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The Complete 2026 Guide
Study Medicine & Dentistry
Study Medicine & Dentistry
in English in Italy
Your single, no-fluff hub for every public, English-taught Medicine and Dentistry programme in Italy — 17 in-depth university guides, real IMAT cut-off data, seat numbers, fees, and free prep resources. Everything you need to choose your university and earn your seat, in one place.
17 University Guides
Public · IMAT Admission
100% English-Taught
EU-Recognised Degrees
Free IMAT Resources
Independent guide by IMAT Nerd · Researched from official university & MUR sources · Updated June 2026
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Universities covered
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Medicine programmes
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Dentistry programmes
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Years of cut-off data
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Taught in English
What you'll get
Everything you need, in one place
Most students waste weeks hopping between dozens of tabs, outdated forums and sales pages. This guide pulls it all together: the facts, the numbers, and the honest context to shortlist your universities and plan your IMAT — without the guesswork.
17 university guides
A full, honest page for every public school
5-year IMAT cut-offs
See how competitive each school really is
Seat numbers
EU & non-EU places, year by year
Tuition & living costs
Income-based fees and real monthly budgets
Admission & IMAT
Exactly how the test and ranking work
Curriculum breakdowns
What you study, year by year
Honest pros & cons
The real trade-offs, not marketing
Free IMAT resources
Past papers, syllabus, formula sheets & more
Why Italy
Why study medicine in Italy?
Italy quietly became one of the best places in the world to study Medicine in English: ancient, prestigious public universities, real clinical exposure, and tuition a fraction of the UK, US or Australia — all decided by a single, meritocratic exam.
Public & genuinely affordable
Income-based (ISEE) tuition — from a few hundred to a few thousand euros a year. No private-school price tag.
Taught 100% in English
Full six-year degrees delivered in English, built for an international cohort — no Italian needed to start.
An EU-recognised degree
An MD or DMD aligned with EU directives — recognised across the European Union and a springboard worldwide.
One exam opens every door
A single national test, the IMAT, on the same day everywhere — your ranking decides your seat.
World-class clinical training
Train in large university hospitals with early patient contact and strong research cultures.
The entrance exam
The IMAT in 60 seconds
Every public university on this page admits through the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) — one national exam, set by the Ministry (MUR), sat on the same day worldwide. Seats are filled strictly by IMAT ranking, so your score is everything.
| Format* | 60 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes |
| Scoring* | +1.5 correct · 0 blank · −0.4 wrong (negative marking) |
| Sections* | Biology 23 · Chemistry 15 · Physics & Maths 13 · Logic 5 · Reading 4 |
| How seats are filled | National merit ranking — higher score = first pick of universities |
| EU vs non-EU | Separate seat pools and rankings; non-EU applicants pre-enrol and apply for a visa |
New here? Grab the free IMAT syllabus, past papers and physics formula sheet further down this page — then build a real score with a structured course.
Find your fit
Not sure where to start?
Different students need different things — a bigger quota, a lower cost of living, a non-EU-friendly split, or a famous name. Use these shortlists as a launchpad, then open the full guide for any university below.
Biggest seat quotas
Bologna (130) · Pavia (103) · Cagliari (80) · Padua & Parma (75)
Most non-EU friendly
Catania · UNIVPM Ancona · Messina · Naples Federico II · Parma
Most affordable living
Messina · Catania · Cagliari · Bari · Naples
Most prestigious
Bologna · Sapienza · Padua · Pavia
Newest programmes
Cagliari (2024) · Parma/Piacenza (2021)
Dentistry in English
Siena (Italy's first) · Sapienza Rome
Groupings are a quick orientation based on recent seats & cut-offs — always confirm current figures in each university's official call.
The directory
Medicine & Surgery in English
15 public universities offer the six-year Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree fully in English, from Milan and Bologna down to Sicily and Sardinia. Tap any card for the complete guide — cut-offs, seats, fees, curriculum and honest pros & cons.
Lombardy
Milan — International Medical School
Milan, Lombardy · MD
Italy's flagship big-city MD at the Statale, with an international cohort and the San Paolo & San Donato teaching hospitals.
Open full guide →Lombardy
University of Milano-Bicocca
Bergamo, Lombardy · MD
Based in Bergamo with a University of Surrey (UK) partnership, modern facilities and a tight-knit cohort.
Open full guide →Lombardy
University of Pavia — Harvey Course
Pavia, Lombardy · MD
Italy's first English MD (the Harvey Course), with one of the largest EU quotas and the historic San Matteo hospital.
Open full guide →Piedmont
University of Turin
Orbassano, Piedmont · MD
A dedicated, all-in-one hospital campus at San Luigi Gonzaga (Orbassano) with early clinical immersion from Year 1.
Open full guide →Veneto
University of Padua
Veneto · MD
The cradle of modern medicine (1222) — relocating to a new hospital-based Veneto campus, with very early patient contact.
Open full guide →Emilia-Romagna
University of Bologna
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna · MD
The Alma Mater (1088) — the world's oldest university, a huge international cohort, and Italy's most prestigious, toughest seat.
Open full guide →Emilia-Romagna
University of Parma — Piacenza
Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna · MD
Taught in Piacenza with a dedicated campus & hospital and a distinctive 'global physician' curriculum.
Open full guide →Marche
Università Politecnica delle Marche
Ancona, Marche · MD (MedTech)
The unique 'MedTech' degree — Medicine fused with biomedical engineering from Year 1, with a large non-EU quota.
Open full guide →Lazio
University of Rome Tor Vergata
Rome, Lazio · MD
A modern Rome campus with low fees, a large EU quota and an advanced teaching hospital (PTV) — plus a Tirana campus.
Open full guide →Lazio
Sapienza University of Rome — Prog. F
Rome, Lazio · MD
A QS top-100 medical school (Programme F) in the heart of Rome, training at the historic Policlinico Umberto I.
Open full guide →Puglia
University of Bari Aldo Moro
Bari, Puglia · MD (BEMC)
An English MD in sunny Puglia (the BEMC) with accessible EU cut-offs, the vast Policlinico di Bari, and very low living costs.
Open full guide →Campania
University of Naples Federico II
Naples, Campania · MD
The only Italian school offering more non-EU than EU seats — a translational, research-led course founded in 1224.
Open full guide →Sicily
University of Messina
Messina, Sicily · MD
A Mayo Clinic exchange link, one of Italy's largest non-EU quotas, and very affordable Sicilian living.
Open full guide →Sicily
University of Catania
Catania, Sicily · MD
Technology-forward teaching under Mount Etna with a modern simulation lab — note: 2025 offered non-EU places only.
Open full guide →Sardinia
University of Cagliari
Cagliari, Sardinia · MD
Sardinia's first English MD (2024) — a fresh course with accessible cut-offs and some of Italy's lowest living costs.
Open full guide →The directory
Dentistry in English
Just two public universities currently offer the six-year Dentistry & Dental Prosthodontics (DMD) degree in English — admitted through the same IMAT. Both are covered in full:
Dentistry
University of Siena — Dentistry
Siena, Tuscany · DMD
Italy's first English-taught Dentistry degree (DMD) — built to ADEE European standards, hands-on, in a UNESCO student city.
Open full guide →Dentistry
Sapienza University of Rome — Dentistry
Rome, Lazio · DMD
Prestigious English Dentistry (DMD) in central Rome — a small cohort, EU-directive aligned, with a tiny non-EU pool.
Open full guide →Compare at a glance
All 17 programmes, side by side
A quick-scan table of every English-taught programme with its 2025 seat split. Use it to build a shortlist by quota, then open the guide for the detail.
| University | City | Programme | Seats 2025 (EU / Non-EU)* | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan | Milan, Lombardy | Medicine (MD) | 55 EU / 15 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Milano-Bicocca | Bergamo, Lombardy | Medicine (MD) | 30 EU / 18 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Pavia | Pavia, Lombardy | Medicine (MD) | 103 EU / 40 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Turin | Orbassano, Piedmont | Medicine (MD) | 70 EU / 32 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Padua | Veneto | Medicine (MD) | 75 EU / 25 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Bologna | Bologna, Emilia-Romagna | Medicine (MD) | 130 EU / 15 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Parma | Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna | Medicine (MD) | 75 EU / 45 non-EU | Open → |
| UNIVPM (Marche) | Ancona, Marche | Medicine (MD) | 20 EU / 60 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | Rome, Lazio | Medicine (MD) | 60 EU / 20 non-EU | Open → |
| Sapienza University of Rome | Rome, Lazio | Medicine (MD) | 45 EU / 13 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Bari Aldo Moro | Bari, Puglia | Medicine (MD) | 69 EU / 11 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Naples Federico II | Naples, Campania | Medicine (MD) | 25 EU / 45 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Messina | Messina, Sicily | Medicine (MD) | 55 EU / 56 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Catania | Catania, Sicily | Medicine (MD) | 0 EU / 60 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Cagliari | Cagliari, Sardinia | Medicine (MD) | 80 EU / 20 non-EU | Open → |
| University of Siena | Siena, Tuscany | Dentistry (DMD) | 33 EU / 2 non-EU | Open → |
| Sapienza University of Rome | Rome, Lazio | Dentistry (DMD) | 19 EU / 6 non-EU | Open → |
*Seats are 2025/26 figures from the MUR decree and can change yearly; cut-offs scroll over time and are community-tracked. Catania offered non-EU places only in 2025, Padua's course is relocating within the Veneto, and Siena Dentistry's non-EU quota fell to ~2. Always confirm the current official call (bando) before applying.
Getting in
How to apply, step by step
| 1 · Eligibility | A 12-year secondary diploma (or recognised equivalent) + the required English proficiency |
| 2 · Register | Sign up for the IMAT on Universitaly and rank your university preferences |
| 3 · Non-EU step | Non-EU applicants pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study (D-type) visa |
| 4 · Sit the IMAT | One national exam, same day worldwide (typically September) |
| 5 · Rankings & scrolling | Seats are offered by merit ranking; EU lists "scroll" over several rounds (typically from October) |
| 6 · Enrol | Accept your seat within the deadline and complete enrolment at your university |
Timeline note: exact registration windows, the test date and seat numbers are set yearly by the MUR — always check the official 2026 call before you plan.
Budgeting
What it really costs
Public universities charge income-based (ISEE) tuition — often just a few hundred to a few thousand euros a year — and most regions offer scholarships, subsidised canteens and student housing. Living costs vary widely by city.
€150–€4,000 / yr
Typical public tuition, scaled to family income (ISEE)
€650–€1,100 / mo
Living in the South & islands (Bari, Messina, Catania, Cagliari)
€900–€1,500 / mo
Living in the North & big cities (Milan, Bologna, Rome)
Scholarships
Regional grants (DSU / ERSU / EDISU / ADISU) + fee waivers for low income
After graduation
A degree that travels
Italian public Medicine (MD) and Dentistry (DMD) degrees are aligned with EU directives and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools — recognised across the European Union after the State Examination, and a strong foundation for licensing pathways elsewhere (such as the USMLE, UK PLAB, or the relevant dental authority like the UK GDC).
Bottom line: wherever you plan to practise, check that country's recognition pathway early — each individual guide explains the licensing route for that school.
You've found the universities. Now win the seat.
Every school on this page comes down to one thing: your IMAT score. Stop guessing and prepare the structured way — 500+ lectures, full mock exams and solved past papers that turn the syllabus into points. Choose your path:
Free resources
Free IMAT prep, on the house
Start building your score today — no payment needed. Grab the essentials, then go deeper with a full course when you're ready.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Yes. 15 public universities offer a 6-year Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree fully in English, and 2 offer Dentistry (DMD) — all admitted through the national IMAT. Every one is covered in this guide.
Yes — Italian public MD and DMD degrees are EU-aligned and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. They’re recognised across the EU after the State Exam and support licensing pathways elsewhere (e.g. USMLE, UK PLAB/GDC). Always confirm your destination’s route.
Public tuition is income-based (ISEE), often a few hundred to a few thousand euros a year — far less than the UK, US or Australia. Living costs run roughly €650–€1,100/month in the South and islands and €900–€1,500/month in the big northern cities.
The International Medical Admissions Test: one national exam (60 questions, 100 minutes) covering biology, chemistry, physics, maths and reasoning. Seats are filled strictly by your ranking, so your score decides everything.
Each university splits its seats into an EU pool and a non-EU pool, with separate rankings. Non-EU applicants also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa. Some schools are far more non-EU friendly than others — see the comparison table.
17 public programmes in total (15 Medicine + 2 Dentistry). Use the ‘find your fit’ shortlists and the comparison table above to narrow by quota, cost or prestige, then open the full guide for each.
No Italian is needed to start — teaching is in English. You will need to build Italian for the clinical years (usually around B2) to work with patients on the wards; universities provide language courses.
Registration, the exam date and seat numbers are set yearly by the MUR — typically registration in late summer, the exam in September, and rankings/scrolling from October. Check the official 2026 call and our free key-dates resource.
Yes — an EU-recognised degree opens EU practice after the State Exam, and many graduates go on to register in the UK, North America and elsewhere via the relevant exams. Confirm each country’s pathway early.
Last updated: June 2026
About this guide: an independent, regularly-updated overview of public, English-taught Medicine & Surgery and Dentistry programmes in Italy,
compiled by IMAT Nerd from official university and MUR sources, with cut-off context aggregated from community IMAT trackers (unofficial, and subject to scrolling).
Disclaimer: Admission rules, the entry test, dates, seat numbers and fees are set annually by the MUR and each university. Figures here are indicative —
always confirm the current official call (bando) before applying. IMAT Nerd is not affiliated with any university listed.