Ca' Foscari University of Venice was founded on August 6, 1868 as the Regia Scuola Superiore di Commercio (Royal College of Commerce), making it the first institution of higher education in commerce in Italy and the second oldest business school in Europe. The university is housed in the magnificent 15th-century Gothic palace of Ca' Foscari, which stands on the widest bend of the Grand Canal in the historic Dorsoduro district of Venice.

Today, Ca' Foscari is a multidisciplinary public research university with over 23,000 students and 1,400 faculty and staff from around the world. Its teaching and research are centered around economics and business, humanities, modern languages, and sciences, organized across eight departments and multiple interdepartmental schools. The university is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of ten European universities funded by the European Universities Initiative.

Ca' Foscari offers dozens of English-taught undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees, along with over 500 international exchange programmes and more than 50 joint and double degree options. The university provides a unique academic experience in one of the world's most culturally rich cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as an open-air research laboratory for humanities, environmental sciences, and cultural heritage.

Ca' Foscari's academic offerings are organized across seven departments and the Venice School of Management, an EQUIS-accredited business school. The university covers broad subject areas including arts and humanities, economics and management, languages and cultures, international studies, and science and technology, with research carried out through eight departments, interdepartmental schools, and 23 university centres.

As a public Italian university with significant government support, Ca' Foscari offers remarkably affordable tuition fees even for international students. Fees are calculated based on income brackets and programme type, with the university providing various forms of financial aid including tuition fee waivers and scholarships for talented international students.

Ca' Foscari's campus is uniquely spread across the historic center of Venice, with additional locations in Mestre and Treviso. The main seat is the magnificent 15th-century Gothic palace on the Grand Canal, while modern renovated campuses house economics, sciences, and other disciplines. All historic buildings are equipped with modern technology, and the scientific campus is brand new.

Ca' Foscari Palace (Main Campus)

The iconic 15th-century Gothic palace on the Grand Canal serves as the university's historic main seat and administrative headquarters.

San Giobbe Economics Campus

A fully renovated campus dedicated to the Faculty of Economics, featuring modern classrooms, lecture halls, and collaborative spaces.

Scientific Campus (Mestre)

The brand-new scientific campus in Mestre houses state-of-the-art laboratories for molecular sciences, nanosystems, and environmental research.

Student life at Ca' Foscari is enriched by Venice's extraordinary cultural environment. The university organizes over 800 art, literature, and cinema events every year, and students enjoy an active social scene in one of the world's most unique cities. From the annual Carnival to the Venice Biennale, there is always something inspiring happening around campus.

Ca' Foscari University of Venice consistently ranks among the top 3% of higher education institutions worldwide. The university is particularly strong in Modern Languages, Classics and Ancient History, Humanities, and Economics and Management, with several subjects placing in the global top 100.