The 2018 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by Subject, published by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, confirms Sapienza as the top Italian university and its excellent performance at the global level. This year, in fact, Sapienza ranks amongst the first 20 universities worldwide in two subjects: Automation & Control (first in Italy and 16^thworldwide – up from last year’s 23^rdplace) and Aerospace Engineering (first in Italy and 17^thworldwide - up from last year’s 26^thplace).

Moreover, Sapienza University ranks first in Italy in 13 subject areas, obtaining the best Italian ranking worldwide in Physics (first in Italy and 29^thworldwide) and Instruments Science & Technology (second in Italy after Polimi and 46th worldwide). In Italy, Sapienza is followed by the Politecnico di Milano (first for 11 subjects in Italy), the University of Bologna (9 subjects), the University of Padua (8 subjects) and the University of Milan (7 subjects). 

In February 2018, the Quacquarelli Simonds (QS) Rankings by Subject placed Sapienza first worldwide in Classics, while, in May 2018, the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR) ranked Sapienza as the top Italian University and 67^thworldwide, up 17 positions over the previous year.