How to get an education in Italy? Kindergartens, schools, universities

The education system in Italy

The education system in Italy, as in other countries, is multi-stage.

The preschool stage is divided into:

1. Kindergarten (asilo nido) for kids from 6 months to 3 years old (in fact a nursery).
2. A children's school (scuola matera) for children from 3 to 6 years old (in fact, a kindergarten).

Next are the stages of compulsory secondary education:

1. Primary school (scuola primaria) for children from 6 to 11 years old.
2. Secondary school (scuola media) for children from 11 to 14 years old.

Middle school students continue to study basic subjects and complete the course by passing final written exams. They will also have to defend their first thesis in front of the teachers' commission! The topic of this mini-study should be related to five different school disciplines.

     3. Higher school (scuola superiore) for children from 14 to 18 years old   a stage lasting 5 years, only 2 of which are mandatory.

The strategy of higher education depends on future plans. A young person can choose:

• A professional institute (in fact, a college). You get a specialty and after 2 years you go to work.
• A technical institute (in fact, a college). It gives you a profession, but after graduation you can continue your studies at the university.
• Lyceum. He has been preparing for admission to the university for 5 years. This is where a particularly intense study begins!

Lyceums come in different directions, both technical and humanitarian. Their goal is to provide children with the opportunity to delve into those subjects that they are better at.

The main types of lyceums:

• Classic. There is a lot of literature, it is necessary to study ancient Greek and Latin.
• Scientific. It is ideal for people with a mathematical, logical mindset, an excellent base for further medical education.
• Artistic. The focus is on graphics, design and fashion.
• Linguistic. Special attention is paid to the study of foreign languages.

How to decide on the choice of a particular lyceum or college? The project of the Agnelli Charitable Foundation helps schoolchildren and their parents Eduscopio. The rating of lyceums and specialized institutes is published on the website annually at the end of November. Educational institutions are evaluated according to such parameters as the percentage of graduates entering universities, the percentage of those who dropped out after completing the compulsory program, and so on.

The logical conclusion of 5 years of study is the state final exam, which is mandatory for admission to a university.

Kindergartens in Italy

Kindergartens in Italy are paid, although they are part of the state education system. In some municipalities, there are not enough places in gardens, and it is not so easy to arrange a child.

The amount of payment depends on the income of the family. Benefits are provided only to working parents.

A nursery costs about 450,500 euros per month, and a kindergarten costs 150 200 euros. We add here the cost of meals and excursions.

Kindergartens are divided into:

• government,
• private,
• paritarie. 

The paritarian gardens are equated to the state ones. They often practice Montessori or Waldorf education.

Schools in Italy

What are the features of Italian schools?

• A ten-point rating system, where 10 is the highest score.
• There are only two breaks in elementary school, and in middle and high school there is only one break, which lasts 15 minutes.
• A free atmosphere in the classroom. Italians are very emotional, and the teachers here do not require the silence we are used to in the classroom.
• The emphasis is on the development of students' critical thinking and analytical abilities. A lot of teamwork and projects.
• The school year usually starts in mid-September and ends in mid-June, and the summer holidays last about 3 months. Winter holidays are short - about two weeks, there are no other holidays between quarters.

Schools in Italy also differ in:

• government,
• private,
• paritarie. 

Public ones are free, private ones are paid, and the partisan ones are partially funded by the state and partially by parents. Paritarie adhere to the same training program as the state ones.

Education in public schools is mainly appreciated in Italy. However, there are several well-established private and partisan schools in the country. There are not many of them, and they are located in large cities such as Milan, Florence, Rome.

The difference between private schools is that they cannot issue a certificate. To confirm their education, a graduate of a private educational institution must pass a state exam.

A separate place is occupied by international schools with teaching according to the American, Canadian, and French programs. There are such schools in Milan, Rome, Florence, Rimini, Siena, Turin, as well as in the regions on Lake Como and Lake Garda.

As an example, consider the international school in Florence, the Intenational School of Florence (ISF), whose graduates receive an IB (International baccalaureate) diploma, that is, they can enroll in universities around the world.

ISF rates:

• Pre-school education – 4500 euros per year
• Primary school - 18,790 euros per year
• 6th–8th grade – 20,690 euros per year
• 9th–10th grade – 21,800 euros per year
• 11th–12th grade – 25,000 euros per year

There are no Russian schools as such in Italy, but there are weekend courses open to immigrants. Children learn Russian language and literature on them.

Universities in Italy

Higher education in Italy consists of three stages.

1. Bachelor's degree

Laurea (3 years, 180 CFU*)

2. There are 2 types of Master's degree programs:

• Laurea magistrale (2 years, more academic program, 120 CFU),
• Master universitario di 1 livello (1 year, more practical orientation, from 60 CFU)

3. There are 3 types of doctoral candidates:

• Dottorato di ricerca (3 years old, PhD equivalent),
• Specializzazione di 2 livello (from 2 to 6 years old),
• Master Universitario di 2 livello (from 1 year).

At medical faculties, a 6-year course of study without division into bachelor's and master's degrees. Engineering majors will also take longer to study.

*CFU is the number of credits, or academic load indicators, that a student needs to gain in order to successfully complete the course. 1 CFU is equal to 25 hours of educational activity, which may include lessons, laboratory work, internships, and so on.

The rating system in Italy is peculiar, 30-point: 18 points minimum, 30 points maximum.

Is the Italian diploma quoted?

Italian education is in good standing in the world. The country has a long academic tradition, especially in fields such as art, architecture, history, medicine and engineering.It is worth choosing Italy to study if you are interested in such areas as fashion, design, and archaeology.

The best universities in Italy, according to the national ranking for 2024:

1. Polytechnic University of Milan (123rd place in QS World University Rankings)
2. La Sapienza University in Rome (134th place in the world ranking)
3. University of Bologna (154th place)
4. University of Padua (219th place)
5. Polytechnic University of Turin (252nd place)
6. University of Milan (276th place)
7. University of Naples Federico II (335th place)
8. University of Pisa (349th place)
9. University of Florence (358th place)
10. University of Turin (364th place)

The University of Bologna is the oldest in Europe. It traces its history back to 1088. Several other universities in Italy, which are from 700 to 900 years old: the University of Padua (founded in 1222), the University of Naples Federico II (founded in 1224), the University of Siena (founded in 1240), the University of La Sapienza in Rome (founded in 1303), the University of Perugia (founded in 1303), University of Florence (founded in 1321).

The best for obtaining an engineering profession are considered to be: PolytechnicThe University of Milan and the Polytechnic University of Turin.

How can a foreigner enter an Italian university?

The first thing to keep in mind is that Italy has a 12-year secondary education, unlike Russia and post-Soviet countries. This means that a girl or a young man from the Russian Federation will need one additional year before applying to an Italian university.

What kind of tactics can there be in this case:

1. Admission to Italy after one or two years of study at a university in the homeland.
2. Admission to a preparatory course in Italy - the so-called foundation year. You will need a CILS, CELLI certificate or a CISIA L2 test for the Italian program or an official certificate of English proficiency at the B1/B2 level for the English program.

Many foreigners choose Italy for their education. There are several reasons:

1. Low-cost education compared to other European countries. You can find programs in public universities for 800 3,000 euros per year.

2. There are many scholarships that allow you to study almost for free.

3. The relatively low cost of living, especially in small towns.

Renting a house will cost 300–600 euros per month (in Rome or Milan 500–900 euros). Monthly living expenses: 400 900 euros per month, depending on lifestyle and region (the north of the country is more expensive). It should be noted that it is possible to get a place in a dormitory from the university, but it is not always possible.

4. The relative ease of admission.

There are many programs with open access, that is, where you can enroll without an exam. The selection is based on a motivation letter and/or a portfolio. For courses with closed access, you will need to take an entrance test (for example, TOLC).

5. There are many programs with instruction in English, especially undergraduate courses.

6. The opportunity to change the specialty to a related one at the master's degree.

7. It is relatively easy to get a student visa.

You will need proof of financial viability. This can be a deposit in a bank account in the amount of 13,200 euros, but there is no requirement to freeze it for a certain period.

8. During the training period, it is allowed to work 20 hours a week.

9. After graduation, a foreigner is given a year to find a job in the country or start a business. Then the student visa ceases to be valid.

What are the types of scholarships:

• internal university awards for academic merit,
• state (MAECI, IYI),
• regional (DSU).

Many public universities in Italy provide a DSU scholarship. Its size: up to 7,500 euros and sometimes more. The amount of the scholarship is influenced by the family welfare index ISEE. It is calculated using a complex formula: the composition of the family, the income of each family member, the availability of real estate affects.

The picture turned out to be attractive, however, when making a choice in favor of Italy, it is necessary to be well aware of the peculiarities of the local system:

1. The simplicity of admission is compensated by the difficulties in learning. Not all students complete the course and receive a diploma. Although in general the approach is flexible. You can adjust the exam schedule for yourself, retake them.

2. Success largely depends on self-discipline. Practically no one monitors your attendance, there is no division into small groups, curation by groups, which is usual for Russian universities.

3. Getting a job in Italy after graduation is not as easy as in many other countries.

Summary

A family moving to Italy will be able to give their children a good education in this country, both free in public schools and paid in international schools.

Italy is not a bad option for young people who want to get or continue their education abroad, but who do not have too big a budget. This is especially true in such areas as art, design, architecture, fashion, engineering, medicine, and archaeology.

 

Thank you for the help in preparing the material from our experts in Italy:

Ekaterina Khlystova, real estate agent of the companyREAL Prestige Properties

Elena Dvurechenskaya, director of the companyITALCASA

 

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