ECTS Course Catalogues

International Relations Office - Student Mobility
Via Giulio Alberoni, 7 00198 Rome - Italy
Tel. 0039-06-85225.722 Fax: 0039-06-86506505 E-mail: relint@luiss.it

The Italian Education system

Until 1989 and the passage of Law 168/1989 the entire Italian education system was under the control of the Ministry of Education. At that time the Ministry of Universities and Scientific Research was created to take over the responsibilities of university education and scientific and technological research.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

Until 2000 primary and secondary education was organized as follows:

• Primary education: 5 years of schooling beginning at age 6.
• Secondary education: 8 years of schooling divided into 3 years of lower secondary school followed by 5 years of upper secondary school. On completion of lower secondary school, students receive a Diploma di Licenza di Scuola Media. The upper secondary schools are of various types: classical, scientific, linguistic, artistic, technical and vocational studies as well as teacher training.

The legislator (Law 30/2000) has provided that the forthcoming 'new' school will be articulated in two cycles:

• Primary (or basic) cycle: 7 compulsory years of schooling beginning at age 6.
• Secondary cycle: 5 years (the first and the second year are compulsory). This cycle provides for four areas of specialization: classical, scientific, technical and artistic studies. On completion of the 5-year course, students take the examination for the Diploma di Maturità in the specialised area they have chosen. This diploma grants admission to an Italian university.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

Higher education is received at universities and at two polytechnic institutes. The organisation is as follows:

Academic Qualifications and Degrees

1. University Diploma

 This is a first-level university qualification for courses lasting 2/3 years. For admission to these courses students must have a Diploma di Maturità.

2. Laurea (Degree)

 The system of university study in Italy is currently undergoing an overall reform in terms of structure and didactic system. Up to now study for the laurea, the basic university degree, has taken from 4 to 6 years, depending on the field of study. From the 2001/2002 academic year, universities - armed with a large degree of organisational and management autonomy - have adopted three study cycles: the first cycle, three years in length, is characterised by a professional training type content and will conclude with the award of a first-level degree (laurea); the second cycle, lasting two years, concludes with the award of a second-level specialised degree (laurea specialistica) while the third cycle, lasting from one to two years, leads to the award of either a doctorate or a specialised postgraduate degree.

Didactic activity is organized in faculties, which offer one or more degree courses in specific academic areas. Course requirements are established by law and the laurea is obtained after the student has passed a set number of exams, gained the required credits, and successfully defended a written research paper. Admission to the laurea programme is regulated by the general rules for university admission. Courses for masters degrees may also be offered parallel to each study cycle. All study programmes must be based on the European system for the transfer of academic credits (ECTS) as provided for in recent agreements reached at EU level.

3. Research Doctorate

 The aim of the doctoral studies programmes is to offer post-graduate opportunity for research. Programmes include individual research under the guidance of professors and special seminars. The minimum period of study is three years. This third-level academic degree, called Doctor of Research, is awarded to candidates who have successfully documented their research and written a final dissertation. This programme is open to a limited number of candidates (also from foreign countries), who must be university graduates or hold equivalent degrees.

Post-graduate Diplomas of Specialization

These diplomas are awarded by schools offering special advanced courses in various professions. The limited places are reserved for university graduates or those with equivalent foreign qualifications. The courses last 2/3 years and include practical experience. Attendance is compulsory. The final examination is a defence of a written thesis.

Admission to Universities

 Automatic admission to Italian universities is granted only to holders of a diploma di maturità from an Italian secondary school. Foreign students, or Italian students from secondary schools abroad, are admitted on the basis of equivalent qualifications. There are no limitations on admission except in medicine (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine), in private independent universities (like Luiss Guido Carli), and in newly established universities/degree courses.

 Grading System

 Until 1968, secondary school grading was on a scale of 0-10 (maximum) and 6 was the minimum passing grade. From 1969 to 1999 in the secondary school final marks were on a scale of 0-60; 36 was the minimum pass grade. Since 2000 a different system has been adopted: final marks are on a scale of 0-100; 60 is the minimum pass grade.

The maximum final university grade is 110. For exceptional students the degree may be awarded cum laude. Individual courses are graded on a scale of 18-30:

< 18	= fail
18/23	= sufficient
24/26	= satisfactory
27/28	= good
29/30	= very good
30 e lode	= excellent