of Siena:
- Classics & Ancient History: 51–150
- Archaeology: 101–150
- Pharmacy & Pharmacology: 251–300
- Biological Sciences: 501–550
- Medicine: 451–500
- Economics & Econometrics: 501–550
Broader subject areas:
- Arts & Humanities: 501–550
- Life Sciences & Medicine: 501–550
QS evaluates each subject based on academic and employer reputation, publication impact, international engagement, and the university’s ability to attract global students and collaborate with international institutions.
The University of Siena confirms its position in the 351–400 band out of 2,191 universities worldwide, placing 13th out of 54 universities surveyed in Italy.
This result reflects strong performance in the five pillars evaluated by THE:
- Quality and opportunities in teaching and academic programs
- Research output, funding, and reputation
- Research excellence and influence
- Industry collaborations and technology transfer
- International outlook (staff, students, partnerships)
Teaching quality and research are the main strengths of the University, allowing it to stand out internationally and nationally.
The University of Siena ranked between 351st and 400th out of 2,191 universities considered in the global ranking, and confirms last year’s results in the following disciplines:
- Arts & Humanities: 251–300
- Law: 201–250
- Medical and Health: 301-400
- Business & Economics: 401–500
- Physical Sciences: 501-600
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking – Academic Ranking of World Universities) only lists the top 1,000 universities worldwide, selected from a pool of 2,500 high-level institutions.
In the 2025 edition, the University of Siena ranks in the 601–700 range globally.
This ranking measures the global impact of universities based on scientific publications. It relies on independently collected data from official sources, government agencies, and research databases. Criteria include the number of articles published in top journals, Nobel Prizes awarded to current or former faculty, and Fields Medals awarded in mathematics.
The Global Ranking of Academic Subjects by Shanghai Ranking is a subject-based ranking. It evaluates the fields of natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences, and social sciences.
The main parameters on which this ranking is based include the presence of internationally recognized faculty, strong research performance, high-quality research, the impact of research outcomes, and the ability to work through international collaborations.
In the 2025 edition, nine disciplines of the University of Siena are included in the ranking:
- Dentistry & Oral Sciences: 101–150
- Human Biological Sciences: 201–300
- Medical Technology: 201–300
- Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences: 201–300
- Political Sciences: 201–300
- Physics: 301–400
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering: 401–500
- Clinical Medicine: 401–500
- Economics: 401–500
The University of Siena climbs onto the podium for medium-sized universities, according to the ranking of Italian universities compiled by Censis: with 89.7 points, it ranks 1st among Tuscan universities and reaches 3rd place among medium-sized Italian universities, meaning those with between 10,000 and 20,000 students (after Trento and the tie between Udine and Politecnica Marche), advancing two positions.
Among state universities, the University of Siena obtains, with 91 points, 2nd place for Services among medium-sized institutions. This category also considers accommodation places and contributions, the number of meals provided, and the number of enrolled students residing outside the region.
The Structures score is also at the highest levels within the group, with 101 points, the University achieves 3rd place. This value takes into account available places in classrooms, libraries, scientific laboratories, and computer labs.
The excellent performance for the Internationalization score is confirmed, rising to 90 points, which maintains Siena in 3rd place in this category. This value considers the offering of courses in English and also takes into account foreign students who have spent a study period at the University of Siena, enrolled foreign students, and students who have spent a period abroad for study or an internship.