Italy’s education system is divided into two categories:
University Education provided by 83 University Institutions that fall under the following formulas:
- State Universities 58 in total
State Universities that offer knowledge and scientific research and organize a postgraduate course with attending courses – seminars and research.
- Non-State Universities, 17 in total
Recognized by the state and offer equivalent level of education such as the state Technological Universities specialize in Architecture and Engineering and follow the same educational system as state-owned
- University of Foreign Students, 2 in total
State institutes specialized in the teaching, research and development and dissemination of Italian language and literature.
- Higher Institutes of Postgraduate Studies, 3 in number, they offer and PhDs
By special legislation, they are recognized by the State as institutions specialized in the provision of postgraduate studies and scientific research.
- Open Universities, 3
They offer remote programs recognized by the state body.
Non-University Education divided into 4 different categories of study:
- Higher Schools of Arts and Design
- Higher education at the Translation School
- Higher School of Pedagogical Education
- Studies for Technological Education and in fields such as librarianship, diplomacy, conservation – restoration, military studies where, along with relevant institutes of study, the respective ministries are involved in these fields, besides the Ministry of Education.
How the Universities operate:
Academic Year:
How the Universities operate
Academic year
It is divided into 2 semesters
The 1st begins in September-October and ends in January-February
The 2nd begins in February and ends in July
Exams consist of written and oral examinations during the semester.
Number of admissions
Access is restricted to the following disciplines, since the number of admissions is determined by the state, these are:
Diploma and laureate degrees in medical schools, architectural colleges
Diploma level where the teaching process involves a compulsory internship
Degree of specialization
The entrance examinations are conducted on criteria and conditions defined by the universities and published in the relevant notices of competitions.
Admission conditions:
For admission to higher education for study programs that lead to a diploma and is a secondary school certificate (“Apolyterion”).
Studying at the Medical School in the cities of Italy is one of the great choices for students in Europe.
They offer English language courses and the candidate’s introduction is achieved through the University Examinations which are held every September.
For English-language departments of medical schools, candidates are asked to participate in the IMAT Test – International Medical Admissions Test.