Education system in Italy

For Italian citizens, education in Italy is free of charge and compulsory for children aged from 6 to 16. The system is divided into two main levels: general education and higher education, comprising five stages: kindergarten, primary school, lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and university.

Both general and higher education in Italy are currently undergoing reforms to create a more flexible education system for students who wish to study in the country.

1. General education 

Kindergarten (non-compulsory): for children aged 3 to 6.

Primary education (compulsory – 5 years): for children aged 6 to 11. Subjects taught at this level include Italian, foreign languages, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, social studies, art, music, physical education, and religion (this is an optional subject, and families have the right to decide whether to include it in their children's curriculum).
At the end of Grade 5, students take the primary school leaving examination (esami di licenza elementare), which consists of written and oral tests, in order to qualify for admission to lower secondary school.

Secondary education is divided into lower secondary school and upper secondary school.

Lower secondary school (compulsory – 3 years): includes schools categorized into four fields: classical, scientific, technical, and artistic. On average, students study about 30 hours per week.
In the final year, students take a graduation examination consisting of three written tests (Italian, Mathematics, and a foreign language) and one oral examination covering multiple subjects. After completing this level, students are eligible to continue to upper secondary school.

Upper secondary school (3–5 years depending on the field of study): only the first year is compulsory for all students. The curriculum is divided into four main streams: classical, scientific and teacher training; arts; technical education; and vocational training.
After passing the State Examination (esame di stato), which includes three written tests and one oral examination, students are awarded a high school diploma.

2. Higher education 

After completing upper secondary education, students have the following options:

Vocational training courses: These are organized nationwide for upper secondary school graduates, aiming to help students apply their knowledge in practice in accordance with labor market demands. Upon completion, students must pass assessments of the skills they have acquired and are awarded certificates for employment purposes.

Higher Technical Institutes: These institutions admit both upper secondary school graduates and working adults, with the aim of providing specialized vocational training to meet the needs of industrial sectors and supply skilled labor to small and medium-sized enterprises. Upon completion, learners are awarded nationally recognized certificates.

Art Academies (AFAM): There are currently about 132 academies in Italy. These are typically institutions specializing in fields such as music, dance, fashion design, and industrial design. Each academy has its own structure depending on its area of specialization.

Universities (including Polytechnics): Italy currently has approximately 96 universities (both public and private). These institutions offer programs in five main fields: health; science and engineering; humanities, law, political science, and social sciences; economics; and architecture and construction.

Degrees awarded include:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Laurea): 3 years (180 credits)
• Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale): 2 years (120 credits) (some programs are integrated, such as Pharmacy – 5 years, Medicine – 6 years)
• Doctoral Degree (Dottorato di Ricerca): a research program lasting 3 years

For tailored guidance and full assistance throughout your study-abroad journey, please contact us HERE:

Duc Anh EduConnect

Hotline: +84 9887 09698  | +84 9630 49860 | +855 12 205 775

Email: info@educonnectgroup.com 

Website: ducanhduhoc.vn | educonnectgroup.com