he University of Calabria (Università della Calabria, UNICAL) is a state-run university located in Arcavacata, a hamlet of Rende, in the Province of Cosenza, southern Italy. Established in 1972, it is notable for being one of Italy’s few residential university campuses and is considered one of the largest and best-equipped in the country. UNICAL serves a large student body, with approximately 35,000 students, and a significant number of teaching, research, and administrative staff.

The university is dedicated to advancing knowledge through education, learning, and research, striving for international excellence. It offers a wide range of programs, including 80 degree courses at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, and 10 PhD programs, across 14 departments. UNICAL is particularly recognized for its strong focus on research and its efforts in technology transfer, having been ranked highly in this area. It also emphasizes internationalization, with numerous agreements for double degrees and extensive Erasmus+ partnerships, attracting a diverse international student community.

The campus itself is expansive, covering over 200 hectares, and provides comprehensive facilities including residential blocks, canteens, a health center, bank, post office, extensive libraries, sports facilities, theatres, and cinemas, all designed to foster a vibrant academic and social environment.