Sardinia and Cagliari, the heart of the Mediterranean Sea

The climate in Sardinia is typically Mediterranean with mild winters and hot, dry summers; this is due to the latitude in which the city is located.

Rainfall is concentrated in autumn and winter, especially in the mountainous areas. Spring can be unpredictable, rainy and dry, changing from year to year, while summers are dry, generally without precipitation.

Sardinia's climate is also influenced by winds from Africa and the north-west. The Mistral, coming from the north-west, gives hot summers, but is cold in winter. The warm Sirocco winds from Africa result in mild winters but contribute to water evaporation and the resulting dry summers.

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean with a total area of 24,090 km², 1,850 km of coastline and just over 1,600,000 inhabitants. It is located in the centre of the western Mediterranean, about 187 km from the Italian peninsula.

Its territory is predominantly hilly and plateaus, while the central-eastern areas are mountainous, with the highest peak measuring 1,834 m. The north-west and south-west coasts are characterised by plains, a variety of landscapes such as beaches, sand dunes, cliffs and bays.

Due to its geo-morphological characteristics, the island possesses some of the most varied natural and climatic ecosystems of any Italian region.

Because of its central position in the Mediterranean, Sardinia has been a land of conquest for many peoples from neighbouring regions and, while it is not yet certain whether it was inhabited in the Palaeolithic period, it has certainly been inhabited since the Neolithic.

The archaeological remains scattered throughout the island reveal some unique features of a distinct history. The Island is indeed rich in the remains of nuraghes, tholos-shaped stone constructions built by the original inhabitants.

Since then, Sardinia has been conquered by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Pisans, Genoese, Spanish and finally by the Savoy dynasty when it was in power. This was also the case for several regions in northern Italy. Thus, in 1861, Northern Italy and the Kingdom of Sardinia became part of the newly founded monarchical country, Italy.

In 1948, when the new Constitution of the Italian Republic came into force, Sardinia was granted a Special Statute of Autonomy that gave the regional government legislative powers in matters such as administration, building policy, transport, water management, mines and quarries, tourism, libraries, and museums.

Sardinians are Italy's largest ethnic minority and their language, Sardinian, which has many variants, was officially recognised as a language by the Italian government in 1999.

Historically, the Sardinian economy has been based on agriculture, livestock breeding and fishing and the exploitation of its mineral resources since prehistoric times. The last fifteen years have seen a growth in entrepreneurship and local businesses, especially in tourism and the agri-food industry.

Cagliari is the capital, the main cultural centre of Sardinia and the most populated with around 160,000 inhabitants. It is located in the centre of the Gulf of the Angels, along the southern side of Sardinia. Numerous open-air archaeological sites and unspoilt natural environments allow for unusual itineraries, full of charm and beauty, ranging between art and nature.

In every season, thanks to its particularly mild climate, the city offers visitors the opportunity to discover its architecture, archaeology and monuments, its millennial history as well as the influences of the various peoples who have inhabited it.

Cagliari is 'the city of the sun', but above all 'the city of the sea'. From the surrounding hills you can admire the multicoloured sea, which merges with the city to produce a unique panorama.

With some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, spring and summer offer the opportunity to take advantage of all that the beach has to offer and to discover a still unspoilt natural environment.

Cagliari has much to offer visitors who want to enjoy the sun, sea and countryside, with the opportunity to experience a unique and rich culture.

For more information on Sardinia, please visit: www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/

Cagliari Turismo: the tourist portal of the city of Cagliari
Sardegna Turismo: the tourist portal of our island

Starting from the second semester of the academic year 2025/2026, the enrolment of exchange students in University of Cagliari degree programmes will be managed through the MOBILITY-ONLINE platform.
The platform will be available and accessible from 15 October 2025.
All incoming exchange students are required to complete their registration via MOBILITY ONLINE once the platform is active.
 

Academic information for incoming students
Here you will find all the information about our organization, degree courses, and academic life. As specified in the academic calendar, semesters begin and end as follows:
• 1st semester: from late September to mid-December (exams in January-February)
• 2nd semester: from late February to early June (exams June-July. Exams can also be taken in the September session).

Our Degree Programmes
Courses taught in English AY 25-26 
Academic calendar AY 2025-2026
ECTS system and grade distribution tables

Academic calendar AY 2024-2025
 

Italian language school for incoming students

Application OPEN - Deadline 1st September 2025 (10:00 AM)
Intensive online courses: THE COURSES WILL TAKE PLACE ONLINE
STARTING DATE: 8th September 2025
Deadline for application 1st September 2025 (10:00 AM)
LEVELS: A1 - A2 - B1
LESSONS: 5 days a week – 5:30 PM-7:30 PM
40 hours in total for each course
CREDITS: 4 ECTS

To be admitted to the final examination, no more than 20% of the class time can be missed.
The places are LIMITED, with restricted slots for those not enrolled at UNICA.
Tuition and fees:
• Enrolled/exchange students: € 48,25
• External participants not enrolled at UNICA: € 86,15

Important Payment Instructions:
After completing the online Application Form, payment instructions and bank details will appear on the final page.
Please proceed with the payment immediately and send a copy of the payment receipt to italiano@unica.it
Important: If the payment receipt is not sent before September 2nd, your application will be considered cancelled.

Please complete the APPLICATION FORM and proceed with the payment using the IBAN details provided at the end of the registration page. Important: Once the payment is made, kindly send the receipt to italiano@unica.it by September 2nd. Failure to submit the payment receipt by the deadline will result in cancellation of your course application.

For additional information, please contact the dedicated email: italiano@unica.it

Accommodation in Cagliari

Short-term stay

Upon your arrival in Cagliari, it is important to secure accommodation for the first days of your stay. Please note that September remains a busy tourist season in Sardinia, and accommodation prices may be higher than usual.
To support our students during this transitional period, we have partnered with ERSU, the regional institution that manages student housing in Cagliari. Thanks to this agreement, incoming students of the University of Cagliari can book a room at the newest student residence in Viale La Plaia (Cagliari) for a 5-day stay between August 1st and October 2nd, while searching for long-term housing.
If you are interested, please contact ufficioalloggi@ersucagliari.it to request more information about costs and availability.
For your first week's stay in Cagliari, you can also contact: 
• Our guest house 
• College Sant’Efisio

Long-term accommodation
If you are looking for long-term accommodation, you can contact the ESN Student Association by email incoming@esncagliari.org or by visiting their website https://cagliari.esn.it/it. 
If you are a medical student, you can also contact the Associazione Dipartimento Medico for assistance, email: dipartimentomedicocagliari@gmail.com

Students with disabilities and S.L.D.
We welcome applications from students with disabilities, dyslexia and other specific learning disorders.

The specialised tutoring provides support to help students with disabilities and SLDs enrolled in degree programmes (bachelor, master, single cycle) and postgraduate programmes (master, specialisation schools, and doctorates). Our services, including counseling and mediation, focus on ensuring inclusion within the academic community. 
Our support services are available throughout the entire duration of a student’s academic journey, from admission tests to final examinations. We provide specific tailored assistance measures designed to promote full inclusion and equal access to education. These include:
• Assistance and additional time during entrance and final exams
• Tutor support during examinations
• Note-taking services during lessons
• Study assistance tailored to individual learning needs
• Conversion of learning materials into accessible formats and digital books
• Provision of specialized equipment and assistive devices
• Monitoring and removal of architectural barriers to ensure physical accessibility
• Transportation services for students with visual and motor impairments

Contacts:
Servizi per l’Inclusione e per l’Apprendimento, Via San Giorgio 12, 09124 Cagliari
Tel: +39 070 6756222
Email: tutor.sia@unica.it
For additional information, please visit our website: https://www.unica.it/it/servizi/servizi-agli-studenti/servizi-per-inclusione-e-apprendimento

If you are an incoming student from a foreign country and require assistance related to your disability, please contact our dedicated support team at: erasmus_inclusione@unica.it
We are here to ensure that all students, regardless of origin or ability, receive the necessary support to thrive academically and personally throughout their time with us.