Work without barriers
 
 
INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS Types of higher education institutions: Università (University) Politecnico (Technical University) Istituto Universitario (University Institute) Accademia (Academy) Istituto Superiore (Higher Institute) Scuola Superiore (Higher School) Conservatorio di Musica (Music Conservatory) Istituto Musicale Pareggiato (Legally recognized Musical Institute)   School leaving and higher education credentials: Diploma dell' Esame di Stato conclusivo dei Corsi di Istruzione Secondaria Superiore Maturità Diploma Universitario Laurea (triennale) Diploma di Laurea Attestato/Diploma di Perfezionamento Diploma di Specializziazione Laurea Magistrale Laurea Specialistica Master di 1° Livello Magister Philosophiae Master di 2° Livello Dottorato di Ricerca Dottorato di Ricerca (new system)    STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM Pre-higher education: Duration of compulsory education: Age of entry: 6 Age of exit: 15 Structure of school system: Primary Type of school providing this education: Scuola Elementare Length of program in years: 5 Age level from: 6 to: 11 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma di Licenza della Scuola Elementare Lower Secondary Type of school providing this education: Scuola Media Inferiore Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 11 to: 14 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma di Licenza della Scuola Media Inferiore Technical Secondary Type of school providing this education: Istituto Tecnico Length of program in years: 5 Age level from: 14 to: 19 Certificate/diploma awarded: Maturità Tecnica / Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del Corso di/per (name of technical option in the Istituto Tecnico concerned (since September 1999) Upper Secondary Type of school providing this education: Liceo Classico, Liceo Scientifico, Liceo Linguistico Length of program in years: 5 Age level from: 14 to: 19 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma di Maturità / Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del Corso di Liceo Classico/Liceo Scientifico (since 1999) Specialized Secondary Type of school providing this education: Istituto Magistrale, Istituto Secondario Superiore per i servizi socio-educativi Length of program in years: 5 Age level from: 14 to: 19 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma magistrale ad indirizzo "scienze sociali" or "socio-psico-pedagogico / Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del Corso di/per… (name of the option within the Istituto Secondario concerned) (since 1999) Specialized Secondary Type of school providing this education: Liceo  Artistico, Istituto d'Arte Length of program in years: 5 Age level from: 14 to: 18 Certificate/diploma awarded: Maturità Artistica / Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del Corso di/per...(name of the option within the Istituto Secondario concerned) (since 1999) Vocational Type of school providing this education: Istituto Professionale Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 14 to: 17 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma di Qualifica (name of the option within the Istituto Professionale concerned) Professional Type of school providing this education: Istituto Professionale Length of program in years: 5 Age level from: 14 to: 19 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma di Maturità Professionale di/per… / Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo dei Corsi di Istruzione Professionale di/per...(name of the option within the Istituto Professionale concerned) (since 1999) School education: Elementary education lasts for five years and leads to the Diploma di Licenza della Scuola Elementare. Secondary education covers eight years, divided into three years' lower secondary, followed by five years' upper secondary education. The upper secondary courses consist of classical, scientific, artistic, technical, vocational and teacher training options. Classical secondary school/Liceo Classico lasts for five years, with emphasis on the Humanities, but with scientific subjects in the second cycle. Scientific secondary school/Liceo Scientifico also lasts for five years,  but provides more specialized preparation in scientific subjects. The Liceo Linguistico focuses on the study of foreign languages together with the corresponding literature and civilization. The technical upper secondary programmes are offered by the Istituti Tecnici and last for five years. Vocational secondary education is provided by the Istituto Professionale, Liceo Artistico, and Istituto di Arte. All these programmes used to lead to different types of Diploma di Maturità (Maturità Classica, Scientifica, Linguistica, Artistica, Magistrale, Tecnica, etc). A Maturità was the minimum admission requirement to university studies, as well as to most programmes at non-university institutions of higher education. Since 1998-1999 the school leaving qualification is the Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del corso di… (see examples above). The options are the same as those listed for the Maturità. Stages of studies: Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type): Non-university level: I - NON-UNIVERSITY HIGHER EDUCATION (non-university level; programmes of a technical/professional nature) a) Conservation and restoration of the cultural heritage are taught at the central institutes/schools for the cultural heritage which are under the responsibility of the Ministerio dei Beni Culturali. Admission is normally open to applicants who have previous knowledge and experience in the chosen field. Courses usually last between 3 and 4 years. Short programmes are also available. They consist in further specialization for professionals who are already experienced in a given field. b) Higher integrated education: In 1998, the FIS (Formazione Integrata Superiore) initiative was promoted by MPI: . FIS aims at a more effective coordination of all professionally-orientated education at higher education level from the 3-year DU and other more advanced university programmes such as the Corsi di Perfezionamento or Professional Master's to post-secondary regional courses and the IFTS described below. FIS's objective is to re-qualify the entire system of professional education by better exploiting existing resources and facilities and making it easier for students to pass from one educational route to another. A pilot project within FIS was launched in 1998 by setting up some 150 experimental programmes of advanced technical education and training, the "Istruzione e Formazione Tecnica Superiore" (IFTS). The IFTS pilot project became official by virtue of Art. 69 of Law 144/1999. Courses last for a maximum of 4 semesters. Contents must include basic technical and scientific subjects, practical applications, training periods in private concerns or public bodies, other professionally-orientated activities "in the field" and, at intervals, occupational experiences. Practical training periods must cover no less than 30-40 % of the global length of each programme and may take place both in Italy and abroad, in EU or non-EU countries. The final qualification conferred is generally called "Attestato/Certificato di Competenza", the corresponding workload is expressed in credits so as to make the qualification valid for further studies both in Italy - either in the university system or in the 2nd or 3rd level of regional professional education - and abroad, in particular in the European Union. c) Regional education and training in other fields (Formazione Professionale regionale-FPR): it includes a variety of programmes at post-secondary level (admission by any Italian "Maturità/Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo dei corsi di istruzione secondaria superiore" or by an equivalent foreign qualification). The main fields are business, commerce, communication, computer sciences, technical disciplines related to industrial applications, marketing, tourism, etc. It also covers post-secondary programmes in Applied Arts (Design, Graphics), Cinema, Dance, Fashion, Media and Communication, Landscape Architecture, Music, Theatre, etc. All the FPR programmes are offered by schools/institutes that have been directly established either by the Regions, Provinces, Municipalities or by non-public bodies and have subsequently requested and obtained the legal recognition of all or some of their courses from the relevant offices of the above mentioned local authorities. II - HIGHER EDUCATION OUTSIDE UNIVERSITIES BUT RANKING AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL includes the following institutions and programmes: Academies of Fine Arts, Higher Schools of Design, Music Conservatories and other similar institutes, various National Academies/Schools (for Cinema, Dance, Drama and advanced musical studies) which together constitute the system of advanced education in the arts and music (AFAM); it also includes the Higher Schools for Interpreters and Translators, Higher Institutes/Schools of Psychotherapy, Schools for Archivists and Experts in Palaeography and Diplomacy, Military Academies, etc. A) State artistic education. A) EDUCATION IN THE ARTS AND MUSIC: it is offered by the institutions listed from a) to e). a) The Academies of Fine Arts (ABA) have traditionally offered four-year courses in Painting, Sculpture, Decoration and Scenography; b) The Higher Schools of Design (ISIA) used to offer four-year courses in industrial and visual design. c) The National Dance Academy (AND) offered programmes for the basic training and further specialization of dancers, choreographers and dance teachers. d) The National Academy of Drama (ANAD) offered programmes for the training of stage actors and directors. e) Music Conservatories (CM) and recognized music institutes (IMP) offered music education and training. The latest reform of state education in Fine Arts, Design, Drama, Dance and Music, the Legge 508/1999,  provides for the setting up of a new system of advanced education and specialization in the Arts and Music (the AFAM system). According to this law, music and dance education are provided by ISSMCs (higher institutes for music and dance studies), including all MCs, IMPs and AND, while education in visual arts, design and drama is offered by ABAs, ISIAs and ANAD. The AFAM system is therefore made up of ISSMCs together with all the mentioned art institutions. The AFAM institutions are endowed with full autonomy (statutory, scientific, teaching, managerial, financial). They must refer to MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) as their national reference authority for all matters related to planning, orientation and coordination (Art. 2 paragraph 3 of Law 508/99). The AFAM institutions may establish programmes at different levels, from the basic to the advanced and specialized level, and promote research in the Arts and Music. The minimum access requirement to their basic programmes is the Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo dei Corsi di Istruzione Secondaria Superiore. Admission is normally subject to an entrance examination. Final qualifications have been defined by law as equivalent to university degrees so that their holders may participate in public competitions and/or pursue more advanced studies both within the University and the non-University sectors of higher education. The full implementation of the reform will take some years, since the reorganization of curricula is still in an experimental phase. In 2004-2005, all AFAM institutions have established 1st cycle and 2nd cycle programmes (bachelor-level and master-level, respectively) which have been approved by MIUR. They are structured according to the Bologna Declaration model and are called "Corsi di Diploma Accademico di 1° livello" and "Corsi di Diploma Accademico di 2°livello". In addition to AFAM institutions, the arts and music sector includes some more higher institutions such as f) the National Music Academy (ANM di santa Cecilia) which still offers post-graduate programmes at advanced level for qualified musicians; admisssion is by a Diploma di Conservatorio (or an equivalent foreign qualification) and is subject to a very selective competition; course length varies up to a maximum of 3 years; the final qualification is called Diploma di Perfezionamento in … (the name of the subject filed follows) , an advanced diploma ranking at postgraduate level; g) the Scuola Nazionale di Cinema, which offers cinema studies for actors and directors; admission is by a highly selective national competition which is also open to foreign candidates; applicants must be aged 19-26 (maximum age for actors is 24); they must hold the Italian school leaving diploma or an equivalent foreign qualification, documentary evidence of previous education and training in the chosen specialization and adequate knowledge of  Italian; the School offers 2-3-year programmes in Acting, Direction, Production, Management, Screening, etc; all programmes apply to both cinema and television. B) OTHER FIELDS. a) Studies in interpretation and translation:  The Higher Schools for Interpreters and Translators-SSITs offer a great variety of programmes in these fields. In conformity with Law 697/86, their 3-year course leading to the Diploma di Traduttore e Interprete was restructured after the pattern of similar university qualifications; in 1993, it was remodelled according to the national typology of the 1st level university degree in the same fields, ie the DU for Interpreters and Translators. The SSIT Diploma is recognized by the State as having legal validity for professional ends. The competence for the supervision of recognized SSIT programmes was once attributed to MPI; in 1989 it was transferred to MURST.Since 2002, SSITs have been able to reform their structure and programme according to Ministerial Decree 38/02. The whole process is taking place under the supervision of the MIUR. Once reformed, the Schools will be renamed Higher Schools for Language Mediators (Scuole Superiori per Mediatori Linguistici-SSMLs). SSMLs' programmes provide students with a solid mastery of at least two foreign languages and technical written and oral language skills for professions in language mediation (interpretation and translation). These new courses last for 3 years. Their final qualification (Diplomi) is equivalent to the 1st university degree in class 3 (sciences of language mediation = scienze della mediazione linguistica) and gives access to 2nd degree classes in interpretation and translation. It requires an Italian school leaving qualification or equivalent. Admission may be subject to an entrance test to check the knowledge of both foreign languages and mother tongue. b) Studies in psychotherapy: Iin addition to the university specialization schools that offer advanced (3rd level) programmes in Psychology (clinical/health), many Higher Institutes/Schools' 4-year postgraduate programmes in Psychotherapy  devised for professional psychologists have been recognized by the Ministry for University and Research (MURST). c) Archival studies, palaeography, diplomacy: Schools for archivists and experts in Palaeography and Diplomacy are state institutions of university rank that fall under the supervision of the Ministry for the National Cultural Heritage. They are established at the State archives in several cities. Their main purpose is to provide the theoretical notions and practical experience required to record and rearrange documents, etc. or to carry out research in related fields. Admission requirements include knowledge of Latin and the passing of a selective competition. Programmes last for two years and lead to the award of a Diploma in Archival Studies, Palaeography and Diplomacy (Diploma di archivistica, paleografia e diplomatica) which is equivalent to the diploma conferred by the Special School for Archivists and Librarians of the University La Sapienza in Rome.     NATIONAL BODIES Administration & co-ordination: Responsible authorities: MIUR - Ministero dell' Istruzione, dell' Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research) Head: Letizia Moratti, Minister Direzione Generale Università e AFAM
Piazale Kennedy, 20
00144 Roma
Italy Tel: +39(06) 58491 WWW: http://www.miur.it   Role of governing body: Plans and coordinates developments and changes in the university and university-level systems.   CUN - Consiglio Universitario Nazionale (National University Council) Head: Luigi Labruna, Presidente Piazzale Kennedy 20
00144 Roma
Italy Tel: +39 (06) 59912502-2622 EMail: cun@miur.it WWW: http://www.miur.it/cun/   Role of governing body: Elected body carrying out advisory functions.   CRUI - Conferenza dei Rettori delle Università Italiane (Italian University Rectors' Conference) Head: Piero Tosi, Presidente Administrative officer: Alessandro Bianchi, Segretario generale Piazza Rondanini 48
00186 Roma
Italy Tel: +39 (06) 684411 Fax: +39 (06) 68441399 EMail: segreteria@crui.it WWW: http://www.crui.it   Role of governing body: Investigates and analyses issues regarding the university system.   Comitato Nazionale di Valutazione del Sistema Universitario (National Committee for the Assessment of the University System) Head: Luigi Biggeri, Presidente Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca scientifica e tecnologica, P.le Kennedy, 20
00144 Roma
Italy Tel: +39 (06) 5991 2111/2809 Fax: +39 (06) 5991 2223 EMail: valuniv@murst.it WWW: http://www.murst.it/valutazionecomitato/default.htm   Role of governing body: Fixes the general criteria for the assessment of university activity.    GRADING SYSTEM Usual grading system in secondary school Full Description: 0-10 Highest on scale: 10 Pass/fail level: 6 Main grading system used by higher education institutions Full Description: For Laurea: 0-110 (66 as min. passing grade) + con lode/cum laude. For examinations during the degree: 0-30 with 18 as the pass mark. For specialist diploma, the most common scale is: 0-70, 42 being the qualifying grade. AFAM institutions use the same grading scale as universities: 0-110 ( 66 as minimum passing grade) + code lode/cum laude, to assess performance in the final degree examinations; 0-30 with 18 as the passing grade to assess individual subject exams during the degree course. http://www.miur.itmailto:cun@miur.ithttp://www.miur.it/cun/mailto:segreteria@crui.ithttp://www.crui.itmailto:valuniv@murst.ithttp://www.murst.it/valutazionecomitato/default.htmshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5shapeimage_1_link_6
Structure of Educational System (from primary to high schools including technical and vocational schools) home