Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic, is a unitary parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe. It shares borders to the north with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. To the south, it encompasses the entire Italian Peninsula as well as the two largest islands in the Mediterranean, Sicily and Sardinia.
Italy is regarded as a significant regional power and a prominent middle power, with membership in several key international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the G4, G6, G7, G8, G10, and G20. Additionally, Italy is involved in the Union for the Mediterranean, the Latin Union, the Council of Europe, the Central European Initiative, and the Uniting for Consensus. Italy holds the world’s tenth-largest nominal defense budget and participates in NATO’s nuclear sharing program. On July 1, 2014, Italy succeeded Greece as the President of the Council of the European Union.
Italy has played a key role in shaping European higher education, being one of the four founding countries that initiated the creation of the "European Area of Higher Education." This effort led to the "Bologna Process," which began with the Bologna Declaration in June 1999 and has since been adopted throughout Europe to reform higher education.
The Italian education system follows the principles of subsidiarity and school autonomy. The State is responsible for general education policies, setting minimum standards nationwide, and defining the fundamental principles that Regions must adhere to within their jurisdiction.
Italian higher education is organized into a binary system, which consists of two main sectors:
Currently, the university sector includes 89 institutions, classified as follows:
The academic year in Italy is divided into two semesters. The first semester typically runs from September/October to January/February, while the second semester spans from February to July. While start and end dates may vary by institution, each semester lasts around 20 weeks, with 14 weeks of teaching followed by a 6-week exam period.
The Italian Master's Degree should not be confused with the "Magistrale specialistica" (Italian Masters), which are one-year, more practical courses offered in professional fields like law, engineering, education, and architecture. These courses do not provide access to further academic levels and are similar to postgraduate diplomas. To pursue a Master's degree, candidates must have a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent). If you are applying for an international program (often offered in English) or an Erasmus Mundus joint Master's program, there may be no entrance exam. However, for Master's degrees in economics, business, finance, and management, you may be required to take the GMAT or GRE. Proof of English language proficiency is also required, particularly if the program is taught in English.
Students wishing to pursue a Bachelor's or Master's program in Italy must pre-enroll at the university of their choice. Pre-enrollment applications should be submitted online through www.universitaly.it, according to the diplomatic and consular jurisdictions. The following documents are typically required for pre-enrollment:
The Declaration of Value (DOV) is a document issued by the Italian Diplomatic Representative in the student's home country, confirming the authenticity and equivalence of the high school diploma. It attests that the diploma is valid for entry into university in Italy.
International students are entitled to the same student assistance services as Italian students, provided they meet the same financial and/or merit-based criteria. This includes access to scholarships, student loans, housing support, meal tickets for university refectories, and fee waivers. Scholarships are available for those undertaking study, training, and research projects at Italian Higher Education Institutions, whether state-owned or legally recognized by relevant authorities. Foreign students may also benefit from scholarships offered by Italian universities to pursue academic, training, or research programs. These scholarships aim to promote international cultural exchange, enhance the global knowledge of Italian language, culture, and science, and support the promotion of Italy's economic and technological contributions worldwide.
Student visas for study purposes (Type D "National" visa) are granted to applicants who fulfill all the requirements and conditions outlined in the current regulations, in accordance with the deadlines set by the relevant MIUIR timetables (Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research).
Required documents:
For further information about student visas, please contact your nearest office.
