Study in Italy has played an important role in European higher education: it is one of the four countries that first engaged to create the so-called “European Area of Higher Education” (Sorbonne Declaration, May 1998), thus starting that type of higher education reform which, known as “Bologna Process".

BOLOGNA PROCESS

(Bologna Declaration, June 1999) is being implemented all over Europe. Today, Italy ranks among the 8 most industrialized countries in the world. Alongside some big companies, both state-owned and private, it has developed a sound network of small and medium-sized undertakings, promoted a few scientific parks, and is incentivizing basic and applied research in a great variety of fields (Biology, ICT, Medicine, Physics, etc.).

Highlights

Italy has many oldest continually operating universities in the world. University of Bologna is believed to establish in 1088.

Italy has 15 universities ranked among world top 500 in the latest rankings by QS 2015

THE ITALIAN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

At present, the university sector is made up of 89 university institutions which are classified in:

58 State universities.

• 17 non-State universities (legally recognized by the State).
• 2 Universities for foreigners.
• 6 Higher schools specialized in postgraduate university studies.
• 6 Telemetric universities.

The non-university sector includes 4 education typologies with their institutions:

Higher schools of design: polytechnics for the arts, academies of fine arts, higher institutes for applied arts, music conservatories and recognized music institutes, higher institutes for musical and choreographic studies, national academies.

Higher education in language mediation: higher schools for language mediators.

Higher integrated education (FIS): programmes of higher technical education & training (IFTS)

A few specific fields (e.g. archiving, diploma tics, restoration, military studies, etc.) which, along withtheir respective institutions, fall under the supervision of ministries other than that of Education.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Academic Calendar The academic year in Italy is made up of two semesters. The first semester starts in September/October and ends in January/February. The second semester starts in February and ends in July. The actual start and finish dates will vary in the different universities but each semester lasts around 20 weeks and is made up of a teaching period lasting around 14 weeks and an exam period lasting around 6 weeks.

Teaching and learning Most teaching still takes place in large lecture halls but this will depend very much on the single course of study. Students are also expected to carry out a considerable amount of self study outside the classroom in order to prepare for exams. Assessment Exams are held after the teaching period and are mainly oral exams although some courses will have written tests taking place during the semester or before the oral exam. Each exam will have a number of dates offered during the exam period and students can choose which date they wish to take the exam. They are also entitled to turn down a mark and take the exam again if they are not satisfied with the result.

Rules apply as to how often a student can take an exam within an examination period. Grading systems Examinations are graded according to a scale ranging from 0 to 30, with 18 as a pass mark. A “cum laude” may be added to the highest grade (30; 30 e lode) as a mention of special distinction. All examination results are used to calculate the overall degree mark on a scale of 0 – 110.

The final result is based on exam results plus the presentation of a project or dissertation in front of a Board of Examiners.

The pass mark is 66 and students who obtain full marks of 110 may also be awarded ‘summa cum laude’ (110 e lode).

SERVICES TO STUDENTS FOR WILLING TO STUDYING IN ITALY

• Profile Evalution
• Universities and Courses Selection
• Universities and Scholarship Application
• pre-environment Guidance
• Visa Guidance