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Study Medicine in Italy · English-Taught
International Medical School
International Medical School
University of Messina
A public, fully English Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree in Sicily — UniMe-IMS pairs hands-on training at the large G. Martino University Hospital with a distinctive Mayo Clinic exchange opportunity, and one of Italy's biggest non-EU seat quotas.
Public University
Admission: IMAT
6 Years · 360 ECTS
100% English
Sicily · Mayo Clinic link
Independent study guide by IMAT Nerd · Researched from official UniMe & MUR sources
0
Years (single-cycle)
0
ECTS credits
0
Seats 2025/26*
0%
Taught in English
0
ECTS in clinical training
0
Non-EU seats (large quota)
Overview
Quick Facts
University type
Public · State
Location
Messina, Sicily
Language
100% English (B2)
Degree
MD · LM-41 (UniMe-IMS)
Duration
6 yrs · 360 ECTS
Admission
IMAT (national)
Seats 2025/26
41 EU + 42 non-EU
Tuition
Public · income-based
*Note: Seat 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 Messina (UniMe-IMS)
The University of Messina (UniMe) is a long-established public university in north-eastern Sicily. Its English-taught medical track, the University of Messina International Medical School (UniMe-IMS), is a single-cycle Master's degree (class LM-41) of 360 ECTS over six years, taught entirely in English.
Teaching and clinical work centre on the "G. Martino" University Hospital (Policlinico Universitario), one of the largest and most advanced healthcare facilities in southern Italy. A standout feature is an exchange opportunity with the Mayo Clinic, alongside a generous non-EU seat quota that makes Messina a popular target for international applicants.
Mayo Clinic link
A distinctive international training opportunity that few other Italian medical schools can offer.
Major teaching hospital
The G. Martino Polyclinic provides broad clinical exposure across many specialties in one large campus.
Large non-EU quota
One of Italy's biggest non-EU intakes — strong odds for international candidates.
Why choose it
Why Study Medicine at Messina
Mayo Clinic exchange
A rare partnership giving selected students exposure to one of the world's leading medical centres.
Big non-EU intake
Among the largest non-EU quotas in Italy — more realistic chances for international applicants.
Hospital-based training
Clinical work at the large G. Martino Polyclinic, with 73 ECTS devoted to professional/clinical activity.
Affordable Sicilian living
Messina offers low living costs, sea views and a warm Mediterranean lifestyle.
Supportive language path
English-taught with structured Italian courses (toward B1) in the first two years for clinical readiness.
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* | 41 EU + non-EU resident in Italy · 42 non-EU resident abroad (≈83 total) |
| 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 | English-taught · B2 English required (auto for native speakers) · Italian courses toward B1 in Years 1–2 |
| Fixed fee | A fixed registration fee (around €156) plus income-based contribution |
| Where to apply | Universitaly (EU) · the university's portal (non-EU) |
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. Dates, question split, timing and seat numbers are fixed yearly by the MUR decree and the UniMe call — the figures above reflect the 2025 decree.
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. Messina is one of the more accessible public schools, with a large quota; note the 2024 step-up reflects an easier national exam that pushed scores higher everywhere:
EU final cut-off score (out of 90)
| IMAT year | EU minimum* | Non-EU minimum* | Seats (EU / Non-EU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33.0 | 34.6 | 38 / 38 |
| 2022 | 33.1 | 42.9 | 41 / 42 |
| 2023 | 33.7 | — | 55 / 56 |
| 2024 | 54.6 | 61.4 | 55 / 56 |
| 2025 | 51.3 | 58.2 | 41 / 42 |
Read carefully: EU figures are the final post-scrolling cut-offs and non-EU figures are each year's ranking cut-off. They are community-tracked, unofficial, and vary with exam difficulty — only the live official ranking for your intake decides admission.
Budgeting
Tuition & Living Costs
As a public university, UniMe has no fixed private tuition. Fees combine a small fixed registration fee (around €156) with an income-based contribution from your family's ISEE — and Sicily is among the cheapest places to study in Italy.
| Tuition model | Fixed registration (~€156) + income-based (ISEE) contribution |
| Reductions | No-tax band for low ISEE; merit/income exemptions |
| Scholarships | ERSU (regional right-to-study agency) grants and tuition reimbursements |
| Non-EU note | Income certification via the Italian consulate in your home country |
Cost of living in Messina (≈ €650–€1,000 / month)
€250–€450
Room / month — among Italy's lowest
ERSU
Regional grants, housing & meal support
Walk / tram
Live near the polyclinic or ~30 min from centre
Coastal
Strait of Messina, beaches & Sicilian cuisine
Tip: confirm current numbers on UniMe's fees page and ERSU Messina before budgeting, especially with international income documents.
The 6 years
Curriculum & Program Structure
The first two years are preclinical, building basic-science foundations; clinical disciplines, professional activities and the thesis fill the remaining years, with a substantial 73 ECTS dedicated to clinical training at the G. Martino hospital. Students may personalise their plan with electives, seminars and clinical/research internships.
| Year | Phase | Focus | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Preclinical | Biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry; Italian language to B1 | Torre Biologica · campus |
| 3 | Bridge to clinic | Pathology, pharmacology, clinical practice (history-taking & exams), communication | G. Martino Polyclinic |
| 4–5 | Clinical rotations | Internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, ob/gyn, emergency, neurology, oncology, psychiatry | G. Martino Polyclinic |
| 6 | Graduation | Advanced clerkships, electives and final thesis → single-cycle MD (LM-41) | University of Messina |
Two preclinical yearsClinical from Year 373 ECTS clinical trainingElective seminars & internshipsItalian courses (Yr 1–2)Written, oral & practical exams
What stands out
Programme Strengths & Student Ratings
Messina's appeal is a blend of access, a big teaching hospital and an unusual international link. Here's where UniMe-IMS 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
4.2
★★★★☆
Editorial overview · replace with your verified rating
Access & admission oddsVery high
Affordability of livingExcellent
Clinical exposure (G. Martino)High
International communityStrong
City scale (smaller, quieter)Modest
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
Preclinical science is taught at the Torre Biologica, while clinical work takes place at the large "G. Martino" University Hospital, with a shuttle linking the two. The hospital's many specialty units give broad, real-world exposure across the clinical years.
Replace with: G. Martino PolyclinicUpload an official photo to your Media Library
Replace with: Messina / Strait viewFree official/city image
Replace with: UniMe campusOfficial university image
Teaching & clinical network
G. Martino University HospitalTorre Biologica (preclinical)Mayo Clinic exchangeERSU Messina housingSpecialty wards & clinicsResearch & elective internshipsShuttle: campus ↔ polyclinic
After graduation
Recognition & Licensing
UniMe-IMS awards a single-cycle Italian MD (LM-41) from a public university, EU-aligned and internationally recognised. It opens the path to residency, the School of General Medicine, or a PhD after the relevant national steps, and graduates have gone on to register and practise abroad, including in the UK.
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 Messina (UniMe)
ProgrammeUniMe International Medical School (UniMe-IMS)
Teaching hospitalA.O.U. Policlinico "G. Martino", Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina
Preclinical siteTorre Biologica, Messina
Degree classLM-41 single-cycle Medicine & Surgery
Websitemedicine-and-surgery.cdl.unime.it/en
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The UniMe International Medical School (UniMe-IMS) is a 6-year single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree (class LM-41, 360 ECTS) taught entirely in English.
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.
For 2025/26 the lists showed 41 places for EU and non-EU candidates resident in Italy and 42 for non-EU candidates resident abroad. Messina has one of the largest non-EU quotas in Italy. Always confirm the current bando.
Messina is among the more accessible public options. There’s no fixed pass mark; trackers reported EU finals around the low-to-mid 30s for 2021–2023, rising into the 50s in 2024–2025 after an easier national exam.
A distinctive Mayo Clinic exchange opportunity, a large non-EU intake, a big teaching hospital (G. Martino), and a very affordable, coastal Sicilian setting.
B2 English is required (automatic for native speakers). Italian is needed for the clinical years; structured Italian courses (toward B1) run in the first two years.
At the large ‘G. Martino’ University Hospital in Messina, with 73 ECTS dedicated to clinical training and rotations across many specialties.
A small fixed registration fee (around €156) plus an income-based contribution, with ERSU scholarships available. Messina is one of Italy’s cheapest cities — budget roughly €650–€1,000 per month.
Yes — an EU-valid Italian MD that is internationally recognised. To practise in Italy you register with the Ordine dei Medici; for other countries, check that authority’s recognition pathway.
Big quota, Mayo Clinic link, Sicilian sun. Earn your Messina seat.
Messina's large quota makes it one of the most accessible public targets in Italy — 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 Messina (UniMe) Medicine and Surgery / UniMe-IMS course pages; "G. Martino" University Hospital information;
MUR Medicine/Dentistry-in-English admission decree and places tables; 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 Messina.
This is an independent study guide by IMAT Nerd, not affiliated with the University of Messina. Always confirm details in the current official call before applying.