The University of Florence is an important and influential centre for research and higher training in Italy, with 1,800 lecturers and internal research staff, 1,600 technical and administrative staff, and over 1,600 research assistants and doctoral students. It offers a wide range of study programmes at various levels and in all areas of knowledge.126 Degree courses (First and Second Cycle, corresponding to Bachelor's and Master's Degrees) organised in 10 Schools, with a population of about 51,000 enrolled students, one-fourth of which come from outside of Tuscany. 

There are over 9,000 degrees awarded each year in Florence. According to the alumni data, the percentage of students who are in the workforce one year after their First Level degree is above national average.

The University of Florence has a natural international vocation and the development of internationalization is one of its strategic priorities.

It is one of the largest and most productive public research systems in Italy. This result is accomplished thanks to the number of permanent and temporary researchers working in a wide range of disciplinary and scientific fields, and the numerous junior scientists in training. It is also due to an intensive participation in research programmes of national and international relevance and to the significant scientific results achieved. External funds support the research and knowledge transfer activities. This combination of factors qualifies the Florentine institution as a modern research university and accounts for its excellent position in national and world rankings. Researchers at the University of Florence operate within 24 different departments and have at their disposal approximately 40 research structures comprising inter-departmental and inter-university centres as well as specialised research, knowledge transfer and advanced training centres. 

In recent years the University of Florence has increasingly consolidated its ventures in the field of knowledge transfer: from the filing of patents to the setting up of joint workshops with businesses, through to participation in spin-off companies.

Knowledge transfer activities are coordinated by CSAVRI (Centro di Servizi di Ateneo per la Valorizzazione della Ricerca e la gestione dell'Incubatore universitario), the centre for the enhancement of research and management of the university's incubator. 

The Department of Architecture is one of the most important new departments of the University of Florence in terms of the number of teachers, research staff, PhD students, research fellows and technical and administrative staff: 107 teachers, 70 PhD students, 46 fellows, 35 scholars, 26 students of the School of Specialisation, 33 technical and administrative staff.

The DIDALABS is a system of 18 laboratories of Florence Architecture Department (DIDA), its mission is to provide scientific and technical support for teaching, research and knowledge transfer in the field of architecture, industrial design, and land and landscape planning. It consists of the Laboratories: “Architectural Information Technology Lab”, “Architectural Photography”, “Architectural Survey”, “Architecutal Modelling”, “Building Information Modelling”, “Cartography”, “Crossinglab”, “Design and Architecture Video”, “Design Modelling”, “Ergonomics in Design”, “Image and Communication”, “Official Material and Structural Testing”, “Piani e Progetti per la Città e il Territorio”, “Regional Design”, “Reverse Engineering & Interaction Design”, “Sustainable Design”, “Technologies for Mediterranean Dwelling”, “Theatre and Architecture”.

This training programme is divided along four lines:

• Architecture with a Bachelor/Master integrated degree in "Architecture", a Bachelor degree course (first cycle) in "Architectural Science" followed by a Master (second cycle) in Architecture with curriculum in English. 

• Industrial Design with Bachelor degree course (first cycle) in "Industrial Design" followed by a Master (second cycle) in Design. 

• Territorial Planning with Bachelor degree course (first cycle) in "Planning of the city, the territory and the landscape", followed by a Master (second cycle) in "Design of the city and the territory". 

• Landscape architecture with a Master (second cycle) in "Landscape Architecture".

The training program of the Department of Architecture DIDA is completed by a Doctorate Course in Architecture (three years), by a Specialization School in Architectural Heritage and Landscape Conservation (two years) and by specialization courses (one year or less) after the first and second cycle that play a vital role in the formation of people well equipped to enter into the profession and research, and to contribute to the progress of cultural, social and economic environment in Italy and the world.

The Department of Architecture DIDA, through its ability to coordinate and integrate the multiple dimensions of scientific and operational culture of the project, plays the role of main public research organization in the area of architectural project, design, planning and landscape. It is capable of satisfying research needs coming from institutions and companies operating in the region and elsewhere, and of promoting and developing research projects at national and international level. It is engaged in the transfer of innovation to support the technical and scientific, cultural, social and productive progress of the whole of society and, at the same time, preserving and developing the research and training skills of the Department of Architecture.