Recognition Procedures
In Italy, no foreign qualification is directly “equivalent” or “recognized” without a corresponding recognition procedure.
In order for a foreign qualification to produce all the academic and professional effects in Italy that an Italian qualification produces, it is necessary to undergo a recognition procedure which, depending on the specific case, is classified as “Declaration of Value”, “Equivalence”, or “Recognition of Equivalent Status”
Do you want to access university or conservatory with your foreign qualification?
In order to facilitate the recognition of qualifications for study or professional purposes, it is necessary to use the procedure called ‘Declaration of Value’.
Once this declaration is obtained, students holding a BTEC Level 3 or Level 5 qualification in Music or Music Technology will be able to access or continue a first-cycle university course in related subjects, or first-level academic courses at the Conservatory.
The Declaration of Value is an official document, written in Italian, that provides a brief description and information about a specific qualification awarded to an individual by an institution from an education system different from the Italian one, and about its value in the country where it was issued. It is an informational document only and does not, by itself, constitute any form of recognition of the qualification in question.
The Declaration of Value is issued by Italian diplomatic representations abroad (Embassies, Consulates, Italian Cultural Institutes). The procedure for obtaining the Declaration of Value is initiated by submitting a request and preparing documentation to be presented to the Italian University, which acts as an intermediary with the foreign diplomatic representations
It should be emphasized that, regardless of the recognition of the foreign qualification, universities and conservatories require an entrance exam, just as is the case for every Italian graduate who has obtained their qualification in Italy.
Do you want to apply for a public competition with your foreign qualification?
The public competition is the general procedure through which access to the Italian Public Administration is regulated. It is reserved for Italian citizens or those from a European Union country. The specific rules for each competition are set out in a public notice, which contains all the information on how to participate and the conduct of the tests, as well as the required qualifications for entry into the specific competition.
An Italian or EU citizen holding a foreign qualification of any level (secondary school, higher education) can participate in public competitions through a recognition procedure called ‘equivalence’. This procedure involves a comprehensive evaluation of the foreign qualification in relation to the Italian qualification required by the competition notice. This recognition does not transform the foreign qualification into an Italian one, but allows the foreign qualification to meet the requirement for a competition that calls for an equivalent Italian qualification. The authority responsible for this procedure is the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Department of Public Administration, P.P.A Office – Recruitment Service.
EQUIVALENCE OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS
The responsibility for the equivalence procedure lies with individual Italian universities, which, within their autonomy, analytically evaluate foreign academic qualifications. The decision is made on a case-by-case basis, and each university is independent in deciding whether or not to issue the Decree of Equivalence, a document that certifies the equivalence between the foreign qualification and the corresponding Italian qualification, according to its own internal procedures.
Equivalence can only apply to Italian qualifications in:
Bachelor’s Degree • Master’s Degree • Doctorate (PhD)
For further details on the necessary procedures, please check the procedures outlined by the Consulate General of Italy in London at the links below: