Italy is a European country located south of the Alps, on the Apennine peninsula. Sardinia and Sicily are the two biggest Mediterranean islands, which form part of the country. It is a founding member of the EU, the Eurozone, and is part of the Schengen Area. Its capital city is Rome.
Italy’s economy ranks 7th globally and 4th in Europe in terms of GDP. It is defined as a market economy, with enviable freedom of trade and investments. In terms of standard of living, Italy ranks 8th globally. The country also has the third biggest gold reserve worldwide, after Germany and the USA. The country is among the ten most preferred tourism destinations worldwide.
The basics of tertiary education were laid precisely in Italy. The first university in the world was established in Bologna.
The origin of the word “university” is actually from Italy, that is, the University of Bologna, which is considered the oldest in the world, having been established as early as 1088.
The higher education institutions in Italy are 67 and are divided into universities, music and arts academies, and technical institutes (ITS). Over 50% of instructors at technical institutes are actually experienced professionals hailing from the relevant industry.
Bachelor’s programs: 3 yrs.
Master’s programs: 1-2 yrs.
A Bachelor’s degree is awarded in Italy after successfully passed years of study, while a Master’s degree is awarded after two such years. Specialties such as medicine, pharmacy, law, early pedagogics, and other follow a similar structuring as law and medicine in Europe, where the entire course of study is between 5 and 6 years. Every instructor in Italy may freely select their teaching methods, complying, naturally, with the main directives of their university of instruction.
Some 32 000 international students from over 130 countries study in Italy. The largest number of students hail from USA, being attracted by the opportunity to study in Italy, followed by Asian countries such as China, Turkey, South Korea, Iran, Russia, Japan, and India. Italy is also an attractive destination for students hailing from countries such as Brazil, Libya, and Mexico.
Students from all over the world come to Italy to study specialties like Cuisine, Arts, History, and Philology. Accademia Italiana, which has branches in Florence and Rome, is a global top destination for students wishing to study fashion and design. Nearly all programs at the Academy are taught in English. The University of Bologna, on the other hand, is famous for being among the top 50 law schools globally, making it a key choice for aspiring jurists and lawyers worldwide. Bocconi University and Politecnico di Milano increasingly attract students wishing to study economy and business due to its advanced positions in global rankings.
Here is a list of the most esteemed tertiary institutions in Italy according to QS World University Rankings® 2018:
