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Study Medicine in Italy · English-Taught
Medicine & Surgery in English
Medicine & Surgery in English
University of Padua
A public, fully English Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree at the birthplace of modern medicine (founded 1222) — the home of the world's first anatomical theatre. Renowned research, very early clinical contact, and a bold new hospital-based home for the programme.
Public University
Admission: IMAT
6 Years · 360 ECTS
100% English
Cradle of modern medicine
Independent study guide by IMAT Nerd · Researched from official UniPd & MUR sources
Heads-up — the programme is relocating. From 2025/26 Padua's English Medicine & Surgery course is moving into a
dedicated, hospital-based home in the Veneto (reported around the Santi Giovanni e Paolo hospital, with the wider plan often referred to as the Venice/Treviso area),
scaling up enrolment over the coming years. Because the move is being phased in, always confirm the current campus, hospital and seat numbers in the official 2026 call (bando) before applying.
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Years (single-cycle)
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ECTS credits
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University founded
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Taught in English
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World's 1st anatomy theatre
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First woman graduate (A.D.)
Overview
Quick Facts
University type
Public · State
Location
Veneto (relocating)*
Language
100% English
Degree
MD · LM-41
Duration
6 yrs · 360 ECTS
Admission
IMAT (national)
Seats
Expanding (check bando)*
Tuition
Public · income-based
*Note: Padua's English course is moving to a new hospital-based home in the Veneto from 2025/26 and scaling up intake. Location and seat numbers are confirmed yearly in the official call (bando) — always verify before applying.
Who they are
About Padua (UniPd)
The University of Padua (UniPd), founded in 1222, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world — often called a cradle of modern medicine. Galileo taught here, the world's first permanent anatomical theatre was built here in 1594, and Elena Cornaro Piscopia became the world's first female university graduate here in 1678.
Its English-taught Medicine & Surgery course (class LM-41, 360 ECTS, six years) blends that heritage with modern, research-driven teaching and an increasingly technology-focused (MedTech) outlook. A standout feature is very early clinical contact — patient interaction can begin as early as the first year — with training at one of Italy's leading teaching hospitals.
Cradle of modern medicine
An 800-year legacy of anatomy, physiology and clinical innovation — one of the most storied medical schools anywhere.
Research & MedTech
A centre of excellence for transplants, cardiovascular surgery and oncology, fused with biomedical engineering.
Early clinical contact
Hands-on patient exposure starts unusually early — reportedly from the first year — not just the clinical years.
Why choose it
Why Study Medicine at Padua
Historic prestige
One of the oldest, most respected universities in the world and a true landmark in the history of medicine.
Very early clinical exposure
Patient contact can begin as early as the first year — rare among Italian programmes.
Research & MedTech edge
Strong research output plus a biomedical-engineering fusion aimed at digital, data-driven medicine.
Top teaching hospital
Training at a centre of excellence for organ transplants, cardiovascular surgery and oncology.
Brand-new hospital-based home
A dedicated, hospital-integrated campus is being rolled out, designed for immersive clinical learning.
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* | Historically ~54 EU + ~9 non-EU; intake is now expanding with the relocation — check the current bando |
| 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 · basic Italian recommended for patient contact in later clinical rotations |
| Where to apply | Universitaly (EU) · apply.unipd.it (non-EU); note Medicine may have its own deadlines |
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. With the relocation and intake expansion, Padua's seat numbers and deadlines are in flux — verify campus, places and dates in the official 2026 call before applying.
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. As a high-prestige northern school, Padua's thresholds run high; the 2024 step-up reflects an easier national exam that pushed scores up everywhere:
EU final cut-off score (out of 90)
| IMAT year | EU minimum* | Non-EU minimum* | Seats (EU / Non-EU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37.7 | — | 54 / 9 |
| 2022 | 37.9 | 52.6 | 54 / 9 |
| 2023 | 43.8 | — | 54 / 9 |
| 2024 | 64.0 | 69.7 | 54 / 9 |
| 2025 | 63.4 | 66.0 | expanding* |
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, vary with exam difficulty, and the relocation may shift both seats and cut-offs going forward — only the live official ranking for your intake decides admission.
Budgeting
Tuition & Living Costs
As a public university, UniPd has no fixed private tuition. Fees are income-based (from your family's ISEE), typically a few hundred to around €2,900 per year, with generous need-based support (a low ISEE can mean a full waiver plus a stipend).
| Tuition model | Public, income-based (ISEE) — roughly €200 to €2,900 / year |
| First instalment | Fixed minimum (regional tax + stamp duty), same for all |
| Scholarships | DSU Veneto grants — low-ISEE students may get a full fee waiver plus a stipend (reported up to ≈ €8,000) |
| Non-EU note | Income certification via the Italian consulate in your home country |
Cost of living (≈ €850–€1,300 / month)
€350–€600
Room / month (Padua & nearby Mestre cheaper)
DSU Veneto
Need-based waivers + stipends for low ISEE
Commute
Mestre / Padua are budget bases near the Veneto sites
€30–€50
Weekly groceries · classic Veneto student life
Tip: with the relocation, factor in the exact campus/hospital city when budgeting rent (Venice is dearer than Padua or Mestre). Confirm current numbers on UniPd's fees page and DSU Veneto.
The 6 years
Curriculum & Program Structure
Padua splits the degree into preclinical (Years 1–3) and clinical (Years 4–6) phases, but distinguishes itself with early patient contact — reportedly from the first year. The new hospital-based home is designed to immerse students in real clinical settings from the start, with a strong MedTech and research thread throughout.
| Year | Phase | Focus | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations + early clinic | Anatomy, biochemistry, histology, genetics; early patient-contact activities begin | Veneto campus / hospital* |
| 2–3 | Preclinical | Physiology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology; growing clinical methodology | Veneto campus / hospital* |
| 4–5 | Clinical rotations | Internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, ob/gyn and specialties | Teaching hospital |
| 6 | Graduation | Advanced clerkships and final thesis → single-cycle MD (LM-41) | University of Padua |
Three preclinical yearsPatient contact from Year 1Clinical phase from Year 3MedTech / biomedical engineeringSimulation & cutting-edge labsResearch-driven teaching
What stands out
Programme Strengths & Student Ratings
Padua pairs one of the deepest medical legacies in the world with a forward-looking, hospital-immersed future. Here's where UniPd 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
4.5
★★★★☆
Editorial overview · replace with your verified rating
Academic prestige & researchVery high
Early clinical exposureVery high
Facilities & MedTechHigh
Scholarship generosity (DSU)Strong
Admission competitivenessDemanding
Relocation (settling in)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
Padua's historic heart is Palazzo Bo, home to the 1594 anatomical theatre. The English course, however, is moving into a new, hospital-integrated campus in the Veneto from 2025/26, designed so students learn inside a working hospital. Clinical training is anchored at a leading teaching hospital strong in transplants, cardiovascular surgery and oncology.
Replace with: Teaching hospital / new campusUpload an official photo to your Media Library
Replace with: Padua (Palazzo Bo / Prato della Valle)Free official/city image
Replace with: Anatomical theatreHistoric, often public-domain image
Teaching & clinical network
Teaching hospital (Veneto)New hospital-based campus*Historic Palazzo Bo & anatomy theatreTransplant & cardiovascular centresOncology centre of excellenceSimulation & MedTech labsDSU Veneto housing
After graduation
Recognition & Licensing
The course awards a single-cycle Italian MD (LM-41) from a public university, EU-aligned and internationally recognised (listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools). It opens the path to residency, the School of General Medicine, or a PhD after the relevant national steps, with strong research credentials behind it.
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 (for example FMGE/NExT in India) — so confirm your target country's pathway early.
Bottom line: a globally recognised, EU-valid MD from a storied research university — just map your destination's licensing route before enrolling.
Find them
Location & Contact
UniversityUniversity of Padua (UniPd)
Historic seatPalazzo Bo, Via VIII Febbraio 2, 35122 Padova
Programme homeRelocating to a hospital-based Veneto campus from 2025/26*
Main hospitalAzienda Ospedale-Università di Padova (excellence in transplants & oncology)
ProgrammeMedicine & Surgery (English, LM-41)
Apply / infoapply.unipd.it · unipd.it/en
* Confirm the exact campus and hospital city for your intake in the official 2026 call before arranging housing.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The University of Padua offers a 6-year single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree (class LM-41, 360 ECTS) taught entirely in English at one of the world’s oldest and most respected medical schools.
Yes — from 2025/26 the English course is relocating to a new, hospital-based campus in the Veneto and expanding intake over the coming years. Because it’s being phased in, always confirm the current campus, hospital and seat numbers in the official 2026 call.
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.
Historically around 54 EU and 9 non-EU places, but intake is expanding with the relocation. Always confirm the current bando before relying on numbers.
Padua is a high-prestige northern school with elevated cut-offs. There’s no fixed pass mark; trackers reported EU finals in the high-30s to mid-40s for 2021–2023, rising into the low-60s in 2024–2025 after an easier national exam.
An 800-year medical legacy (the world’s first anatomical theatre), strong research, a MedTech/biomedical-engineering focus, and unusually early patient contact — reportedly from the first year.
The course is taught in English, but basic Italian is recommended for communicating with patients during clinical rotations in the later years.
Public, income-based (ISEE) tuition of roughly €200–€2,900 per year, with generous DSU Veneto support (a low ISEE can mean a full waiver plus a stipend). Budget roughly €850–€1,300 per month, factoring in your exact campus city.
Yes — an EU-valid Italian MD, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. To practise in Italy you register with the Ordine dei Medici; for other countries (e.g. India’s FMGE/NExT), check that authority’s recognition pathway.
Study where modern medicine began. Earn your Padua seat.
Padua is one of Italy's most prestigious and competitive seats — it rewards a high, 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 Padua (UniPd) Medicine & Surgery (English) & apply.unipd.it pages; UniPd relocation announcements;
MUR Medicine/Dentistry-in-English admission decree and places tables; QS / WDOMS references; community IMAT cut-off trackers.
Cut-off figures are aggregated from unofficial student trackers, and relocation details are evolving.
Disclaimer: Admission rules, dates, seat numbers, campus location and fees are set/updated by the MUR and the University of Padua.
This is an independent study guide by IMAT Nerd, not affiliated with the University of Padua. Always confirm details in the current official call before applying.