How does Italian University work??

This is a special post, because I'm going to write it only in English. It's addressed mainly to Bethany, but also to any other person who's interested in understanding how University works here in Italy.

Ok, I know this isn't the best topic to start the month, so forgive me, but I had promised an explanation to a certain friend :).

University in Italy is generally a 3+2 years journey that students have to do if they want to guarantee themselves a future with more possibilities.

I said generally because of two things:

- the duration of the courses is different according to the degree (ex Medicine's students have to wait something like 10 or more years to start working, because they have a long internship).
My degree is a standard one: next year I should get my three-years degree and I could start the next two- years period (aka known as Master). I used the conditional because I don't have any interest in starting the Master immediately. Before doing that, I want to move to England for at least one year. I think a working-studying experience abroad would help my English reach a level that only who study abroad can reach.
Plus, I'm sure it'd help me as a person. I mean, I'd surely grow up a lot after so much time away from my home. And I'd also have the chance to meet new people and to learn a lot from them.
Ok, let's stop now, this isn't a "My dream for the future" post.

- the second thing is that quite a lot of times (too many times) a 3+2 years degree isn't enough because of the crappy situation in our beloved country. There are cases of graduates who can't find a proper job despite having studied so much and having put an enormous effort trying to build the bases for a respectable career. I won't say more, I'm not here to discuss about politics.

Now let's focus on the main point: how does the marking system work here in Italy?
I consider it quite simple a system.
During the whole year there are three periods (January- May/ June- First half of Sept) called sessions in which students are examined.
In my degree there aren't mid-semester exams, but I know in some others there are. So my mark isn't calculated considering scores of multiple tests. I simply do an exam and then I receive my grade.

Here University students receive numerical marks. You pass the exam if your mark goes from 18 to 30. If your exam is more than perfect, then your mark will be 30 cum laude (in case you were wondering, I've never received that mark).

Students then have the possibility to refuse the mark and to repeat the exam. Depending on the degree, they can repeat it in the same session, if there's more than one date for that exam, or in the next one, like me with my language-related exams (no luck at all for me!!!).

Our exams have a credit value. This is because the degree final mark (the maximum is 110 cum laude) is calculated through a weighted average,  which is related to the mark and the number of credits of each exam.

I'm sure mine won't be a 110 degree, but I don't care too much about it :). And mum will be happy, because she'll still be having the highest marked degree in the family :):).

This is how it works here. As I said before, it's not too difficult to understand.

Hope you'll find this interesting.

PS I'm not going to post this on Facebook, seen that it's only in English.

(With this I've just scored the 1-0 point, so I'm currently leading :) :) ).