There has never been a more exciting time to be a student in higher education. In Europe, the entire landscape of undergraduate and graduate degrees is undergoing a change with the Bologna Declaration, the likes of which have never been seen before. More and more students are choosing to leave their home country for their studies, with an estimated three million students worldwide currently pursuing degree-level study internationally. Conservative estimated place the market for international education as now being worth more than US$30 billion to the global economy.

Italian students and international students pursuing their studies in Italy have been increasing for a number of years. Alberto Rossi, currently completing a masters degree in Economics at Tilburg University in The Netherlands, is typical of many Italians studying abroad. - completed my bachelors degree in International Economics and Management at Bocconi University in Milan and chose to study at Tilburg because of the rank of its economics department, considered one of the best in Europe as far as research output is concerned. Students wishing to travel to gain exposure to the best academic brains Europe and the world has to offer are now commonplace and it is often the primary reason for students wishing to seek study opportunities abroad rather than stay at home.

"Italian students and international students pursuing their studies in Italy have been increasing for a number of years."

However, compared with many other European countries, Italy has comparatively few international students studying in its' universities and colleges. According to official sources, a little over 32,000 international students are currently studying in Italy, 30% of whom come from Greece and a further 12% from Albania. Additionally, significant numbers from Croatia, Germany, France, Cameroon and Israel study in Italian universities every year.

Conversely, Italian students are among the most mobile in Europe and farther a field. With a population of more than 1.8 million students currently enrolled in tertiary education, close to 3% of Italian students spend a period of study time abroad comparing favourably with France, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands. In 2004, more than 7,800 Italians studied in Germany, 7,200 in Austria, 6,000 in the UK and 3,300 in the USA.

According to The Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities, Italian students make up the highest number of international students in the country's universities. Alessia Campolmi from Florence, currently studying a masters programme in Economics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona is just one Italian studying in Spain. Alessia wanted to study abroad because the programmes were more challenging, "the masters degree at UPF was the most interesting I could find in Europe, with good professors and located in a fantastic city. The best aspect of studying abroad has been the contact with people from many different backgrounds and countries."

"With a population of more than 1.8 million students currently enrolled in tertiary education, close to 3% of Italian students spend a period of study time abroad."

One of the biggest reflections of this global trend is the wide variety of study destinations candidates are willing to consider, particularly for postgraduate degrees. This generally applies regardless of subject choice, mode of delivery, length of study, cost of programme or teaching style. A recent survey by QS Research, based on a sample of 1,566 potential postgraduate masters and research candidates, carried out in association with the QS World Grad School Tour and www.topgraduate.com has, for the first time, revealed how diverse student choice is when looking to pursue a postgraduate qualification abroad.



The survey confirmed two countries as clear favourites: 75% of respondents indicated that they would choose to study in the USA, followed by 65% selecting the UK. The third choice, Canada, achieved 35%.

The Ten Preferred Destinations for Postgraduate Education

Rank	Country	Percentage of Respondents
1	USA	75%
2	UK	65%
3	Canada	35%
4=	France	27%
4=	Australia	27%
6	Germany	22%
7=	Switzerland	17%
7=	Spain	17%
9	Singapore	16%
10	The Netherlands	14%

Outside the top ten most popular destinations, Italy, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, India, Ireland, Japan and Denmark all received interest worthy of note among the candidates attending the 2004 QS World Grad School Tour. The top ten countries teach the majority of their postgraduate programmes that attract interest from international students in English, confirming the increasing trend of institutions, worldwide, not to teach programmes in the national language. For example, South Korea offers more than 300 masters and research degrees in English for international students.

"The opportunities for Italian students to study abroad are certainly more available and varied than they have ever been before."

The opportunities for Italian students to study abroad are certainly more available and varied than they have ever been before. But finding out information that is both impartial and thorough can often be a difficult task. The web provides a source of good information, but the chance to meet admissions staff and academics from international universities is something that all prospective students should seek. Remember, it may be an expensive process applying for and reading a postgraduate degree at one of the world's leading universities and it pays to have as complete a picture as possible before you make your final decision.