There are many reasons to move to Italy: holiday, finding a job, following the true love, and, last but not least, studying.
In fact in Italy the number of foreign students is constantly growing. This phenomenon depends partially on the children of immigrants joining their parents living in Italy (38,000 in 2008), partly on children born in Italy from foreign residents, or from mixed couples (more than 73,000 only in 2008) but also on older students, who come to Italy to enroll at university (around 30% of university students are not Italian).
The Italian school system is quite famous all over the world for its accuracy. The graduatation level is often high, especially in medicine and engineering degrees. Furthermore scholastic fees are very cheap, in particular if compared to Anglo-Saxon systems.
The Italian school system is easy to understand: there are two levels before the elementary or primary schooling (asilo and scuola maternal, that would be kindergarten and nursery) for children younger than 6, the elementary level itself that lasts 5 years, then middle school (scuola media), which lasts 3 years, and high school (scuola superiore) for 5 more years.
School is mandatory until the 15th year of age, in fact there are different kinds of high school, some of them preparing students for employment. Even adult people attend the school, usually night classes to get a diploma.
Lately some changes have occurred in the school system, driven by the governments, but the consequences of these changes are not evident yet. Anyway the access in the schools and university is still easy for foreign people, financial aids are available from primary school through to university and the level of preparation is often impressive.
As with many matters in Italy, enrolling at school can be quite complicated if you don’t know where to look. For example, few people know that it’s possible to enroll at school even after the beginning of the scholastic year, or that you can change faculty bringing all your registered exams with you.
So if you are thinking to move to Italy or to study here, don’t be shy, ask for all the information you need, just to be sure of doing everything properly.
You will enjoy a great experience, one that you will never forget.
About the AuthorI am Giulia Schiavon, in charge of the Development and Research Sector of the project “My life in Europe”In my life I have changed city and life very often, so I know what it takes to start a new life! I am working with “My life in Europe” to help people with their everyday problems in Italy. I’d like also to help them build their new lives, meet new friends and share their experiences – My life in Europe