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Types of higher education institutions

Italy

7.Higher education

7.1Types of higher education institutions

Last update: 27 November 2023
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Higher education in the broad sense is the set of different higher education systems:

  • the university system, that includes universities and other equivalent institutions 
  • the system of the Higher education for the fine arts, music, and dance (Alta formazione artistica, musicale e coreutica - AFAM)
  • the system of the Higher technological tertiary education (Sistema terziario di istruzione tecnologica superiore)

Universities and equivalent institutions, as well as Higher education for the fine arts, music, and dance (Afam) institutions issue first, second and third-cycle qualifications referred to the Bologna Process framework.

Higher technological institutes (ITS Academies – ITSs) offer short cycle programmes. ITSs have been recently reformed (law 99/2022). Main changes are described in the chapter on ongoing reforms in higher education, awaiting the decrees that are to define the organisation of the courses. 

A list of all institutions is available on the website of the Ministry of university and research (MUR). In addition, the portal universitaly.it provides, beside the list of all institutions, all necessary information to access higher education in Italy.

University education

The university system is made up of 97 institutes, of which:

  • 67 are State universities
  • 19 are recognised non-State universities
  • 11 are recognised non-State online universities

(Source: Ministry of university and research, last visited in March 2022)

In addition to universities other institutes award qualifications equivalent to those issued by universities:

1) Higher schools for language mediators (Scuole superiori per mediatori linguistici, SSML) are private institutions offering three-year programmes and issuing qualifications equivalent to the first-cycle qualification on language mediation sciences released by universities (DM 38/2002).

2) Specialisation institutes for psychotherapists (Istituti di specializzazione in psicoterapia) are either public or private institutions that organise specialisation courses addressed to doctors and psychologist and issue qualifications equivalent to the third-cycle qualification (Specialisation) issued by universities in the broader field of psychology (law 56/1989).

Universities are autonomous bodies. They adopt their own statutes and establish their own governing bodies (such as the rector, senate, and board of management) as well as their teaching and research structures (DM 270/2004).

Higher education for the fine arts, music and dance (Afam)

Institutes providing Higher education for the fine arts, music and dance (Alta formazione artistica, musicale e coreutica – AFAM) are 145, of which 82 are State insitutions:

  • 20 State and 18 recognised non-State Academies of fine arts (Accademie di belle arti), which main purpose is to prepare students for the practice of the arts, like painting, sculpture, decorating and scenery
  • 55 State Conservatoires (Conservatori di musica) and 18 recognised higher institutes of music which aim is teaching music
  • 5 State Higher institutes for Artistic Industries (Istituti superiori per le industrie artistiche, ISIA) that offer a specific training in the design field (graphic design).
  • 1 National Academy of Drama (Accademia nazionale di arte drammatica), in Rome, that offers training courses for actors and directors
  • 1 National Dance Academy (Accademia nazionale di danza), in Rome, which main purpose is to train dancers, soloists and choreographers
  • 27 institutes offering higher education in the arts sector, in particular design, music and fashion and authorised to issue equivalent qualifications

(Source: Ministry of university and research, last visited in March 2022)

AFAM institutes are autonomous bodies. They adopt their own statutes and establish their own governing bodies (such as the rector, senate, and board of management) as well as their teaching and research structures .

Higher technical institutes (ITS)

ITSs are specific types of foundations (half a way between associations and private foundations). The minimum organisational standards requirements foresee that ITSs should involve:

  • a vocational/technical upper secondary school situated in the same province of the foundation, which has the role of reference body and that issues the relevant qualification
  • a training institution which has been accredited by the Region for the purpose of high-level training and situated in the same province of the foundation
  • an enterprise belonging to the same productive branch of the ITS
  • a university department or any other body belonging to the technological/scientific research system
  • a local authority (municipality, province, extended urban area, etc).

The offer is available nationwide. At present, there are 118 ITSs (Source: www.indire.it/its/ last visited in March 2022).

ITSs have been recently reformed (law 99/2022). Main changes are described in the chapter on ongoing reforms in higher education, awaiting the decrees that are to define the organisation of the courses.