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Get more information about the basics and the Higher Education Area in several countries!
Checklist to study abroad >
Study in Germany >
Study in France >
Study in Spain >
Study in Italy >
Who do not want to start the day with a Cappucino and a Cornetto and spend the evening with all friends on the Piazza, to drink Vino and have fun? Italy offers not only Dolce Vita, sunshine and friendly people, but also more than 2000 years of culture and a language that sparkles with vitality. Hence it is no surprise that the most of us are dreaming of living in such a country and becoming acquainted with its traditions. Rome, Florence and Bologna certainly are the favourites of the foreign students.
What types of universities do exist and how are they organised?
All-over Italy there are more than 80 public and private universities, where you can achieve a university degree. The different terms and orientations of these universities refer to the plenitude of the learning opportunities, but all of them are combined under the term university. Besides these there is a large number of academies leading in different ways to a special degree, which is coequal to a university degree. Another type of university are the universities for foreigners, where students from all parts of the world can widen their knowledge of the Italian language and culture. Also the possibility of a distance study is offered by some Italian universities in the form of different orientated online-courses.
To afford a better orientation, the following classification gives a compendium of the possibilities:
Every year approximately 330 000 students register themselves for studies. The outcome of this is a comparative constant number of 1,8 million students in the whole country since years. At the "Sapienca" in Rome alone they have more than 130 000 students. The quota of foreign students amount about 26 000.
How are the studies organised?
In Italy, you're not talking about terms but about the Anno accademico, the academic year. Officially, it starts in September and lasts until July. But the courses start - depending on the university - not till October or November. The period of examinations then begins in May. Since 2002, the whole Italian system of higher education is going to be reformed in the course of the Bologna Process. Students can aspire to three different levels of studies, which require a different number of credit points. You start your studies with the Laurea di primo livello (according to the bachelor). The studies take three years and the graduates are able to enter the world of work. The second stage of higher education provides different possibilities of postgraduate programmes. One of them is the two years lasting Corso di laurea specialistica, whose degree is equate to the international Master. The last and highest level is limited to a kind of doctorate (corso di dottorato di ricerca) or further possibilities of specialisation.
Do they have tuition fees in Italy?
In all Italian universities they charge tuition fees. The amount is made up of a countrywide standardised and annual payable registration fee, and of a specific sum of the respective university, which is for service and the support of studies. Therefore it's not possible to declare a lump sum for all Italian Universities. Every university has designed its own cost model. At the best you try to contact the chosen universities in good time to find out their mode of payment. Fortunately, there are mostly rebate possibilities for students, whose family has a low earning. The fees of the public universities are normally a little bit cheaper. For an approximate value you can estimate 600-800 Euro per year.
Requirements and application possibilities
Studies in Italy require the higher education entrance qualification, which can be conformed via a "Dichiarazione di valore" to the standard of the Italian Maturità. Because they have no advanced technical college entrance qualification colleges and no technical colleges in Italy, there might be problems with the acceptance. If you are not sure, you should ask at the university of your choice. The necessary requirement for successful studies is good language ability, which you can prove by the certificates CILS and CELI. These are accepted at all Italian universities. The application itself is comparatively uncomplicated. Interested people can apply directly at the universities. But of course you should attend to the official periods of application, so try to get all the necessary information and material in time! Countrywide, there are only the the medical courses, architecture and education science which have an admission restriction. For all the others, the separate universities decide about the requirements. If you want to apply for a "Numero chiuso" (a course with an admission restriction), you have to pass a qualifying examination.
Specifics?
Some of the Italian universities offer a language course for foreign students, before the official Anno accademico starts. Depending on the university, they take place in September or October. But do not worry, if "your" university don't offer such a course. You have the possibility to get an appropriate certificate at the so called "Università per stranieri" (universities for foreigners). These universities communicate the necessary linguistic and cultural competence to the international students for studies in Italy.
Important links
The Ministerio dell’università e della ricerca offers first entrance options for your first research:
www.miur.it
The universities for foreigners in Perugia and Siena:
www.unistrapg.it/ (Perugia)
www.unistrasi.it/ (Siena)
Informations about entrance examinations and news of the Italian university life:
www.alphatest.it
One of the important Italian newspapers:
www.repubblica.it
Search all Universities, Bachelor and Master courses in Italy >