Studying medicine in Italy is a long adventure that will never come to an end. This beautiful country does not only home to the best and old universities in Europe. It also has unforgettable historical places, culture, and restaurants that offer a unique experience for medical students in Italy.
Italy is a country that meets the dream of many students. A country where medical students can travel along with the delightful historic sites and fun of several activities such as skiing or swimming. This broad range of activities really gives the whole experience of studying in Italy to medical students.
During all-time, medical students also have a chance to learn a new language in the original environment. This experience is better than any language school can give. Having several language skills is a plus to you as a person. Coming down to study abroad in Italy will allow medical students to learn Italian and be good at it.
1. High-Quality Medical Education at Ranked Universities
The universities providing medical education in Italy are among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. According to the QS World University Rankings, Italy has 28 universities among the top 500 in the field of medicine. Some of the universities and their place in QS World University Rankings in 2021 in that list are:
Universities | Placement in QS World University Rankings |
---|---|
University of Milan | 72 |
University of Bologna | 78 |
La Sapienza University of Rome | 105 |
University of Padova | 124 |
University of Pavia | 250 |
Some universities, such as the oldest university in the world, the University of Bologna, have been improving their aims and quality of education for more than 800 years. On the other hand, relatively newer universities are attracted attention with their technological facilities allowing medical students to connect theoretical lectures with practical ones.
2. Simple Admission Procedure
Unlike many other countries, Italian medical schools don’t require a specific GPA, interview, or a motivation letter from future medical students. The only evaluation is IMAT(International Medical Admissions Test), which is the admission exam of medical schools. Since 2009, IMAT can be taken at many locations globally so that international students don’t have to fly to Italy in order to attend the exam.
The exam consists of 60 questions divided into 4 sections, and the required time to complete IMAT is 100 minutes. Every year approximately 7800 students attend the exam. Depending on the IMAT score and the university quota, students are admitted by medical schools. The IMAT consists of 4 sections;
- Logical Reasoning and General Knowledge
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
3. Affordable Country for Medical Students
Tuition fees, accommodations rents, and general cost of living are the main criteria of many students for choosing a country to study medicine abroad. In this respect, Italy is an excellent option to consider for medical education. The total amount for studying medicine in Italy is mostly lower than the cost of livings in the other countries.
Tuition fees of public universities are determined based on a gross family income of a medical student, and they can vary between €200 and €6000 per year. Besides student dormitories that medical students can stay at low prices, staying in most regions of Italy is more affordable than living in United States, United Kingdom, and North European countries. However, costs have high differences between regions and cities of Italy. Larger cities like Milan, Rome or Bologna probably would cost more. On the other hand, smaller cities like Turin, Pavia or Pisa definitely cost less.
4. European MD Degree
After graduation from medical school, students earn a European MD degree, which allows them to specialize in the field of choice and to work as medical doctors in all Europe and the U.K. Student who want to continue their professional life in the United States, can take Unites States Medical Licensing Examination(USMLE) to practice.
5. Medical Education in English
Students are not obligated to know Italian In order to study medicine in Italy. More than 16 different medical programs offer medical education in English in Italy. Most of these programs are held by public universities. Therefore, all sources and lectures are given in English, making medical students internationally more confident for their professional lives worldwide.
6. Student Exchange Programs for Medical Students in Italy
Most Italian universities have an international partnership with universities all along Europe, even in the U.S.A. Medical students can prefer to attend an exchange program in the country of choice and study a semester or a year in that partner university. During the exchange, medical students still will be responsible for theoretical exams and clinical practices. Therefore, student exchange programs offer a unique experience for medical students.