Secondary Education

Secondary education in Italy is divided into two main cycles. The first cycle, scuola secondaria di primo grado (lower secondary school), lasts three years for students aged 11 to 14 and concludes with a compulsory state exam. Following this, students choose between different upper secondary paths (scuola secondaria di secondo grado), which last five years for students aged 14 to 19.

The main upper secondary options are Licei (academic tracks focusing on classics, science, or languages), Istituti Tecnici (technical institutes), and Istituti Professionali (vocational institutes). All paths culminate in the Esame di Stato, a comprehensive national exit exam. Success in this exam, which includes written tests and an oral interview, awards the Diploma di Maturità and is essential for university admission.

Higher Education

Italy's higher education system is comprised of universities, polytechnics, and institutes for fine arts, music, and dance. The country boasts some of the world's oldest and most prestigious universities, including the University of Bologna, founded in 1088.

University education is structured in a three-cycle system following the Bologna Process: a three-year Laurea (Bachelor's degree), a two-year Laurea Magistrale (Master's degree), and a three-to-five-year Dottorato di Ricerca (PhD). Italian universities are particularly renowned for their strengths in design, architecture, engineering, and classical studies, combining theoretical depth with a strong emphasis on research and critical analysis.