Most medical schools in Italy offer courses in English and many will even lower the tuition fees for students with financial difficulties. It is one of the best locations in the world to pursue a degree in medicine, and you'll be able to study in an environment that is conducive to students.
It’s not a secret that Italy is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. And yes, what you’ve seen in the movies is real. If we could describe Italy in one word, we’d go for “gorgeous”. But what about studying medicine in Italy?
Italy prides itself on some of the best medical schools in Europe. It has been an everlasting choice for Medicine and Dentistry, and its popularity is high in the medical world due to the modern approach and use of some of the latest technologies that make studying more interesting and engaging.
It’s undoubtedly one of the top choices for studying medicine in Europe.
Apart from the opportunity to visit and live in a country with rich cultural and historical heritage, and of course amazing pizza treats, you will benefit from:
Check out our price breakdown of medical schools in Italy
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is the world's biggest Catholic university. Established in 1921, it has since grown to 4 different campuses, with the medical faculty located in Rome. Its medical program is one of the best, but also most competitive in Europe, with thousands of students competing for a mere 300 seats.
Humanitas University is a brand new, state of the art higher education institution, founded only in 2014 and dedicated solely to life sciences. Its esteemed MD course in medicine and surgery is taught entirely in English and attracts more than 150 international students every year.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) is the biggest Catholic university in the world, as well as the largest private non-profit university in Europe. The Bolzano campus specialises in medicine and is the newest and most modern addition to UCSC. The medical school prepares students for global success by teaching medicine in English and providing clinical training in Italian and German.
Campus Bio-Medico was established in Rome in 1991 and currently has two faculties - engineering and medicine, both of which are considered to be very prestigious. Its 6-year MD programme is offered entirely in English, making it perfect for international students who wish to study medicine in Europe.
IMS is the biggest and most popular medical school in Italy that is open to international students, attended by thousands of future doctors from all over the world. The pre-clinical years are mostly spent in LITA, a state of the art lab facility which is responsible for numerous medical innovations.
St Camillus is a prestigious medical university located in Rome which was only established in 2017, meaning that its campus, staff and technology are all very modern and top of the line. This is proven by its 6-year MD programme being offered entirely in English, making it perfect for international students looking to study medicine in Europe.
Sapienza University of Rome is one of the oldest medical schools not only in Italy, but all of Europe, founded back in the 14th century. Currently, over 100,000 students attend the university, many of which international and attending its medical programme in English.
Established in 1925, the University of Bari Aldo Moro is currently considered one of the most prestigious institutes of higher learning in Italy. Its 12 faculties are located in 3 cities and host almost 50,000 students. Its medical programme in particular is offered entirely in English, making it perfect for international students who wish to study medicine in Europe.
First established all the way back in 1548, the University of Messina is one of the oldest and biggest universities in Italy. Nowadays, the university has 12 departments with more than 100 degrees, 7 of which are fully taught in English - including its medical program.
The University of Milano-Bicocca was founded in 1998 and currently hosts 8 faculties and over 30,000 students. According to Times Higher Education, the university ranks first among the best Italian universities, Its medical programme lasts for 6 years and is taught entirely in English, and as such is open to local and international students alike.
Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore (UCSC), also known as the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, is a private research university that was founded in 1921. It is the biggest private non-profit European university, as well as the largest Catholic university in the world.
UCSC has 6 total campuses, 2 of which specialise in medicine and offer 6-year courses in medicine and surgery in English:
This is the newest and most modern addition to UCSC. Students who choose this campus will have access to the cutting-edge facilities of the Claudiana Polo Universitario delle Professioni Sanitarie.
One of the stand-out features of the medicine course at the Bolzano campus is that lectures are carried out in English, but students will also have the chance to study Italian and German. This prepares them for clinical training in all three languages, allowing graduates to practise medicine in English, Italian, and German speaking countries around the world.
The medicine courses in English at both campuses at UCSC cost per year. Living costs without rent in Bolzano are around per month, but living in Rome can be slightly more expensive - monthly.
This medical school is one of the few universities in Italy that does not require the IMAT but instead has its own entrance exam. Additionally, non-native English speakers will need to prove their language proficiency through a recognised English test like TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
2. International Medical School in Milan
The university attracts students from all over the world. International students are offered a specialist degree that is recognized worldwide.
Milan provides Medicine in English in a 6-year study process. The tuition fee is per year; living costs are around per month.
Admission requirements are good grades in Biology, Chemistry, and the third subject in their high school certificate equivalent to a C grade or above, e.g. A-levels, Baccalaureate, final leaving certificate etc. Students must have 3 Science A levels to apply, BTECs are not accepted here.
Founded in 1240, it is one of the oldest universities in Europe.
The medical school of Siena is the only medical school in Italy that teaches Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics in English. It provides a 6-year dental medicine programme.
The tuition fee is per year, and living costs are between - per month. Admission requirements are 3 Science A-Levels and IMAT.
Humanitas is a newly established private medical university in Italy. Each year around 150 students that choose Europe as a medical career path start their journey here.
At Humanitas University, you can apply for a 6-year medical course in English. Tuition fees for EU applicants are based on family income, while for non-EU students, they are between – per year.
Applicants are ranked based on their high school diplomas, mainly by their biology and chemistry grades.
They are also required to sit the IMAT test that focuses on Biology, Chemistry, and Logical Reasoning and also has a few questions from Physics and Maths.
Education in Italy can be quite expensive compared to other options to study medicine in Europe . While some universities offer more affordable tuition fees, the costs of living in Italy are still high. Prices in the Boot are comparable to those in the UK.
Most public Italian medical universities don’t have fixed tuition fee rates, but rather those are calculated based on family income. However, non-EU residents should expect to pay more than students from Italy or the European Union. Paid taxes and international treaties justify the lower tuition fees.
While public universities charge as low as annually, private medical schools can charge much more. For example, Humanitas University charges between and per year.
| Rent | Utilities | Transport | Food | Leisure |
| ~€400 | ~€250 | ~€40 | ~€250 | ~€100 |
Italy is a country with a high living standard, and it attracts millions of tourists per year. Thus, prices in big cities like Milan are comparable to those in London. In general, big cities are more expensive than smaller ones, and Southern Italy is more affordable than the North.
Speaking of Milan, it is an expensive city to live in. Living costs average €850 (rent not included). Rent is another €800 to €1200 depending on the location of the apartment, and this is for a single bedroom.
Still, Siena is a bit more affordable in comparison to Milan. Living expenses average around €780, and renting a single-bedroom apartment costs between €650 and €750.
The universities in Italy offer 6-year Master’s degrees in Medicine and Dentistry. The above universities do not offer the opportunity to study veterinary medicine in English.
The MBBS degree is taught in universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, and some countries that used to be a part of the British Empire. It is a bachelor’s programme, and it doesn’t correspond to the educational traditions of continental Europe. Italy offers only Master’s degrees in Medicine, and students cannot study an MBBS course at local universities.
There is no graduate-entry pathway in Italy. If you are looking for an accelerated medical or dental route, consider Poland or Georgia.
Being a postgraduate from an Italian Medical school, you would be a well-respected specialist with a world-renowned degree that is recognised worldwide. You would graduate as a fully licensed doctor or, therefore, a dentist with a European degree, able to start working right away.
The M.D. program is divided into two parts. The first two years are pre-clinical and therefore focus on building a stable ground for general understanding.
Subjects include anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, cellular and molecular biology etc.
The second part starts in the third year and follows until graduation. This one is considered clinical and includes subjects such as general surgery, internal diseases, pathology, gynaecology etc.
You would be taught practical skills and expected to put your theoretical knowledge to use.
Imagine a tree where preclinical studies are the roots and clinical ones are the branches.
The Italian civilizations have been writing history for two millennia, and in doing so, they have shaped the modern world as we know it. Italy is considered the birthplace of education in its current form because the first universities were established in Italy. Furthermore, the country is considered the birthplace of modern medicine because of the research done in Padua. Thus, to study in Italy is to flow with history - past, present, and future.
Here are some objective reasons to choose Italy as a destination for a medical degree:
There is one single reason to choose Italy as your destination to study: you are already Italian, sort of. Do you love pasta and pizza? Do you enjoy a midday espresso? Do you have a laid-back approach to life? Then you are already Italian! Sort of.
The Italian way of life delivers the fifth-highest life expectancy in the world. This achievement is often attributed to the superb Mediterranean diet. Thus, the Boot is probably the healthiest and tastiest place to study Medicine at.
In addition, the country is home to half of the world’s art treasures, and the cultivation of taste is an inevitable side effect of residency. You can’t go down a street in Italy without encountering several masterpieces by famous artists. The chances are that the street itself would be named after a Renaissance master and may very well be a historical landmark.
Finally, you cannot say “Italy” without mentioning football, or at least most Italians can’t. They might have invented modern Medicine, but it was only to prolong a life worth living. Naturally, life would not be worth living without Serie A - Italy’s finest football league.
Italy has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cool humid winters. International students are advised to prepare a balanced year-round wardrobe and consider the temperature peculiarities of their region. They should also pack a hunger for adventure and knowledge. Both come in plenty at the Boot.
Do you feel like packing yet?
Unfortunately, there is no graduate entry route. As soon as this opportunity appears, we will update the information for you.
Yes, you can. For your inner peace, you can always contact the local medical council for more information.
Absolutely, yes! Medical education for international students is entirely taught in English.
The tuition costs for most medical schools in Italy range between €15,000 and €20,000 per year.
Living in Italy costs around € 600-900 per month, depending on the city, accommodation and student’s needs.
No. Medical education in Italy is not free and must be paid for.
Yes, it is. Despite the universities’ high tuition costs, Italy does still provide a world-class medical education. This makes them a good choice for students who can pass their strict entry requirements.
No. Studying in a medical school in Italy is no easier or harder than studying in one anywhere else. However, being admitted into an Italian medical university is significantly harder than it is in many other countries with a comparable level of education.
The admission requirements for medical schools in Italy which teach in English are 3 Science A-Levels, passing the International Medical Admission Test (IMAT), and an English language certificate for non-native speakers.
