Catholic University of Sacred Heart

What Catholic University of Sacred Heart does

Catholic University of Sacred Heart (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) is an Italian private, non-profit Catholic university founded in 1921 and headquartered in Milan. It operates five physical campuses across Milan, Rome, Brescia, Piacenza, and Cremona, offering 42 undergraduate programs, 48 graduate programs, and over 100 master's programs spanning medicine, economics, law, agricultural and food sciences, education, mathematics and natural sciences, and the humanities. The Rome campus is affiliated with the wholly-owned teaching hospital Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, creating a vertically integrated medical education and clinical research pathway; the university also maintains joint research ties with Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza.

The university's digital product ecosystem centers on the iCatt student portal for academic administration, the CloudMail email service built on Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Online (offering 50 GB mailbox with mobile synchronization), and Blackboard as the learning management system for course delivery. Auxiliary platforms include UnicattX (an immersive 3D campus exploration environment for prospective students), iLab innovation laboratories on multiple campuses, the Presenza magazine, CV Online for career services, and mentorship via the MyMentor program (816 mentor-student pairs across 11 editions). Students receive Microsoft Office Professional Plus 365 free of charge through the Student Advantage program, and the university participates in Eduroam wireless federation and IDEM GARR federated authentication.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, donations (Sostieni l'ateneo), research grants, hospital operations via the Policlinico subsidiary, publishing via the Vita e Pensiero Editrice subsidiary, and continuing education programs, but no financial figures are publicly disclosed in the provided data. The customer base is highly fragmented across undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, international, and continuing education students, supplemented by corporate and institutional partners engaging on talent recruitment and applied research. The institution was ranked among the top 400 universities globally and 9th in Italy in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with notable improvements in 'Citations per Faculty' and 'Employer Reputation' indicators, and is governed by Rector Elena Beccalli.

Name

Catholic University of Sacred Heart

Legal name

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Website

https://unicatt.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Catholic University of Sacred Heart is a private, non-profit Italian Catholic university founded in 1921, operating five campuses across Milan, Rome, Brescia, Piacenza, and Cremona, and serving undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and international students through 42 undergraduate, 48 graduate, and over 100 master's programs, including an affiliated teaching hospital.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHADAF

Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Community & Junior Colleges

SECONDARYEDAAAEAA

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDALAAAH

Transfer, Articulation & Credit Evaluation

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Admissions, Enrollment & Registrar Services

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate master's programs
• Doctoral research programs
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a private Catholic non-profit university delivering higher education across five Italian campuses (Milan, Rome, Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona). It provides 42 undergraduate programs, 48 graduate programs, and over 100 master's programs, alongside doctoral schools, specialization schools, and continuing education. Core operations include instruction, academic research, student services, and pastoral/ethical formation supported by a digital ecosystem (iCatt portal, CloudMail email, Blackboard LMS).

Product overview

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a multi-campus private university with campuses in Milan, Rome, Brescia, Piacenza, and Cremona. The institution operates a digital product portfolio centered on its student portal ecosystem: iCatt serves as the primary student portal for academic management, while CloudMail and @icatt email (built on Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Online) provide official institutional communication. The learning ecosystem includes Blackboard LMS for course materials and the UnicattX immersive 3D platform for virtual campus exploration. Additional services include iLab innovation labs, the Presenza magazine, CV Online for career services, and Summer School programs. Students receive Microsoft Office 365 Professional Plus through Student Advantage, with cloud storage via OneDrive and SharePoint Online. The university participates in Eduroam for wireless roaming and IDEM GARR AAI for federated authentication to external resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iCatt: Student portal and mobile application platform providing access to academic services, email, and administrative functions
• CloudMail
• Secondo Tempo
• Presenza
• iCatt App
• Blackboard
• Eduroam

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (Lauree triennali e a ciclo unico) Three-year bachelor's degrees and single-cycle integrated programs (e.g., medicine, law) offered to prospective undergraduate students across faculties including economics, medicine, law, agriculture, education, and sciences.
• Graduate Master's Programs (Lauree magistrali)
• University Master's Programs Over 100 post-graduate master's programs providing specialized professional qualifications and continuing education for graduates and working professionals.
• Doctoral Programs (Dottorati) Research-focused doctoral programs enabling advanced scholarly research across multiple disciplines, leading to a PhD.
• Specialization Schools (Scuole di specializzazione) Postgraduate specialization schools providing professional certification in specialized fields, including medical specialization through affiliation with Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS.
• Continuing Education (Formazione continua) Continuing education and lifelong learning programs for working professionals and organizations seeking ongoing professional development.
• Summer School Intensive short courses offered during summer months across multiple disciplines, designed to develop competencies, expand professional networks, and provide immersive academic experiences.
• iCatt Student Portal Student portal providing enrolled students access to personal academic information, course registration, exam schedules, study plans, and administrative services, serving as the official communication channel between students and the university.
• CloudMail Email Service Institutional email service powered by Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Online, offering 50Gb storage, 20Mb attachment limits, and mobile synchronization via Microsoft Exchange protocol.
• iLab Innovation Laboratories Innovation laboratory facilities present across multiple campuses (Rome, Brescia) supporting student projects, applied research, and entrepreneurship activities.
• CV Online / Career Services Online curriculum vitae platform connecting students and graduates with employment opportunities and supporting the university's career placement services.
• Summer Experience Orientation Program Orientation program for high school graduates and prospective students featuring summer initiatives across all university campuses to guide university pathway decisions.
• Presenza Magazine The university's historical magazine published since March 1969, covering economic, social, religious, and current affairs topics, featuring alumni and student experiences.

Segments8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rome campus of the university is affiliated with the renowned Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, a major teaching hospital and research center. This partnership provides clinical training facilities for medical students and enables collaborative medical research.
• Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della SofferenzacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership in medical sciences. Researchers from Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza and the Catholic University published joint findings on CAR-T cell therapy biomarkers and complete remission in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients.
• Banca Più / Gruppo IntergeaminorOthersBanca Più and Gruppo Intergea participate in university events such as the MyMentor program closing ceremony, which brings together students and business professionals.
• Fondazione IseominorOthersCollaborates with the university on academic events including the Nobel Lecture by James Heckman, promoting education and economic research initiatives.
• Banca GeneraliminorOthersContributed to the Nobel Lecture event by James Heckman on early childhood education economics, organized by the Faculty of Education Sciences.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Padua: Historic Italian public university with strong research output across sciences, engineering, medicine, and humanities. Comparable to Università Cattolica on multi-faculty scale, research intensity, and competition for top students in northern Italy.
• IE University: Private Spanish university with a strong business school and a growing portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable to Università Cattolica on private-university positioning, international student recruitment, and a digitally enabled student experience.
• Bocconi University: Private Italian university in Milan with a strong focus on economics, management, and finance, directly comparable to Università Cattolica on private-Italian-university positioning, urban Milan footprint, and selective admissions. Both compete for the same domestic and international student pool in business and economics.
• Università di Bologna: One of the oldest and largest comprehensive universities in Italy and Europe, with broad programs in medicine, economics, law, and sciences. Comparable to Università Cattolica on multi-faculty comprehensiveness, research output, and national brand, although publicly funded.
• Università degli Studi di Milano (Statale): Large public research university in Milan with comprehensive faculties including medicine, law, and sciences. Direct peer on Milan market overlap, broad academic portfolio, and competition for the same prospective undergraduate and graduate student base.
• LUISS Guido Carli: Private Italian university in Rome offering degrees in law, economics, political science, and engineering, with a similar selective, professionally oriented profile. Direct peer on private-university positioning, urban Roman campus, and recruitment of Italian and international students.
• Sapienza University of Rome: Large public research university in Rome with comprehensive faculties including a major medical school. Direct peer on multi-faculty scale, Rome-campus overlap, and competition for medical, economics, and law students in the same metropolitan market.
• Politecnico di Milano: Leading Italian technical university in Milan focused on engineering, architecture, and design. Comparable to Università Cattolica on Milan-campus presence, STEM/technical program breadth, and competition for top domestic and international STEM students.

Emerging players

• ESSEC Business School: French grande école with business and management programs and a strong international footprint (France, Singapore, Morocco). Comparable to Università Cattolica on private, internationally oriented graduate education and competition for European and international master's-level students.
• Hult International Business School: Global private business school with campuses in the US, UK, UAE, and China, focused on business and analytics master's programs. Comparable to Università Cattolica on private-graduate-education positioning and competition for international students seeking a Western-accredited business degree.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/unicatt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/younicatt
• Facebookfacebook.com/unicatt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unicatt
• Instagraminstagram.com/unicatt

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Catholic University of Sacred Heart