Higher education in Italy is mainly provided by a large and international network of public and state affiliateduniversities. State-run universities of Italy are under the supervision ofItalian's Ministry of Education. There is also a number of private universities and state-run post-secondary educational centers providing a vocational instruction.
Italian universities are among the oldest universities in the world. In particular theUniversity of Bologna (founded in 1088, theoldest university in the world), theUniversity of Padua, founded in 1222, and theUniversity of Naples, founded in 1224, are among the most ancient state universities inEurope.[4][5] Most universities in Italy are state-supported.
33 Italian universities were ranked among the world's top 500 in 2019, the third-largest number in Europe after the United Kingdom and Germany.[6] TheBocconi University,Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore,LUISS,Polytechnic University of Turin,Polytechnic University of Milan,Sapienza University of Rome, andUniversity of Milan are also ranked among the best in the world.[7]
In 2023, 385,952 students graduated, of which 57,3 % are women[8]
Universities inItaly fits the framework of theBologna Process since the adoption, in 1999, of the so-called3+2 system. The first level degree is theLaurea triennale that can be achieved after three years of studies. Selected students can then complete their studies in the following step: two additional years ofspecialization which leads to theLaurea Magistrale.
The "Laurea triennale" corresponds roughly to abachelor's degree while the "Laurea Magistrale" corresponds to amaster's degree. Only the Laurea Magistrale grants access to third cycle programmes (Post-MA degrees, doctorates or specializing schools), that last 2 to 5 years (usually completing a PhD takes 3 years). However, there is just a single five-year degree "Laurea Magistrale Quinquennale" (Five-Year Master of Arts) for some programmes such as Law (Facoltà di Giurisprudenza), Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti) and Music (Conservatorio di Musica). Medical schools (Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia) are part of some universities and they only offer six-year courses. The title for MA/MFA/MD/MEd graduate students isDottore (abbreviation inDott./Dott.ssa orDr., meaningDoctor). This title is not to be confused with the PhD and Post-MA graduates, whose title isDottore di Ricerca (Research Doctor orPhilosophy Doctor).
The Italian master's degree should not be confused with Italian "Masters" that are one-year specialistic postgraduate courses which guarantee a more practical education but do not necessarily give access to doctoral studies.
Universities in Italy can be divided into 4 groups:
TheSuperior Graduate School (Grandes écoles)[9] orScuola Superiore Universitaria offer recognized national and international titles, including theDiploma di Perfezionamento equivalent to aDoctorate,Dottorato di Ricerca i.e.Research Doctorate orDoctor Philosophiae i.e.Ph.D.[10] and are recognized by theMinistry of Education, Universities and Research (Italy) (MIUR)[11] as fully autonomous. Some of them also organize coursesmaster's degree, individually, or jointly with the universities with whom they work likeBologna Business School orMIP Politecnico di Milano.
There are three Superior Graduate Schools with "university status", three institutes with the status of Doctoral Colleges, which function atgraduate andpost-graduate level. Nine further schools are direct offshoots of the universities (i.e. do not have their own 'university status').
The first one is theScuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (founded in 1810 byNapoleon as a branch ofÉcole Normale Supérieure), taking the model of organization from the famousÉcole Normale Supérieure.
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies also has long history of existence within overall Italian educational excellence, as its origins are inCollegio Medico-Giuridico ofScuola Normale Superiore di Pisa andConservatorio di Sant’Anna, an even older educational institution originating its roots in the 14th century.[12]
These institutions are commonly referred to as "Schools of Excellence" (i.e. "Scuole di Eccellenza").[9][13]
Higher education in Italy is mainly covered by universities (Sistema di accreditamento degli studi universitari MIUR e verifica standard qualitativi ANVUR) and superior graduate schools, with almost no professional or vocational school following the secondary education. This is considered a weak point of the Italian post-secondary education.[14] However, Italian system provides a few vocational schools and courses. There are two main vocational paths after having obtained a secondary degree: those courses called "Istruzione e Formazione Tecnica Superiore" (IFTS; "Higher technical training and education"), and the "Istituti Tecnici Superiori" (ITS; "Higher technical institutes").
The first ones, IFTS, were established in the late nineties and are managed on regional basis. An IFTS course lasts between 1 and 2 years and it is usually strictly connected with a secondary school specialised in the same field of studies.[14] These courses were generally unsuccessfully: in 2007 on a number of 450.000 students with a secondary degree, only 2430 of them (0,54%) followed an IFTS course.[14] The ITS, created in 2008, lasts 2 years and are managed by a secondary institute in collaboration with local universities or institutions.[14]
In 2013, only 59 professional higher courses were available.[14]
![The Polytechnic University of Milan, Lombardy, is the city's oldest university, founded in 1863. It is the best university in Italy.[15]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aPOLIMI_Piazza_Leonardo_da_Vinci_32_-_on_the_right_the_building_3.jpg)
![Sapienza University of Rome, Lazio. . It was founded in 1303 and is as such one of the world's oldest universities,[16] and with 122,000 students, it is the largest university in Europe.[17]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSant%2527Ivo_alla_Sapienza_-Rome.jpg)
![Polytechnic University of Turin, Piedmont. It is ranked (QS World University Rankings) 28th worldwide for Mechanical Engineering, 22nd for Petroleum Engineering, 21st for Architecture and is among the top 100 (52nd) engineering and technology universities in the world.[19]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aValentino_castle.jpg)
![Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Veneto. Its teaching and research is centred around economics & business, humanities, and modern languages.[20]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCa%2527_Giustinian_%252B_Ca%2527_Foscari_Venedig.jpg)
