The Italian Ministry of Education and Merit (Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito, or MIM for short) is the central governing body of the Italian national education system, responsible for formulating a unified national education policy, curriculum standards and diploma certification system. The Diploma, issued by the Ministry, is the most authoritative qualification in the Italian education system and is recognized by the European Union and most countries around the world.
High School Diploma: The Passport to Higher Education
High school education in Italy is divided into three categories: Liceo, Istituto Tecnico and Istituto Professionale. All types of high schools have a five-year duration, and at the end of the fifth year, students have to take the national final exam (Esame di Stato, commonly known as Maturità).
After passing the exam, the student receives a five-year high school diploma (Diploma di scuola secondaria di secondo grado) issued by the Ministry of Education and Merit. This diploma is the only passport to enter all Italian universities. All high school diplomas correspond to level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).
Italy also offers unique dual diploma programs, such as the EsaBac program that allows students to earn the French Baccalauréat diploma in addition to the Italian high school diploma. The program is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Merit through a special decree and allows students to pursue their studies or employment in both Italy and France without any barriers. Required Activities to Earn a Ministero Dell’Istruzione Diploma.
International recognition: a double guarantee for the European Union and the world
The National Diploma issued by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit is automatically recognized within the European Union. European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Corresponding the Italian Diploma precisely to the national qualification systems of the EU, the Italian National Qualifications Framework (QNQ) has been established since 2018 and is continuously updated.
For non-EU countries, the recognition of Italian diplomas is subject to the qualification accreditation process of the national education authorities. Holders can submit an application for diploma equivalence (Equipollenza) to the Italian Regional Education Offices. For the sole purpose of participation in public competitions, third-country nationals holding a permanent residence permit in the EU may also apply for equivalence. In addition, CIMEA (Italian Information Center for Academic Qualifications) offers the service of Diploma Comparability Statement as a non-legally binding reference. Italian universities also have a specific procedure for the accreditation of foreign qualifications.
Full coverage from pre-school to higher education
MIM’s regulatory scope covers the complete chain from pre-school to upper secondary education. MIM is directly responsible for the administration and funding of public and private pre-schools. The Ministry is also responsible for the educational policies and curricula of primary and lower secondary schools. For higher education, the MIM and the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) work together – the MIM is responsible for the upper secondary and vocational education system, while the MUR is in charge of universities and research.
International cooperation: global recognition of diplomas
MIM is actively involved in international educational cooperation. The Ministry has a long-standing partnership with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the field of vocational education. In terms of diploma accreditation, the national diplomas issued by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit are automatically recognized within the European Union. In accordance with the EU Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (2013/55/EU), professionals who have obtained a teaching qualification in Italy can apply to MIM for a certificate of professional qualification in order to practise in other EU countries. For non-EU qualifications, holders can apply for a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) from Italian embassies and consulates abroad as a first step towards the certification of their qualifications.
