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Study Medicine in Italy · English-Taught
School of Medicine & Surgery
School of Medicine & Surgery
University of Milano-Bicocca
A public, fully English Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree based in Bergamo — built on an integrated, early-clinical curriculum at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, with partnerships spanning the University of Bergamo and the University of Surrey (UK).
Public University
Admission: IMAT
6 Years · 360 ECTS
100% English
Based in Bergamo
Independent study guide by IMAT Nerd · Researched from official UniMiB & MUR sources
0
Years (single-cycle)
0
ECTS credits
0
Seats 2025/26*
0%
Taught in English
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Programme since
0
ECTS clinical internships
Overview
Quick Facts
University type
Public · State
Location
Bergamo, Lombardy
Language
100% English (B2)
Degree
MD · LM-41 (H4102D)
Duration
6 yrs · 360 ECTS
Admission
IMAT (national)
Seats 2025/26
30 + 18 non-EU
Tuition
Public · income-based
*Note: Seat numbers are set yearly by an MUR decree (Table B) and confirmed in the official call (bando) — always verify current figures before applying.
Who they are
About Bicocca SMS
The School of Medicine and Surgery (SMS) is the English-taught Medicine and Surgery programme of the University of Milano-Bicocca, running since 2017/18 and based in Bergamo rather than Milan. It is a single-cycle Master's degree (course code H4102D, class LM-41) of 360 ECTS over six years, taught entirely in English.
What sets it apart is the curriculum design. Built in partnership with the University of Bergamo, the University of Surrey (UK) and the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, it teaches by organ system rather than isolated subjects, leans heavily on problem-based learning, and brings students into clinical mentoring from the second year — far earlier than most Italian programmes.
Early clinical start
Hands-on clinical mentoring begins in Year 2 — you meet patients and wards years before the traditional model.
Integrated by system
Anatomy, physiology, pathology and radiology of each organ system are taught together, not in separate silos.
International partnership
Co-designed with the University of Surrey (UK) and Bergamo, anchored at one of Italy's leading hospitals.
Why choose it
Why Study Medicine at Bicocca
Patients from Year 2
Clinical mentoring and ward exposure start early, so theory is tied to real practice from the start.
World-class hospital base
Lectures and clerkships centre on Papa Giovanni XXIII — one of Italy's largest and most advanced hospitals.
Modern, integrated curriculum
Organ-system teaching plus problem-based learning trains clinical reasoning, not rote memorisation.
Lower cost than Milan
Bergamo is noticeably cheaper for rent and daily life than central Milan, with subsidised hospital canteens.
UK & EU partnership
Built with the University of Surrey and Bergamo, giving the degree a distinctly international outlook.
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. Bicocca additionally lists B2 English as an entry requirement.
| Admission route | National public process via MUR / Universitaly ("IMAT") |
| Places 2025/26* | 30 EU + non-EU resident in Italy · 18 non-EU resident abroad (48 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 requirement | English-taught · B2 English listed on the Bicocca application page |
| Italian | Required for clinical years to communicate with patients (courses provided) |
| Where to apply | Universitaly (EU) · the university's portal (non-EU) · apply.unimib.it |
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 Bicocca 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. Bicocca's EU threshold has climbed steeply, from the mid-30s in 2021 to the mid-60s today. The sharp 2024 step-up partly 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 | 36.3 | 42.3 | 22 / 13 |
| 2022 | 41.0 | 49.2 | 26 / 16 |
| 2023 | 43.3 | — | 30 / 18 |
| 2024 | 64.8 | 72.6 | 30 / 18 |
| 2025 | 64.8 | 65.1 | 30 / 18 |
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, Bicocca has no fixed private tuition. Fees are income-based (from your family's ISEE), with reductions and a no-tax band for lower incomes. Use Bicocca's official fees-and-funding page to model your exact amount.
| 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 DSU scholarships |
| Admission-test costs | Set by the annual MUR / Universitaly instructions |
Cost of living in Bergamo (≈ €900–€1,400 / month)
€350–€550
Room / month — cheaper than Milan
€1–€3
Subsidised hospital-canteen meal
€200 / yr
Student transport pass (€160 if resident)
~40 min
Train Milano Porta Garibaldi → Bergamo Ospedale
Tip: confirm current numbers on Bicocca's fees-and-funding page before budgeting, especially if submitting international income documents.
The 6 years
Curriculum & Program Structure
The course blends basic science with clinical practice from early on. Teaching is integrated by organ system, with problem-based learning from Year 2 and clinical mentoring at Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital. A full 60 ECTS is dedicated to professional internships.
| Year | Phase | Focus | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations | Biomedical sciences and medical vocabulary, taught by organ system; some labs at Monza | Bergamo · Monza labs |
| 2 | PBL + early clinical | Problem-based learning begins; clinical mentoring and ward contact start | Papa Giovanni XXIII |
| 3–5 | Clinical development | Clinical skills, clerkships and patient-centred learning across specialties | Papa Giovanni XXIII |
| 5–6 | Internships | Professional internships (60 ECTS): history-taking, bedside practice, mentoring | Hospital wards |
| 6 | Graduation | Final thesis → single-cycle MD (LM-41) | University of Milano-Bicocca |
Organ-system modulesProblem-based learningClinical mentoring from Yr 260 ECTS internshipsSurrey & Bergamo partnershipPapa Giovanni XXIII wards
What stands out
Programme Strengths & Student Ratings
Bicocca is a young, research-active public university. Rather than legacy rankings, the SMS programme's real edge is its design — early clinical exposure, integrated teaching and a major-hospital base. Here's where it 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
4.3
★★★★☆
Editorial overview · replace with your verified rating
Clinical exposure (early & hands-on)Very high
Teaching style & supportHigh
International communityHigh
City & lifestyle (Bergamo)Pleasant
Affordability of livingGood
Commuting (Bergamo–Monza labs)To 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
The programme is centred in Bergamo, with lectures and clerkships at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital. In the first two years, some laboratory sessions (e.g. microscopic anatomy and biochemistry) take place at the Bicocca Monza campus, and a dedicated SMS facility near the hospital has been under development.
Replace with: Papa Giovanni XXIII HospitalUpload an official photo to your Media Library
Replace with: Bergamo (Città Alta)Free official/city image
Replace with: Bicocca / Monza campusOfficial university image
Teaching & clinical network
Papa Giovanni XXIII (Bergamo)Bergamo teaching siteMonza labs (Yr 1–2)University of BergamoUniversity of Surrey (UK)New SMS facility (near hospital)
After graduation
Recognition & Licensing
The degree is an Italian single-cycle MD (LM-41) from a public university, structured to European medical-education standards, and listed among internationally recognised medical schools. 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 MD with an internationally minded curriculum — just map your destination's licensing route before enrolling.
Find them
Location & Contact
UniversityUniversity of Milano-Bicocca (SMS)
Programme baseBergamo
Main hospitalPapa Giovanni XXIII, Piazza OMS 1, 24127 Bergamo
Year 1–2 labsBicocca Monza campus
Main campusPiazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano
Applyapply.unimib.it
Websitemedicina.unimib.it/en
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bicocca’s School of Medicine and Surgery (course code H4102D, class LM-41) is a 6-year single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree taught entirely in English, based in Bergamo.
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.
In Bergamo, with lectures and clerkships at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital. Some Year 1–2 lab sessions are held at the Bicocca Monza campus.
The 2025/26 MUR Table B lists 30 places for EU and non-EU candidates resident in Italy and 18 for non-EU candidates resident abroad — 48 in total. Always confirm the current bando.
There’s no fixed pass mark; the cut-off is just the last admitted student’s score and changes yearly. Community trackers reported an EU minimum around 41 in 2022 rising to roughly 65 in 2025, reflecting growing demand.
The application page lists B2 English as an entry requirement. Italian is needed for the clinical years to communicate with patients, and the university provides language courses.
It teaches by organ system rather than isolated subjects, uses problem-based learning, and starts clinical mentoring in Year 2 — far earlier than the traditional Italian model. A full 60 ECTS goes to professional internships.
Public, income-based (ISEE) tuition with reductions for lower incomes. Bergamo is cheaper than Milan — budget roughly €900–€1,400 per month, with rooms around €350–€550 and subsidised hospital-canteen meals.
Yes — it’s an EU-valid Italian MD built to European standards. To practise in Italy you register with the Ordine dei Medici; for other countries, check that authority’s recognition pathway.
Only 48 seats at Bicocca. Make your IMAT score count.
Bergamo's English Medicine seats are limited and getting more competitive every year. 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 Milano-Bicocca Medicine and Surgery course & application pages; School of Medicine and Surgery (SMS) site;
Bicocca fees-and-funding page; MUR 2025 Medicine/Dentistry-in-English decree and Table B (places); 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 Milano-Bicocca.
This is an independent study guide by IMAT Nerd, not affiliated with the University of Milano-Bicocca. Always confirm details in the current official call before applying.