AcadIMAT

International Medical Schools in Italy: A Comprehensive Overview

Updated: Where can I study medicine in Italy map

Italian Medical Schools: The Guide

There are currently 22 Medical Schools in Italy offering an English Medicine & Surgery Programme, and ranking highly in most world directories, Italy has established an impressive standard in preparing future medical students. It’s no surprise that studying medicine in Italy has become an increasingly popular choice with the country offering rich cultural experiences across a multitude of cities, on a backdrop of academic strength without breaking the bank.

Prospective students may find it difficult to pick just one medical school to put as their top choice, as there are many different things to consider. However, there is a Medical university for every budget and every type of student whether they’re an adventurer, a city explorer, or simply prefer more intimate surroundings.

In this comprehensive guide we’re going to have a look at every city in which Italy offers an English medical programme, the average cost of living, the year round weather, and which Italian medical universities you can find there (both public and private).

Where Can I Study Medicine in Italy?

As of October 2023, there are 5 private and 17 public Italian universities that offer an English Medical (and 2 Dental) programme to give a total of 22 choices to students considering studying medicine in Italy. While there are 22 universities they are spread across just 14 cities, which we’re going to explore in depth one by one in the following list.

We really recommend prospective students to pick a Medical school based on the city lifestyle they love, and not the university itself as you will be spending a minimum of 6 years there. You will quickly realise that university rankings are actually pretty arbitrary so there is no correct answer to “best ranking medical school in Italy”.

Milan Medical Schools

Milan currently has 4 universities that offer an English medical programme, 2 private and the other 2 public.

Weather

With Milan being so close to the alps allowing students the opportunity to go skiing and snowboarding with ease, it also means that the winters are a lot harsher compared to central or southern Italy. The summers are humid, and the winters are cold.

Cost of Living

According to the cost of living index Milan has the highest cost of living in Italy, ranking 31st in all of Europe followed by Genoa (51st) and Rome (57th).

  • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €39.
  • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs €1086 on average
  • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

University of Milan - Statale (Public)

Statale is a public higher education institution in Milan, Italy. It is one of the largest universities in Europe, with about 60,000 students. The University is the only Italian member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).

FEES: Depends on your country of origin as well as income of the student (or family), so ranges €200 – €3,840. Read more here.

Past IMAT Scores of Milan Statale

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
46.6
44.3
43.3
45
42.1
39.7
46.7
47.9
Non-EU
60.20
51.8
51.5
47.8
54.2
45.7
51

University of Milan - Bicocca

Bicocca is a public university established in 1998, and found on the northern outskirts of Milan. University of Milan – Bicocca has originates from having split from the University of Milan (Statale).

FEES: Depends on the annual family income of the student so it can be from €200 – €4115. Read here for a detailed breakdown.

Past IMAT Scores of Milan Bicocca

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
43.3
41
37.2
44.6
39.9
39
39.7
n/a
Non-EU
54.2
49.2
42.3
43.7
37.1
26.7
26
n/a

San Raffaele (Private)

San Raffaele is a private university in Milan founded in 1996 and fundamentally born as an off-spring of an internationally renowned research hospital. The Medicine and Surgery faculty proposes courses with strong scientific connotations, where the students go on ward rounds from their very first year.

FEES: Yearly tuition fees amount to €20.000 + € 140 for the regional enrolment tax.

Humanitas (Private)

Humanitas is an Italian private university dedicated to the medical sciences. The campus is “built by the hospital, inside the hospital. All the tutors are specifically trained and work as medical doctors or nurses in the hospital. All campus facilities are located within the hospital area.”

FEES: Yearly tuition fees amount to €20.000 if the student is non-European or €10.000-20.000 euro a year depending on family income if European.

Rome Medical Schools

Rome currently has 5 universities that offer International medical programmes taught entirely in English, as well as one university to offer dentistry in English. Two of these institutions are public, whereas the other three are private.

Weather

While Rome has much milder winters with higher averages for temperatures and sunshine, it has almost unbearable summers, with the heat and humidity peaking in the months of July and August. Autumn and spring are quite pleasant can experience short but strong rainfall and thunderstorms.

Cost of Living

According to the cost of living index Rome has the 3rd highest cost of living in Italy, ranking 57th in all of Europe just after Genoa (51st) and Milan (31st).

  • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €35 . For a more detailed report on transportation in Rome read this.
  • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs €935.14 on average.
  • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons.
  • Renting near Tor Vergata is significantly cheaper than close to La Sapienza.

Tor Vergata (Public)

The University of Rome – Tor Vergata is a public research university established in 1982 with “the goal to contribute to people’s education and training, to scientific research and to the technological, organisational and social innovation needed to achieve a truly sustainable development in Italy, Europe and worldwide…”. 

FEES: €156 – 6105 depending on multiple factors such as country of origin and annual family income

Past IMAT Scores of Tor Vergata

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
38.5
39.2
37.7
42.1
38.4
38.2
37.2
41.4
Non-EU
53.4
44.6
47.7
34
45.5
30.8
35.1

La Sapienza (Public)

La Sapienza is a public research University and is the largest European university, as well as one of the oldest being founded in 1303. We really recommend reading the Wikipedia page as it’s hard to summarise briefly.

FEES:Fees range from €140 to €1500 for international students depending on country of origin. Fees for Italian students can be up to €3200 depending on family income.

Past IMAT Scores of La Sapienza

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
45.4
42.8
40.4
46.7
43.6
38.5
40.2
43.6
Non-EU
50.8
52.6
53.1
42.3
44.3
44
39.1

La Sapienza (DENTISTRY)

La Sapienza is a public research University, and the second university in Italy to offer an English dentistry programme starting in 2022.

FEES: Fees are identical to how it works for its medicine course which range from €140 to €1500 for international students depending on country of origin. Fees for Italian students can be up to €3200 depending on family income.

Past IMAT Scores of La Sapienza

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
38.7
32.6
Non-EU
59.1
46.3

Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Private)

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a private research university founded in 1921 and had five affiliated campuses, making it the largest private university in Europe and the largest Catholic University in the world. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona and Rome.

FEES: For European students there is a minimum fee of €3600 (for lower family incomes and cheaper courses) to a maximum of about €8900 (for higher family incomes and more expensive courses) per year.

A flat tuition fee of €8540 per year is applied to international students residing outside the European Union and associated states. However there is a “UCSC International Scholarship” that covers 30% of the total cost.

Uni Camillus (Private)

Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences (UniCamillus) is a private University located in Rome, and recognised by the Italian MEUR since November 2017. UniCamillus is dedicated exclusively to Medical Sciences and is aimed towards students who show a scientific and professional interest towards health issues affecting developing countries (PVS) as it has a huge humanitarian commitment.

FEES: Annual tuition rate for students enrolled in the degree course in medicine and surgery is €18.140 (some private scholarships are available).

Università Campus Bio-Medico (Private)

The Campus Bio-Medico University is a university founded in 1991 in Rome, Italy. The University has only 2 faculties of Engineering and Medicine, as well as offering a degree in biomedical engineering as it has a very modern hospital with complex technological equipment for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.

FEES: UCBM has a unique way of structuring their fees with annual cost of tuition for the first 2 academic years at €18.140, and successive years being reduced to €16.140.

It also has a multitude of scholarships and financial contributions based on merit, family income (even family size), and has deals with banks for private student loans.

Napoli Medical Schools

Napoli is home to 2 public universities that offer international medical degrees completely obtained in English.

Weather

Napoli has a Mediterranean climate meaning it has mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. Rainfall is quite abundant with the wettest season is autumn. In summer, however, the rains are rare, and occur in the form of downpours or thunderstorms.

Cost of Living

According to the cost of living index Napoli is 133rd, making it significantly cheaper than Milan and Rome as well as other Northern cities.

  • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is about €40.
  • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €596.67 on average.
  • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons.

Federico II

The University of Naples – Federico II was founded in 1224. It is the oldest public non-sectarian university in the world, and is now organized into 26 departments. Despite its huge size it is still one of the best universities in Italy and world, being particularly notable for research.

FEES: EU students €200/year (university fees) + €140/year regional tax (compulsory)+ €16.00 legal stamp (compulsory) minimum

Non-EU students €140/year regional tax (compulsory)+ €16.00 legal stamp (compulsory) minimum

Up to a maximum of €1600 for both EU and Non-EU students.

Past IMAT Scores of Federico II

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
45.2
37
34.6
41.8
37.6
37.8
37.2
40.1
Non-EU
52
44.4
41.4
31.7
33.1
37.6

University of Campania - Luigi Vanvitelli

Vanvitelli University is an Italian research university founded in late 1991. Its main seat is in Caserta, but its academic departments are also located in a series of historic and contemporary buildings across other cities.

FEES: The annual tuition for Vanvitelli ranges from €16 to €2704 depending on annual family income, and offer fee waivers for students with certain impairments.

Past IMAT Scores of Luigi Vanvitelli

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
TBA
34.2
33.8
38.8
35.2
35.9
36.9
40.4
Non-EU
47.3
41.9
33.1
30.8
30.4
18.7
-1.2

Bari Medical School

The University of Bari was founded in 1925. Its research centres are highly-interactive, having connections among different departments, universities, and other research centres.

FEES: The annual tuition fees are based on merit as well as family economic status. The maximum annual cost is €1912.00 before possible deductions.

Past IMAT Scores of Bari

2023 2023 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
TBA
34.1
34.4
39.6
36.2
33.5
36.8
40.9
Non-EU
31.2
42.6
32.7
27.8
34.3
30.8
25.3*

*= score of 7th position, as others were below 20 meaning they could not rank

Weather

Bari has beautiful, hot and sunny summers with rarely any rain. Normal temperatures are not too high and the breeze blows always. Sometimes, however, hot and muggy periods can occur. It’s winters are quite mild with the coldest temperature being 8.8 °C on average.

Cost of Living

According to the cost of living index, Bari is 151st making it significantly cheaper than Milan and Rome as well as other Northern cities.

  • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is about €29.
  • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €514.29 on average. 
  • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons.

Messina Medical School

University of Messina was founded in 1548 by Pope Paul III; it was the world’s first Jesuit college and today it is considered one of the oldest universities in Italy. Messina puts a particular importance on early clinical contact.

The Faculty of Medicine is held in the main hospital of the city Policlinico G. Martino, situated in the southern area of Messina.

FEES: The UniME tuition is €750 per year. The first payment of €156 is due during the student enrolment process (enrolment cannot be completed without it).

Past IMAT Scores of Messina

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
TBA
33.1
33.3
38.5
34.7
33.4
n/a
n/a
Non-EU
36.9
42.9
34.6
27.8
17.9
34.7
n/a
n/a

Weather

Messina has a subtropical mediterranean climate with long, hot, and dry weather during the summer. In winter, Messina is rather wet and mild, with temperatures still being considered warm and mild.

Cost of Living

Messina does not currently rank in the cost of living index we used, however its averages are still significantly cheaper than Milan and Rome as well as other Northern cities.

  • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is about €30.
  • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €412.50 on average.
  • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

Pavia Medical School

The University of Pavia is located in the the Lombardy region of norther Italy and was founded in 1361 making it one of the oldest universities in the world. It doesn’t have a main campus, its buildings and facilities are scattered around the city, earning the city of Pavia its title “a city campus”.

FEES: Tuition fees vary according to family income and country of origin. For international students (Non-EU countries) there is a flat rate to pay in 4 instalments.

For EU students the price varies from €483-4,845.

Past IMAT Scores of Pavia

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
38.4
36.7
36
45.4
39.2
39.2
41.1
46.2
Non-EU
53.3
43.8
49.4
41.8
46.6
43.8

Weather

Pavia has a significant amount of rainfall during the year. This is true even for the driest month. The average temperature during it’s hottest month is 21°C making it a lot cooler year round compared to other cities.

Cost of Living

Pavia does not currently rank in the cost of living index we used, however its averages are still significantly cheaper than Milan and Rome.

  • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is about €35 euro
  • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €600 on average
    • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

Padova Medical School

The University of Padua was founded in 1222 making it the second-oldest university in Italy, and the world’s 5th oldest surviving university. Galileo Galilei was a lecturer between 1592 and 1610, and it houses the oldest surviving permanent anatomical theatre in Europe, dating from 1595.

FEES: The annual tuition fee without any scholarships or fee-waivers is a maximum of €2622. This can be reduced depending on family income.

Past IMAT Scores of Padova

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
38.7
37.9
37.5
45.1
39.4
n/a
n/a
n/a
Non-EU
49.5
50.7
Missing
27.5
46.6
n/a
n/a
n/a

Weather

The weather is mild, and generally warm and temperate. The rainfall in Padua is significant, with precipitation even during the driest month. Between the driest and wettest months, the difference in precipitation is 33 mm; the variation in annual temperatures is around 20.2 °C

Cost of Living

According to the cost of living index Padova is 123rd, making it significantly cheaper than Milan and Rome as well as other Northern cities.

  • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €50.
  • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €568.18 on average.
  • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

Bologna Medical School

The University of Bologna is a research university in Bologna, Italy that was founded in 1088 by an organised guild of students. It is the oldest university in continuous operation in the world, and the first university in the sense of a higher-learning and degree-awarding institute, as the word universitas was coined at its foundation.

FEES: The tuition fees in Bologna is highly dependent on income however ranges from a minimum of €157,04  to a maximum €3.472,04. This calculator can be used to calculate the exact amount depending on your family income.

Past IMAT Scores of Bologna

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
42.6
41.5
42.6
47.2
41.4
40.8
42.4
n/a
Non-EU
59.1
51.5
48.9
50
43.4
48.6
37.3
n/a

Weather

Bologna has a humid & temperate climate. Winters are quite cold and damp, with lows dipping below 0, while summers are hot and muggy peaking around 30°C

Cost of Living

  • According to the cost of living index Bologna is 72nd, making it slightly cheaper than Milan and Rome, but higher than other cities.

    • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €26.
    • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €716.67 on average.
    • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

Turin Medical School

The University of Turin was founded in 1404 in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. It is one of the oldest universities in Europe and continues to play an important role in research and training. It is steadily ranked among the top 5 Italian universities.

FEES: Tuition fees range from €156 to €2.800 per year depending on country of origin and family income. For a fee break down depending on country click here.

Past IMAT Scores of Turin

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
TBA
37.3
36
42.3
38.8
36.8
37.7
n/a
Non-EU
49
50.1
40.8
44.9
39.9
31.3
n/a

Weather

The climate of Turin is moderately continental so expect cold, damp winters as well as hot and humid summers. Rain is quite abundant with the least rainy season being winter. The wettest periods are late spring, mainly because of afternoon thunderstorms (May is the wettest month), and autumn.

Cost of Living

  • According to the cost of living index Turin is 100th, making it significantly cheaper than Milan and Rome as well as other Northern cities.

    • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €38.
    • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €559.62 on average.
    • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons.

Parma Medical School

Parma University has recently announced that starting from October 2021 they will be offering an English Medicine and Surgery Programme aimed at international students.

FEES: The fees for Parma University range from €150 to a maximum of €2625 depending on a number of factors including family income and/or Academic merit in the form of scholarships. For a fee break down depending on country click here.

Past IMAT Scores of Parma

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
TBA
34.1
35.4
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Non-EU
50.1
41.9
35.5
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Weather

The climate of is characteristic of the Po valley, so it has a humid temperate climate. Winters are quite cold and damp, while summers are hot and muggy.

Precipitation in Parma is moderate and the rains are fairly well distributed throughout the year.

Parma and Piacenza weather graph average

Cost of Living

  • According to the cost of living index Parma has the 2nd highest cost of living in Italy after Milan, making it moderately expensive.

    • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €33.50.
    • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €605 on average.
    • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

Marche Medical School

Marche University has recently announced that starting from October 2022 they will be offering a very unique English Medicine Programme that has an optional additional credit programme to simultaneously graduate with a minor in engineering.

FEES: The fees for Marche University range from €150 to a maximum of €1700 depending on a number of factors including family income and/or Academic merit in the form of scholarships. For a fee break down depending on income click here.

Past IMAT Scores of Marche

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
TBA
32.8
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Non-EU
43
34.5
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Weather

The climate of Ancona specifically described as transitional Mediterranean with features of heavy fog, and cold winds until early spring. Precipitation in Marche is moderate, and the summers never get too warm until other Italian regions.

Precipitation in Parma is moderate and the rains are fairly well distributed throughout the year.

Cost of Living

    • According to the cost of living index Ancona has a much lower cost of living in comparison to Milan, making it moderately cheaper.

      • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €35.
      • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €518 on average.
      • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

Catania Medical Schools

Catania University opened its doors in 2023 to offer a brand new medicine and surgery course in English to international students. While it’s the second medical school to open up on the sunny island of Sicily, the city is a much bigger hub compared to humble Messina.

FEES: The fees for Catania University range from €156 to a maximum of €2,350 Euro depending on a number of factors including family income and/or Academic merit in the form of scholarships. For a complete fee break down depending on income as well as student status (for 2023/2024) you can read on their student guide by clicking here.

Past IMAT Scores of Catania

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
TBA
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Non-EU
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Weather

The climate of Catania specifically described as typical Mediterranean climate. Winters are mild and somewhat rainy, while summers are hot and sunny. Sometimes, when there’s a persistent wind, heavy rains can happen, leading to floods. This can also occur in autumn. It doesn’t usually get very cold, but occasionally there are chilly, windy, and rainy days, with temperatures around 8/10 °C.

Catania University Annual Weather Graph

Cost of Living

    • According to the cost of living index Ancona has a much lower cost of living in comparison to Milan or Rome, making it significantly cheaper.

      • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is €32.50.
      • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €450 on average.
      • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

The University of Siena (DENTISTRY)

Siena University is currently the only university that offers Dentistry in English in Italy. It is located in Tuscany and is one of the oldest and first publicly funded universities in Italy.

FEES: The annual tuition cost of Siena is divided into 4 instalments and ranges from €0 to €4,496  depending on family income. You can use this calculator to find out exactly how much you would need to pay according to your income.

Past IMAT Scores of Siena

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
EU
34.2
36.9
33
31.2
31.5
n/a
Non-EU
35.4
41
31.4
15.9
n/a

Weather

Siena has a typical inland Mediterranean climate so is mild, and generally warm and temperate. The rain in Siena falls mostly in the winter, with relatively little rain in the summer.

Cost of Living

  • Siena does not currently rank in the cost of living index we used, however its averages are still significantly cheaper than Milan and Rome.

    • A monthly transportation ticket for an adult is about €36.50.
    • A private apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre costs about €750 on average.
    • There are of course cheaper places to live, this index is only used as a standard for quick comparisons

24 thoughts on “International Medical Schools in Italy: A Comprehensive Overview”

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  2. Hello…. I want study at college of medicine at Italy, and looking for the cheapest university, which is university is the cheapest??

    1. Anastasia (AcadIMAT)

      One of the cheapest universities is Federico II. But for most universities tuition fees are based on your income, so if you have a lower income you’ll be able to attend other universities for around 200 euro (or less) a year.

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  8. Great site. Lots of helpful information here. I’m sending it to a
    few buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And of course,
    thank you to your effort!

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  11. Serra, I applied for the imat, but I ranked 2 universities instead of just 1 ( Im non-EU). I have already payed so I can’t change. Do I have to cancel and do it again? Or they will accept my first choice either way?

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