Italy

About

Italy is located in the southern Europe region and is a part of the European Union. It is considered as one of the world’s most culturally and economically advanced countries. The country has greatly influenced and contributed to diverse fields, notably the arts, music, literature, philosophy, science and technology, fashion, cinema, cuisine, sports, as well as jurisprudence, banking, and business. As a reflection of its cultural wealth, Italy is home to the world's largest number of World Heritage Sites and is the fifth-most visited country.
Italy offers a very diverse range of higher education options. Listed below are a few features that make it student-friendly.

Renowned Institutions

Italian universities are some of the oldest and most renowned ones in the world. The reorganization of these universities has resulted in a new concept of university institutions. The quality of education is very high with excellent facilities, highly qualified faculty and top-rated programs. As one of the safest counties in the world, Italy provides an environment where security is taken as read.

Professionalism

The high competencies provided by the universities and academies make Italy a sought after study abroad destination. There are counseling sessions and support provided by the universities during their course of studies which makes them student-friendly.

Variety

Higher education programs are based on a credit system known as the European Credit Transfer System, which enables the students to plan their studies.

Opportunities

Italy is at the forefront in several fields of higher education many of which correspond to the most developed professional sectors of the labor market. This paves the way to plenty of opportunities for the students.

Mix of Diversity

It's a huge understatement to say that travel broadens the mind. Studying and living in a foreign environment will challenge the worldview of students, and introduce them to new people, a new culture, and a whole new world of diverse sights and spectacles.

Right blend

Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it has a rich collection of arts, culture, and literature from many different periods as well as a long tradition in numerous sports, both at the individual and team level. Students can enjoy a high and unique quality of life and a welcoming atmosphere.

The education system in Italy is divided into four main parts, primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education, and higher education. Higher education is mainly provided by a large and international network of public and state affiliated universities. State-run universities of Italy are under the supervision of the Italian's Ministry of Education. There are many private universities and state-run post-secondary educational centers providing vocational instruction.
Italian universities are among the oldest universities in the world. In particular, the University of Bologna and the University of Naples are among the most ancient state universities in Europe. Most universities in Italy are state-supported.

Higher education in Italy

Many universities in Italy fit to the framework of the Bologna process since its adoption in 1999, which is called the 3+2 system. Universities in Italy can be divided into four groups. State-funded public universities, Universities funded by other public authority, Private universities officially recognized by the Ministry of Education and Superior graduate schools, which focus only on postgraduate education. They are made up of colleges that are dedicated to a specific subject matter. However, there is just a unique five-year master’s degree in Arts and for some programs such as Law, Arts, and Music. Medical schools are part of some universities and they only offer six-year courses. The Superior Graduate School offers recognized national and international titles, including the Diploma equivalent to a Doctorate i.e. Research Doctorate or Ph.D. and, are recognized by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (Italy), as fully autonomous. Some of them also organize courses Master's degree, individually, or jointly with the universities with whom they work.
The top universities of Italy are Politecnico de Milano, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa, Università di Bologna, Sapienza - Università di Roma and so on.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and sets the test paper.

IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in Italy.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in Italy.

Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third-party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.

Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.

Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.

Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these, students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain for securing admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

The tuition fee for international students varies according to different universities, courses, and the city that the students choose to live in. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel, etc. are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. But compared to studying in the US or Australia, Italy can work out to be a much reasonable study abroad destination with the best quality education.

Medicine, Arts, Music, Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics are popular courses that Indian students pursue in Italy. The location of the accommodation plays an important role in the costing for the students. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the suburban part of the city.
Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.

The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.