You are in: home > studying in Italy

Studying in Italy 

The Italian university system is organized in 3 cycles: the 1st cycle academic degree, that is Laurea, grants access to the 2nd cycle or Laurea Magistrale. The degrees awarded at the end of the first cycle of studies allow access the 3rd cycle doctorate programmes leading to the final degree Dottorato di Ricerca. 

[first cycle][second cycle][third cycle]
[academic titles][joint degrees]

First cycle degrees - Laurea

Undergraduate studies consist exclusively of 1st degree courses or bachelor courses, that are called Laurea. Such courses aim at guaranteeing undergraduate students an adequate command of general scientific methods and contents as well as specific professional skills. 

Students wishing to attend any undergraduate studies must possess an Italian school leaving qualification (that is awarded on passing the relevant State examinations and after completion of 13 years of global schooling). Foreign comparable qualifications may be accepted as well. 

Admission to individual degree courses may depend on specific course requirements.

First-degree courses last 3 years. Laurea is awarded to undergraduates who have earned 180 ECTS credits. it allows transition to the labour market and grants access to all degree programmes of the 2nd cycle: Masters of Science / Laurea Magistrale. 

Second cycle degrees - Laurea Magistrale

Postgraduate studies include Laurea Specialistica or Laurea Magistrale. They both foresee two years of continous studying and a workload of 120 ECTS credits.

The change of the second cycle degrees' name from Laurea Specialistica into Laurea Magistrale was agreed in 2004.

Laurea Magistrale or Specialistica aims at providing postgraduates with an advanced level of education for the practice of highly qualified activities in specific areas. 

Access to Laurea Magistrale is possible via the Italian 1st degree Laurea or a foreign comparable degree.

Admission depends on specific course requirements established by individual universities or Faculties. 

The final degree, Laurea Magistrale is awarded to graduates who have fulfilled all curricular requirements and successfully passed a final degree examination which focuses on the discussion of an original dissertation students are expected to write and present. 

All second cycle degrees allow transition to the labour market; they also grant access to research doctorate programmes as well as to all other degree courses within the third cycle.

Third cycle - Dottorato

The third cycle covers the following types of degree courses: A) research doctoral programmes - Corsi di Dottorato di Ricerca; B) specialisation courses - Corsi di Specializzazione.

A) PhD Programmes aim at training postgraduates for very advanced scientific research or for professional appointments of the highest responsibility; they envisage the use of suitable teaching methods such as up to date technologies, study periods abroad, placements in specialist research centres. 

Students may access after acquiring an Italian 2nd degree (Laurea Magistrale/Master of Science) or a foreign comparable degree; admission depends on passing very competitive exams. Legal length of 3rd cycle courses must be min. 3 years. 

In order to be awarded the 3rd cycle degree, Dottorato di Ricerca (research doctorate), students must elaborate, present and discuss an original dissertation. Their corresponding personal title will be Dottore di Ricerca.

B) Specialization courses are devised to provide postgraduates with knowledge and abilities as requested in the practice of highly qualifying professions; the majority concerns medical, clinical and surgical specialities, but CS have been also established for the advanced education and professional training in different contexts. CS may be established exclusively in application of specific Italian laws or EU directives. 

Access is by a Laurea Magistrale / Master of Science or by a foreign comparable degree; admission is subject to the passing of a competitive examination; course length is min. 2 years. The final degree, called "Diploma di Specializzazione"awards the title of "Specialista".

Academic Titles

The Laurea entitles to be called "Dottore", the holders of a Laurea Magistrale/Laurea Specialistica have a right to the title "Dottore Magistrale". The Research Doctorate (Dottorato) attributes the title as "Dottore di Ricerca". 

Joint Degrees

Italian universities are allowed to plan and develop degree programmes in cooperation with foreign (European and non-European) partner universities. They may therefore design integrated curricula for which joint or double/multiple degrees will be awarded.

To learn more on the University of Padova course offer of joint degree, see the following link.