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Study Medicine in Italy · English-Taught
Medicine & Surgery in English
Medicine & Surgery in English
University of Naples Federico II
A public, fully English Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree at the world's oldest state-funded university (founded 1224) — built on a translational, physician-scientist curriculum, clinical training at the large Policlinico Federico II, and a rare non-EU-friendly seat split.
Public University
Admission: IMAT
6 Years · 360 ECTS
100% English
Non-EU-friendly quota
Independent study guide by IMAT Nerd · Researched from official UNINA & MUR sources
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Years (single-cycle)
0
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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English MD since
Overview
Quick Facts
University type
Public · State
Location
Naples, Campania
Language
100% English
Degree
MD · LM-41
Duration
6 yrs · 360 ECTS
Admission
IMAT (national)
Seats 2025/26
25 EU + 45 non-EU
Tuition
Public · income-based
*Note: Federico II is unusual in offering more non-EU than EU places. 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 Naples Federico II
The University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), founded in 1224, is the world's oldest public, state-funded university and one of Italy's largest and most prestigious. Its English-taught Medicine & Surgery course (class LM-41, 360 ECTS, six years) has run entirely in English since 2015, designed for an international cohort.
The programme's core is a translational, physician-scientist philosophy — relentlessly linking basic-science research to clinical application. Clinical training takes place at the Policlinico Federico II, one of the largest medical complexes in Italy, with advanced research labs in biotechnology and cardiology. Federico II is also unusually non-EU-friendly: it's the only Italian medical school that offers more places to non-EU than to EU candidates.
World's oldest public university
An 800-year academic legacy combined with a modern, internationally focused medical track.
Translational research
A physician-scientist model that trains students to contribute to medicine, not just learn it.
Non-EU-friendly quota
The only Italian school offering more non-EU than EU seats — strong odds for international applicants.
Why choose it
Why Study Medicine at Federico II
Best odds for non-EU applicants
Federico II is the only Italian medical school that reserves more seats for non-EU than EU candidates.
Translational, research-led
A physician-scientist curriculum that connects lab research to bedside care from early on.
Large teaching hospital
Rotations at the Policlinico Federico II — one of Italy's biggest medical complexes, with its own metro stop.
Historically lower cut-offs
Compared with the top northern schools, Federico II's IMAT thresholds have often been more accessible.
Affordable, vibrant Naples
Low living costs and a rich, lively southern-Italian city with strong food and culture.
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* | 25 EU + non-EU resident in Italy · 45 non-EU resident abroad (more non-EU than EU) |
| 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 · Italian becomes important from the clinical years for patient contact |
| Where to apply | Universitaly (EU) · pre-enrolment + the UNINA 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 UNINA 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. Federico II has often been more accessible than the top northern schools; 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 | 34.4 | 41.4 | 15 / 25 |
| 2022 | 37.1 | 44.4 | 15 / 25 |
| 2023 | 45.2 | — | 15 / 25 |
| 2024 | 61.4 | 68.1 | 15 / 25 |
| 2025 | 58.3 | 63.1 | 25 / 45 |
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, UNINA has no fixed private tuition. Fees are income-based (from your family's ISEE), with reductions and a no-tax band for lower incomes. Naples is one of the more affordable big cities in Italy.
| 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 ADISURC (Campania) scholarships |
| Non-EU note | Income certification via the Italian consulate in your home country |
Cost of living in Naples (≈ €700–€1,100 / month)
€300–€500
Room / month — affordable big city
ADISURC
Regional grants, housing & meal support
Metro stop
Policlinico area has its own metro access
€25–€45
Weekly groceries · famous food & culture
Tip: confirm current numbers on UNINA's fees page and ADISURC before budgeting, especially with international income documents.
The 6 years
Curriculum & Program Structure
The first two years build integrated basic-science foundations; from Year 3 the focus shifts to clinical methodology, pathology and hospital rotations at the Policlinico Federico II. The final year centres on clinical clerkships and the research thesis — reflecting the programme's translational, physician-scientist ethos.
| Year | Phase | Focus | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations | Bioethics, chemistry, medical physics, molecular & cellular biology, anatomy, biochemistry | UNINA campus |
| 2 | Mechanisms of life | Physiology, microbiology, immunology, anatomy II, general pathology (integrated approach) | UNINA campus |
| 3 | Bridge to clinic | Clinical methodology & pathology; hospital rotations begin | Policlinico Federico II |
| 4–5 | Clinical rotations | Internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, cardiovascular & respiratory medicine | Policlinico Federico II |
| 6 | Graduation | Clinical clerkships and final research thesis → single-cycle MD (LM-41) | University of Naples Federico II |
Two preclinical yearsTranslational / research-ledRotations from Year 3Bioethics & integrated sciencesPhysician-scientist modelFinal-year clerkships & thesis
What stands out
Programme Strengths & Student Ratings
Federico II pairs an 800-year legacy with a research-driven, non-EU-friendly programme. Here's where UNINA 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 & non-EU oddsVery high
Research opportunitiesHigh
Affordability of livingExcellent
City energy & cultureVibrant
Bureaucracy / organisationBe patient
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
Clinical activity is concentrated in the Policlinico Federico II area — one of Italy's largest medical complexes, with its own metro stop — where students rotate through different departments. The complex houses advanced research labs in biotechnology and cardiology.
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Teaching & clinical network
Policlinico Federico IISchool of Medicine campusAdvanced research labsADISURC housingBiotech & cardiology deptsErasmus+ networkPoliclinico metro stop
After graduation
Recognition & Licensing
The course awards a single-cycle Italian MD (Laurea Magistrale, LM-41) from a public university, EU-aligned and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (ANVUR-accredited, WFME-recognised). It qualifies graduates to practise across the EU after the State Medical Examination, and supports postgraduate training and licensing worldwide subject to local requirements.
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: a globally listed, EU-valid MD with deep heritage — just map your destination's licensing route before enrolling.
Find them
Location & Contact
UniversityUniversity of Naples Federico II (UNINA)
Main seatCorso Umberto I 40, 80138 Napoli
Teaching hospitalA.O.U. Policlinico Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli
ProgrammeMedicine & Surgery (English, LM-41)
Degree classLM-41 single-cycle Medicine & Surgery
Websiteinternational.unina.it
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. UNINA offers a 6-year single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree (class LM-41, 360 ECTS) taught entirely in English since 2015, with clinical training at the Policlinico Federico II.
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.
Federico II is unusual: it offers more non-EU than EU places. Recent cycles showed roughly 25 places for EU and non-EU candidates resident in Italy and 45 for non-EU candidates resident abroad. Always confirm the current bando.
It has often been more accessible than the top northern schools. There’s no fixed pass mark; trackers reported EU finals in the mid-30s to mid-40s for 2021–2023, rising to ~60 in 2024–2025 after an easier national exam.
It’s the only Italian medical school that reserves more seats for non-EU candidates than EU candidates, which improves the odds for international students.
The course is taught in English, but Italian becomes important from the clinical years for working with patients. Plan to build Italian alongside your studies.
At the Policlinico Federico II, one of the largest medical complexes in Italy (with its own metro stop). Hospital rotations begin from the third year.
Public, income-based (ISEE) tuition with reductions for lower incomes, plus ADISURC regional scholarships. Naples is affordable — budget roughly €700–€1,100 per month.
Yes — an EU-valid, WDOMS-listed MD (ANVUR/WFME-recognised). To practise in Italy you register with the Ordine dei Medici after the State Exam; for other countries, check that authority’s recognition pathway.
The most non-EU-friendly seat in Italy. Earn your Federico II place.
Federico II's seat split gives international applicants real odds — 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 Naples Federico II (UNINA) Medicine & Surgery (English) pages; Policlinico Federico II information;
MUR Medicine/Dentistry-in-English admission decree and places tables; WDOMS / ANVUR references; 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 Naples Federico II.
This is an independent study guide by IMAT Nerd, not affiliated with the University of Naples Federico II. Always confirm details in the current official call before applying.