Part 1 - All about the University
Timestamps
What Are the Timetables like?
The typical day starts at 9am and will go on till about 2 latest 3pm. There are 3-4 lectures a day each lasting around 2 hours; the day is usually split up by a longer break for lunch lasting around 30-60 minutes, as well as 5-10 minute breaks between classes.
How is the Academic Year Organised?
It is illegal to have exams during lecture times, so lectures are held during 2 semesters (fall and spring) where there will be no exams. There are then exam sessions making up for a total of 7 possible dates to do exams. Semester 1 starts early October, and the 1st exam session is January-February. Semester 2 is during the spring, and the next exam session starts late May and lasts until late July. August the university is completely closed, and September there is the “extra-ordinary” bonus exam session.
What is the Clinical Experience like?
Clinical experiences have been quite limited during the pandemic, but they seem to follow a similar structure as other universities, where there are preclinical years followed by clinical years with first experiences starting in 3rd year. There are certain rotations and days that are mandatory which are proven via a collection of signatures from relevant professors. They are split between attendances for surgical rotations, and days on the wards for non-surgical specialties. Starting in 3rd year the clinical attendance ramps up to be more and more frequent by the end of 6th year.
How do the Exams Work?
Almost all of the exams are oral, with some subjects require passing a written portion to be granted access to doing the oral exam which will be the determining portion of your grade.
Does Luigi Vanvitelli do Cadaver Dissections?
The Medicine & Surgery programme in Luigi Vanvitelli does not do cadaver dissections.
What are the Average Tuition Fees?
The average tuition fee is around 1600 euro a year, but can be reduced to as low as 200 Euro. The reduction is based on a document called the ISEE which proves the familial income of students. If the socio-economic background of the student is disadvantaged they are required to pay only the taxes which is around 200 euro for the academic year.
What are the Scholarship Options?
There are multiple scholarship programmes that will reduce fees offered both by the university based on income, but also by the region that Napoli is found it. There are also options for grant payouts, where students can receive financial aid thanks to the ADISU programmes.
Are there Opportunities to Work?
There are some opportunities to work for the university that might be tutoring, and is usually determined by grades. However most students work outside of the university in a variety of jobs such as teaching English or gymnastics. Being able to balance work and studies really depends on the individual student.
How much does Accommodation Cost?
A private room in a shared house, a 30 minute walk from class in a good neighbourhood is on average 250-300 euro, whereas a private house that is not shared will be around 450-500 euro a month. There are private dorm options, but not many students opt for this as they are a bit far from the university requiring a 30 minute commute on public transport. However they are quite cheap at around 350 euro with amazing facilities, and more guaranteed spots as finding private accommodation with limited Italian is very difficult.
Class Dynamics & Quality of Professors
The classes are quite large at around 60 people, but as the year progresses only around 25-35 students show up to lectures. Mostly students are collaborative, however some years tend to group into cliques. Professors are generally fine, and actually improve as you move up the years, taking more interest in helping students with different things. There is the odd professor that finds it difficult to communicate in English, but this does not impact the quality of teaching as they are experts in their fields.
Sports & Canteen Facilities
The Universitys main campus is located in Caserta which is located to the north of the city, so a lot of the facilities are found there. However the International programme of medicine and Surgery is located in the city centre of Napoli, so there are not as many facilities. The city centre serves as a scattered campus with plenty of cafes and restaurants to grab food which is a much preferable option for many students. There are also many basketball and football courts that are free to use scattered around the city, with one of them being a 15 minute walk from the main building used for teaching; anyone can show up with a ball and play.
Teaching Facilities & Libraries
There are interesting anatomy and histology museums, there are small libraries that have been renovated over the quarantine to have plenty of room to study. There are quite a few facilities that students can avail from but there hasn’t been much opportunity in the international course quite yet.
Part 2 - All about the City
How Did You Prepare for the IMAT?
Omar completed the A-levels before starting university which was a huge advantage as these exams as well as the IMAT are designed and administered by Cambridge every year. So he used the same science curriculum and books to prepare for the IMAT. The Alphatest book for the logical thinking is recommended, and an absolute must is solving all of the past exam papers. You should sit past exams in actual exam conditions with correct times, and go back over your mistakes to tackle your weaknesses. MCAT questions can also help take it to the next level.
Why Study in Napoli?
Napoli is a gritty but lively city. It’s chaotic and every time you leave the house it’s an adventure (think like a smaller Cairo or New York). Students who love busy city life, and hustle bustle would be more suited. It’s loud and full of life. While the city can be disorganised, the general culture and atmosphere makes up for it. The people are incredibly social, talkative and warm-blooded with the food being one of the countries capitals for cuisine (It is the birthplace of pizza after all). It can be dirty, loud, and disorganised, but the lower cost of living and adventure feels like a fair trade.
Is Napoli Dangerous?
Napoli isn’t dangerous, but if you make bad decisions such as walking home alone you might get pickpocketed or mugged. You must remain cautious. There are some common scams to be aware of: Do not ever pay for an apartment to rent before actually seeing it in person, so before you come over if you work it out with the landlord online, do not trust it. Always see a house first (airbnb of course is not included in this). Also do not buy electronics on the street. In general common sense goes a long way.
Do You Need to Know Italian?
It is 100% a must. English is extremely limited around the city, especially for anything that is done at an official capacity such as banking, or gathering documents. You should learn Italian as soon as possible, do not think that because it is a touristic city that people will be able to speak English. It will make your day to day life a lot easier the earlier you start learning it today.
The Weather
The weather is pretty warm year round, with only 1 recorded snowfall in the last 30 years. The summers are quite hot, but there are many coastal towns that are easy to reach and beach spots to cool down in.
Different Activities for Students
There are a lot of basketball & tennis courts as well as football fields for students to play at. Of course there are a lot of beaches for the amazing and warm summers a few stops away on the metro. The city is also located next door to the historic and incredible city of pompeii that was famously destroyed by a volcano centuries ago. The scenic town of Amalfi is world famous for it’s cliff side resorts and packed beaches (pre-covid though).
Getting around Napoli
There are 2 metros to connect the city, as well as some trams located more peripherally to the city centre. You mainly get around the city by walking instead though as the transport with waiting times may not be worth it. There are now electric scooters to rent that people can use to easily get around the city. The bus is reliable to show up and get you around but can be very delayed. Transport late at night is very limited and a taxi would be recommended instead.
Cost of Living in Napoli (In General)
The cost of living is cheaper than most cities especially when it comes to accommodation and grocery shopping in supermarkets. Student areas and places more commonly frequented by locals will also be considerably cheaper. However it is still a touristic city so restaurants can be more expensive especially in tourist hot spots.
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