University

Passato prossimo with essere: talking about studies

In Italian, to talk about your academic background, the key phrase is mi sono laureato/a in... (I graduated in...). The passato prossimo here uses the auxiliary *essere*, and the past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number.

mi sono laureato/a in... — I graduated in...

The ending changes depending on who is speaking:

• laureato (masculine singular)
• laureata (feminine singular)
• laureati (masculine plural)
• laureate (feminine plural)

Examples:

• *Mi sono laureata in lettere.* — I graduated in humanities.
• *Mi sono laureato in ingegneria tre anni fa.* — I graduated in engineering three years ago.
• *Si sono laureati insieme a giugno.* — They graduated together in June.

More passato prossimo with essere

Other academic verbs also take *essere* in the passato prossimo:

• *Sono andato/a all'università di Bologna.* — I went to the University of Bologna.
• *Sono rimasto/a in biblioteca fino a tardi.* — I stayed in the library until late.
• *Sono tornato/a al campus per la sessione estiva.* — I returned to campus for the summer session.

University vocabulary

• *Ho fatto il dottorato a Roma.* — I did my PhD in Rome.
• *Sto scrivendo la tesi magistrale.* — I am writing my master's thesis.
• *Ho vinto una borsa di studio.* — I won a scholarship.
• *La sessione invernale era sempre difficile.* — The winter exam session was always tough.

The Italian academic path

The *laurea triennale* lasts 3 years (bachelor's), the *magistrale* adds 2 more (master's), and the *dottorato* lasts 3 years (PhD). Italians call this the *tre più due* system.