Distance form of education higher education in Italy. What are AFAM institutes? The possibility of free education

Getting in a country like Italy has always been considered prestigious. Many Russians, and not only them, dream to get an education at the universities in this country.

Today there are about 65 state universities. Except state universities there are also private universities, today there are 14 of them. In total, Italy has more than 1.8 million students, and more than 50 thousand professors work in universities.

There are no entrance exams at universities in Italy, but this does not mean that everyone can enter it. For university admission and learning foreigners need to have a secondary education, plus 1-2 years university education at home. Also, to get an education in Italy, you will have to pass a test for good command of the Italian language.

The cost of education at public universities ranges from 300 to 500 dollars per year, and in private universities it is much more expensive than 2000-8000 dollars per academic year. The term of study is usually 5 years, with the exception of the Faculty of Medicine - they study here for 6 years.

After three years of study student is issued. In the future, you can continue learning for a higher master's degree.

Higher education in Italy

info: www.engle.ru

The first university in Italy, Universita degli Studi di Bob was opened in Bologna in 1088. A little later, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II was opened.

Currently in Italy there are 76 higher educational institutions. Including 51 public and 12 private universities with the appropriate license. Most universities and university colleges(Istituto Universitario) is concentrated in the capital of the country, Rome. Many of them are quite large by European standards: for example, in Rome alone Universita degli Studi di Roma - La Sapienza has about 180 thousand students. In a number of other cities, there are also several universities, for example, there are four universities in Naples.

Higher education institutions also include academies of fine arts (Accademia di belle arti), conservatories (Conservatori di musica) and four higher art schools (Istituti superiori per le Industrie artistiche). They teach painting, sculpture, decoration and stage design. The program for each discipline is designed for 4 years and is divided into two main blocks - practical and theoretical. First cycle degrees can also be obtained at polytechnic institutes (politecnico).

L "Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali Luigi Boccherini

In Perugia and Siena, special universities have been opened for foreigners - Universita per Stranieri di Perugia and Universita per Stranieri di Siena. In particular, at the University for Foreigners in Siena (Universita per Stranieri di Siena) they teach Italian language, literature and culture, in order to then carry out their teaching.

Now in the Italian higher education system a set of reforms is being carried out to unify it in accordance with all-European requirements (the “Bologna process”, based on the relevant declaration of June 1999).

The new system provides for two levels. To obtain the first diploma laurea (L.) will need to study 2-3 years. Then it will be possible to obtain the laurea specialistica (LS) degree, corresponding to a master's degree, in two years. The laurea (L.) degree requires 180 credits and the laurea specilistica (LS) degree 120 credits. This is followed by a doctoral degree (dottorato di ricerca, DR).

As part of the reform, it is planned to abolish the five-year diploma course Diploma universitario (C.D.U.). And in general, reduce the length of study at universities. So far, due to the high average length of study in Italy, only 42% of students intending to get a scientific degree complete the course completely.

The academic year in Italian universities is divided into two semesters. The first semester starts on November 1, the second - in early March. All courses are evaluated in conventional units (credits), which in Italy are called C.F.U. (Credito Fortmativo Universitario).

Many universities organize free Italian language courses for foreign students. For example, at the University of Bologna they are held twice a year, classes start in September (first semester) and February (second semester). The duration of a typical course is five weeks.

The cost of studying and living in Italy

Education at state universities will cost 800 EUR per year. The cost of living is estimated at 8-12 thousand EUR per year, slightly higher in Rome and other large cities. For example, in Milan, renting a room can cost 850-1300 EUR per month. For groceries you need 240-300 EUR per month. Compulsory health insurance for a year costs 150 EUR. A monthly student pass costs 24 EUR.

Getting a scholarship in Italy is very difficult. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country distributes a number of scholarships for foreign students, but their number is limited.

Features of admission to universities in Italy

To enter an Italian university, a certificate is not enough, you must unlearn at least one year at a Russian university. In addition, an Italian language proficiency test is required. Applications for admission to the university are submitted through the Italian Embassy in Russia. The package of documents must be submitted between May 25 and June 25. Documents are submitted only to one selected Italian university.

One entry option involves sending your child to a boarding school for the National High School Program. This cycle is designed for children aged 15-19 years. The training ends with the passing of the state exam (esame di Stato), according to the results a diploma is issued (diploma di istrazione secondaria superiore).

For admission to master's and doctoral programs, you need to apply directly to the educational institution of your choice. The issue of recognition of your diploma is decided by him.

Passing tests

For applicants from abroad entering Italian universities, a special test Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana (CELI) has been developed. It was developed by the certification center of the University of Perugia (Unita di Certifica / ione deH "Universita per Stranieri di Perugia). The test can be taken at one of the 135 examination centers in 46 countries around the world, including the Institute of Italian Culture (Isti-tuto Italiano di Cultura) in Moscow.The exam has five levels of difficulty: CELI 1 - very low, CELI 2 - low, CELI 3 - medium, CELI 4 - high, CELI 5 - very high.

The structure of the test includes four sections. The test tests basic language skills, including listening, maths, writing and speaking. The total duration of the exam is 4 hours 25 minutes.

Obtaining a visa

All documents are submitted in duplicate, personally by the applicant. To study at a higher education institution, you must have funds for living at the rate of at least 360 EUR per month. If the invitee does not have his own funds, then the guarantor party, if it is an individual, must provide a guarantee policy (polizza fidejussoria) or a bank guarantee (fide-jussione bancaria) in the name of the invitee for the above amount.

If a legal entity assumes the obligation to pay expenses in Italy, it is sufficient to present a statement of acceptance of obligations for the maintenance of the invitee from the representative of the company. In this case, for a stay of more than 20 days, proof of solvency is required at the rate of 215 EUR + 30 EUR per day.

Employees must provide a certificate from the place of work in Russia indicating the position and salary, students - a certificate from the educational institution. Medical insurance must be valid for all Schengen countries and cover at least EUR 30,000. If the period of stay in Italy is less than 90 days, insurance can be issued by a Russian insurance company. If the period of stay exceeds 90 days, it must be issued in an insurance company in Italy or another country - a member of the European Union.

Analysis of some universities in Italy:

University of Commerce Luigi Bocconi (Universita Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi")

Status: private
Founded: 1902
Number of faculties: 23
Specialties: economics, statistics, accounting, management, law
Total number of students (thousand): 13
Number of foreign students: 7%
Tuition fee, thousand EUR per year: 3.8-8.5
Cost of accommodation and meals, thousand EUR per year: 10-12

This university claims to be the first and most famous business schools in Italy. Within its walls, for the first time in the country, they began to award degrees in the field of economics. The university was founded with a generous donation from the merchant Ferdinando Bocconi, who wanted to perpetuate the memory of his dead son Luigi. The university's first rector, lawyer Leopoldo Sabbatini, defined the mission of the university as follows: "to maintain harmony between school and life."

At the moment, within the walls of the university, nine bachelor's, 22 master's and six doctoral programs are taught in such areas as economics, statistics, accounting, and law. You can study public administration, management in the field of art and culture, international economics. In total, teaching is conducted in 300 subjects.

Over 13,000 students study at this private university. Among them, the percentage of foreigners is quite high. There are also students from Russia. The staff of teachers exceeds 1000 people. In 1971, the SDA Bocconi business school was opened at the university. It provides training for the degree of MBA, MA in International Affairs (together with John Hopkins University), Master of International Economic and Management, Master of International Health Care Management. SDA Bocconi is ranked 30th by the Financial Times in 2004. The university conducts large-scale scientific research. For this, 10 institutes and 21 research centers have been formed.

The University attaches great importance to the development of relations with foreign partners. Student exchange agreements have been signed with many partner universities. Students can spend a semester at 16 leading European universities.

There is a language center at the university, which teaches many foreign languages ​​(including Japanese, Chinese, Russian). In the summer, students can participate in a 2-4-week English study program on the campus of one of the partner universities Campus Abroad.

Studying in Italy is a great opportunity to get a high-level education in a country with the oldest academic traditions in Europe. A reasonable combination of cost and quality of study annually attracts thousands of foreign students to the country.

Despite economic instability and the problem of unemployment, Italy is one of the ten largest economies in the world. GDP per capita exceeds $30,000. According to the human development index, which also reflects the level of education of the population, Italy ranks 26th.

The main advantages of higher education in Italy include:

• Membership of the state in the European Union and the Schengen Agreement, which opens up the possibility for students to travel visa-free to most countries of the world;
• Participation in the Bologna educational system, an extensive list of international exchange programs;
• European diploma and the possibility of official employment around the world;
• Lack of entrance examinations to most universities;
• The minimum list of required documents;
• The possibility of legal stay in the country for the purpose of employment within 12 months after receiving a diploma;
• Teaching in Italian or English;
• Low cost of education and the opportunity to receive education free of charge, incl. with compensation for daily expenses;
• The absence of compulsory academic programs, which allows students to independently choose subjects of interest;
• Long tradition of student and university community;
• Possibility of official employment during study;
• World leadership of universities in terms of the quality of education in the fields of design, fashion and architecture;
• Favorable Mediterranean climate.

According to international rankings of higher education Times Higher Education and QS Rankings, 8 Italian universities are in the top 500. And the University of Bologna, the Polytechnic Institute of Milan, the School of Advanced Studies named after Saint Anna and the Pisa Higher Normal School are among the two hundred best universities in the world.

Features of higher education in Italy

The Italian education system includes 3 levels:

• Preschool: nursery and kindergarten (from 6 months to 6 years);
• School: elementary, junior and senior secondary schools (6-19 years). High school education is available at a college or lyceum. In the 1st case, the student receives not only a certificate, but also a certificate of assignment of a particular profession. Lyceums are designed for purposeful preparation for entering the university;
• Higher: universities, higher schools, institutes, etc.

The education of Italian schoolchildren lasts 13 years, most of them enter the university at the age of 19.

The duration of study is regulated by the Bologna Process. For most undergraduate specialties, it is 3 years (rarely 4). In the master's program, students study for 2 years.

Reference! An important feature of Italian higher education is the minimum number of subjects required to study. The vast majority of directions the student chooses based on personal preferences.

The academic year is divided into 2 semesters: the first lasts from October to January, the second - from February to June. Some universities practice division into 3 or 4 equal semesters. Each of them ends with a session (usually in February and July). Examinations are taken orally, less often in writing. The number of retakes the teacher determines individually. According to statistics, only 70% of students successfully graduate from Italian universities, the rest are expelled due to poor performance.

The range of marks in Italy is from 0 to 30. The minimum passing score is 18.

Types of universities and educational programs

Universities that have the right to issue a diploma of higher education in Italy are divided into 2 categories:

1. University;
2. Non-university.

The first group includes almost 90 universities and higher schools (specializing in postgraduate education). According to the form of ownership, they can be state (75%) and private (25%).

Non-university educational institutions include graduate colleges, schools of design, arts, conservatories and national academies. Some of them are independent structural units, others are subordinate to specialized universities or relevant government departments.

Participation in the Bologna process involves a 3-stage model of education:

1. Undergraduate;
2. Master's degree;
3. Doctorate.

The vast majority of students complete their studies at the undergraduate stage. For 3 years, you need to collect 180 credits according to the system ECTS. Attestation upon completion of the 1st stage is carried out by writing a thesis. As a result, the student receives a diploma of higher education in a specialty of practical orientation, which gives him the right to work in any European country.

The task of the magistracy is research activity. This does not apply to some of the most sought-after specialties. In medicine, pharmaceuticals, dentistry, architecture, obtaining a diploma of the 2nd stage of education is a prerequisite for employment. The duration of a master's degree is usually 2 years.

The logical conclusion of doctoral studies is the writing of a doctoral work based on the results of 3-year scientific research.

Conditions for admission

Since the duration of school education in Italy is 13 years, an applicant from the post-Soviet space must not only complete 11 classes of school, but also 1 or 2 courses of a university or college in their home country. It is also possible to enter after 9 classes, but on condition of studying at a college or technical school for at least 3 years.

The vast majority of Italian universities do not require entrance examinations. Enrollment of applicants is carried out on the basis of documents on secondary education, and grades in the certificate do not play any role. The exception is "closed faculties" - the most popular disciplines, the number of places for which is limited (architecture, medicine, engineering). The competition in this case is carried out on the basis of the results of entrance examinations. Their rules are published no later than 60 days before the test.

The only exam that must be passed to enter the university is the language one. For students planning to study in Italian, it takes place on September 1st. The CILS certificate of language proficiency at level B2 exempts you from taking this exam.

When studying in English, it is enough to provide an IELTS certificate (at least 6-6.5 points) or TOEFL iBT (at least 75 points).

Admission to the magistracy takes place on the basis of a bachelor's degree, to which a document on graduation from a university in the CIS countries is equated. Rare universities (medical) conduct entrance examinations.

List of required documents

Attention! The list of documents and the deadlines for their submission may vary depending on the university. As a rule, they end in April.

An approximate list of documents that a Belarusian or Russian must provide when applying for a bachelor's degree (some of them must be legalized at the embassy):

• Certificate of secondary education and its appendix with an apostille and translation;
• Certificate of completion of 1 or 2 courses of a university or college with an apostille and translation;
• Certificate with test results (USE or TsT);
• Certificate of proficiency in Italian or English;
• DDV- document on the recognition of the certificate by Italy (issued at the embassy);
• Completed form MODELLO A;
• Copy of the passport;
• Photo.

Upon admission to the 2nd stage of education, the above documents must be added:

• Diploma of higher education in the chosen specialty.
• Resume with a focus on research work;
• Recommendations from the professorial staff.

After entering the university, the student must apply for a study visa at the embassy. To do this, you must provide financial guarantees (at least 413 € for each month of study) and a document confirming the availability of housing. A student visa is the basis for issuing a study residence permit upon arrival at the university.

Cost of education

Depends on the form of ownership and the region of the university, the level of education and specialty. The average cost of education in a bachelor's degree is 800-3000 €, and a master's degree - up to 4000 €.

The cost is often set individually - based on documents about the financial situation of the student's family and his progress. If the annual income does not exceed 6000 €, you can count on a significant discount.

The possibility of free education

Many international students have the opportunity to minimize the cost of education in Italy. Sources of financial assistance are university funds, government and ministries, international funds.

Students with excellent grades or from low-income families (with a monthly income of up to 300 € per person) usually receive a university scholarship that covers education and living expenses.

The state also provides sponsorship to excellent students and the poor in the amount of 14,000 € per year. A condition for receiving a scholarship or grant is often knowledge of the Italian language.

Internship and exchange studies. Scholarships, grants

Universities in Italy actively accept students from all over the world through various internships.

Many of them involve the payment of a scholarship that fully covers the costs, incl. for travel, accommodation and meals:

• SISSA scientific institute scholarships: study of physics, chemistry, mathematical analysis for a period of 1 to 12 months;
• Fabrica grants: are intended for representatives of professions in the field of creativity and culture (photography, design, music);
• Jean Monnet Grant: for young scientists.

Accommodation and food options for students

A small part of students in Italy is provided with a place in a hostel (for rent). Priority is given to low-income, first-year students and excellent students. The rest are forced to rent housing. The monthly cost of renting a 1-room apartment in Rome starts from 500 €, in Milan it is somewhat more expensive.

Each student decides the issue of nutrition independently. The average cost of this article of residence is about 300 € per month.

The best universities in the country

Top three universities according to independent academic rankings:

• (Sapienza - Università di Roma). Founded at the beginning of the XIV century, one of the oldest universities in the world and the largest operating in the country. The number of students at 10 faculties exceeds 100 thousand (5-7% of them are foreigners). The priority areas are the natural, social and human sciences.
• (Politecnico di Milano). The best engineering university in the country with the best index of attractiveness for foreigners. It consists of 17 faculties: aerospace engineering, architectural design, bioengineering, nuclear engineering, etc. More than 30 thousand university students study in 32 undergraduate specialties.
• (Università di Bologna). The oldest functioning university in the world, the founder of the European education system. Includes more than 20 faculties. Member of the Coimbra Group, Europaeum, Utrecht Network. The number of students who study on several campuses throughout the country and even abroad exceeds 80 thousand. The university owns a large library and 14 museums.

Reference! In addition to Bologna, the country's oldest universities are located in Florence, Siena, Pisa, Macerata.

Italy is a country of art, ancient monuments and famous fashion houses. You need to come here for a European diploma, a rich culture and great opportunities for both representatives of creative professions and those who dream of a career in business.

pros

1. Higher education in Italy is relatively inexpensive, especially in public universities. For students from families with low income, it is possible to receive a scholarship that will cover the cost of education.
2. Universities (especially private ones) have programs in both Italian and English. Most of all English-language programs are in the specialties "Economics" and "Medicine", as well as in the field of fashion, design and architecture.
3. If you have chosen the field of fashion and design as your career, then there is no better place than Italy to get an education.
4. Italy has a very rich culture, a pleasant Mediterranean climate, and open people who many say are close to Russians in spirit.

Minuses

Italian education in general is not considered as prestigious as, for example, British or German, however, in those specializations that Italy is strong in, and these are fashion, design and art, Italian universities have little equal both in Europe and in the world.

The Russian intelligentsia has been drawn to Italy since the nineteenth century. The fertile climate, the ancient traditions of education, the cultural history of the country contributed to this. Italian music, painting, architecture - were reference for Europe.

Now young people are attracted to Italy by low tuition fees, leading positions in world design, household appliances, construction, and fashion. Employment after studying in Italy is possible in any European country.

Secondary education

Little Italians begin to prepare for elementary school at the age of three in preparatory kindergartens. Most children enter school at the age of six. The thirteen-year school system in the first two stages is free. The compulsory subjects of scuola elementare 1, 2 include reading, writing, arithmetic, drawing, music, one foreign language. Religion is studied at will.

In large classes of public schools, there are no high quality requirements, digital grades. The five-year scuola elementare ends with two exams (written and oral), a primary school certificate. Education until the age of 14 continues in secondary school, where there are much more subjects - history, geography, mathematics, natural sciences are added. Annual exams are held according to the credit system, with the retention for the second year.

The scuola media results in final exams in all major subjects. At this (or by age) the compulsory education program ends. Only lyceums of three types prepare for higher education - classical, technical, lyceums of natural sciences. Of the non-traditional subjects for Russia, Latin and philosophy can be noted. The most high-quality training (the right to enter all faculties) is provided by classical lyceums. The right to enter a university gives a matriculation certificate, which reflects the results of the final exams.

Professional education

After high school, it is possible not only to enter the lyceum, independent employment. In Italy, a developed system of vocational education, which begins with vocational schools, art schools, related to the higher secondary school. After graduation, admission to technical institutes is allowed.

Higher education

The system of higher education itself was born in Italy. The first university in the civilized world was the University of Bologna in 1088. Somewhat later, other oldest universities in Europe appeared in Padua, Modena, and Rome. For foreign applicants, Italian education in authoritative areas of industrial production (household appliances, construction, architecture, automotive industry), studies at art academies, conservatories are especially interesting.

There are more than fifty universities in the country, 20% of them are private. Rome became the most university city in Italy. There are five large universities in the capital, among them is the University "La Sapienza" (about 200,000 students).

The country has a kind of rating of higher schools according to the authority of teaching certain disciplines, although most of the oldest universities have not changed the historical principle of construction. In the field of legal sciences, the Faculty of Law of the University of Bologna is considered the best, the fundamental knowledge of medicine is given at the University of Salerno, all the designers of the world respect the graduates of the Milan European Institute of Design.

"New" universities combine fundamental sciences with the teaching of technical, applied disciplines, becoming multidisciplinary universities. In the current Italian ranking, corresponding to the international one, the first place is shared by the University of Pisa and La Sapienza.

The University of Pisa is included in the "world hundred" for teaching mathematics and physics. It has up to 57,000 students at eleven faculties. The "young" faculties include economic, political faculties, a large faculty of foreign philology.

Along the way of introducing new specialties, training systems, the University of Bologna is developing. For seventy thousand students, 70 departments of university faculties are available. Here they teach such non-standard disciplines for an academic university as veterinary medicine, agriculture, statistics, and tourism.

Most Italian universities require a document of education, a certificate of language proficiency for admission. For a number of higher schools, an English language test is sufficient. Higher Italian education is considered free, but even public universities collect an annual fee. Private universities are not inferior to other European countries in terms of annual tuition fees (on average, about 10,000 euros).

useful links

• www.study-in-italy.it Study in Italy for foreigners
• www.study-italy.ru Russian-language portal about studying in Italy
• www.asils.it ASILS - Association of Schools of Italian as a Foreign Language
• www.iicmosca.esteri.it Italian Institute of Culture in Moscow

Education in sunny Italy attracts future artists, doctors, mathematicians and diplomats. The most famous university is in the city of Bologna, but there are excellent higher educational institutions in Rome, Naples, Milan, Florence and other cities. The quality of education here is not worse than in other European countries, but the cost is much lower. In addition, a foreigner can apply for a hostel and a scholarship on an equal footing with Italians, so this is a full-fledged option.

University of Bologna

In order to enter a higher educational institution, it is necessary to spend at least 13 years in educational institutions of a lower level. In this country, schoolchildren study for 5 years in elementary school, then 3 years in secondary school and another 5 years in a professional lyceum. Therefore, in order to be able to study in Italy, a simple certificate of secondary education will not be enough for Russians. After 10 or 11 classes, you will need to study for 2 or 3 years at the institute and only then apply.

The educational process is structured differently than is customary in the post-Soviet space. There is no fixed schedule or strict exam dates. Each student can independently choose which subjects he would like to study, and personally distribute the material for the entire semester. Each specialty has several compulsory disciplines. Examinations are also handed over according to an individual schedule. If you are looking for something more similar to our system, pay attention to.

There are both public and private universities in the country. The latter have their advantages: small groups for classes, the best teachers and a modern program. Nevertheless, even state institutions are an order of magnitude better than domestic ones. Formally, studying in Italy is free for students. In fact, this is a little different, because you have to pay taxes. However, the final price of higher education in Italy for Russians is still significantly lower than in other countries of the European Union or even farther abroad.

Almost all universities provide an opportunity for those who wish to study in English. Such programs are most in demand among visiting students, but Italians can also choose this alternative.

Available specialties

The country is primarily famous for its creative professions. From all over the world, young people come here to learn design, architecture, painting, choreography, and cooking. Europeans study philosophy, art history, theater criticism and languages ​​at local universities.

For Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, as well as for the Italians themselves, applied specialties look more attractive. First of all, it is mathematics, theoretical and practical physics, medicine, economics, international relations. The Italian diploma is recognized all over the world and makes it possible to work freely anywhere in the world.

What documents will the applicant need?

Registration of the necessary papers should begin in advance, approximately six months in advance. First of all, you need a certificate of secondary education and a document from the university of your native country about how many courses the applicant completed in his home country. The grades that are in the certificate, as well as the student's performance at the former university, do not play a role.

In 2019, all these documents will need to be translated by an accredited translator (their contacts will be provided by the embassy), put a special stamp - an apostille and fill out a special questionnaire, indicating the desired university. It is not possible to apply for a place in several institutions at once. The embassy is responsible for sending the letter, in case of a positive answer, a student visa is issued without any problems.

Entry exams

Unlike Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, the admission process does not start in July, but on September 1. First of all, how well the applicant speaks Italian is assessed. If the applicant has demonstrated a sufficient level, for a number of areas this will be enough, you can immediately start studying. Basically, these are humanitarian disciplines: languages, history, philosophy. As for specialties where narrow knowledge or talent is required, the situation is different. In this case, knowledge of the language is just a passing test that allows the applicant to take the real entrance exams. At the faculties of international relations, jurisprudence, medicine and physics, you will need to write tests in specialized disciplines. Future representatives of creative professions must demonstrate their skills in the relevant field: provide drawings or sketches, perform with an artistic number. The most talented pass to the 1st course.

At some universities, it is possible to study in a preparatory course dedicated to language learning. Foreigners who plan to study in English do not need to take a separate exam. Any of the international certificates such as IELTS, TOEFFL, CAE, FCE will do.

Cost of education

Studying in Italy for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians will be the most budget option for higher education abroad. For foreigners, the price will be the same as for local residents. The taxes that make up the tuition fees in public institutions are about 500-700 euros per semester. Of course, this does not apply to private educational institutions, where students pay about 2000-2500 euros for 6 months.

By law, while studying at the university, any student can work, but not more than 20 hours a week. It is noteworthy that the state does not make a difference between those who apply for scholarships on the basis of citizenship. Not only an Italian, but also a resident of any other country can receive monthly financial assistance if the income in his family is below the required level. This is a great opportunity to get an education in Italy for free.

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Many, when they see a long list of documents for obtaining a student visa on the website of her embassy, ​​panic and think that it is very difficult. But in fact, everything is real. However, you need to be patient.

What documents are needed

The Italian education system differs from the Russian one: local residents study at school for 12 years - and they enter the university at the age of 18-19, therefore, immediately after graduating from a Russian school, it is impossible to enter an Italian university. First you need to complete 1-2 courses of a university or college in Russia. Of course, some private universities can accept a Russian student right after graduation, but at the time of admission, you must still be 18 years old. So here you have to wait.

However, then, on the contrary, you will need to hurry up: you need to start processing documents a few months before submitting them to the embassy. They are issued from January, and served from mid-April to early May.

Why such a hurry?

• First of all, because the school certificate and certificate of completion of 2 years of the institute must be put apostille- a stamp confirming the authenticity of the document, and this procedure lasts 2-3 months (and the Ministry of Education deals with it).
• After that, the documents must be translated into Italian (it is better if a translator accredited at the embassy does this), and then taken to the Italian consulate in order to be issued there dichiarazione di valore- confirmation of the diploma.
• In addition, you need to make a request - take a questionnaire at the embassy; in it you indicate your data and where you intend to study. Select the city and university in advance: it is impossible to send documents to several universities at once.

On the appointed day, you come with legalized documents and a request - and give them to the embassy employee, who will take care of sending them to the university, from where an invitation will be sent to you.

Of course, you can do all this on your own, but most often applicants resort to the help of the Italian Institute of Culture in Moscow (there is a similar institute in St. Petersburg), which provides all the information about the deadlines, forms to fill out and translation. In addition, all basic information about documents can be obtained directly from the Italian embassy.

After some time, you will receive a response from the embassy whether you have received an invitation from the university to come to the entrance exam. Next, you submit documents for obtaining a visa.

So, having received a visa and packed a suitcase, future students arrive in Italy in early September, where the entrance exam for foreigners takes place in the very first days.

However, before talking about the entrance exam and the study itself, let's see in which cities and what exactly is best to study in Italy.

Where and for whom to study

All Italian universities are divided into private and public. Tuition at a public university is not too high, no more than 800 euros per year - and students from a low-income family can apply for a scholarship.

Studying at a private university in Italy is much more expensive: from 12 thousand euros or more - but since there are fewer students in such universities than in public ones, the conditions for studying here are more comfortable.

Note that textbooks are quite expensive in Italy - from 20 to 70 euros. It is not accepted here to take the main literature on the subject in the library. Very often, due to such prices, Italian students do not buy textbooks, but order photocopies of them in numerous points located around each university (which, by the way, are not always legal, but many turn a blind eye to this).

The best university in Italy is the University of Bologna. In addition, it is the oldest university in Europe, because it was founded in 1088. Bologna is often called a student city: not only foreigners come here to study, but also Italians themselves from different cities of Italy. Good universities can also be found in Rome, Pisa, Florence, Naples, Milan, Genoa, Trento, Turin. There are also famous universities for foreigners in Perugia and Siena, where students come mainly to study Italian (you can also come to these universities for short-term courses - for example, for 3 months) and where teachers of Italian language and literature are trained.

Italians themselves prefer to study at the faculties:

• economy;
• international relations;
• jurisprudence;
• medicine.

Foreigners most often study in Italy:

• art;
• design;
• music;
• architecture.

This is understandable, because where, if not in Italy, can you practically see everything that you study, just by going out into the street? Italy is an open air museum. Artists, musicians, artists, writers find their second home here. And Russian students very often choose the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​to study in Italy.

Entrance tests

Let's go back to the admission process. For foreigners, the exam takes place simultaneously at all universities, in early September. It usually consists of testing your knowledge of the Italian language.

To study in Italy, you need to have at least a minimum knowledge of the Italian language. With zero knowledge in this area, it will be possible to go to study only at language courses. But the Italians are quite loyal in this matter - and do not require you to have an excellent knowledge of the language (namely, this is what the British, for example, would have done in their place). It is enough, albeit a little, but still to understand someone else's speech and be able to explain yourself at the entrance exam. There are practically no cases when someone was sent home because of not knowing the language, unless it was some very prestigious faculty with high competition. However, it is highly desirable to speak Italian, because in lectures no one makes any exceptions for foreigners. The student himself must be interested in understanding all the lectures well - for this, there are Italian courses for foreigners at all universities. So, if your level of Italian is not very high, you will be offered to attend free language courses at the university.

In some faculties (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Architecture, Law, Engineering, Fine Arts), you will also need to pass entrance exams in majors.

After passing the entrance examinations, you will be issued a certificate stating that you are a student at an Italian university. After receiving it, you can relax a little: the study itself does not begin in September, but in early or even mid-October (depending on the specific university).

Education

The system of education at the Italian university is very different from the Russian one. Everything in Italy is based on independence. You begin to understand this on the very first day of school. A lot of different information is posted on the stands or on the university website - and you need to make your own study plan and class schedule. Each course has several core subjects, while the rest you choose yourself.

There is no course curator who attends all the lectures. And a person who simultaneously entered the same specialty will not necessarily go to all the lectures with you - if, unlike you, he has acquired a slightly different set of subjects for study.

It happens that several lectures from your set take place on the same day and at the same time - and then you yourself have to decide which class you want to attend, and which subject you prefer to study on your own. And in general, almost all universities in Italy have the so-called free admission. No one will follow you, whether you are present at all the lectures (but it is still not recommended to skip studies to successfully pass the exams). There are also some subjects that are required to attend (the teacher himself will inform you about this).

Lectures usually follow the same pattern - the professor covers a new topic, and the students listen carefully and write down everything. If you have any questions or problems in connection with the development of the topic, you should come to a separate consultation: for this, each teacher has his own hours of admission, which will be dictated to you at the first lectures.

Sessions

In an Italian university, they will not understand what it means to get an exam or a credit automatically. All students, regardless of whether they attended lectures, must pass an exam and receive a grade in a grade book. At the time of the session - and there are usually 3 of them during the year (in January-February, June-July and September) - the university posts the dates of all exams, and the student can choose which exam he wants to take during the session and on which day this will happen.

There are no tickets for exams. The professor and one or two of his assistants can ask any question on the subject, so to pass the exam, you need to learn absolutely all the material. Unlike the usual exam system, when an Italian professor announces a grade for you, you can refuse it at the same moment if it seems too low to you. Would you like to get a higher grade in this subject? Come for the same exam during the next session. Naturally, it is best to have time to pass all the subjects passed during the semester during the session immediately following it. Otherwise, the "tails" from the first semester will move into the second semester, subjects from the first year will move to the second year - and as a result, you risk being in a situation where you will have to pass a huge number of exams. This happens because no one kicks you out of the university because of not passing the exam, and you can take the same one as many times as you like. This is the false "advantage" of the Italian university. As a result, Italians very often drag out their university studies for many years - and it is not uncommon to find a 30-year-old student who still needs to pass a huge number of exams in order to finally receive a diploma.

Diplomas

In most faculties, the training course lasts five years, and in medicine - six. After the first three years of study, the student receives a diploma (laurea), corresponding to a bachelor's degree. The student can continue their education to the next degree, corresponding to the master's degree, and receive a diploma (laurea specialistica). This course usually lasts two years.

You can come to Italy already having a Russian diploma of higher education. In this case, in addition to the legalization and translation of the diploma, it is also necessary to legalize and translate the curriculum - in order for the Italian university to know what subjects you took in Russia and whether this program is close to the one studied in Italy. If your education matches that given in Italy, you can apply for a master's degree. Most likely, however, you will have to retake some subjects in Italian. This process is quite complicated and long, so very often Russian students prefer to start studying in Italy from scratch - and receive one more Italian higher education in addition to the Russian one. Sometimes, however, they are enrolled immediately in the second course.

Work

While studying at an Italian university, a foreign student receives an educational residence permit, which must be renewed annually by passing at least 2 exams per year. With this residence permit, you can earn 20 hours a week, which is what many students do. In big cities, it is realistic to find quite a lot of job offers for those who know Russian and Italian. Many students from our country find work there already during their studies - and change their residence permit to work.

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Of course, Italian education is not as prestigious as, for example, British education, but you will remember the years spent in Italy for a lifetime. What could be better than living in a beautiful atmosphere, listening to beautiful Italian every day, enjoying beautiful views, delicious food and chatting with cheerful Italians? It is quite difficult to exchange the Italian “dolce vita” for any other.