MBBS in Italy

Total Medical Universities	44
Universities that offer English Taught Programs	15
Duration of Course	6 Years(360 Credits)
Degree Awarded	Master's Degree in Medicine and Surgery
Seats offered for non-EU Students (English Taught)	135
Chance of Success for Admission	Very Less

Medical School Name	City	Program Started	Univ Type
University of Bologna	Bologna	2017	Public
Univ of Rome 'Tor Vergata'	Rome	1982	Public
Univ of Rome 'La Sapienza'	Rome	2005	Public
University of Pavia	Pavia	2009	Public
University of Milan	Milan	2010	Public
Vita-Salute San Raffaele Univ	Milan	2010	Public
University of Bari Aldo Moro	Bari	2012	Public
Univ of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli	Naples	2012	Public
Catholic Univ of the Sacred Heart	Rome	2013	Private
Humanitas University	Milan	2014	Public
Saint Camillus International Univ	Rome	2018	Public
University of Padua	Padua	2019	Public
Campus Bio-Medico Univ of Rome	Rome	2019	Private
University of Turin	Torino	2019	Public
University of Parma	Parma	2021	Public

Why Study Medicine in Italy

• Oldest Universities in the World, and are as old as 1000 Years.
• World Ranked University with all Global recognition.
• Top-quality education at an affordable price.
• Opportunity to settle in Europe as a practicing doctor
• Availability of Medicine & Surgery course in the English language.
• Since MBBS in Italy meets the new NMC norms, Indian students can practice in India after studying medicine in Italy. 

Disadvantages of studying MBBS in Italy

At first sight, there is no such disadvantage to studying in Italy, the first setback may be caused when appearing in the IMAT Examination, as there is no IMAT Test Center in India. You will be required to fly to another suitable country and apply for a VISA.

Secondly, there are a limited number of seats available for the IMAT exam, and hardly anyone makes it successfully.

Important: Those who are looking for Italy as their dream destination need to keep a backup option apart from the first preference of their University in preferably another country. When IMAT results are presented, other countries' admission might be closed. Certainly, it may lead to the loss of an academic year of the students.

MBBS Seats in Italy for International Students

Now the query arises, "How many Italian Medical Colleges offer medical seats (MBBS) to Indian students?" And the answer is- There are just 7 medical universities. However, the English taught MBBS program is available in 15 Medical universities, and the rest offers seats to only EU students. Nearly, 135 Seats are available where Non-EU students can apply for admission to the MBBS Program. Take a look at the table below to see the reserved seats for Non-EU Students-

Tuition and Accommodation Fees in Italian Medical Schools

Italian Medical Schools are considered one of the most affordable options in Europe. However, securing an MBBS Seat in any of the Medical Schools is an uphill task. The yearly tuition cost in Italian Medical Schools is given in the table below-

Medical School Name	Tuition Fee in		Accommodation Cost
	Euro	INR Lac	Euro	INR Lac
University of Padua	4656	4.19	3120	2.81
Humanitas University	1456	1.31	4800	4.32
Univ of Rome La Sapienza	1156	1.04	5400	4.86
Univ of Rome 'Tor Vergata'	5250	4.73	5400	4.86
Univ of Bari Aldo Moro	1580	1.42	2640	2.38
Univ of Pavia	4805	4.32	3600	3.24
Univ of Bologna	3407	3.07	4800	4.32

Italy MBBS Course Syllabus

The MBBS course in Italy is known as "Laurea Magistrale in Medicina e Chirurgia". This program is offered by various universities across the country. The course in general lasts for six years and is taught in English and Italian Language.

Here is a general overview of the syllabus for the MBBS course in Italy:

Best Medical Universities in Italy

Medical Universities in Italy are among the oldest universities in the world. The world ranking of most Italian Medical Universities is under the Top 1000 Universities in the world. Here are some of the best Top Ranked Medical Universities in Italy-

University of Bologna - This is the oldest university in Europe, founded in 1088, and it is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in the world. In the QS World University Rankings 2022, it was ranked 165th in the world and 6th in Italy.

University of Milano - This University is located in Milan and is known for its excellence in medical research. In the QS World University Rankings 2022, it was ranked 149th in the world and 5th in Italy.

University of Rome 'La Sapienza'- This is the largest university in Rome and is one of the most aged Universities in Europe. In the QS World University Rankings 2022, it was ranked 177th in the world and 7th in Italy.

University of Padua - The University is located in Padua and is one of the oldest in Italy, founded in 1222. In the QS World University Rankings 2022, it was ranked 242nd in the world and 10th in Italy.

University of Torino - This University is located in Turin and is known for its strong focus on medical research. In the QS World University Rankings 2022, it was ranked 357th in the world and 15th in Italy.

These are just a few examples of the top medical schools in Italy, and many more institutions provide excellent medical education and research opportunities.

Admission Timelines for MBBS in Italy

Stages	Timelines
Pre-enrollment for Indian Students	Apr – Aug
Online enrollment for IMAT Admission test	July
Admission Test (IMAT) 2023 Exam	Sept
Preliminary anonymous ranking	End of Sept
Enrollment Process post receiving an Acceptance Letter	Mid-Oct
Commencement of Classes	End of Oct

Admission process for MBBS in Italy

Each year the Italian Ministry of Education releases updates for the admission process with precise dates. Those are usually announced around May-June. Before getting enrolled in your desired Medical school in Italy, you need to follow certain stages, so hang on tight-

STEP 1: Pre-enrollment:

Pre-enrollment refers to the documentation process verifying your academic qualifications for studying at an Italian medical school. Note that this is separate from the IMAT exam enrollment procedure. For necessary paperwork related to studying medicine in Italy, reach out to your nearest Italian consulate or embassy. Pre-enrollment remains open until the end of June.

STEP 2: IMAT Exam Registration

Online applications for IMAT begin in the first week of July and are open for the first 3 weeks of July. Ensure that you register for the IMAT Exam ‘online’. Also, there is a dedicated website for registering named Universitaly.

Declare your first preference for the Medical School Abroad and your IMAT test center. Furthermore, you will have to pay a teeny-weeny subscription fee of around 130 Euros for the test itself. 

STEP 3: IMAT Exam 

IMAT stands for "International Medical Admissions Test", the only official exam you need to qualify on your way to studying medicine in Italy. 

IMAT Exam Format: The IMAT test is held in English and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions (five options each). The answer keys might initially seem possible, but the students need to choose the answer key based on their subject knowledge and logical reasoning skills functional to various subjects. The candidates have a limited time frame of 100 minutes to complete the test.

The questions are segmented into the following sections:

Please note- The order in which the questions in the test will not be as exact as presented above. Accordingly, the exam will have a different order of questions and answers.

Breakdown of scoring in the IMAT: For evaluation of the test, a candidate's total score is calculated using the following formula: 

1.5 points are awarded for every correct answer. 

0.4 points will be deducted for every wrong answer. 

0 points will be assigned for every blank answer. 

However, the maximum score will be 90, and the minimum score for the ranks is 20 points.

Short-stay visas may be issued to students (especially for Non-EU students) who choose to do the IMAT exam in Italy; this is optional. 
Kindly note: This is not a student visa, so the Indian student will need to enroll in the University after passing the exam.

The IMAT exam will be conducted only at an authorized center. Globally, in 2022, there were 16 test centers excluding Italy.

IMAT EXAM Centers

You can find the list of international IMAT exam centers in 2022. Please note that the list of IMAT exam centers for 2023 has not been officially released yet, and it is best to check the official IMAT website.

Abu Dhabi (UAE)	Beirut (Lebanon)	Athens (Greece)
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)	Berlin (Germany)	London (UK)
Amman (Jordan)	Santiago (Chile)	Madrid (Spain)
Ankara (Turkey)	Cairo (Egypt)	Paris (France)
Istanbul (Turkey)	Casablanca (Morocco)	Barcelona (Spain)
Dublin (Ireland)	New Delhi, Gurgaon (India)

STEP 4: IMAT rankings and University enrollment

The preliminary IMAT 2023 results will be declared just days after the test ends, generally in the last week of September. 
 Preliminary refers that at the end of September, you’ll only get the test score you have obtained as an individual. And there will be no such IMAT ranking position mentioned, nor would the confirmation of being admitted to an Italian medical school be stated, as these results are anonymous.

At the beginning of October, your IMAT score will be published in the Universitaly portal, together with a scan of your actual answer sheet. You still won’t identify if you are accepted, but you will know your accurate score. At this stage, be certain to put together all the required documents to apply for a student visa

Climate in Italy

The average daily temperature in Italy is quite moderate in comparison to other European countries.  You can refer the climate graph beneath-

FAQs

Is there an age limit to apply for medicine in Italy?

No, there is no age restriction on applying to medical school. Students of all ages are eligible to study medicine in Italy.

Do I need to know the Italian language? Will I be tested down the road?

No prior knowledge of Italian is required for entry into an English-speaking medical school in Italy.

The courses and examinations are carried out entirely in English during the course (6 years). In the first two years (preclinical years) the Italian language is not needed as the practical training does not really start before the 3rd year. During the clinical years, however, Italian will be necessary for communication with patients and doctors, during hospital hours apart from the professors. 

Do I require an English certificate for studying medicine in Italy (IELTS, TOEFL, CEFR, etc.)?

Sitting in the IMAT exam for English-taught medical courses is usually proof enough of the candidate’s English language competency. For that reason, most universities do not need additional English-language certificates. The Italian Embassy in India might ask for a certificate.

Difference between Italy's public and private medical universities?

Unlike public medical schools where the tuition fee is very nominal, private Universities are not government-funded, and therefore the tuition fees are comparable to other private medical schools in Europe about € 9000 to 20,000 per year depending on the University. 

How to choose the best medical school in Italy for me?

When picking a medical school in Italy, there are a couple of factors applicants often consider.

Non-EU candidates are allowed a single choice of university. Therefore, for them, the first factor to consider is whether their academic preparation fits the entry scores of the specific university they chose. Those who feel weakly prepared would have a slim chance of entering a university with a known high entry score and a low number of seats. A choice inadequate to their preparation level might result in missing the chance to be accepted altogether.

Is IMAT the only determinant for acceptance?

Yes. The IMAT score is the only factor on which the selection of the candidate is based. Other factors, such as high school diploma grades or other previous degrees are irrelevant to the selection procedure.

How long is it going to take to prepare for the IMAT Examination? 

The answer to this question depends to a large extent on your background and your initial level.

The average amount of time candidates dedicate is about 5-6 months for Indian students. This being said, if you started preparing 3-4 months before the IMAT, You still might have an excellent chance to get in.

Which are the best books to prepare for the IMAT?

IMAT contains six knowledge domains: logical reasoning, general knowledge, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Most students choose to address each section with a different book to study from and dedicate an additional amount of time to prepare for it, depending on their background of knowledge in the area.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving books for IMAT

Thinking Skills Coursebook (by Marc Dawes)

Biology books for IMAT

Biology: For the IB Diploma 

Pearson Biology: A Global Approach, Global Edition

Constanzo Physiology 

AS-level biology and A2-level biology 

IMAT Chemistry books

CGP New Level Chemistry 

IB Chemistry Study Guide 

Pearson’s Higher Level Chemistry book  

Oxford IB Study guide: Chemistry for the IB Diploma

IMAT Physics and Maths books

CGP A-Level Physics for AQA  

A-Level Physics for AQA: Year 2 Student Book 

A-Level Maths for OCR 

A-Level Maths for AQA 

Question Practice books for IMAT

700 BMAT Practice Questions

The Ultimate BMAT Guide: 800 Practice Questions Techniques and strategies

1250 UKCAT Practice Questions

PG Option after MBBS in Italy

Medical PG in India or NExT

During MBBS study, a student realizes the importance of being a specialist. They also understand the competitiveness to secure MD/MS Seat in Govt College. If we look at the success ratio to get PG in Govt Medical College which is 11% Broadly we can say that only 1 out of 10 will get PG Seat whereas the chances of getting a Clinical specialty is 1 out of 20 applicants. It is obvious that the PG journey is going to be very difficult or else students should have enough money to get a paid seat in Pvt Medical College which may be in Crores!

Total Applicants NEET PG 2022	Specialty	Govt Med College		Pvt Med College
		Seats	Success Ratio	Seats
2.06 Lacs
	MD (Non Clinical)	15K	8.6%	10K
	MS ( Clinical)	8K	4.6%	5K
	Total	23K	11.4%	15K

Do you feel early preparation and the right mentorship will pave your dream of becoming a specialist? NMC already notified the introduction of the NEXT Exam in India from 2023. This exam will replace all Medical PG exams in India. The exam will be conducted in two parts NEXT-1 and NEXT-2. 

The Objective of the NEXT-1 is to assess the Student’s Knowledge of Pre, Para, and Clinical Subjects on the National Level. Only post-qualifying of NEXT-1 any Medical student will be eligible for an Internship. Post completion of internship Students needs to go thru NEXT-2 which will assess their Clinical skills, Patient Management, and Keeping of Medical history. Those who will Clear NEXT-2 awarded a license to practice and Rankers of NEXT-1 will get PG seats of their choice. You may refer to Page for detailed information on the NExT Exam

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Medical PG in USA (USMLE)

Most of the Students studying in Italy also plan for doing Medical PG from USA. This is because getting PG Seats in India is very tough.

With the introduction of NEXT, maximum students in India are getting attracted to USMLE prep from 1st year of MBBS since it simulates the new NMC Competency-based curriculum remarkably. US Healthcare system is considered as one of the best healthcare systems in the world because of numerous reasons like high rewards, excellent infrastructure, merit based assessment, open opportunities for Super specialties. Most of the countries try to replicate US health care assessment system for their Medical Graduates. USMLE exam is divided in 3 Parts. One can appear in USMLE Step 1 after 2nd Year, USMLE Step 2 CK during internship and Step-3 during residency (Medical PG). Unfortunately there is no prometric center in Georgia, But, all neighboring countries are having these centers.

MOKSH Coaching focuses on a patient-centered learning approach that helps students score high on both USMLE & NEXT. MOKSH is the leading name in USMLE Coaching. Currently, 1000+ Students from Indian and Abroad medical colleges are preparing for USMLE steps via the MOKSH Platform.

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Medical PG IN UK (PLAB) 

Due to the close proximity of Italy to UK, many of the students plan to do their Medical PG from UK. Till 2024, the Professional & Linguistic Assessments Board Test (PLAB test) is the instrument to assess the skills and knowledge of an International Medical Graduate. It also judges whether they are fit to be trained to practice medicine in the UK. 

In short, an IMG's performance in PLAB determines her eligibility to practice in the UK. The PLAB test has two stages. PLAB 1 is an exam that has 180 MCQs that tests your recall. On the other hand, PLAB 2 is a practical OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exam) that tests your clinical skills.

The GMC ascertains your linguistic skills by assessing your score in specific tests. It may be the IELTS (Band Score 7.0 or higher) or OET (Grade B in reading, writing, listening & speaking). 

After you pass PLAB 1 & 2, you apply for the GP registration. There is one constraint. You have a window of 2 years after clearing PLAB 2 during which you may apply no later.

By 2024, the UK Medical Licensing Assessment will replace the PLAB. Consequently, the GMC UK is going to change certain things in PLAB and create the UKMLA exam.

Medical PG in Germany

PG in Germany after MBBS in Italy is another great option, though it requires you to learn the German language. Of the 6 levels starting from A1 to C2, you need to clear A1 and A2 which would qualify you to apply for the visa. 
Once the Language formalities are done, you get into the phase where you do Observer-ship from a German hospital approved by the German Medical Council. This is followed by Residency.
This may sound simple here but the process is quite complicated. To know more about PG in Germany,

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Your Chance to get an MBBS Seat in India

The most difficult time for any of the students is to wait after NEET till the counseling process to know whether he/she is getting a college of his/her choice or not? Sometimes this dilemma continues for a couple of months due to multiple rounds of counseling. It has become more difficult due to parallel counseling of All India Quota and various States due to COVID-19. The counseling process is very complex where 550+ Govt. and Private colleges offer 83000+ Seats and fee variation is also huge ranging from less than 1 Lac to 2.5 Cr for the course.