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Study Medicine in Italy · English-Taught
Harvey Medical Course
Harvey Medical Course
University of Pavia
Italy's first English-taught Medicine & Surgery (MD) degree, at one of the oldest universities in the world (founded 1361). Public admission via IMAT, a large seat quota, and clinical training at the historic Policlinico San Matteo.
Public University
Admission: IMAT
6 Years · 360 ECTS
100% English
Italy's 1st English MD
Independent study guide by IMAT Nerd · Researched from official UniPV & MUR sources
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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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EU seats (large quota)
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Nobel laureates
Overview
Quick Facts
University type
Public · State
Location
Pavia, Lombardy
Language
100% English (Harvey)
Degree
MD · LM-41 (Harvey)
Duration
6 yrs · 360 ECTS
Admission
IMAT (national)
Seats 2025/26
103 + ~40 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 Pavia (Harvey)
The University of Pavia (UniPV) is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1361, with a medical legacy that includes Nobel laureates such as Camillo Golgi. Its English-taught medical track, the Harvey Medical Course (named after William Harvey), was the first English-language Medicine degree in Italy — a model the newer programmes followed.
Harvey is a single-cycle Master's degree (class LM-41) of 360 ECTS over six years. Clinical training takes place across three renowned hospitals — Policlinico San Matteo (founded 1449), Fondazione Maugeri and the Mondino neurological institute — with a new, fully renovated Campus della Salute (Viale Golgi) opened in 2023.
Italy's original English MD
The pioneer programme — mature, well-organised and widely respected, with a long research tradition.
Historic teaching hospitals
San Matteo, Maugeri and Mondino give exposure across general, rehabilitative and neurological medicine.
Large seat quota
One of the biggest EU intakes (103 places) — more opportunities than smaller northern schools.
Why choose it
Why Study Medicine at Pavia
Italy's pioneer English MD
Running since around 2009, Harvey is the most established English medical course in the country.
Top, historic hospitals
Clinical rotations across San Matteo, Maugeri and Mondino — some of Italy's most renowned institutions.
Large EU intake
With 103 EU places, Pavia offers more realistic chances for EU candidates than many northern schools.
Classic student city, near Milan
A lively university town just ~30 minutes by train from Milan, with strong student support.
Globally accredited
WFME/WDOMS-listed and EU-aligned, supporting USMLE, UK PLAB and other licensing pathways.
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* | 103 EU + non-EU resident in Italy · ~40 non-EU resident abroad (incl. Marco Polo) |
| 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 · no Italian needed in Years 1–2 · B2 Italian required for clinical work from Year 3 |
| 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 UniPV 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. Thanks to its large EU quota, Pavia's EU threshold is moderate, while the non-EU bar is consistently 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 | 35.5 | 49.4 | 103 / 40 |
| 2022 | 36.7 | 43.8 | 103 / 40 |
| 2023 | 38.4 | 53.3 | 103 / 40 |
| 2024 | 59.1 | 71.2 | 103 / 39 (+1 MP) |
| 2025 | 60.1 | 73.0 | 103 / 35 (+5 MP) |
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. ("MP" = Marco Polo seats reserved for Chinese applicants.)
Budgeting
Tuition & Living Costs
As a public university, UniPV has no fixed private tuition. Fees are income-based (from your family's ISEE), with reductions and a no-tax band for lower incomes. As a smaller city, Pavia is also more affordable than nearby Milan.
| 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 EDISU Pavia grants |
| Student housing | EDISU Pavia residences and Pavia's historic colleges (collegi) |
Cost of living in Pavia (≈ €800–€1,200 / month)
€350–€600
Room / month — cheaper than Milan
Collegi
Historic colleges & EDISU subsidised housing
~30 min
Train to Milan Rogoredo (≈45 to Centrale)
€25–€45
Weekly groceries · walkable student city
Tip: confirm current numbers on UniPV's fees page and EDISU Pavia before budgeting, especially with international income documents.
The 6 years
Curriculum & Program Structure
Harvey blends proven Italian teaching with modern, interactive methods. Early years build deep biomedical foundations (with Pavia's well-known rigorous oral exams); from Year 3 students move into the San Matteo wards, followed by full clinical rotations.
| Year | Phase | Focus | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations | Biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy I, histology & embryology; early bedside exposure | Polo Cravino · medical campus |
| 2 | Mechanisms of life | Physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy II, general pathology, immunology | UniPV · medical campus |
| 3 | Bridge to the wards | Pathophysiology, clinical semiotics, pharmacology, cardiovascular & respiratory medicine | Policlinico San Matteo |
| 4–6 | Clinical rotations | Internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, ob/gyn, emergency medicine & specialties | San Matteo · Maugeri · Mondino |
| 6 | Graduation | Final internships and thesis → single-cycle MD (LM-41) | University of Pavia |
Italy's first English MDEarly bedside (nurse-led)Clinical from Year 3 (San Matteo)Erasmus+ mobilityCampus della Salute (2023)Rigorous oral exams
What stands out
Programme Strengths & Student Ratings
As Italy's original English medical course at a historic research university, Pavia combines heritage, a strong hospital network and a generous EU intake. Here's where Harvey 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
4.4
★★★★☆
Editorial overview · replace with your verified rating
Clinical exposure (San Matteo)Very high
Academic prestige & researchHigh
International communityVery strong
Student-town lifeLively
Exam intensity (oral exams)Demanding
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, Hospitals & Clinical Network
Teaching is concentrated around the medical campus and the renovated Campus della Salute in Viale Golgi (opened 2023), with clinical rotations across three leading hospitals — San Matteo, Maugeri and Mondino — all within easy reach.
Replace with: Policlinico San MatteoUpload an official photo to your Media Library
Replace with: Pavia (Ponte Coperto / old town)Free official/city image
Replace with: Campus della Salute / UniPVOfficial university image
Teaching & clinical network
Policlinico San Matteo (1449)Fondazione MaugeriIRCCS Mondino (neurology)Campus della Salute (Golgi)Polo Cravino (Year 1)9 university librariesEDISU Pavia & colleges
After graduation
Recognition & Licensing
Harvey awards a single-cycle Italian MD (LM-41) from a public university, EU-aligned and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WFME/WHO-recognised). It supports residency, the School of General Medicine, a PhD, and external licensing pathways such as the USMLE and UK PLAB 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: a globally accredited, EU-valid MD with a strong pedigree — just map your destination's licensing route before enrolling.
Find them
Location & Contact
UniversityUniversity of Pavia (UniPV)
Main seatStrada Nuova 65, 27100 Pavia
Medicine / HarveyCampus della Salute, Viale Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia
Main hospitalPoliclinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia
ProgrammeHarvey Medical Course (Medicine & Surgery, LM-41)
Websiteen.unipv.it
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Harvey Medical Course is a 6-year single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree (class LM-41, 360 ECTS) taught entirely in English — it was the first English-language medical programme in Italy.
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.
Pavia has one of the larger quotas: around 103 places for EU and non-EU candidates resident in Italy, plus roughly 40 for non-EU candidates resident abroad (including Marco Polo seats). Always confirm the current bando.
Thanks to the big EU quota, Pavia’s EU cut-off is moderate, while the non-EU bar is high. There’s no fixed pass mark; trackers reported EU finals in the mid-to-high 30s for 2021–2023, rising to ~60 in 2024–2025 after an easier national exam.
Mainly at the historic Policlinico San Matteo (founded 1449), with rotations also at Fondazione Maugeri and the Mondino neurological institute. Clinical work begins in Year 3.
Not for Years 1–2, which are fully in English. You’ll need B2 Italian from Year 3 to work with patients on the wards; the university supports language learning.
It’s the original English MD in Italy, set in a historic research university with three top hospitals, a large seat quota, and a classic student-town atmosphere ~30 minutes from Milan.
Public, income-based (ISEE) tuition with reductions for lower incomes, plus EDISU Pavia grants and the city’s historic colleges. Budget roughly €800–€1,200 per month.
Yes — an EU-valid, WFME/WDOMS-listed MD that supports USMLE, UK PLAB and other pathways. To practise in Italy you register with the Ordine dei Medici; for other countries, check that authority’s recognition pathway.
Study at Italy's original English med school. Earn your Pavia seat.
Pavia's big EU quota makes it one of the smartest targets in Italy — but you still need a strong, 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 Pavia (UniPV) Harvey Medical Course pages; San Matteo / Maugeri / Mondino hospital information;
MUR Medicine/Dentistry-in-English admission decree and places tables; QS / WFME accreditation 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 Pavia.
This is an independent study guide by IMAT Nerd, not affiliated with the University of Pavia. Always confirm details in the current official call before applying.