Guide to Higher Education in Italy | Print |

Italian Higher Education System

The main principles at the basis of the Italian educational system are laid down in the Constitution of the Republic that came into force on January 1st, 1948. According to the Italian Constitution, the Republic guarantees freedom of the Arts and Sciences, which may be freely taught, and promotes the development of culture and of scientific and technical research. The Republic establishes state schools for all branches and grades and recognizes private educational institutions. (see articles 9, 33-34)

Italian higher educational system consists of a university sector that includes state and private universities (about one hundred), polytechnics, universities for foreigners, schools of advanced studies and telematic universities, and a non-university sector that comprises national academies in the Fine Arts, Cinema, Dance and Drama, Music Conservatories, schools and institutes for the education and training of professionals in various fields such as language mediation, design, restoration, archiving, military studies, etc.

The Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) manages the Italian higher education system together with advisory bodies such as the National University Council (CUN), the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI), the National Council for Higher Artistic and Music Education (CNAM) and the University Student National Council (CNSU).

The university sector has recently undergone a substantial reform, approved in 1999 in accordance with the Bologna Declaration, signed by 29 countries on 19 June 1999. The Bologna process aimed at facilitating the convergence of European higher educational systems by creating a European Higher education area, characterized by common degree frameworks and quality standards.

 

Old System (vecchio ordinamento)

A 13-year compulsory schooling: 5 years of primary school, 3 years of junior high school and 5 years of secondary school. Children entered primary school at 6 and could get their School Leaving Certificate (Maturità) at 18 years old.
Universities offered: 3-year professionally oriented university diplomas (Diploma universitario); 4-6 year degrees (Diploma di laurea) and 3-4 year Research Doctorates in a great variety of subjects fields of the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and the Sciences; 2-6 year specialization diplomas (Diplomi di specializzazione) in the fields of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine.

 

Current System (nuovo ordinamento)

Following the reform, university degrees are organized in a three-cycle sequence.

1) 1st Cycle University Degrees – undergraduate level
The requirement for admission to a 1st cycle degree course (corso di laurea di primo livello) is the diploma awarded at the end of secondary school after the school-leaving examination. Entry to undergraduate degree programs can either be restricted or open, and can be sometimes subject to a motivational test or selective examination. Undergraduate degree programs last three years and are characterized by both theoretical and applied studies that aim at providing a solid knowledge of general scientific methods and subject contents as well as professional skills. After completion of the program, students are awarded the degree of “dottore”.

2) 2nd Cycle University Degrees
Two types of degrees are offered in the second cycle: Corsi di Laurea Specialistica and first level Master’s Degree Programs (Corsi di Master Universitario di Primo Livello). A first level bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is required for admission. Laurea specialistica programs last two years and are characterized by a strong theoretical part and specialistic studies in the given subject field that aim at acquiring a professional competence. After completion of the Laurea specialistica, and the defense of an original dissertation, students are awarded the degree of  Dottore Magistrale. First Level Master’s Degree last one or more years and can be either academically or more professionally oriented.
Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Farmacy, Architectural Engineering and Architecture Schools offer 4-6 year Degree Programs that are structured as a unified 1st and 2nd cycle course of study (corso di laurea magistrale a ciclo unico) leading to the degree of Dottore Magistrale. Admission is always subject to an entry examination.

3) 3rd Cycle University Degrees
The main degrees of the third cycle, open to graduates of a Laurea specialistica or magistrale, are:
    
- 2nd level Master’s Degrees (Master Universitario di 2° livello) of 1 or more years, either academically or professionally oriented
  
- 2nd level Specialization Diplomas (Diploma di Specializzazione di 2° livello), 2-6 year professionally oriented programs in the fields of dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, training to the legal professions and to teaching in secondary schools. Admission is subject to a competitive examination.

- Research Doctorates (Dottorati di Ricerca), 3 or more years of training for highly specialized research. Doctoral Programs are open to graduates from the laurea specialistica/magistrale, and accept a restricted number of students that are selected through a very competitive examination.

 

Resources

- Study in Italy - Italian Higher Education for International Students

A valuable resource for students wishing to attend higher education programmes in Italy, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. "Study in Italy" is a MIUR project, jointly carried out by the CIMEA of the Fondazione Rui and CINECA. 

- Courses in English at Italian Universities

Many universities in Italy are offering courses taught in English to accommodate the increasing number of foreign students. This Guide provides a non-exhaustive list of courses taught in English at Italian Universities. The information contained in this document is provided as a public service intended to facilitate the search for such courses by US scholars and students.

- Eurydice Italia
Useful publications from Eurybase, the database on the educational systems in Europe of the Eurydice network. 

- CINECA Database of Italian Universities
CINECA is a non profit Interuniversity Consortium, made up of 31 Italian universities, the CNR (National Research Council), and the Ministry of University and Research.

- Ministry of Education, Universities and Research - MIUR

An invaluable resource for students wishing to attend higher educational programmes in Italy, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. On the MIUR website you can find an in-depth Guide to Higher Education in Italy.

- CRUI Survey on Education Provision in English Language in Italian Universities - Year 2007

The Conference of Italian University Rectors (Conferenza dei Rettori delle Università Italiane-CRUI) regularly monitors the provision of educational opportunities in English language by Italian Universities, through specific annual surveys. This document reports the results of the third annual survey 2007 and provides a picture of the Italian University system with reference to the availability of first and second cycle degree programmes, professionally-oriented post-graduate courses, research doctorate and winter/summer schools in English language.

- ERIC-NARIC Network
Italy Country page on the ENIC-NARIC Network is a gateway to online resources on the Italian Educational system. The ENIC-NARIC site, is a joint initiative of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO/CEPES.

- The Guide for Foreign Researchers
Created within the framework of the European project ERA-MORE (a network of researchers mobility centers), this guide presents information about life in Italy, the higher education system, entry and residence procedures, taxation, social security and health care.

- Ricerca Italiana

This national portal is a valuable point of access to information on the World of Italian Research. Promoted by the Ministry of University and Research together with Universities and Research Institutes, it aims at communicating both public and private, scientific and non-scientific, applied and basic research.

 

Music Conservatories

Italian “Conservatori di Musica”, along with a few recognized music institutes called “Istituti Musicali Pareggiati”,  are institutions for musical education under the Ministry of Education (Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione ). As established by the Public Law the fundamental purpose of Music Conservatories is the education & training of future professionals in the music sector, namely musicians and music teachers.  

Among the various opportunities for both basic and specialized training, Music Conservatories offer courses such as composition, individual musical instruments like cello, flute guitar, harp, piano, violin, etc.; orchestra direction; singing; choral music and choir direction; vocal polyphonic composition.

For more information, visit: Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale - Ministero per l'Università e la Ricerca

 

National Academies & National Schools

“Accademie nazionali” and “scuole nazionali”  are state institutions of higher education that share as their essential feature the professional, highly specialised character of the education and training they provide.

They may differ considerably from one another as to:

  • Field of specialization
  • Level of the courses they offer (always post-secondary, but in some cases only basic and general, in some others also advanced and specialised)
  • Course length
  • Course organization


Resources

- National Academy for Drama (Accademia Nazionale d’Arte Drammatica) – Rome

- National Music Academy (Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia) – Rome

- National School for Cinema Studies (Scuola Nazionale di Cinema) – Rome

-School for Mosaic Restoration – (Scuola di Restauro del Mosaico) – Ravenna

- Central Institute for the Restoration of damaged books (Istituto Centrale per la Patologia del Libro “Alfonso Gallo”) – Rome

- Higher Education in the Arts and Music Fields

- Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro - National Institute for restoration
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 December 2009 )