10 - Italy - Branches of study, specialisation
Non-university tertiary education
The Afam institutes, which issue certifications equivalent to the Lauree offer a
highly qualified professional specialisation: in the field of art, with specialisations in painting, sculpture,
decoration and set designing; in the field of dramatic arts with courses for actors and directors present
in the National Academy of Drama; in the field of dance, with the specialisations for soloist dancer,
choreographer and teacher; in the field of music, at the Conservatoires, now Higher Institutes for Music
and Dance.
The departments co-ordinate teaching, research and production activities and are
responsible for the general educational offer of the schools under their responsibility. The schools are
responsible for the teaching activities of their courses at various level. The courses of each school can
also be organised in more branches, according to specific contents.
Courses at Afam institutes are organised as follows:
1st cycle:
three-year courses leading to the first-level Diploma accademico (180 CA or Ects credits);
2nd cycle:
two-year courses leading to the second-level Diploma accademico (120 CA). Its duration
may be changed through Ministerial decree according to specific requirements of some art
or music subjects, also in the respect of the parameters for the international recognition of
qualifications;
courses leading to the Specialisation Diploma accademico, which duration can vary; courses leading to the Diploma di perfezionamento o Master, which duration is minimum
one year (60 CA).
Non-university higher education institutes, not included in the Afam system, offer a vocational
specialisation in very different areas, ranging from restoration, cinematography, regulation for the
arrangement and keeping of archives, to training of army officers and public safety force, and
interpreters and translators training (6.5.1.). Among all the institutes offering a specialisation in the
above mentioned sectors, only the Higher schools for linguistic mediators, which train interpreters and
translators, issue certifications that are equivalent to lauree (L).
University tertiary education
Regulation no. 509 of 3 November 1999 has established the new structure of the Italian university
teaching system through general criteria that allow universities to plan autonomously their own study
courses. The courses reform began to be implemented in academic year 2001/02, therefore the old
courses have existed until they have been gradually and completely phased out; in some cases, they
can still be active.
Each University regulates its study courses through its teaching regulations: it establishes the name
and the formative objectives of its courses the general framework of the formative activities of the
curricula, the credits for each formative activity as well as the procedures of the final test to obtain the
qualification.
The reform foresees a new organisation of the courses to obtain the 1st and 2nd cycle qualifications:
1st cycle:
three-year laurea (L) course (180 CFU or Ects credits);
2nd cycle:
two-year laurea specialistica/magistrale course (120 CFU); it is required a laurea (L) for
admission;
first-level Diploma di specializzazione courses; their duration can vary; it is required a
laurea (L) for admission;
first-level Master universitario course, lasting at least one year (60 CFU); it is required a
laurea (L) for admission.
The above described (laurea (L) and laurea magistrale, 3 + 2 years) model doesn’t apply to the
health/medical area; medicine and surgery, veterinary science and dentistry are still organised in one
only cycle (6 or 5 years) according to European regulations.
The same applies to architecture, pharmacy and law: universities of these sectors can decide
autonomously to start up their courses according to the 3 + 2 system (laurea (L) and laurea
magistrale), or one-cycle laurea magistrale courses lasting 5-6 years; architecture and pharmacy onecycle
courses are activated according to the relevant European Union directives. As far as law is
concerned, three-year Laurea (L) courses of the lauree class in juridical services, train for professional
profiles like work consultant, jurist, judicial operator, expert in trade-union relationships, whereas the
one-cycle (five years) laurea magistrale courses train for legal professions (lawyer, judge, notary).
The new classes of the lauree (L) and of laurea magistrale have been laid down at national level for all
universities: 43 classes of laurea (L) and 100 classes of laurea magistrale.
One class groups together more Laurea (L) or Laurea magistrale courses with the same qualifying
formative objectives and, as a consequence, the same essential formative activities established at
national level for each laurea class. Universities will decide to activate or not the courses within the
various classes; their decision will be taken in the respect of their academic history and tradition as
well as according to the labour market requirements and international competition.
Courses and classes are organised in study areas: sanitary, scientific, social and classical areas. A
complete list of laurea (L) and laurea magistrale classes is accessible on the national data base,
regularly updated.
Postgraduate level
The research Doctorate courses fall within the scientific research big areas and are established
by each university regulations, as provided by Law 210/98.
The second-level Diploma di specializzazione courses are principally activated for clinical surgical
subjects; furthermore they offer specialised training for legal professions (lawyers, judges, notaries), or
secondary school teachers.
The second-level Master universitario courses can be offered in many subject areas.
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
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