Study medicine in Italy
International medical schools
Since 2009, Italian public universities have been opening English-language MD programs. More than 12 public medical schools offer English-taught MBBS degrees. These are the universities of Bari, Bologna, Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Messina, Milan, Milan-Bicocca, Naples Federico II, Padua, Pavia, Rome La Sapienza, Rome Tor Vergata, and Turin. These English-language medical schools are among the most internationally diverse, academically rigorous, and inexpensive in the world, and are excellent preparation for residency, research, and clinical work in Europe and beyond.
With subsidized tuition fees that range between 200 and 4000 euros per year for European as well as non-Europeans, obtaining a Western-European-level medical education has never been so accessible.
Are you new here? Welcome!
Feel free to start reading the top reasons to study in Italy below, and have a look at our videos, too.
Top ranked Universities to Study Medicine in Italy
Those are the top ranked medical schools in English in Italy:
- University of Milan-Biccoca
- University of Pavia: Harvey course
- University of Bologna
- University of Milano-Statale
- University of Turin
Want to learn more?
8 good reasons to study medicine in Italy
1. Admissions You will take just ONE admission exam, in English (the IMAT), that is held in more than 20 cities around the globe. No interviews, No high school GPA , No recommendation letters required. Actually, you won’t even have to fly to Italy until you know you’re in. The admission test costs around 120 euros and is held entirely in English.
2. Costs The average tuition fee is around 1200 euros/YEAR and living expenses can be as low as 600 euros/month including accommodation. This is far less then it would cost you in the US, UK, or eastern Europe. Scholarships and work possibilities are available also for foreign students.
3. English taught lectures Books, notes, and all exams will be in a language you can understand from day 1. Italian courses are also offered in order to help your daily life, without time pressure.
4. Reputable universities Several of the universities have 500+ years of experience in teaching medicine.
Click to unfold more reasons below»
5. European MD degree Your degree will allow you to specialize and practice all around Europe, including the UK. The studies are recognized also in USA for the USMLE exam.
6. Culture If you’re spending six years abroad, why not do it in a beautiful country with great food, customs, and people, in the middle of Europe? You will be surrounded by the sea, the Alps, and breathtaking lakes in the north that you won’t regret visiting. See for yourself why they call it la dolce vita.
7. Student exchange programs Spend a semester or a year in a partner university in Europe, doing all the exams and clinical work that a local student would do, and get accredited for them as well. Some universities like Pavia also offer exchanges with the USA.
8. Reserved spots Extra places are sometimes reserved for non-European candidates, making the chances for them even better.
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Latest Blog posts
Student perspective: studying in Padova (with Kad)
What makes one med course different from the others? Many of us who took a leap of faith and moved to a different country to pursue the dream of becoming a doctor, have faced a sneaky truth: you really, really don’t know what you’re getting at until you start living...
IMAT 2021 official test date released
The IMAT test date is out! The Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) released the official entrance exam date only days ago. Sitting the IMAT (International Medical Admission Test) is a necessary step you need to take in order to get admitted to any of the public...
Non-EU Admission Call for Humanitas Medical School in Milan
Humanitas University second round registration for medicine for Non-EU applicants is open! Last 10 places for Non-EU applicants are available. Register for Humanitas IMAT (HUMAT) and get into their world-class degree course in Medicine and Surgery, taught exclusively...
IMAT 2020 & Coronavirus official update
In light of the current developments with the corona-virus (COVID-19) outbreak worldwide, Cambridge Assessment, the company behind the IMAT, has released an official statement regarding the 2020 IMAT test. IMPORTANT NOTE! Unfortunately every year there are a few...
IMAT 2020 test day announced
The Ministry of Education in Italy has officially released the IMAT 2020 dates for admission to medical schools in Italy, teaching in the English language. The official IMAT 2020 date The official IMAT 2020 test date was set to 10.09.2020 (September 10, 2020). When...
New Key Dates for Italy English Med School 2020 Admissions Announced
The important takeaway from this is that since Padua and Turin have already set down July registration deadlines, we can be sure that the 2020 IMAT will not be moved to the spring.
Practical ways to finance your medical studies in Italy
One of the things I am really proud of, is the fact that I was able to finish my 6 years of medical studies in Pavia without asking my parents for money nor without getting any loans. In this post I will tell you how I was able to pull it off and give you several...
Your New Life in Bologna: An Editorial and Guide
Bologna med student Tim Lee addresses topics that prospective students of medicine in Italy often ask about, from the delicious food and fun social life, to bureaucracy and ethnic discrimination.
How to Find Housing for Med Students in Bologna
University of Bologna student Elad Fayel gives tips on how to find housing, a difficult task in the crowded city.
A Detailed Profile of the Bologna English Med School
The University of Bologna English med school has a good international academic reputation, and fantastic social life, in an ancient city.
Alex is a graduate of the Harvey Medical Program at University of Pavia and is the founder of MEDschool.it. He is a Resident in Ophthalmology and a Researcher in Ophthalmic Gene Therapy in Germany.
- Non-EU Admission Call for Humanitas Medical School in Milan - April 20, 2020
- IMAT 2020 & Coronavirus official update - April 13, 2020
- IMAT 2020 test day announced - March 11, 2020