Officially known as the Italian Republic, the country is found in southern Europe. The official language is Italian and the cultural rich capital is Rome. Many of the world's oldest universities are located in Italy, in particular the University of Bologna (founded in 1088). There are three Superior Graduate Schools with "university status", three institutes with the status of Doctoral Colleges, which function at graduate and post-graduate level.

Graduate diplomas are typically not offered in the United States. The American equivalent of a diploma is referred to as a professional certification. Each university has a different set of requirements for admission, so students should perform in-depth research on programs before applying.