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Study Medicine in Italy · English-Taught
Medicine & Surgery in English
Medicine & Surgery in English
University of Catania
A public, fully English Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree at Sicily's oldest university (founded 1434) — with a technology-focused curriculum, modern simulation labs, clinical training at the Policlinico G. Rodolico, and famously affordable Sicilian living under Mount Etna.
Public University
Admission: IMAT
6 Years · 360 ECTS
100% English
Sicily · tech-focused
Independent study guide by IMAT Nerd · Researched from official UNICT & MUR sources
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Years (single-cycle)
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ECTS credits
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Seats 2025/26*
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Taught in English
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University founded
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University libraries
Overview
Quick Facts
University type
Public · State
Location
Catania, Sicily
Language
100% English (B2)
Degree
MD · LM-41
Duration
6 yrs · 360 ECTS
Admission
IMAT (national)
Seats 2025/26
60 (non-EU)*
Tuition
Public · income-based
*Note: Catania's seat split changes notably year to year (in 2025 it offered non-EU places only). Numbers are set yearly by an MUR decree and confirmed in the official call (bando) — always verify current figures before applying.
Who they are
About Catania (UNICT)
The University of Catania (UNICT), founded in 1434, is Sicily's oldest university — a large public institution with around 40,000 students and a medical campus at the Policlinico "G. Rodolico" hospital. Its English-taught Medicine & Surgery course (class LM-41, 360 ECTS, six years) is a newer, internationally focused addition.
Catania's distinctive angle is technology: the programme leans into medical informatics, health technology and telemedicine, backed by an advanced simulation lab and digital-learning infrastructure. Combined with very low Sicilian living costs and a warm, outdoor lifestyle under Mount Etna, it's an increasingly popular international choice (QS Medicine 201–250).
Sicily's oldest university
A 590-year institution and a leader for research and training in Southern Italy.
Tech-focused curriculum
Medical informatics, health technology and telemedicine, with a modern simulation lab.
Affordable Sicilian life
Low living costs, rich culture and an outdoor lifestyle make it attractive to international students.
Why choose it
Why Study Medicine at Catania
Technology-led teaching
A genuine focus on medical informatics, telemedicine and digital health — with optional venipuncture/suturing skills.
Modern simulation training
An advanced simulation lab and digital-learning infrastructure support hands-on, low-risk practice.
Big teaching hospital
Clinical rotations at the Policlinico G. Rodolico–San Marco, Catania's main university hospital.
Very affordable Sicily
One of the cheapest places to study medicine in Italy, with a warm climate and great food culture.
Strong Erasmus network
100+ Erasmus+ agreements across many countries open up international mobility.
How to get in
Admission & IMAT Requirements
Admission is by the national IMAT, set yearly by the Ministry (MUR). It is the same exam, on the same day, for every Italian public university with an English medical curriculum, and seats are allocated strictly by IMAT ranking.
| Admission route | National public process via MUR / Universitaly ("IMAT") |
| Places 2025/26* | 60 non-EU resident abroad — no EU places were offered in 2025 (the split varies sharply year to year) |
| Test format* | 60 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes (2025 decree) |
| Scoring* | +1.5 correct · 0 blank · −0.4 wrong (confirm in the annual decree) |
| Language | B2 English certificate required (IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge or MOI) · Italian to B1 by Year 3 for clinics |
| Where to apply | Universitaly (EU) · the UNICT portal (non-EU); non-EU pre-enrolment + D-type visa |
What the IMAT covers
| Section | Questions* | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Reading & general knowledge | 4 | Comprehension and broad academic awareness |
| Logical reasoning & problems | 5 | Critical thinking; accuracy matters under negative marking |
| Biology | 23 | Largest, highest-weighted science section |
| Chemistry | 15 | General and organic chemistry fundamentals |
| Physics & Mathematics | 13 | Combined quantitative and physical-science section |
Always check the current bando. Catania's EU/non-EU seat split has shifted a lot recently — in 2025 it offered non-EU places only. Dates, format and seat numbers are fixed yearly by the MUR decree and the UNICT call.
Competitiveness
Previous Admission Scores
Because admission is purely by IMAT ranking, the "minimum" is simply the score of the last admitted candidate — so it shifts each year with the exam's difficulty and the applicant pool. Catania's seat structure has changed a lot recently, so its EU history is short; the 2024 step-up reflects an easier national exam that pushed scores higher everywhere:
Final cut-off score (out of 90) · stream noted per bar
| IMAT year | EU minimum* | Non-EU minimum* | Seats (EU / Non-EU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 33.7 | — | 60 / — |
| 2023 | 32.4 | — | 60 / — |
| 2024 | 54.8 | 57.2 | 30 / 30 |
| 2025 | no EU places | 61.6 | 0 / 60 |
Read carefully: Catania changed its split to non-EU only in 2025, so direct year-to-year comparison is tricky. EU figures are final post-scrolling cut-offs; non-EU figures are each year's ranking cut-off. All are community-tracked, unofficial — only the live official ranking for your intake decides admission.
Budgeting
Tuition & Living Costs
As a public university, UNICT has no fixed private tuition. Fees are income-based (from your family's ISEE), with reductions and a no-tax band for lower incomes. Catania is one of the most affordable cities in Italy for students.
| Tuition model | Public, income-based (ISEE) — typically a few hundred to a few thousand € / year |
| First instalment | Fixed minimum (regional tax + stamp duty), same for all |
| Reductions | No-tax band for low ISEE; merit/income exemptions and ERSU Catania scholarships |
| Non-EU note | Income certification via the Italian consulate in your home country |
Cost of living in Catania (≈ €650–€1,000 / month)
€250–€450
Room / month — among Italy's lowest
ERSU
Regional grants, housing & meal support
Compact
Walkable city; campus near the Policlinico
Etna & sea
Beaches, volcano & rich Sicilian food culture
Tip: confirm current numbers on UNICT's fees page and ERSU Catania before budgeting, especially with international income documents.
The 6 years
Curriculum & Program Structure
The first three years build biomedical foundations with an unusually strong digital-health thread; clinical rotations begin in Year 4 at the Policlinico G. Rodolico. Optional practical modules (e.g. venipuncture, suturing) and a simulation lab support early clinical readiness.
| Year | Phase | Focus | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations | Biology & genetics, medical chemistry & physics, anatomy I, histology, statistics | Catania campus |
| 2 | Mechanisms of life | Physiology, microbiology, immunology, anatomy II, neuroscience, general pathology | Catania campus |
| 3 | Bridge to clinic | Pathophysiology, clinical semiotics, pharmacology, cardiology, respiratory medicine | Campus + Policlinico |
| 4–5 | Clinical rotations | Internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, ob/gyn, neurology, emergency medicine | Policlinico G. Rodolico |
| 6 | Graduation | Advanced clerkships and final thesis → single-cycle MD (LM-41) | University of Catania |
Three preclinical yearsTech & informatics focusClinical from Year 4Simulation-lab trainingOptional venipuncture/suturingFree Italian courses
What stands out
Programme Strengths & Student Ratings
Catania blends a centuries-old university with a modern, technology-forward medical track. Here's where UNICT shines:
Bars are an editorial read of the programme's distinctive features — not an official ranking. Swap in any metric you prefer.
Student experience — at a glance
4.1
★★★★☆
Editorial overview · replace with your verified rating
Affordability of livingExcellent
Technology & simulationHigh
Lifestyle & climate (Sicily)Very pleasant
Clinical exposure (Rodolico)Good
Seat-split stabilityVariable
Italian needed for wardsTo plan for
How to read this: an editorial summary of recurring student-feedback themes, not a statistical survey. Add verified review numbers when you have them.
Where you'll study
Campus, Hospital & Clinical Network
UNICT has a compact urban campus set against the backdrop of Mount Etna, with the medical faculty centred on the Policlinico "G. Rodolico–San Marco" teaching hospital. The faculty has invested heavily in simulation facilities and digital learning.
Replace with: Policlinico G. RodolicoUpload an official photo to your Media Library
Replace with: Catania & Mount EtnaFree official/city image
Replace with: UNICT campusOfficial university image
Teaching & clinical network
Policlinico G. Rodolico–San MarcoCatania medical campusAdvanced simulation labERSU Catania housing30 university librariesErasmus+ partner networkDigital-learning infrastructure
After graduation
Recognition & Licensing
The course awards a single-cycle Italian MD (LM-41) from a public university, aligned with EU Directive 2005/36/EC and internationally recognised. It opens the path to residency, the School of General Medicine, or a PhD after the relevant national steps.
To practise in Italy, graduates register with the Ordine dei Medici after the qualifying evaluation internship. Recognition for practice outside the EU depends on the destination country's medical authority — so confirm your target country's pathway early.
Bottom line: an EU-valid, internationally recognised MD — just map your destination's licensing route before enrolling.
Find them
Location & Contact
UniversityUniversity of Catania (UNICT)
Main seatPiazza Università 2, 95131 Catania
Teaching hospitalA.O.U. Policlinico "G. Rodolico–San Marco", Catania
ProgrammeMedicine & Surgery (English, LM-41)
Degree classLM-41 single-cycle Medicine & Surgery
Websiteunict.it/en/education/medicine-and-surgery
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The University of Catania offers a 6-year single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree (class LM-41, 360 ECTS) taught entirely in English, with clinical training at the Policlinico G. Rodolico.
It’s a public programme, so admission runs through the national IMAT process (MUR / Universitaly), not a private entrance exam. Seats are filled strictly by IMAT ranking.
Catania’s split changes notably year to year — for 2025/26 it offered 60 non-EU places and no EU places, after a 30/30 split in 2024. Always confirm the current bando before relying on numbers.
There’s no fixed pass mark; the cut-off is the last admitted student’s score. Trackers reported EU finals in the low 30s for 2022–2023, rising to ~55 in 2024 (easier exam), with a 2025 non-EU cut-off around 61.6.
A B2 English certificate is required (IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge, or a Medium-of-Instruction letter). Italian is needed for the clinical years; free Italian courses are offered by the university.
A technology-forward curriculum (medical informatics, telemedicine), an advanced simulation lab, and a very affordable, warm Sicilian setting under Mount Etna.
At the Policlinico G. Rodolico–San Marco, Catania’s main university hospital, with rotations starting from Year 4 across many specialties.
Public, income-based (ISEE) tuition with reductions for lower incomes, plus ERSU Catania scholarships. Catania is one of Italy’s cheapest cities — budget roughly €650–€1,000 per month.
Yes — an EU-valid Italian MD aligned with EU Directive 2005/36/EC and internationally recognised. To practise in Italy you register with the Ordine dei Medici; for other countries, check that authority’s recognition pathway.
Tech-forward, affordable, Sicilian. Earn your Catania seat.
Catania's big non-EU quota and low costs make it a strong international target — but you still need a solid, reliable IMAT score. Build Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and reasoning the structured way: 500+ lectures, mock exams and solved past papers.
Last updated: June 2026
Sources & verification: University of Catania (UNICT) Medicine & Surgery (English) pages; Policlinico "G. Rodolico–San Marco" information;
MUR Medicine/Dentistry-in-English admission decree and places tables; QS World University Rankings (Medicine); community IMAT cut-off trackers.
Cut-off figures are aggregated from unofficial student trackers.
Disclaimer: Admission rules, dates, seat numbers and fees are set annually by the MUR and the University of Catania.
This is an independent study guide by IMAT Nerd, not affiliated with the University of Catania. Always confirm details in the current official call before applying.