

Welcome to Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, a place where tradition and innovation intersect. Originally established in 1868 as Italy’s first business school, the university has grown into a leading multidisciplinary institution offering a wide range of study programs in economics and management, modern languages, the humanities and the sciences.
Ca’ Foscari’s commitment to excellence is proven. The university is ranked among the best in Italy for research, and it has earned so many of the coveted European Commission Marie Curie research fellowships that it is one of Europe’s top ten most successful universities in this regard.Show more
Student life at Ca’ Foscari is a unique blend of academic rigor and vibrant cultural immersion. Venice’s cultural calendar is a magnet for international visitors, thanks to its world-renowned events, including the Venice Film Festival, the Art and Architecture Biennale, and the celebrated Carnival. The university organizes a rich calendar of events, including an annual international literature festival (“Incroci di CiviltĂ ”), a short film festival, and various cultural activities. Students can also join numerous student associations and clubs, from groups focused on marketing and finance to the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), which helps international students integrate into the university and city life. For those interested in sports, the University Sports Centre of Venice (CUS) offers a wide variety of activities, including traditional Venetian rowing, sailing, and more common sports like volleyball and basketball.
Ca’ Foscari is committed to helping its students take their first steps into the job market while they are still studying. The university offers comprehensive support, including helping students find internships in Italy or abroad. Beyond simply finding placements, the university’s services also help students prepare their curriculum and job interviews and organize direct meetings with companies to foster valuable connections and kickstart their professional journeys.
Ca’ Foscari provides support for students in their search for accommodation. The university has its own student residences and also holds agreements with private residences. For students who prefer more independence, the university’s Housing Office can assist in finding private apartments and rooms for rent, and even help with contract negotiations to ensure everything is prepared properly. It’s recommended that students start their search early, as demand can be high, and the university’s dedicated office can provide assistance and peace of mind throughout the process.
Students can enroll in English-taught programs at Ca’ Foscari University without prior knowledge of Italian. However, all students in these programs must successfully complete a compulsory Italian language course as a graduation requirement.
Applying to Ca’ Foscari University of Venice is a straightforward online process.
The application platform is apply.unive.it. It is essential to check all deadlines and requirements well in advance to ensure a smooth application.
You should choose Ca’ Foscari University of Venice because of its unique location, strong academic reputation, global focus, and career support.
Studying at Ca’ Foscari means immersing yourself in the awe-inspiring city of Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With canals and boats replacing streets and cars, the city’s unique historic center offers an unparalleled environment for learning and cultural exchange. The university itself is characterized by the “synergetic intersection of tradition and intellectual innovation.”
Ca’ Foscari has a strong academic reputation. It is ranked among the best in Italy for its research and is one of Europe’s top ten universities for securing prestigious European Commission Marie Curie research fellowships. The university’s high standing is also reflected in the QS World University Rankings, which place it among the world’s best for various fields, including:
Ca’ Foscari fosters a truly international community, hosting over 1,500 new international students each year. The university has an extensive network of over 500 active exchange agreements and offers a variety of joint and double bachelor’s and master’s degrees worldwide. For those who want to study without knowing Italian, many programs are taught entirely in English. The university also provides dedicated support to help students take their first steps into the job market, assisting with finding internships, preparing resumes, and organizing direct meetings with companies.
I picked the Global Change and Sustainability curriculum at Ca’ Foscari because I wanted a programme that treated climate change as the systemic problem it actually is, not just a single-discipline topic, and that’s exactly what this delivered. Courses pull together bio-ecology, oceanography, climatology, paleo-climatic data, socio-economics, and environmental modelling, so you end up learning to read global change from several angles at once rather than through one narrow lens.
Being based in Venice added something you can’t really get from a textbook. The city itself is basically a live case study in climate vulnerability, from acqua alta flooding to the lagoon’s fragile ecosystem, so a lot of what we studied in lectures was visible just walking outside. That context made the material feel urgent instead of abstract.
The teaching leaned heavily on statistical analysis and modelling tools, which was a steep learning curve if you came in without a strong quantitative background, but it paid off. I left with real technical skills for forecasting and evaluating future scenarios, not just theoretical knowledge. The cohort was genuinely international, and small class sizes meant professors actually knew who you were and had time for discussion rather than just lecturing.
If I’m honest, the workload during the modelling-heavy modules was intense, and coordinating between the more scientific and socio-economic strands of the course took some getting used to. But for anyone who wants to study climate change with real analytical depth, in a city where the stakes are impossible to ignore, this programme delivers
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice’s Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences – Global Change and Sustainability is a course that focuses on real-life environmental problems facing our planet. It gave me a chance to understand concepts like climate change, sustainability, ecosystems and environmental management, and taught me the scientific tools to analyze and solve these complex problems.
For me, the best aspect of this programme is the interdisciplinary nature. The international learning environment also adds value to the experience by introducing different views and ideas from all over the world. Overall, the programme is a positive initiative for people who are interested in protecting the environment and promoting a more sustainable future.
View moreThe Master’s programme Environmental Sciences – Global Change and Sustainability at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice offers a highly relevant and forward-looking academic experience for students interested in environmental change and sustainability. The programme focuses on understanding complex global issues such as climate change, ecosystem degradation, and sustainable resource management, combining scientific knowledge with policy and real-world application.
What makes this programme particularly strong is its interdisciplinary nature. It brings together environmental science, data analysis, and sustainability thinking, allowing students to understand global challenges from multiple perspectives. The international learning environment and research-driven teaching approach also help students develop both analytical and problem-solving skills. Overall, it feels like a meaningful and timely programme for anyone aiming to contribute to a more sustainable future.
View moreThere’s something quietly surreal about studying economics while walking over a 16th-century bridge to get to class. Ca’ Foscari has that effect—the city becomes part of your education whether you want it to or not.
The program itself is solid. Strong on theory—microeconomics, corporate finance, management—and the international cohort means group work actually exposes you to different ways of thinking about business problems. My study group alone had students from Germany, Brazil, and Indonesia. That’s not something you get everywhere.
Where it falls short is practical application. Case studies are light, and there’s very little that bridges classroom theory to what businesses actually do. If you’re hoping to graduate feeling work-ready, you’ll need internships on your own initiative—the program won’t hand that to you.
Still, a strong academic reputation, a genuinely international atmosphere, and Venice as your backyard. Not a bad trade.
View moreAt Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the Master’s in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage feels like learning to protect history with science. It’s where chemistry, materials, and culture come together to preserve what time tries to erase.
The program blends laboratory analysis with heritage studies, focusing on how artworks, monuments, and historical materials age—and how they can be conserved. It requires patience, detail, and a careful mindset, because every object carries both scientific and cultural value.
What stands out is the perspective it builds. You stop seeing heritage as something static and start understanding it as something fragile, evolving, and worth protecting. Studying in Venice makes it even more meaningful—a living example of beauty, history, and preservation challenges.
It can feel specialized and sometimes highly technical, but if you engage with it, you leave with something rare—the ability to bridge science and culture in a way that keeps history alive.
View moreAs a former student of the Master’s program in Environmental Sciences – Global Change and Sustainability, I can confidently say that my time at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice was one of the most meaningful and transformative experiences of my life.
From the very beginning, the university maintained a high level of professionalism and clarity in its communication and academic processes. As an international student, I felt well-informed about enrolment procedures, visa requirements, and academic expectations. The guidance provided made what could have been an overwhelming transition feel structured and manageable.
Academically, the program was both challenging and inspiring. The curriculum was well-designed, fully taught in English, and focused on global environmental issues with a strong sustainability perspective. The professors were knowledgeable, supportive, and encouraged critical thinking and research-based learning. The international classroom environment also allowed me to engage with students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, which greatly enriched my experience.
Beyond academics, studying in Venice added a unique dimension to my journey. The university offered helpful support services, orientation programs, and assistance with accommodation, which made settling into a new country much easier.
Looking back, my time at Ca’ Foscari not only strengthened my academic foundation but also helped me grow personally and professionally. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and would highly recommend this program to anyone passionate about environmental studies and global sustainability.
View moreBeing admitted to the Master’s program in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice felt like an important milestone for me. From the beginning, the application and evaluation process was clear and well-organized, which made me feel supported as an international student. The program itself combines science, culture, and technology in a very thoughtful way, making it ideal for anyone passionate about preserving cultural heritage. Studying in Venice adds a unique real-life connection to what we learn, and the international environment helps you grow both academically and personally. Overall, it feels like a serious, inspiring program that truly prepares students for work in heritage conservation.
View moreCa’ Foscari is an incredible university which gave me my wings – a international environment, full of opportunities from those interested in Archeology to Philosophy to Business to anything you can imagine
View moreCa’ Foscari University of Venice offers a strong academic environment with well-structured course materials and highly qualified professors who provide in-depth knowledge and practical insights. The curriculum is designed to be both comprehensive and industry-relevant, helping students develop analytical and problem-solving skills. The faculty is experienced, supportive, and dedicated to ensuring that students gain a solid understanding of their field. However, certain administrative processes can be slow and inefficient, which can sometimes be frustrating. Despite this, the university provides great learning opportunities, a diverse international community, and a rich cultural setting in Venice. Overall, I would recommend it to students looking for a high-quality education in an inspiring environment.
View moreBeing one of the very few italian universities that offers a Master in Translation and Interpretation program for chinese language, Ca’ Foscari has offered me an even more well-rounded education by integrating three languages (chinese, english and italian) and almost all aspects of translation industry today into one single program. Studying at Ca’ Foscary, however, is not only about books and computer slides, you will be missing out on the very essence of life in Venice if you don’t immerge yourself in the lively local atmosphere! Venice is famous for its rich offer of cultural events, from Carnival, Redentore, Regata, to the Biennale and Film Festivals, and Ca’ Foscari brings all of this at your doorsteps, all the while pursuing your academic career!
View moreThis section is only for questions about the university. Please avoid posting reviews here.
I dont speak any Italian and am wondering how difficult making friends will be with no Italian. Thanks!
Would you share more about job opportunities after this program?