About us
A leading centre at national, European and international level for the study and development of legal sciences.
Politics, society and law have always gone hand in hand. For almost a millennium, Bologna’s Studium Iuris has been the place where the tradition of legal scholarship is renewed through engagement with new themes, new problems and new methods.
Our Department – one of the largest law departments in Italy and Europe – is situated within this continuity between past, present and future. Here, research and teaching evolve in constant dialogue with the transformations of society, through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together legal scholars from all the main areas of specialisation and experts in computer science, economics, sociology, history and philosophy.
Law as a social practice: the teaching approach and its impact on society
Our teaching integrates theoretical training with active learning experiences, emphasising ‘learning by doing’ across the Department’s various degree programmes. The aim is to enable students to engage with law not merely as a system of knowledge, but as a practice that takes shape in real-world problems, institutions and social relations.
Find out what to study in our Department
Our contribution to the development of legal studies is also reflected in society
Law is not merely a tool for addressing and resolving problems; it also contributes to the protection and promotion of the principles and values upon which civil society is founded – human dignity, freedom, equality, democracy, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights – within the framework of constitutional principles, international law and the United Nations Charter.
Recognised expertise
Awards and recognition confirm the excellence of the Department’s research and teaching staff and attest to the scientific significance of its contribution to legal studies.
· Department of excellence 2023–2027
International outreach
The Department’s research and teaching are conducted within a network of scientific and academic relationships spanning Europe and extending globally. International collaborations, projects and international exchanges foster dialogue with other legal traditions and strengthen the Department’s openness towards scientific communities and institutions in other countries.
Find out more about the international outreach
Clear objectives, continuous improvement
Quality is at the heart of the Department’s strategy: clear objectives, constant monitoring of results and improvement measures guide the planning and evaluation of activities.