The higher education system in Italy is divided into universities and non-university institutions. They can be classified as follows:
Universities - includes both private and publicly funded, with the majority being the latter. This includes graduate schools (Scuola Superiore Universitaria), telematics universities and those funded by province. There are 97 universities in total, plus 12 national research centres.
Non-universities - these are sector-specific academies specialising in the field of arts, known as AFAM (Institutes of High Training in Art, Music and Dance). There are 137 of these across the country, as well as technical institutions, schools of higher education in language mediation and schools of higher integrated education.
The Bologna Process, which standardised higher education qualifications throughout Europe in 1999, is named after the University of Bologna - founded in 1088, it's the world's oldest university.
Due to this reform, qualifications are structured as follows:
First cycle/Laurea Triennale - comparable to a Bachelors/undergraduate degree (180 credits) and lasts three years.
Second cycle/Laurea Magistrale - consists of two years of study, and is equivalent to a Masters degree (120 credits).
Specialist Masters programmes/Master Universitario di 1° Livello - usually involve one year of study and provide students with professional knowledge (60 credits).
Postgraduate diploma/Specializzazione di 2° Livello - a two-year course training specialists for certain professional sectors.
Single cycle Masters programmes/Laurea Magistrale Ciclo Unico - a five or six year Masters programme allowing entry for school leavers (300-360 credits).
Third cycle/Dottorato di Ricerca - three-year, PhD-level programmes.
The academic year in Italy is split into two semesters. The first runs from September/October to January/February, with the second commencing in February and ending in July.
EU students don't need a visa to study in Italy, long as they:
are studying for more than three months
are enrolled at an approved university/other educational institution
have sufficient income (from any source) to live without needing income support
have comprehensive health insurance cover.
International or non-EU students will need to apply for an Italian study visa at their local Italian embassy or consulate. You may be asked to submit:
a valid entry visa application form and the €50 (£45) admin fee
a valid passport
a recent passport photograph
proof of accommodation in Italy for the duration of your studies
evidence of sufficient funds
valid health insurance details
an acceptance letter from an Italian institution.
Non-EU students need to apply for a residence permit in the city where you'll be living within eight days of arrival. This can be done at your local post office in Italy and you'll be supplied with the relevant application information.