There are many new developments. The university, based in Loppiano (FI), presents: a revamped and comprehensive degree programme (bachelor’s and master’s) geared towards the professions of the future, a dual degree with the University of Perugia, and a new teaching centre in Florence.
The Sophia University Institute is launching its academic programme for the 2026/2027 academic year, marking a decisive step in the institution’s growth and the expansion of its international academic project. The new programme, in fact, offers a comprehensive university course (3+2) integrating two fully structured cycles of study: the Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Human Sciences (three-year degree, class L-5/L-24) and the Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Economy of Communion and the Environment (master’s degree, class LM-78).
The new academic programme at the Sophia University Institute stems from a simple yet radical conviction: knowledge is not a collection of information but a concrete tool for changing the world. At a time when the future breeds uncertainty – ecological crisis, social complexity, ethical and economic challenges – Sophia offers tools to view it with clarity and to shape it: through a rigorous, transdisciplinary educational approach that integrates philosophy, theology, human sciences and economics, an international community, and solid, recognised career pathways.
“In this epochal shift characterised by uncertainty and fragmentation,” says Rector Declan J. O’Byrne, “with this new educational offering, Sophia reaffirms its mission, taking on a strategic role in training individuals capable of combining critical thinking, interdisciplinary and project-based skills, and a sense of responsibility towards the common good, to lay the foundations for a different future, working within the fields of integral sustainability, economics, social and territorial planning, and innovation”.
Thanks to the institutional collaboration with the University of Perugia, both programmes lead to the award of a dual academic qualification – ecclesiastical and state-recognised – which is fully valid within the Italian university system and internationally recognised.
Find out more on the website Sophiauniversity.org .
The Bachelor’s Degree and the Licentiate
The Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Human Sciences – Three-year Degree (L-5/L-24) – is a degree programme offering an interdisciplinary education centred on understanding the person in their cognitive, emotional, relational and social dimensions. It prepares students to continue their studies, to enter teaching pathways and to take on educational, social, planning and cultural roles.
The Licentiate in Philosophy, Economy of Communion and the Environment – Master’s Degree (LM-78) – develops Sophia’s interdisciplinary method within the contexts of economics, integral sustainability and governance, training professionals capable of understanding and supporting economic, social and organisational processes. The degree programme promotes critical reflection on contemporary economic models and guides students towards the search for ethical and sustainable solutions, particularly in the fields of ecology, urban development, organisations and communities.
The focus on the Economy of Communion and Civil Economy makes this programme unique within the Italian and international academic landscape, offering students the tools to understand and transform contemporary economic systems, thereby making a concrete contribution to the construction of sustainable, inclusive and generative economies. The programme trains professionals capable of leading corporate social responsibility initiatives, developing sustainable innovation projects, working on territorial regeneration, taking on roles in businesses, public bodies and the third sector focused on human development and integral sustainability, and contributing to the construction of resilient economic models suited to complex scenarios.
PhD programmes in Human Sciences and Culture of Unity are also available, completing the Institute’s academic offering.
Dual qualification: more study and career opportunities
From the 2026/2027 academic year, thanks to a collaboration with the Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences, Humanities and Education at the University of Perugia, students will be able to obtain dual academic qualifications – ecclesiastical and state – for both programmes, recognised within the Italian university system and valid internationally. Depending on the programme chosen, these degrees provide access to Master’s degrees, PhD programmes and, in accordance with current legislation, professional qualifications in psychology or teaching.
Two campuses in the heart of Tuscany
With the start of the next academic year, Sophia will also open a new teaching campus in Florence (at the Institute affiliated with the Theological Faculty of Central Italy), in Piazza Tasso 1/A, which will host the activities of the Bachelor’s programme. The choice of Florence stems from a desire to offer students a rich, dynamic and culturally vibrant university environment, with access to the academic, professional and cultural opportunities of one of Europe’s most prestigious university cities.
The Master’s Degree remains based at the international campus in Loppiano, which offers an international and intercultural environment where students from numerous countries have the opportunity to share their studies, daily life and formative experiences.
The strength of the academic relationship: one lecturer for every five students
One of the distinctive features of academic life at Sophia is the student-lecturer ratio, which stands at approximately 1:5, significantly lower than national and international academic standards. This allows for personalised support, continuous dialogue and a study environment that values relationships as an integral part of the educational process.
The Sophia model moves beyond the logic of crowded lecture-style classes and favours interactive teaching, centred on the individual, the quality of content and the development of critical, interpersonal and project management skills. It is an education that demands hard work, commitment and dedication, and which, precisely for this reason, prepares students for high-level professional and academic roles.
A network of valued partners
The quality of academic life at Sophia is also guaranteed by the opportunity to enjoy a personalised study experience open to the world, thanks to a select network of partners that supports teaching activities and offers concrete opportunities for internships and professional placement in international contexts, including: ASCES-UNITA, Sophia ALC (Latin America), Together for a New Africa, Economy of Communion Korea, Ethos Capital and Consulus.
The origins of Sophia
The Sophia University Institute was established by the Congregation for Catholic Education of the Holy See in 2007. Conceived and founded by Chiara Lubich, and promoted by the Focolare Movement, Sophia is a centre for academic training and research, as well as a school of life. It presents itself as a laboratory where existence and thought, different cultures and different disciplines come together in a context strongly rooted in relationships, which aims to be animated by wisdom and reciprocity.