Judging that students were being asked to stay at university for too long, Mr Berlusconi's previous government introduced optional, three-year degreecourses.
At Britain's independent University of Buckingham, the vice-chancellor, Terence Kealey, cheekily welcomed the spending cuts and the two-year undergraduate degreecourses that may result.
Two years ago it started to admit 120 of the best students from local state schools annually to a two-year catch-up programme, with progression to degreecourses for those who do well.
There are several institutions offering surf-related courses - including a three-year surf science and technology degree at the University of Plymouth and a three-year course in surf and beach management at Swansea Institute of Higher Education.
Of those completing post-graduate teacher training courses last year, 56% had achieved an upper-second-class degree or better as an undergraduate - up from 55% in 2004.
The report draws on figures from the admissions body UCAS which show that applications from people aged 21 or over for full-time degreecourses starting in 2012-13 have fallen by 11.4% since last year.