According to legend a woman, Bettisia Gozzadini, taught at Bologna at the turn of the twelfth century, and held her lessons not only in the Studium but also in the public squares before great crowds.

Tradition also mentions one of Accursio's daughters who allegedly taught Law. Novella d'Andrea in the fourteenth century wore a veil while teaching in order not to distract the students with her beauty. Bettina Sangiorgi taught Greek, and Giovanna Bianchetti was a Latin expert. Finally, there was Teodora Crisolora - wife of Francesco Filelfo who taught Greek. In any case, women were permitted to teach at the University of Bologna from the twelfth century.

That women were readily accepted as university teachers was evident by the eighteenth century. The new ideas of the Enlightenment were changing old prejudices and the question of the education of women was being discussed throughout Europe.

One of the most famous women teachers was Laura Bassi, who was given the Chair of Philosophy in 1733, and that of Experimental Physic in 1776; she studied Logic, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Chemistry, Hydraulics, Mathematics, Mechanics, Algebra, Geometry and Ancient and Modern Languages. In 1760 Anna Morandi was given the post of making anatomical models in wax for the Chair of Anatomy. In 1750 Maria Gaetana Agnesi was awarded the Chair of Mathematics and Analytical Geometry, while in 1794 Clotilde Tambroni was appointed to the Chair of Greek.