Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Italy

Vocational education in Italy starts early. From the age of 14, students can choose a vocational upper secondary school or a regional vocational training course instead of a general liceo, and after secondary school they can continue at an ITS Academy, Italy's higher technical institutes. For international students, the most visible part of the sector is different again: private schools of fashion, design, crafts and the arts, especially in Florence and Milan, which offer anything from one-week workshops to three-year programmes.

SpainExchange lists 11 vocational schools in Italy, four of them in Florence and three in Milan.

How vocational education works

There are three public routes:

• istituto professionale: five-year vocational upper secondary schools run by the State, with eleven fields of study since the 2018/19 school year
• IeFP (istruzione e formazione professionale): regional vocational training with three- and four-year courses, run by accredited training agencies or by upper secondary schools; the Regions are responsible for this system
• ITS Academy (istituti tecnologici superiori): higher technical institutes after secondary school, reorganised by Law 99 of 15 July 2022

The first two years of upper secondary education are compulsory, and young people have the right and duty to stay in education or training until they obtain at least a three-year vocational qualification by the age of 18. A new four-year technological and vocational path, which can continue at an ITS Academy for a total of six years, becomes part of the regular offer from the 2026-27 school year.

ITS Academy: higher technical training

ITS Academies are foundations that bring together schools, training bodies, companies and universities. Their courses are organised in semesters:

• two-year courses at EQF level 5: four semesters and at least 1,800 hours
• three-year courses at EQF level 6: six semesters and at least 3,000 hours

At least 60% of teaching is done by professionals from the world of work, and company placements cover at least 35% of the hours; they can also take place abroad. The diplomas are issued by the Ministry of Education and Merit, are valid throughout Italy, and give access to public competitions. Technology areas include energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, life sciences, ICT, culture and tourism, and "Made in Italy" sectors such as food, fashion, mechanics and the home.

Art, design and fashion schools

Higher-level art, design and music education in Italy is organised in the AFAM system (higher education for the fine arts, music and dance), which has 144 institutions and awards three-year and two-year academic diplomas equivalent to degrees. Some private institutions are authorised to award legally recognised qualifications. The Accademia del Lusso in Milan, for example, marks its MUR-recognised programmes on its site, and IAAD. in Turin, which has worked in design education since 1978, states that its qualifications follow the AFAM-ISIA system.

Other schools award their own certificates. Le Arti Orafe has run a goldsmithing and jewellery school in Florence since 1985, and the Accademia Riaci, active in Florence since 1983, offers one-year, semester and short courses in arts, crafts and design. Istituto Marangoni, with schools in Milan and Florence among other cities, runs three-year BA courses and shorter programmes in fashion and design.

Admission for international students

ITS Academies publish calls for applications every year and select their own students; applicants need an upper secondary diploma, or a four-year vocational diploma plus a technical specialisation course. For recognised first- and second-level academic diplomas, students from outside the EU follow the same pre-enrolment procedure as for universities, and for the 2026-27 academic year visa applications must be submitted by 30 November 2026. For other higher education courses, such as masters, single courses and foundation courses, there is no fixed visa deadline, but the application cannot be later than the start of teaching. Private schools set their own entry requirements; some, like IAAD., hold an admission test for three-year courses.

Costs

Vocational training courses organised by the Regions are free. ITS Academies, recognised academies and private schools set their own fees, so compare the full cost of a programme, including materials and housing, directly with each school.

How to choose a vocational programme

• Type of qualification: a State or regional qualification, an ITS diploma, a recognised academic diploma or a school's own certificate
• Length: short workshops, semester and one-year courses, or two- and three-year programmes
• Practical training: the share of workshop hours and company placements
• Language: whether courses are taught in Italian or English
• Location: Florence for crafts and the arts, Milan for fashion and design, and regional ITS Academies across the country

Frequently asked questions

What is an ITS Academy in Italy?

An ITS Academy is a higher technical institute that offers two- or three-year courses after secondary school, with at least 35% of hours spent in company placements. Its diplomas are issued by the Ministry of Education and Merit and are valid nationwide.

Are vocational courses in Italy free?

Vocational training courses organised by the Regions are free. ITS Academies and private schools of art, design and fashion charge their own fees.

Is a certificate from a private design school in Italy an official qualification?

Only if the school is authorised to award recognised qualifications, for example within the AFAM system. Many private schools award their own certificates, so check the status of each programme before enrolling.

When must I apply for a study visa for a design or art diploma in Italy?

For recognised first- and second-level academic diplomas in the 2026-27 academic year, students from outside the EU must apply by 30 November 2026. For masters and single courses there is no fixed deadline, but the application cannot be made after teaching starts.