1 year course with tourist visa

Hello,
I come from Italy and I am planning to take a 1-year postgraduate course in Shanghai. The university I will be attending to does not offer student Xs, so they told me I have to enter with a tourist L. Are there any tourist visas that last 1 year for Italian citizens? Also, what will be the maximum period of time that I can remain in the country per entry?
Thanks a lot!