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EnglishWhat "Post Laurea" Means in the Italian University System
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Post laurea refers to everything you study after earning a university degree in Italy. It is not a single qualification but an umbrella category covering professional master's programmes (master di primo and secondo livello), doctoral programmes (dottorato di ricerca), and other advanced or specialisation courses. The entry requirement is normally a laurea (bachelor's-level degree) or a laurea magistrale (master's-level degree), depending on the type of programme. Crucially, post laurea is not the same as a laurea magistrale: the laurea magistrale is a second-cycle degree, while post laurea study comes after a degree has already been awarded.
The main types of post laurea study
| Type | Typical entry requirement | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Master di primo livello | Laurea (first-cycle degree) | Professional specialisation after a bachelor's-level degree |
| Master di secondo livello | Laurea magistrale (second-cycle degree) | Advanced professional specialisation after a master's-level degree |
| Dottorato di ricerca (PhD) | Laurea magistrale (usually) | Research training leading to a doctoral qualification |
| Other advanced/specialisation courses | Varies by course | Targeted professional or interdisciplinary training |
The key distinction within master's programmes is the level: "primo livello" builds on a first-cycle degree, while "secondo livello" builds on a second-cycle degree. A PhD sits at the top of the research track and generally expects a laurea magistrale before admission.
Post laurea vs. laurea magistrale
These are often confused because both involve study beyond a bachelor's-level degree, but they occupy different places in the system:
- Laurea magistrale is a degree programme in its own right — the Italian second cycle, roughly comparable to a master's degree in many other systems. You enrol in it as a student progressing through the standard degree structure.
- Post laurea is postgraduate study that follows the completion of a degree. The master di primo livello, for example, requires you to have already finished a laurea; the master di secondo livello requires a laurea magistrale.
In short: a laurea magistrale is something you do instead of stopping at a bachelor's-level degree; post laurea is something you do after obtaining a degree.
How to find post laurea programmes at the University of Verona
The University of Verona (univr.it) organises its offer under a Postgraduate section in the main navigation, alongside Degree Programmes and PhDs. The site separates:
- Professional Master's Programmes and other courses — the post-laurea master's and advanced courses;
- PhDs / Doctoral programmes — the research doctorates.
To use it, start from the university homepage, open the degree-programmes area, and choose the postgraduate or PhD path rather than the bachelor's and master's degrees path. From there you can browse the individual programmes and check each one's admission requirements, since the required prior degree differs between first-level master's, second-level master's, and doctoral programmes.
Practical points to check before applying
- Confirm the level. A master di primo livello needs a laurea; a master di secondo livello needs a laurea magistrale. Applying to the wrong level is a common stumbling block.
- Check the specific admission requirements on each programme page, because entry conditions can vary beyond the general level rule.
- Distinguish the qualification you want. If you are still choosing your first degree path, a laurea magistrale is the standard second-cycle route; post laurea study is the next step after that.
- Use the official programme listings rather than general descriptions, since course titles and structures are set by the university.