In conformity to the 1999 reform, Italian undergraduate university studies are organised on a First Cycle: 1st Level Degree Courses / One-Long cycle 2nd Degree Courses. Undergraduate studies consist in Corsi di Laurea-CL (1st degree courses) aimed at guaranteeing undergraduate students an adequate command of general scientific methods and contents as well as specific professional skills. First degree courses usually last 3 years. The Laurea-L (1st degree) is awarded to undergraduates who have earned 180 credits. Undergraduate students can also apply for Corsi di Laurea Specialistica a ciclo unico - CLSu (One-long Cycle 2nd Degree Courses): Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Architecture, Building and Architectural Engineering. For these courses it is necessary to obtain 300 credits - 360 in the case of Medicine. These degrees controlled by the European Union regulations are single cycle degrees, in other words there is not a first level, but the teaching activities are spread directly over 5 or 6 years. Apart from the aforementioned degree courses offered at the University of Bologna within the framework of the Bologna Process, undergraduate students can apply for Summer and Winter Schools which are international courses which last between one and four weeks. They are usually structured as intensive courses on many different subjects designed to match new educational and professional needs. The courses are addressed to undergraduates and young graduates from all over the world and, in some cases, to highly skilled professionals. This educational activity is conceived as an academic meeting point for scholars from all over the world. Here students can enrich their knowledge by attending courses held by lecturers of international repute and, at the same time, share a unique cultural experience simply by mixing with peers from all over the world. In some courses university credits can be earned and grants are available.

During the past academic year (2007/08) the University of Bologna undertook a relevant new planning of all the courses offered, according to the Ministerial Decree 270/04 which will become effective in the next academic year (2008/09).

The main changes made by DM 270/04:

- New names for educational qualifications:

 Laurea (L) ( 1st level Degree)  Laurea Magistrale (LM) (2nd level Degree)  Diploma di Specializzazione (DS) (Specialization Diploma)  Dottorato di Ricerca (DR) (Research Doctorate)

- Separation between Laurea and Laurea Magistrale, by introducing changes in the conditions set to get ammission to the courses;

- Other educational qualifications.

The new Law aims at:

 raising the rate of graduates per year;  decreasing the number of students which leave university without getting a degree;  decreasing the time required for getting educational qualification;  fostering the mobility among students all over the world;  fostering the internationalization of the University;  improving the quality, coherence and harmonization of all European University courses to create a European Education Space.