Studying Medicine in Italy

Italy; In addition to its deep-rooted history, culture and tourism, it also hosts people from different parts of the world with its prestigious universities that provide high quality education. Thousands of international students are searching for Italian universities for studying medicine in Italy.

Most of these students apply to the most prestigious universities of the country to study medicine in Italy. The doors of a unique academic education will be opened for accepted students.

Graduating from medical school in Italy adds a lot to the background of students in terms of diploma, prestige and experience. Until recent years, students who wanted to study medicine in Italy could only study in Italian. English programs have been added to the curricula of universities with the implementation of new regulations. In this way, many students who want to study medicine in Italy have had the chance to study in English by taking advantage of this situation.

Advantages of Medical Education in Italy – Studying Medicine in Italy

Studying medicine in Italy is advantageous for students in many ways. Some of these advantages, which are the main reason for the applications received from all over the world, are as follows:

• High quality education
• Opportunity to study in English
• Blue diploma
• Tuition fee and scholarship advantages
• The opportunity to live in a historical and touristic country
• International social environment

Universities offering medical education in Italy are among the most prestigious educational institutions in the world. According to reputable research institutions such as QS World University Rankings, where the best universities of the world are ranked, many universities in Italy are among the top 500 universities in the world.

This is a great advantage for students who have a chance to study at these educational institutions. Students can feel confident that they receive a high quality education in these Universities and they have a chance to start a successful career after graduating from these prestigious universities.

Italy is a beautiful country to live in for students who will reside in the country. The country has a culture and lifestyle that is easy to get used to. Italy, which is almost a touristic country with its numerous historical and natural beauties, is almost a living historical museum with some of its streets.

Aesthetic and historical architectural structures, museums, ancient cities that have survived for centuries, as well as fascinating natural beauties all over the country; it provides a unique experience for students residing here to study medicine.

For further details, you can review our article about “Job Opportunities After Graduation in Italy“.

In addition to all these, students who reside in the country for years in order to study medicine in Italy, then graduate and want to start their business life will have an experience that they will perhaps not be able to access again throughout their lives. In addition to completing a challenging education process, students who endure the difficulties of living in a foreign country with foreign people and trying to get used to a different culture will become more self-confident individuals at the end of this process.

Pava Education offers professional consultation services for students who want to study medicine in Italy. If you want to benefit from this service and study medicine in Italy, you can fill out the application form immediately.

Medical Faculties in Italy (in English) 

There are 13 medical schools taught in English in Italy. Medical education is provided in 12 of these schools and dentistry education in 1 of them.

These medical faculties, which are mostly in the top 500 in the world rankings, give students the opportunity to receive education in different parts of the country.

Public and privite universities providing medical education in English in Italy are:

Important for Non-EU students: Non-EU applicants can apply to only one university per IMAT cycle. If your score does not meet the cut-off of your chosen university, you cannot switch to another. EU students can list multiple universities in order of preference and are placed through a national scrolling system. Choose your university carefully based on historical cut-off scores and seat availability.

You can also check our article about “Studying Medicine in Rome“.

Requirements for Application for Medical Education in Italy

There are four main requirements for students who want to study medicine in Italy:

1. Completion of 12 years of education
2. Passing the university entrance exam threshold in your home country (e.g. YKS for Turkish students). You only need to exceed the minimum score threshold. Being placed at a specific university is not required.
3. B2 level English proficiency. Most public universities do not require a formal IELTS or TOEFL certificate for the IMAT application itself. However, we strongly recommend obtaining at least a B2 certificate, as some private universities and post-acceptance enrollment steps may request it.
4. Passing the IMAT exam (for public universities) or the university’s own entrance exam (for private universities)

For students wishing to study medicine in Italian, an additional requirement applies: a B2 level Italian language certificate (CILS exam) is required alongside sitting the IMAT in Italian.

For more detailed information about the exam, you can check our article “IMAT Exam Preparation“. For students who want to study medicine in Italian, there are more options compared to medical departments taught in English.

Medical Examination in Italy | IMAT Exam | International Medical Admission Test

The International Medical Admission Test (IMAT) is the official entrance exam required for admission to English-taught Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine programs at Italian public universities.

The exam is held once per year, typically in September, simultaneously at Italian universities and at international test centers in over 17 countries. Registration opens in late August and closes in early September through the UniversItaly portal. The exam fee is approximately €130.

The IMAT consists of 60 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 100 minutes. Each correct answer scores +1.5 points; each incorrect answer deducts −0.4 points; unanswered questions receive 0 points.

Which areas are covered in the IMAT exam?

The subject and question distribution in the IMAT exam organized by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) is as follows:

• Logical Reasoning (5 questions)
• General Culture (4 questions)
• Chemistry (15 questions)
• Biology (23 questions)
• Mathematics and Physics (13 questions)

How to prepare for the IMAT exam?

During the preparation process for the IMAT exam, which every student who wants to study medicine in Italy has to take, we share the documents we have prepared with our students thanks to our expert team in Italy. These documents, which include resources that are not available in majority parts of the world, are sufficient to enable our students to successfully complete the exam. You can also prepare for the exam with the IMAT course offered by our professional teachers. You can contact us to access our documents and get detailed information about the exam.

IMAT Course (Online)

Start Dates – Click For More Information Course Duration – Click for Detailed Information Level: Beginner – Intermediate – Advanced 

 

Medicine Examination in Italian

In this exam, which is quite similar to the English IMAT exam, the exam language is Italian. In this exam consisting of 60 questions including logical reasoning, general culture, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology sections, verbal logic of students as well as their numerical knowledge are measured. Students who want to study in Italian should get as good score as possible in this exam.

Medicine Admission Tests at Private Universities

University of Cattolica Medical School Entrance Exam | Studying Medicine in Italy

This exam, conducted by the University of Cattolica, is an exam that every student who wants to study medicine at the University of Cattolica must take. The exam consists of 65 questions and candidates are given 65 minutes. Subjects include biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, general culture, psycho-behavior (logic, visual space logic and problem solving), religion and ethics. The examination fee is approximately €160 and students are required to score at least 15 out of 65 points.

HUMAT | Studying Medicine in Humanitas University

The HUMAT exam conducted by Humanitas University is an exam that every student who wants to study medicine at Humanitas University has to take.

The HUMAT exam by Humanitas University has been redesigned and now follows a format determined by the university itself. It consists of two sections:

• Scientific Thinking (30 questions / 60 minutes): functional thinking, mathematical thinking, and visual thinking
• Academic Literacy (30 questions / 60 minutes): reading comprehension and academic language skills

The exam fee is approximately € 165.

San Raffaele University School of Medicine Entrance Exam | Studying Medicine in Italy

The San Raffaele exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes: 60 questions on verbal logic and 40 on numerical subjects. The minimum passing score is 35 out of 100. The exam is held 1–2 times per year and can be taken in Turkey (Istanbul and Ankara).

UniCamillus  Medical Education Admission Test in English | Studying Medicine in Italy

UniCamillus uses the computer-based UCAT Camillus exam, covering five sections: verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, and situational judgement. The exam lasts 120 minutes and costs £115.

Together with Pava Education, We can do all of your UniCamillus application for FREE!

Tuition Fees of Universities Offering Medical Education in Italy

In Italy, which has a social state understanding, tuition fees at public universities vary between 156 € and 3500 €. Family income declarations of students are requested when determining the amount of fees. Students with an annual family income of less than € 25,000 pay an annual tuition fee of € 156. If the student has been living separately from his/her family for at least 2 years, the student’s own income is taken into consideration. Students who do not provide a family income declaration are deemed to have agreed to pay an annual tuition fee of € 3500. The fees of private universities in Italy may vary. Private university fees ranging from € 15,000 to € 20,140 per year are highly preferred by students. The quality of medical education in Italy is quite high in both public and private schools and there is no big difference between them in terms of the quality of education.

Scholarships and Accommodation Opportunities for Students Studying Medicine in Italy

Studying medicine in Italy has gained popularity in recent years, especially since Italy provides dormitory and scholarship opportunities for international students. The scholarship that students from all over the world can most easily benefit from is the need based scholarship, which is awarded based on the annual family income. The family income declaration, which is requested from the student while determining the tuition fees, is an important scale used in the scholarship process. In order to avoid a scholarship deduction, the student must have successfully passed the number of course credits required by the school and there must be no major differences in family income. State university students with an annual family income of less than € 25,000 are eligible for a scholarship. The need scholarship includes:

• Opportunity to pay the school fee of €156 per year
• Receiving an average annual scholarship of €8000
• Free meal card to be used for lunch
• Free place in university accommodation

DSU applications typically open in mid-July and close in early September. Final rankings are published by end of November. Students must reapply each academic year and must meet minimum credit (CFU) requirements from the second year onward.

You can also check our article “Accommodation in Italy” for accommodation opportunities.

Medical Specialization Process in Italy – Studying Medicine in Italy

In order to do specialization degree in Italy, you must first complete 6 years of medical education and complete all your internships. After graduation, you will be given the title of doctor and a medical school diploma. After receiving your diploma, you do not have to perform any compulsory duties. If you want to continue your medical specialty education in Italy, you need to take the specialty exam. This exam, which is the main criterion that taken into consideration when making specialty applications, is conducted in Italian and consists of multiple-choice questions. According to the score you will receive from the exam, it is possible to apply to university hospitals in Italy and the duration of your specialty training here varies between 4 and 5 years depending on the field you apply. You are required to take an active role in the clinic during your specialty training.

Is the medical school diploma obtained in Italy valid in other countries?

The diplomas received by students who study medicine at Italian universities after graduation are valid  in most countries of the world. The “blue diploma” you will have will be valid in all European countries and is also recognised by the Council of Higher Education. This is one of the biggest reasons why Italian universities are so preferred by students who want to study medicine. There is no obstacle in this respect for students who aim to receive a quality medical education in a unique academic environment and who want to choose Italian universities.  All of the public educational institutions in Italy that provide education in English are in the top 1000 in the world ranking. For this reason, the medical diploma you receive from public schools in Italy is included in the direct equivalence process in other countries of the world.

Why to Choose Pava Education?

Pava Education, an Italy-based study abroad consultancy firm, successfully completes the procedures of prospective students who want to study medicine in Italy with its progressive and professional attitude. Our institution, which operates together with the prospective student from the moment he/she decides to apply until the moment he/she settles in Italy, requests only the necessary documents from the students during all the procedures and then carries out the procedures. Thanks to its experienced team, it ensures that prospective students have minimal contact with the bureaucratic process during the exam preparation process and manages the mixed application processes. Pava Education, which can easily access the most up-to-date information since its center is in Italy, has adopted the principle of good education should reach everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the average prices to study medicine in Italy?

In Italy, you can study medicine in English or in Italian at public universities for 156 to 3,500 euros per year and at private universities for an average of 15,000 to 20,000 Euros per year.

Are there free universities in Italy, are public universities free?

All public or private universities all over Italy have annual payments, there is no free university. The tuition fees of public universities ranging from 156 to 3,500 euros per year and it is covered by the annual scholarship payments you will receive in Italy.

How many years does medical education last?

It takes 6 years to study medicine in Italy. The first 3 years of medical education are theoretical and the next 3 years are clinical training.

Can you study medicine in Italy?

Italy has a high status both in the business world and in the education sector in Europe and of the world. Medical education in Italy offers a high-status education that meets world standards in the same way, students who have completed their medical education in Italy will have the prestige to work in the health sector all over the world.

What are the requirements to study medicine in Italy?

The requirements for studying medicine at Italian universities are as follows;

• Already qualified to study in a university in his/her home country. (It is sufficient to have exceeded the minimum score in the university entrance exams!)
• 12 years of education must be completed.
• To have passed the IMAT exam or to meet the application requirements of private universities.
• To provide B2 level language proficiency for universities requiring English requirement

What is the salary of a doctor in Italy?

The average salary of a newly recruited doctor in Italy is 5,000 euros, which may vary among hospitals. In order to become a doctor in Italy, you must have C1 level Italian skills and you must pass the specialization exam after 6 years of medical education.

Is it difficult to study medicine in Italy?

Medical education in Italy has a curriculum based on world standards and a flexible structure that facilitates students throughout Italy and does not involve difficulties. Italian medical faculties are based on basic theoretical knowledge for the first 2 years, followed by laboratory and clinical experience in the next 4 years, that concentrated on practical courses.

Is it necessary to speak Italian during clinical training? Are there Italian language courses?

To prevent communication difficulties during clinical training, students enrolled in English-taught medicine programs are provided with a free Italian language course during their first year. This ensures smooth communication during clinical practice and future work in Italian hospitals.

In which languages is medical education provided in Italy?

Medical education in Italy is given in Italian or in English.

Does nationality make a difference in the number of preferences and quotas?

Yes. EU and Non-EU students compete in completely separate ranking pools with separate seat quotas. EU students can list all participating universities in order of preference. Non-EU students (such as Turkish students) have one preference only — they must select a single university before the exam. If their score does not meet that university’s cut-off, they are not admitted for that cycle.

Is Italian medical degree diploma recognized worldwide?

The diploma that you will receive from an Italian university is recognized in the European Union, but also most of the Non-European countries recognize Diplomas obtained from Italian Medical Schools. However, every country has its regulations and requirements for the recognition of medical degrees. All of the public schools providing English education in Italy are in the top 1000 in the world ranking. That is why most of the countries will also accept your medical degree from Italian universities and also considering the fact that most of these universities are over 600 years old and worldwide known, most likely, your degree will be recognized in the country that you choose to continue your career after graduation.

What are the IMAT subjects?

The distribution of topics and questions in the IMAT exam held by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) is as follows.

• Logical Reasoning (5 questions)
• General Culture (4 questions)
• Chemistry (15 questions)
• Biology (23 questions)
• Mathematics and Physics (13 questions)

Why Pava Education?

Pava Education, with its professional consultants located in Italy and in many other countries, complete the application processes of candidate students who want to study medicine in Italy in a progressive and professional attitude. Pava Education is also an official partner of majority of Italian universities.

Our professional consultants can guide you in your medical school application to both private and public universities; you can request the following services from Pava Education;

• Italian Embassy Pre-Application
• IMAT Registration
• IMAT Preparation Consultancy
• Consultancy for University Choices
• University Pre-Application
• Scholarship Application
• Accommodation Application
• University Enrollment (If IMAT results are successful)
• Visa Application Consultancy
• Welcoming Service to the Applied University
• Residency Permit Consultancy

Pava Education, which reaches the most up-to-date information easily as it is based in Italy, has adopted the principle of informing and guiding everyone who wishes to pursue their education in Italy.

Additionally you can review our article on “Education Consultancy in Italy“.