There are four basic types of course offered by the Conservatorio:

1) Corsi Ordinari
These are the ‘traditional’ courses of the Conservatorio. The length of the courses varies according to the instrument: from 5 years (Voice) to 10 years (piano, violin, etc.). The courses are generally divided into two or three levels (Inferiore, Medio and Superiore) and the final exam gives a diploma.
For admission students must pass an entrance exam. As a rule students may enter from the age of 9 (string instruments) upwards. For the various instruments there are different lower and upper age limits.

Further details on the structure, individual programmes, age limits, etc. are given in the Italian website http://www.conservatorioverona.it/didattica/corsi-ordinari/

2) Triennio sperimentale (three-year First Degree or Bachelor’s Degree)
For admission students need to have a school-leaving certificate and to pass an entrance exam
For further details: three-year First Degree

3) Biennio superiore (two-year post-graduate Second Degree or Master’s Degree)
For admission students already need to have a degree and to pass an entrance exam
For further details: two-year Second Degree

4) Corsi di Specializzazione e Master (Courses of Specialization)
Various courses are offered. In particular:
- freely-structured courses in Early Music (called “corsi filologici”) for students who wish to pursue their studies in Early Music without specific requirements (credits, obligatory subjects, etc.)

- a two-year course of specialization in Music Therapy

http://www.conservatorioverona.it/pdf/PresentMusicot.pdf
- a one-year ‘Master’ in Chamber Music (for groups)
For further details: link a Inglese b4

The range of instruments
The Conservatory has courses for all the traditional orchestral instruments, as well as for piano, organ, percussion, guitar and saxophone. There is a large Early Music department and a Jazz department.

The credit system
The Conservatory takes part in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and can therefore also assign credits to incoming foreign students who are taking courses of higher education according to the “Bologna system” (3 + 2). 60 credits therefore measure the workload of a full-time student during one academic year.

The academic year
At present the academic calendar runs from the beginning of November until the middle of June, with a two-week break at Christmas and a one-week break at Easter. The main exam session takes places in late June/early July, but there are also sessions in late September/early October and February.

For more on procedures for applying to study at the Conservatorio: see Application procedures