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.

Anyone seeking to further their career prospects or enter into a degree program may find their chances greatly improved by undertaking a certificate program. These programs often require less time to complete when compared to a bachelor’s or master’s degree.