Academic titles Ministerial decree (M.D.) 270/2004 (art. 13, paragraph 7) establishes the academic titles that can be awarded to university graduates in Italy.
The title
Dottore (Dott.) is awarded to graduates of a 3-year bachelor programme (laurea triennale) or a university diploma course of the same length (law 240/2010, art. 17, paragraph 2, Minister Gelmini’s reform).
The title Dottore Magistrale
(Dott. Mag.) is awarded to graduates of a 2-year master programme (laurea specialistica/magistrale) or a one-cycle master programme (laurea magistrale a ciclo unico) and to graduates of the former Italian university system (laurea di vecchio ordinamento). Use of the title Dottore Magistrale is still uncommon practice.
The title Dottore di ricerca
(Dott. Ric. or Ph.D.) (law 240/2010, art. 19, paragraph 1) is awarded to Ph.D. graduates after completing studies with a length of at least three years.
| Completed programme |
Degree course |
Academic title |
| Laurea triennale (Bachelor) |
Corso di laurea del nuovo ordinamento (ex M.D. 509/99 and ex M.D. 270/2004) |
Dottore |
| Laurea specialistica (Master) |
Corso di laurea specialistica del nuovo ordinamento (ex M.D. 509/99) |
Dottore magistrale |
| Laurea magistrale (Master) |
Corso di laurea magistrale del nuovo ordinamento (ex M.D. 270/2004) |
Dottore magistrale |
Laurea vecchio ordinamento
(former Italian university system) |
Corso di laurea del vecchio ordinamento (4 or 5 years, before the activation of M.D. 509/99) |
Dottore magistrale |
| Dottorato di ricerca (Ph.D. course) |
Corso di dottorato |
Dottore di ricerca |
The final diploma issued in Italy must indicate the academic programme completed by the student, but not the title awarded.
For bachelor and master programmes activated according to former M.D. 509/99 and M.D. 270/2004, the degree class and the activation decree must be added so that these titles can be distinguished from those of the old system.
Italian graduates can use – in Italy and abroad – the academic title awarded in Italy. Only after official title recognition in a foreign country, it is allowed to use in that country, instead of the Italian academic title, the corresponding foreign academic title.
Please note that the academic title “Dottore” (Dott.) cannot be translated with the German “Doktor” (Dr.). The title “Doktor” is awarded to Ph.D. graduates only.