[carlob]

Also note that there was no PhD program in Italy until 1984.

That's why a bachelor is historically called a doctor in Italy and also why the standards where so high on something that was at the time the highest degree attainable.

Another interesting effect is that while most of the _laurea_ were 4-5 years long (in terms of coursework), sometimes the thesis could take over one year to complete on top of that.