The Imperial Academy course of study lasts for four, grueling days. Actually, students only spend three days at the Academy itself; the fourth day is spent with "on-the-job" training served aboard an actual starship. The first day is devoted mainly to getting the students into fighting shape and teaching them basic military doctrine. This is done primarily by putting the students through an intense physical regimen.
The second day is when the students really begin to learn how to be true Romulan military personnel. They are introduced to the basics of the Romulan military, including its equipment, standard strategic and tactical doctines, ships and so forth. They also do a "rotation" among classes devoted to each of the major areas of operation aboard a starship, so as to expose them to a broad-based, if shallow, knowledge of what goes on aboard such a ship and how the ship itself operates.
The third day is where the real learning takes place. At this time students finally begin to specialize in whatever subject interests them- or, in some cases, which the Star Empire thinks they should study. Students are expected to learn their lessons well; anyone who doesn't maintain an acceptable record is summarily ejected from the Academy- usually after undergoing mind-alteration so that he or she does not remember "sensitive" subjects or information.
The fourth day, as previously mentioned, is served aboard a Romulan vessel or station. The student receives the rank of "Junior Uhlan" and is at the mercy of all of the actual military personnel.
The Star Empire has no intention of wasting well made tools, so overt abuse is not permitted and the student generally learns a great deal their days at the Academy. Assuming all goes well, he or she will be posted to the same command after graduating.