Italian Qualifications Framework for the Higher Education
As for higher education, the Italian Qualifications Framework (Quadro dei Titoli Italiani – QTI) groups together information on qualifications released by Italian higher education institutions, both universities and institutions of the Higher education for the fine arts, music and dance (Alta formazione artistica, musicale e coreutica – AFAM). Moreover, the QTI also includes reference legislation for the higher education sector and specific descriptions on regulated professions.
The Framework is organised according to the three main higher education levels as defined through the Bologna Process and it shows the qualifications released for each cycle as well as the relative ECTS credits and learning outcomes (Dublin descriptors).
Other qualifications
The Framework comprises the three main cycles of Higher Education, as defined by the Bologna Process, and offers an overview of all qualifications awarded at the end of each cycle, with reference to the number of ECTS credits collected and to the learning outcomes according to the Dublin Descriptors: its scope is aimed at facilitating a better understanding and comparability of qualifications in the higher education systems of each country and to present the entire European education offer to students coming from all over the world. Each country, therefore, committed to putting together a National Qualifications Framework – NQF which is compatible with the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area.
Table of Contents
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS
The Italian university sector includes 95 higher education institutions:
- 61 state universities;
- 17 non-state universities;
- 6 higher schools;
- 11 online universities
The official list of Italian university institutions is available on the following website: http://cercauniversita.cineca.it
BACHELOR
AIM: to provide undergraduates with adequate knowledge of general scientific principles, to help in mastering of appropriate methods and specific professional skills
CLASSIFICATION: 1-st cycle degree
ACCESS: by the Italian school leaving qualification or a similar foreign one
WORKLOAD: 180 ECTS credits
DURATION: 3 years (full time)
ACADEMIC TITLE: Doctor
FURTHER STUDIES: admission to 2-nd cycle programs (master/specialist degree; first level Master’s degree; 2-nd level academic degree; certificate of specialist (1); advanced course or master’s degree (I))
ITALIAN BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMMES DATABASE: offf.miur.it”
SPECIALIST/MASTER DEGREE
AIM: to provide graduates with advanced education for highly qualified professions in specific sectors, as well as with adequate training for advanced independent research”
CLASSIFICATION: 2-nd cycle degree
“ACCESS: by a related Bachelor, three-years university degree), first level academic diploma or a similar foreign degree
WORKLOAD: 120 ECTS credits
DURATION: 2 years (full time)
ACADEMIC TITLE: Magistral doctor
FURTHER STUDIES: admission to 3rd cycle programs (Doctoral degree, diploma of specialization, second level Masters’ degree, diploma in scientific research, specialization diploma (II), advanced course or Master’s degree (II) )
ITALIAN SPECIALIST/MASTER DEGREE PROGRAMMES DATABASE: http://offf.miur.it
SINGLE-CYCLE SPECIALIST/MASTER DEGREE
AIM: to provide graduates with advanced education for highly qualified professions in specific sectors, as well as with adequate training for advanced independent research
CLASSIFICATION: 2-nd cycle degree
ACCESS: by the Italian school leaving qualification or a similar foreign one; in most cases, admission by entrance exam
WORKLOAD: from 300 to 360 ECTS credits
DURATION: from 5 to 6 years (full time)
ACADEMIC TITLE: Magistral doctor
FURTHER STUDIES: admission to 3rd cycle programmes (Doctoral degree, specialist degree, second level Masters’ degree, degree in scientific research, specialist degree (II), advanced course or Master’s degree (II) )
Classes of single-cycle master degree courses: *
- LMG/01 – Class of master’s degree course in Law
- LM-13 – Class of master’s degree course in Pharmacy (Science and Technology)
- LM-41 – Class of master’s degree course in Medicine and Surgery
- LM-42 – Class of master’s degree course in Veterinary Medicine
- LM-46 – Class of master’s degree course in Dentistry and Orthodontics
- LM-4 c.u. – Class ofmaster’s degree course in Architecture and Construction Engineering (5 years)
Classes of single-cycle specialist degree courses: *
- 4/S – Class of specialist degree course in Architecture and Construction Engineering
- 14/S – Class of specialist degree course in Pharmacy (Science and Technology)
- 46/S – Class of specialist degree course in Medicine and Surgery
- 47/S – Class of specialist degree course in Veterinary Medicine
- 52/S – Class of specialist degree course in Dentistry and Orthodontics
[*] Classes of degree courses: all degree courses sharing educational objectives and teaching-learning activities are organised in groups called classi. The content of individual degree courses is autonomously determined by universities; however, when establishing a degree course, individual institutions have to adopt some general requirements fixed at national level. Degrees belonging to the same class have the same legal validity.
DOCTORAL DEGREE
AIM: to provide postgraduates with training for highly specialised research
CLASSIFICATION: 3-rd cycle degree
ACCESS: by a specialist/master degree or a related foreign degree
ADMISSION: by public competition
WORKLOAD: n.a.
DURATION: min. 3 years
ACADEMIC TITLE: Doctor of Philosophy; research doctor, PhD
Higher Education Institutions for Fine Arts, Music and Dance – AFAM
The High Artistic and Musical education – AFAM sector includes the following institutions for Higher Education in the Arts and Music:
44 Academies of Fine Arts and Academies of Fine Arts recognised by law;
the National Academy of Drama;
4 Higher education in Applied Arts;
National Dance Academy;
79 Music Conservatories and Recognised Music Institutes.
The official list of Italian AFAM institutions is available on the following website: http://www.hi-art.it
First-level higher education degree
AIM: to provide students with adequate mastery of artistic methods and techniques, as well as with specific professional and disciplinary skills
CLASSIFICATION: 1st cycle degree
ACCESS: by the Italian school leaving qualification or a similar foreign one. Admission may also require candidates to take an entrance exam to assess an adequate level of knowledge in accordance with institutional regulations
WORKLOAD: 180 ECTS credits
DURATION: 3 years (full time)
FURTHER STUDIES: admission to 2nd cycle programmes [Second level academic degree; degree specialization (I); Postgraduate diploma or Master’s degree (I); specialist/ master degree; first level Master degree]
Second-level higher education degree
AIM: to offer students an advanced level of education for complete mastery of artistic methods and techniques, as well as a high level of professional competency
CLASSIFICATION: 2-nd cycle degree
ACCESS: by a related first level higher education degree or similar foreign degree. There may also be specific requirements as defined by the different institutional regulations
WORKLOAD: 120 ECTS credits
DURATION: 2 years (full time)
FURTHER STUDIES: admission to 3rd cycle programmes [Diploma in research training; Doctoral degree; Degree specialization (II); Postgraduate diploma or Master’s degree (II); second level Master degree]
Academic degree in Scientific Research
AIM: to provide the competences to plan and carry out high-level research activities
CLASSIFICATION: 3-rd cycle degree
ACCESS: by the second level higher education degree or a comparable foreign degree
WORKLOAD: n.a.
DURATION: min. 3 years
University Institutions
The Italian university sector includes 95 higher education institutions:
61 state universities;
17 non-state universities;
6 higher schools;
11 online universities.
The official list of Italian university institutions is available on the following website: http://cercauniversita.cineca.it
Specialization degree
AIM: to provide postgraduates with knowledge and skills for a few specific professions; Specialization degree programmes may be set up exclusively on the basis of specific national laws or EU Directives
CLASSIFICATION: 3-rd cycle degree
ACCESS: by a specialist/master degree or similar foreign degree
ADMISSION: by public competition
WORKLOAD: from 120 to 360 ECTS credits
DURATION: from 2 to 6 years (full time)
ACADEMIC TITLE: Specialist
ITALIAN SPECIALIST DEGREE PROGRAMMES DATABASE: http://offf.miur.it/specialistic.html
First level Master’s degree
AIM: to provide graduates either with advanced scientific knowledge in a given field or with further professional education and training for better occupational opportunities
CLASSIFICATION: 2-nd cycle degree
ACCESS: by a Bachelor or similar foreign degree
WORKLOAD: min. 60 ECTS credits
DURATION: min. 1 year
FURTHER STUDIES: the qualification does not allow access to PhD and to 3rd cycle programmes, as this type of course does not meet the general requirements established at national level, but it is offered on the autonomous responsibility of each university
Second level Master’s degree
AIM: to provide graduates either with advanced scientific knowledge in a given field or with further professional education and training for better occupational opportunities
CLASSIFICATION: 3-rd cycle degree
ACCESS: by Specialist/ master degree or similar foreign degree
WORKLOAD: min. 60 ECTS credits
DURATION: min. 1 year
FURTHER STUDIES: the qualification does not allow access to PhD and to 3rd cycle programmes, as this type of course does not meet the general requirements established at national level, but it is offered on the autonomous responsibility of each university
Specialization degree
AIM: these courses fulfil the cultural need to deepen specific study fields or to get further professional training or re-training in the framework of continuous education
CLASSIFICATION: university certificate
ACCESS: by academic qualification (Bachelor degree, specialist/master degree). Access requirements are set by the offering institutions
WORKLOAD: n.a.
DURATION: usually 1 year
FURTHER STUDIES: the qualification does not allow access to any kind of courses
Higher Education in Art, Music and Dance – AFAM
Higher Education in Art and Music – AFAM sector includes the following institutions for Higher Education in Art and Music:
44 Academies of Fine Arts and Academies of Fine Arts recognised by law;
the National Academy of Drama;
4 Higher Education in Applied Arts;
National Dance Academy;
79 Music Conservatories and Legally Recognised Music Institutes.
The official list of Italian AFAM institutions is available on the following website: http://www.hi-art.it
Specialization degree (I)
AIM: to provide high level professional competences in specific areas
CLASSIFICATION: 2-nd cycle degree
ACCESS: by the 1-st level higher education degree or similar foreign degree
WORKLOAD: min. 120 ECTS credits
DURATION: min. 2 years (full time)
FURTHER STUDIES: the qualification does not give access to programmes leading to a degree in scientific research or other 3-rd cycle programmes
Specialization degree (II)
AIM: to provide high level professional competences in specific areas
CLASSIFICATION: 3-rd cycle degree
ACCESS: by the 2-nd level higher education degree or similar foreign degree
WORKLOAD: min. 120 ECTS credits
DURATION: min. 2 years (full time)
FURTHER STUDIES: the qualification does not give access to programs leading to a degree in scientific research or other 3-rd cycle programs
Postgraduate education or Master degree (I)
AIM: to provide in-depth study in specific sectors as well as professional development, retraining and continuing education
CLASSIFICATION: 2-nd cycle degree
ACCESS: by a the 1-st level higher education degree or similar foreign degree
WORKLOAD: min. 60 ECTS credits
DURATION: min. 1 year (full time)
FURTHER STUDIES: the qualification does not give access to a degree in scientific research programs or other 3rd cycle degree programs, as this type of course does not meet the general requirements established at national level, but it is offered on the autonomous responsibility of each institution
Postgraduate education or Master degree (II)
AIM: to provide in-depth study in specific sectors as well as professional development, retraining and continuing education
CLASSIFICATION: 3-rd cycle degree
ACCESS: by the 2-nd level higher education or similar foreign degree
WORKLOAD: min. 60 ECTS credits
DURATION: min. 1 year (full time)
FURTHER STUDIES: the qualification does not give access to degree in scientific research programs or other 3-rd cycle degree programs, as this type of course does not meet the general requirements established at national level, but it is offered on the autonomous responsibility of each institution
H.Ed. Institutions authorized to award recognized qualifications
HIGHER SCHOOLS FOR LANGUAGE MEDIATORS
These higher schools are the former higher schools for interpreters and translators (SSIT) as transformed in conformity to the Ministerial Decree No. 38 of 10 January 2002. They award qualifications equivalent to all legal effects to 1st university degrees in class 3 (Class of Laurea degrees in Sciences of language mediation). Study programs last 3 years, i.e. 180 university credits. Their main objectives are:
provide students with sound academic education at a higher level, both general and special, in at least two foreign languages in addition to Italian, and in the respective cultures;
develop specific technical language skills, written and oral, for language mediation professions.
The official list of Higher Schools for Language Mediators is available on the following website:
http://www.istruzione.it/web/universita/elenco-delle-scuole
SPECIALISATION INSTITUTES/ SCHOOLS IN PSYCHOTERAPY
Those non-state institutes/schools offer postgraduate programmes in applied psychology and in psychotherapy which have been recognised by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research – MIUR. The main purpose of those postgraduate programmes is to provide advanced education and training of professional psychologists wishing to specialise as psychotherapists. The successful passing of the final examination, which includes the defence of a dissertation, results in the awarding of a professional qualification (e.g. Diploma in cognitive therapy) with the same legal validity of the postgraduate specialisation degrees (specialist degree) in psychological fields conferred by Italian universities.
The official list of Specialisation Institutes/Schools of Psychoterapy is available on the following website:
http://www.miur.it/ElencoSSPWeb/
Higher Schools for Language Mediators
AIM: to provide intensive training at academic level in at least two languages other than Italian and the related cultures. Furthermore, the aim is to develop specific technical and linguistic skills – both written and oral – to prepare students for the practice in language mediator profession
CLASSIFICATION: 1-st cycle degree
ACCESS: by the Italian school leaving qualification and adequate linguistic knowledge
WORKLOAD: 180 ECTS credits
DURATION: 3 years (full time)
FURTHER STUDIES: these qualification allows access to specialist degree programmes in the same field of study
Specialisation Institutes/Schools in Psychoterapy
AIM: to provide professional training for the profession of psychotherapist, both for individual and group therapy, following methods, theoretical and cultural approaches recognised at the international level”
CLASSIFICATION: 3-rd cycle degree
ACCESS: by specialist/master degree in Psychology or in Medicine and Surgery and registration in the corresponding professional councils
DURATION: min. 4 years