QUALIFICATIONS DETAILS Back to list
Italy
Name of the qualification in original language
Diploma di superamento dell’esame di maturità del corso di studio di [corso di studio]
Translation in English
Diploma certifying the successful completion of the final school examination (esame di Maturità) of the course of study in [course of study]
Transliteration in Latin alphabet
-
Awarding body
Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito
Total number of years of schooling
13
General requirements for access to higher education
The "Diploma di superamento dell'esame di maturità" allows access to all Italian higher education courses. Specific admission requirements (exams, entry tests, etc.) may be requested by single institutions or in the case of courses with limited access on the basis of national legislation.
EQF level
4
NQF level
4
Grading system
-
Period of issue
-
Expiry date
-
Verification information
-
Comments/Additional Information
In order to access to higher education courses in Italian institutions it is necessary to hold the "Diploma di superamento dell’esame di maturità del corso di studio di..” (Diploma certifying the successful completion of the course of study in..) - commonly known as “Diploma di Maturità”.
The "Diploma di superamento dell’esame di maturità del corso di studio di..” is obtained after passing the relevant State Exam (called Maturity) which is accessed with a decision taken by the class council in the final scrutiny in the last class of a study course followed in a Liceo (Lyceum), Istituto tecnico (technical Institute) or Istituto professionale (professional Institute), and after a total of 13 years of schooling, divided into 5 years of primary school, 3 years of lower secondary school and the following 5 years of upper secondary school.
In Italy the final assessment takes place at the end of each school year, and a final state examination is held at the end of the course of study (fifth grade). For the final state examination, students are required to take two written tests (three written tests only in specific cases) and one oral test as stated by the Law Decree n.127/2025. The final grade of the State Exam is expressed in hundredths (from 60/100 – the minimum passing grade – to 100/100 – the maximum): the exam commission can award “cum laude” with a unanimous decision.
The sample of the diploma obtained after passing the State Exam at the end of the course of study, valid from the school year 2025/2026, has been adopted by the Ministerial Decree n. 3 of the Ministry of Education dated 9 January 2026. As per the Ministerial Decree n.2 of the Ministry of Education dated 9 January 2026, each student is awarded the “Curriculum della studentessa e dello studente”, which provides information on knowledge, competencies and skills that the student acquired during the course of study. The “Curriculum della studentessa e dello studente” can be accessed by students through the UNICA platform.
The ANIST is a National Education Registry that allows citizens and public administrations to quickly verify, consult, and certify data relating to the educational paths of students and graduates. This service is for students and former students who graduated from the 2014/2015 school year onwards who wish to obtain certificates of attendance and certificates of the qualifications directly online.