In Como, during the fifteenth century at the College of Chartered Jurisconsults, there was a University School with three chairs: Moral Theology (active since 1473), Mixed Canon Law (founded in 1656 by Thomas Verga) and Institutions (founded in 1656 by Francesco Benzi).

The University of Insubria implied a radical change in the local historical development, which was socially and economically expensive because the territory was organised as a suburb of the city of Milan, and horizontal connections were inadequate for the population's growing needs.

Overall, Insubria University counts two main sites, educational facilities and laboratories in different locations of the Lombard territory.

In Varese at present there are the sites of: In Como you can find the following sites: Of particular historic and artistic interest should be surely noticed the Cloister of the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio in Como (among the oldest in Europe and used at first as a convent, then as an Episcopal Seminary), already home of the Faculty of Law, now of the Department of Law, Economics and Cultures (DEC), the most prestigious centre of the entire University, and the Palazzo Natta, ancient palace of a noble family belonging to the aristocracy of Como dating back to the sixteenth century, with details dating back even to the thirteenth century, headquarters of the rectorate.

The main university hospital is the Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi in Varese.

Villa Toeplitz, Varese houses the headquarters of the Faculty of Communication Sciences of the University of Insubria.