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Overview of Italian Higher Education
Italy's higher education system is known for it's many schools of art and design but also includes a strong system of public and private universities and polytechnical schools. There are well over 100 institutions of higher education, which are overseen by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, otherwise known as MIUR. Funding for public higher education comes primarily from the government.
Types of Schools and Degrees
The Italian post-secondary education system consists of three major categories of education: universities, a systems of schools of the arts, design and music, known as the Afam system and schools of engineering and architecture. Degrees are awarded at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral level but are often referred to as 1st cycle, 2nd cycle and 3rd cycle, respectively. As a result of the European Bologna agreement of 1999, these degrees are equivalent to degrees awarded across the European Union as well as many other countries.
Tuition at public universities varies by school but is typically under 1000 euros a year but may be higher for master's and doctoral programs as well as some specialized programs. Tuition at private institutions is set by the individual school but is typically much higher than for the public institutions.
International Students
International students have made up about 11 percent of Italy's higher education enrollment in recent years with many students drawn to arts, history and architecture programs. It is one of the most popular countries for foreign students who want to study abroad, particularly for those who want to pursue an art or design degree.
Citizens of any country are eligible to attend Italian schools of higher education as long as they meet the entrance requirements and as long as the quotas for non-EU citizens are not already filled. Students need to have completed 12 years of schooling and have met all requirements that would allow them to attend university-level schools in their own country. They must also prove proficiency in Italian which typically requires taking a proficiency exam. Some programs such as those in medicine, architecture, education and the arts require that candidates pass an entrance exam which may be specific to a school or determined by a central authority, depending on the type of program. These language and entrance exams need to be taken in Italy.
Tuition fees for international students are the same as for Italian citizens and vary by school. They are usually under 1000 euros a year for public university bachelor's degree programs but are higher for private schools, graduate level and specialized programs.
More information can be found at Study in Italy, a government sponsored website that provides information for non-citizens who want to study in Italy.
About Italy
Italy is a country of about 57 million people which is well known for its rich culture of art, history and tradition which can be traced back to its ancient Greek and Roman beginnings as well as the Renaissance period. Italy has one of the highest ten GDPs in the world, is ranked in the top ten on the Quality of Life Index and attracts the fifth most tourists of any country. It is one of the four counties that initiated European higher education reform known as the Bologna process. Although improving, the percentage of adults who earn a post-secondary degree is lower than most other western countries.
Resources
Study in Italy – Italian Higher Education for International Students
Italy's Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) (Italian language)
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