Education in Italy

Cost and structure of education in Italy

Italian higher education system includes several types of institutions:

• Universities (Università) and polytechnics (Politecnici);
• Higher art schools (Istituzioni AFAM — Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale);
• Higher technical institutes (Istituti Tecnici Superiori).

The options for admission to universities in Italy

Foundation — Preparatory programs in Italy

In order to enter Italian university, one must complete 12 years of secondary school. If this requirement is not met, there are several options:

• To enter a university in your own country, study there for one year, and then apply to an Italian university;
• To enter any other educational institution (eg. college) in order to fill the missing number of years;
• Complete an International Baccalaureate (IB) program or A-Levels;
• To enter the preparatory program in Italy — Foundation.

The Foundation courses (corsi propedeutici) are designed specifically for international students to help them bridge the gap between the educational system in Italy and the home country of the applicant, as well as successfully pass the entrance exams before entering the university. The main advantage of such courses, in addition to preparing for studies in Italy, is the fact that many universities allow graduates of their preparatory programs to forgo entrance examinations.

The curriculum usually consists of classes in Italian and/or English, as well as subjects in the chosen direction.

Please note that art schools often have much higher requirements for student selection, including possible age limits. In addition, preparatory programs here can last up to three years.

At the end of the training, students pass the final exam and receive a certificate of completion.

College — Vocational education in Italy

Vocational education in Italy is represented by Higher technical institutes (Istituti Tecnici Superiori, ITS) and Higher technical training and education (Istruzione e Formazione Tecnica Superiore, IFTS).

• IFTS programs are managed by the regional administration, which organizes them in four types of institutions: general and business schools, vocational schools and universities. Such courses are designed for teenagers and adults without any special education and work experience. Students who do not graduate from high school can also enter by passing entrance exams. IFTS graduates receive a certificate of higher technical specialization (certificato di specializzazione tecnica superiore), recognized not only in Italy, but also in other EU countries. IFTS programs do not provide opportunities for further education for students without completed secondary education, but the certificate will allow you to find a job. In addition, earned credits can be transferred for early graduation from high school or the corresponding university program.
• ITS are educational institutions created by a university (or its department) or municipal administration. Higher technical institutes are available only to students with completed secondary education. Studying here takes from two to three years, with 30% of this time devoted to internships in Italian companies and abroad. Students who graduate from ITS receive a diploma of superior technician (diploma di tecnico superiore), which allows them to get a job or enter a master’s program in the same or related field.

Bachelor’s in Italy

Bachelor’s degree (Laurea), according to the Bologna process adopted by Italy, is the first stage of higher education.

There are two types of programs at Italian universities: limited and unlimited (open).

• Limited enrolment programs use the entrance exam as the main selection criteria. The grades obtained define one's place in the ranking order for further enrolment. Exams can be arranged both online (TOLC) and on campus. The only exception to this rule is the programs of International Communication and Health Management where students are selected based on the average mark in the school certificate. A limited number of places usually exist in medical and architectural areas.
• Open admissions programs also require students to take entrance exams, but they rather serve as a way to evaluate the student's level of training, rather than as a selection method. Regardless of the result, the student can participate in the admission procedure. However, the grade obtained during the exam affects the additional requirements (Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi, OFA) for the applicant. For example, if a gap in student’s knowledge is identified, the university may obligate the student to attend additional courses or seminars. Unlimited reception is typical for mathematical and technical areas.

Laurea studies last for three years (180 ECTS), during which students must learn about basic scientific concepts and research methods. The curriculum consists of theoretical studies, seminars, lectures, as well as work on their own research paper — the graduation thesis.

Students from EU-countries can apply directly to the chosen higher institutions according to the terms and the requested documentation. In contrast, submission of documents for other international students begins with the so-called "pre-enrolment"^[4]. For this, applicants must fill out a questionnaire in Italian or English and deliver it along with other documents to the Italian Consulate. Please note that you may choose only one university and only one program for admission.

After that, the Italian embassy will send documents to the university, which will set the deadlines for entrance examinations and decide on the admission status of a student. The next steps include applying for a visa, a trip to Italy to take additional exams and the final decision of the university to enrol (or not enrol) an applicant.

Master’s — Graduate / Postgraduate in Italy

Master’s (Laurea Magistrale) in Italy lasts two years (120 ECTS) or four semesters with summer break in the middle. Students attend basic courses, electives, lectures, and workshops, perform individual and group work. The last academic semester is devoted exclusively to writing a dissertation that should be 100 or more pages long.

Laurea magistrale a ciclo (Which can’t be considered either bachelor’s or master’s degree) in such areas as medicine, law, engineering, and architecture are equivalent to a master's program, but they last five to six years (300 or 360 ECTS) and do not require bachelor’s degree for admission.

Laurea Magistrale in Italy should be distinguished from Master, which is not a master’s degree, but one-year diploma. Master of the first level can be obtained after Laurea (bachelor’s), and the second level — after Laurea magistrale (master’s). By themselves, they do not replace academic degrees, but together with them, they can facilitate admission into the next stages.

Doctoral studies — Postgraduate in Italy

Doctoral studies (Dottorato di Ricerca) is the third level of higher education. Thus, the admission to such programs requires a Master’s degree in the same or related area. Training lasts from 3 to 5 years. The first year is devoted to classes, and the subsequent years are reserved for the student’s own research. In addition, the student may be assigned the duties of a teacher (up to 40 hours per year).

Both European and non-European students submit documents directly to the university without undergoing the "pre-enrolment" procedure.

Scholarships and grants from Italian universities

In Italy, there is a large selection of scholarships and grants available to international students:

• State scholarships. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation offers scholarships for students of art schools, master’s and doctoral students, as well as individual research grants. Scholarships cover tuition, health insurance and daily expenses. Students can receive financial assistance for three, six, or nine months. Applicants must know the Italian language at A2 level (for English-language programs) and above and be under 35 years old. The application for government scholarships opens in March-April of each year.
• University scholarships. Almost all universities in Italy offer foreign and local students various scholarships. For example, the University of Bologna (Università di Bologna) annually gives grants of 11,863 USD to undergraduate and graduate students, and the Technical University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) — from 5,392 USD to 10,785 USD.
• Private grants. Some companies also provide financial assistance to foreign students. EDISU is a regional non-profit organization supporting students who have already entered universities in the administrative area of ​​Piedmont in northwestern Italy. The decision on funding and its amount is made on the basis of the economic situation of the student and his academic achievements. Another organization — ER.GO — was created by the Italian government for students studying in art and music schools in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Student visa to Italy

Citizens of EU and EFTAIceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland countries can enter Italy with a valid national identity card or passport. The only procedure they have to follow is registering at the local Ufficio Anagrafe (registry office of the Municipality) upon arrival.

Other non-EU students are required to obtain a long-stay visa to study in Italy for a period of more than 90 days.

List of documents for a student visa to Italy:

• Application for a visa;
• A travel document, valid for at least three months after the intended date of completion of the program;
• Passport photo;
• Proof of financial viability during your stay in the country (at least 6,421 USD/year);
• Proof of available housing in ItalyRental contract or a confirmation from a University that dorm accommodation was provided;
• Health insurance;
• Language certificateIELTS, TOEFL, CELI, CILS PLIDA B1+;
• An invitation from the university or confirmation of admission.

The visa fees and the complete list of documents vary depending on the country of citizenship. You can check details here. Within 8 days upon arrival, non-EU students must apply for a permit to stay (Permesso di Soggiorno) at the local post office and pay a fee of 108 USD.

Work while studying in Italy

According to Italian law, students from EU countries have the same rights to work in Italy as Italian nationals, including full-time employment all year round. Other foreign students with a permit to stay (Permesso di Soggiorno) can work no more than 20 hours a week and 4 hours a day. A mandatory requirement when applying for a job is knowledge of Italian at a high level.

In search of work, students can go to employment centres or seek the help of student employment departments at the university. Most internships are free, but some companies pay students from 500 to 1,078 USD/month.

Immigration opportunities

Non-EU graduates of Italian universities have the right to stay in the country for one year in order to seek employment. After successful employment, foreigners receive a permanent residence permit in Italy for the purpose of work (Nulla Osta al lavoro). Please note that the number of work permits is limited by quotas: in 2019, the immigration service had the right to issue no more than 30,850 of such documents^[5].

You can apply for citizenship after 10 consecutive years of residing in Italy.

Prospects and job opportunities

• Italy. Finding employment in Italy is a difficult task, not only for foreigners but also for local residents. In 2016, nearly 50,000 Italians aged 18 to 34 left the country in search of work. The competition for existing positions is incredibly high — tens of thousands of candidates can apply for a single vacancy^[6].
• Europe. Despite the fact that there is no universally recognized European standard of education, it will be quite simple to evaluate and recognize the equivalence of the Italian diploma for work or study in another country. Graduates of architectural universities are especially valued — Italian universities in this area are among the top 50 according to the international rating QS.