Primary and secondary education

Primary education (scuola primaria) takes 5 years to complete. It is for pupils aged 6 to 11. Secondary education (scuola secundaria) takes 5 years to complete and is for pupils aged 12 to 18. Secondary education consists of 2 phases:

• lower secondary education, concluded with the state exam for a Diploma di licenza conclusiva del primo ciclo di istruzione;
• upper secondary education, concluded with the state exam for a Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo. The curriculum (and consequently the level of the diploma) largely depends on the type of educational institution students have chosen, see:
  • Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo from a liceo classico/scientifico/linguistico/scienze umane;
  • Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo from an istituto tecnico, liceo artistico of liceo musicale e coreutico; of
  • Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo from an istituto professionale.

This is the diploma for completing lower secondary education (scuola secondaria di primo grado). Students get the diploma when they pass the lower secondary education state exam, the esame di stato conclusivo di primo ciclo di istruzione.

• Duration i : 3 years.
• Content: general education subjects, such as:
  • geografia (geography)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • lingua Inglese e seconda lingua comunitaria (English or another modern 2nd language;
  • matematica (mathematics)
  • storia (history)
• Function of the diploma: access to upper secondary education or secondary vocational education.
• Diploma: Diploma di licenza conclusiva del primo ciclo di istruzione.

Students conclude upper secondary education with the state exam for a Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo. If they attend a liceo classico/linguistico/scientifico/scienze umane, the emphasis is on general education subjects.

• Duration: 5 years.
• Content: all students study the same general education subjects, such as Italiano (Italian), matematica (mathematics) and scienze (science). In addition, they study subjects that are specific to the educational institution (liceo):
  • liceo classico: among others, ancient Greek and Latin.
  • liceo linguistico: among others, modern foreign languages, Italian and Latin.
  • liceo scientifico: among others, biology, chemistry, Latin and physics. Students can choose the option scienze applicate (applied science); in that case, they spend more time on science subjects and the subject of Latin is dropped.
  • liceo science umane: humanities subjects, such as geography and history.
    In the final year, students take the state exam: esame di stato conclusivo dei corsi di istruzione secondaria superior.
• Admission requirements: a Diploma di licenza conclusiva del primo ciclo di istruzione.
• Function of the diploma: access to higher education.
• Diploma: Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo.

Students conclude upper secondary education with the state exam for a Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo. If they attend an istito tecnico, a liceo artistico or a liceo musicale e coreutico, the curriculum is a combination of general and vocational subjects.

• Duration: 5 years.
• Content: a combination of general and vocational subjects. The content of the vocational subjects depends on the educational institution:
  • istituto tecnico: students choose an economic specialisation, such as tourism, or a technical specialisation, such as electrical engineering.
  • liceo artistico: students study art subjects.
  • liceo musicale e coreutico: students take subjects in the field of dance and music.
    In the final year, students take the state exam: esame di stato conclusivo dei corsi di istruzione secondaria superior.
• Admission requirements: a Diploma di licenza conclusiva del primo ciclo di istruzione.
• Function of the diploma: access to higher education or secondary vocational education.
• Diploma: Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo.

Students conclude upper secondary education with the state exam for a Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo. If they attend an istituto professionale, the emphasis is on vocational subjects.

• Duration: 5 years.
• Content: a combination of general education subjects and subjects for a certain profession, for example in the field of hospitality..
• Admission requirements: a Diploma di licenza conclusiva del primo ciclo di istruzione.
• Function of the diploma: work and in some cases access to higher education.
• Diploma: Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo.

If students end their studies at an istituto professionale after completing the first 3 years of the curriculum towards a Diploma di superamento dell’esame di stato conclusivo, they receive an intermediate diploma: a Diploma di qualifica. They can enter the labour market with this diploma. It does not give access to higher education.