IMS Rome, Tor Vergata University
Tor Vergata University of Rome – one of the newest Universities in Italy but also one of the first to offer an English -taught medical course.
As a relatively young University, Tor Vergata’s campus was designed by the Anglo-Saxon model: a single fairly large complex (over 600 hectares) comprising everything at once. You’ll find the University hospital (“Policlinico Tor Vergata”), the lecture halls, the student dormitories (“Campus X”), and important research institutions, all in one place.
It is one of the two public med schools in English in Rome (the other being La Sapienza University).
Tor Vergata is located in the suburbs of Rome, which certainly brings some advantages – a calmer study environment, a rather university town vibe, a larger green area around the campus, and the commodity of having everything nearby.
THE UNIVERSITY
[Disclaimer]: The minimal IMAT scores differ from year to year. Furthermore, for the EU ranking list, ranking is still scrolling (as of March 2021) for the acceptance to the academic year of 2020/2021, so the final minimum score will be slightly lower.
- EU minimal score: 42.1 (20th ranking, March 2021)
- Non-EU minimal score: 44 (1st ranking)
Classes are very small and similar to the rest of the international medical programs, provide a vibrant and diverse environment due to the students coming from all over the world. Currently, the available acceptance spots are 25 for EU and 10 for Non-EU candidates, making the class a total of 35 students. In comparison, in 2019, the class was slightly bigger – consisting of 45 students.
An important advantage of studying in Tor Vergata is that clinical rotations start as early as the first year! Students are rotating in different wards from the second semester of the first year and get the gist of how the hospital system works. They are also allowed to observe surgeries and interventions. Most other medical Universities in Italy schedule the practical experience only in the 3rd or 4th year.
Exams are mostly oral with few exceptions, and there are regular exam sessions in February and June/July, and additional sessions in April, September, and December.
Although lectures and exams are entirely held in English for the 6-year duration of the course, students are required to reach at least a B1 Italian language level to help to have smooth interactions with patients during the clinics. The University provides Italian language courses for free on all levels and even a certificate upon successful completion.
INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY
The University of Tor Vergata puts a special focus on providing its students with an experience abroad, in prestigious places like Cambridge, Yale, Iowa, and Moscow.
A rather thrilling opportunity they offer is the Saharawi – Tor Vergata project: students get the opportunity to challenge their knowledge by practicing it in Africa.
It’s about 1-2 weeks spent in the Saharawi refugee camps, originating from Western Sahara and momentarily located in South-western Algeria. The aim is to give students both a socio-economic perspective, as well as exercise their knowledge by working on type II Diabetes, aid local physicians, pediatric screening for craniofacial malformations, drug collection, and the analysis of the quality of drinking water. If you’re interested to know more, you can visit their dedicated, and dare I say, quite developed Facebook page named “Progetto Saharawi – Tor Vergata”.
ACCOMMODATION
You can opt-out for the university dorms – “Campus X”. It’s a large complex with about 1000 students living in and a 15.000 sq. meters of green-belt area. Prices can be anything from 390 euros to 700 euros depending on the type of accommodation you chose.
Students recommend starting there at least in the beginning until you get to know how things work before moving to a private apartment.
Single rooms close to the Tor Vergata area start from € 250 and up to €350 a month. An apartment (monolocale) goes up to € 500-600 a month. Living closer to campus is, however, still cheaper compared to central Rome. You can reach the campus easily by a 15 min bus ride.
The university also provides accommodation grants or “housing vouchers” based on the student’s economic state and academic merit.
This is a kind of scholarship that helps to cover housing expenses during the degree course.
OTHER COSTS
Average rent: 470 €
Monthly transportation subscription: 35 €
Monthly food cost: 270 €
Average lunch price at a restaurant: 15 €
Average Fitness subscription: 35 €
Beer at a bar: 4 €
THE CITY
The University is situated in the suburbs of Rome, which combines all the benefits of the immediate vicinity to the capital, and a calm and peaceful environment to immerse in during your studies. It is situated close to Exit 19-20 of Rome’s Grande Raccordo Anulare, it is well connected and easily reachable.
You can take a bus, train, or metro ride from central Rome to reach the University in under an hour. There’s a free shuttle from the train station to the Tor Vergata campus.
With the opportunity that campus life offers, and with close to 1000 students living in Campus X, you can be sure that nightlife won’t disappoint, even if away from central Rome. And of course, you always have the option of hopping to the center for a party.
Rome being a very big city, you might want to steer away from touristic sites and discover the hidden gems only locals know, where you can find delicious yet significantly more affordable food for example. Some neighborhoods to check are Garbatella, San Lorenzo, Monti.
And just when you’ve had enough of studying and you need a nice break – you can go to the beach! It’s easily reachable by bus and makes for a great day trip.
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(c) Featured images by pexels.com
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