University of Cagliari

What University of Cagliari does

The University of Cagliari (Università degli Studi di Cagliari) is a public Italian research university operating under the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), headquartered at Via Università 40, Cagliari, Sardinia. Founded in its modern form in 1764 under Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy, it offers 57 undergraduate degree programs, 43 master's programs, 13 university master's, 40+ specialization schools, and 19 doctoral programs across faculties including Biology and Pharmacy, Engineering and Architecture, Medicine and Surgery, Sciences, Economics and Law, and Humanities. The institution serves prospective students from Sardinia, mainland Italy, and internationally, with active recruitment through national competitive examinations, orientation programs (Researchers@School), and international mobility channels via the EDUC Alliance and Erasmus+.

Its core technology infrastructure comprises the UNICAmente wireless network (IEEE 802.1x/Radius/LDAP authentication) covering Cagliari and Monserrato campuses, the Esse3 PA student information system (managed by Cineca), Moodle e-learning, Microsoft Teams and Adobe Connect for remote teaching, and specialized research systems including IRIS for research management and Titulus for document management. Research outputs include a blockchain-based carbon credit certification architecture developed with the Universities of Camerino and Palermo using Hyperledger Fabric, and the SARCOS recycled concrete slab technology co-developed with Politecnico di Milano. The university manages 14 museums and collections through CIMCAS, containing 40,000+ archaeological finds, 65,000+ botanical specimens, 20,000+ paleontological findings, 12,000+ historical archive units dating to 1764, and the 5-hectare Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus (Botanical Garden).

Its revenue model is fundamentally that of a publicly funded institution: primary inflows arrive via MUR allocations, regional Sardinian government funding, and competitive grants from Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza), supplemented by income-based tuition fees, research contracts and consultancy with regional businesses, and modest ancillary revenue from Botanical Garden admissions (EUR 2-10 tickets, EUR 20-60 subscriptions), museum public access, and donor campaigns (5x1000). The institution operates as the legal entity Università degli Studi di Cagliari under Rector Francesco Mola, with no private equity, venture capital, or external corporate ownership.

Name

University of Cagliari

Legal name

Università degli Studi di Cagliari

Website

https://unica.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1764

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The University of Cagliari (Università degli Studi di Cagliari) is a public Italian research university under the MUR, serving undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in Sardinia and internationally, while funding research through government grants, tuition, and a network of 14 museums and a 5-hectare Botanical Garden.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• University research services
• Doctoral and graduate studies
• Museum and botanical collections
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cagliari

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Government Grants: As a public Italian university, the University of Cagliari receives primary funding from the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), regional government (Regione Sardegna), and European funding programs including Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza).
2. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from student tuition fees for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, including fees for master programs, specialization schools, and continuing education courses.
3. Botanical Garden Admission and Memberships: The Botanical Garden (Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus) generates revenue through admission fees (4 EUR full, 2 EUR reduced), guided tour packages (6-10 EUR), monthly subscriptions (20 EUR), annual subscriptions (60 EUR), family passes (40-120 EUR), and supporter/member cards (200-400 EUR).
4. Research Services and Consultancy: The university generates revenue through research contracts, consultancy services to businesses and institutions, and collaborative research projects with industry partners. The university participates in funded research programs and provides research services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The University of Cagliari delivers accredited higher education through undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and specialization programs across sciences, humanities, engineering, medicine, economics, and law, alongside publicly accessible museum and botanical collections and funded research output. Revenue is generated primarily through public grants, student tuition, and paid access to cultural facilities, with research contracts and consultancy supporting business and regional-government partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• University Education Programs (Undergraduate, Master's, Doctoral, Specialization) Accredited higher education programs offered across six faculties: Biology and Pharmacy, Engineering and Architecture, Medicine and Surgery, Sciences, Economics and Law, and Humanities. Catalog includes 57 undergraduate degrees and single-cycle master's, 43 master's degrees, 13 university master's, 40+ specialization schools, and 19 doctoral programs, available to Italian and international students.
• Botanical Garden (Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus - HBK) Public Access Approximately 5-hectare botanical garden open to the public in Cagliari's Palabanda Valley on an archaeological site, featuring the Biodiversity Rocks section, Gymnospermae sector, and Roman cisterns. Offerings include paid admissions (4 EUR full / 2 EUR reduced), guided-tour bundles (6-10 EUR), monthly and annual subscriptions (20-60 EUR), family passes (40-120 EUR), and supporter and "Friend of the Garden" memberships (200-400 EUR).
• University Museums and Collections (CIMCAS) Fourteen museum and archive collections managed by CIMCAS, including the Historical Archive (over 12,000 document units, 1764-1946), Clemente Susini anatomical wax collection, Physics Museum, Zoology Museum, Herbarium Museum (over 65,000 plant specimens), MUACC contemporary art museum, and geological, mineralogy, and anthropological collections. Publicly accessible with guided tours and educational workshops, some by reservation.
• European Researchers' Night (SHARPER) Annual public engagement event held on the last Friday of September, organized by the SHARPER consortium of 14 Italian universities led by UniCa and funded by the European Commission's Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. Features talks, workshops, laboratory visits, and interactive activities connecting researchers with the public across Cagliari.

Quantifiable outcome

• 125 adults studied for longevity research identifying openness as a distinguishing personality trait in Blue Zone residents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Politecnico di MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on SARCOS (Steel And Recycled Concrete Slab) project developing composite construction slabs using recycled demolition debris. Italian researchers from both universities developed technology demonstrating structural performance with 100% recycled concrete content.
• University of CamerinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of blockchain-based software architecture for carbon credit certification. Scientists from both universities collaborated with University of Palermo to create system integrating IoT data with Hyperledger Fabric blockchain.
• University of PalermocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in blockchain carbon credit certification project combining expertise from three Italian universities to develop architecture aligning with European legislation.
• EDUC AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean University Convocation project bringing together multiple universities for student exchange, joint programs, and collaborative research. UniCa participates as an EDUC Alliance member institution.
• SHARPER Consortium (14 Italian Cities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHARPER (SHAring Researchers' Passion for Enhanced Roadmaps) is a European Researchers' Night project led by University of Cagliari involving universities in Ancona, Camerino, Catania, Genoa, L'Aquila, Macerata, Nuoro, Palermo, Pavia, Perugia, Sassari, Terni, and Trieste. Funded by European Commission MSCA.
• INFN - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Sezione di Cagliari)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Institute for Nuclear Physics Cagliari Section participates in SHARPER consortium and collaborative research including Event Horizon Telescope work on black hole imaging.
• INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di CagliaricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Institute for Astrophysics astronomical observatory in Cagliari collaborates on public engagement and research including connections for SHARPER marathon events.
• Sardegna RicercheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional research entity participating in SHARPER consortium for science communication and public engagement activities in Sardinia.
• Scienza Società Scienza and Laboratorio ScienzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScience communication associations participating in SHARPER consortium for public engagement and outreach activities.
• Sardegna TeatrominorGTM or Marketing PartnerTheater organization participating in SHARPER consortium contributing to cultural programming and public events.
• Municipalities of Cagliari, Monserrato, and NuorominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government partners in SHARPER consortium hosting public events and supporting science communication initiatives.
• UniNuoro ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity consortium in Sardinia participating in SHARPER consortium for regional science outreach.
• EURAXESSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean initiative supporting researcher mobility with UniCa operating as an EURAXESS Center for researchers mobility.
• Erasmus+ Partner UniversitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean universities with bilateral agreements for student and staff exchange, double degree programs, and collaborative research under Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Sassari: The other major public university in Sardinia, Università degli Studi di Sassari serves the same regional catchment with comparable programs and faces identical funding, demographic, and geographic dynamics as UniCa.
• Politecnico di Milano: Italy's leading technical university and an active research co-development partner with UniCa on the SARCOS recycled concrete project. Both deliver public higher education and research in Italy under the same MUR regulatory framework.
• University of Palermo: Major southern Italian public research university and UniCa's co-developer on the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain carbon credit certification architecture. Comparable scale, governance, and Southern Italy/Sicily regional research role.
• University of Camerino: Mid-sized Italian public research university and UniCa's blockchain carbon credit co-developer. Both operate within Italy's MUR system with similar multi-faculty structures and EU funding strategies.
• University of Pisa: Mid-large Italian public research university with comparable disciplinary breadth, MUR funding model, and historical research pedigree. Directly comparable in scale and structure to UniCa.
• University of Florence: Mid-sized Italian public comprehensive university operating under the same MUR framework with similar research output, disciplinary breadth, and cultural heritage assets (museums, botanical gardens) as UniCa.

Broad incumbents

• University of Bologna: Italy's oldest and one of its largest public universities, operating under the same MUR framework as UniCa but with broader portfolio, larger scale, and stronger international brand as a top-200 global institution.
• Sapienza University of Rome: Italy's largest public university by enrollment and a broad incumbent in Italian higher education. Comparable disciplinary breadth, MUR governance, and research mission to UniCa but at substantially greater scale.
• University of Padova: One of Italy's leading public research universities with strong EU funding access and a similarly comprehensive multi-faculty structure, though at considerably larger scale and older brand recognition.

Regional players

• Universitat de Barcelona: Major Southern European public comprehensive university with similar size, multi-faculty structure, and EU funding profile to UniCa, but operating primarily in a different national market with comparable demographic and policy dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/univca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzfS4GSs8B_79Hr6vXaaL3A
• Facebookit-it.facebook.com/UniversitaCagliari
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universit-degli-studi-di-cagliari
• Instagraminstagram.com/univca

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Cagliari