MBBS in Italy

Study MBBS in Italy

The popularity of studying MBBS in Italy for Indian Students has been on the rise for the past 15 years. This surge began in 2009 when Italian public universities introduced medical programs taught in English. Currently, approximately 13 public medical institutions, including the universities of Bari, Bologna, Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Messina, Milan, Milan-Bicocca, Naples Federico II, Padua, Pavia, Parma, Rome La Sapienza, Rome Tor Vergata, and Turin, offer English-taught MBBS degrees. While a few universities admit non-EU students in English-taught programs, these medical schools are globally recognized for their academic rigor and affordability. Moreover, they provide exceptional opportunities for residency, research, and clinical work in Europe and beyond, making MBBS in Italy a highly sought-after option for Indian students.

Quick facts:

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

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 Centre 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.

Medical Universities in Italy

Major consideration is for Indian Students to find the best MBBS University in Italy for them. There are 15 MBBS Universities in Italy, offer MBBS course in English language. The List of MBBS Colleges in Italy can be find in the table below. 

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

MBBS Seats in Italy for International Students

Now the query arises, "How many Italian Medical Colleges offer medical seats to international students in English taught program?" 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 Italy MBBS Universities in table below to see the reserved seats for Non-EU Students-

Medical School Seats Non-EU Seats
University of Pavia 140 40
Humanitas University 70 25
Univ of Rome 'La Sapienza' 50 10
Univ of Rome 'Tor Vergata' 35 10
Univ of Bari Aldo Moro 50 9
University of Bologna 90 20
University of Padua 75 20

Cost of studying MBBS in Italy

While calculating the cost of MBBS in Italy for Indian students, You must consider following expenses for the budget planning.

  1. University Tuition Fee
  2. Accommodation Cost
  3. Food Expenses
  4. Travel cost to India
  5. Personal Expenses 

Yearly cost of MBBS in Italy for Indian students is approx. 12-13 Lacs inclusive of all expenses.

1.Fee Structure of MBBS in Italy

MBBS in Italy for Indian students stands out as an economical choice in Europe, with reasonable tuition fees compared to other MBBS Abroad options. Many time Qus arise, is there any chance for MBBS in Italy on scholarship for Indian students?

Italy's MBBS fees structure for Indian student’s ranges between 2-4 Lacs INR for a year which is very competitive, attracting many aspiring doctor from India. Italy offers a cost-effective and high-quality option for Indian students looking MBBS course in Italy. There is no specific scholarship for MBBS course in Italy.

Pl refer the below table for Italy MBBS fees in INR

Medical School Name Tuition Fee in
Euro INR Lac
University of Padua 4656 4.19
Humanitas University 1456 1.31
Univ of Rome La Sapienza 1156 1.04
Univ of Rome 'Tor Vergata' 5250 4.73
Univ of Bari Aldo Moro 1580 1.42
Univ of Pavia 4805 4.32
Univ of Bologna 3407 3.07

2. Accommodation cost in Italy

Getting on campus accommodations for international students may not be possible always. You can look for private Apartments near to the University, such shared apartment may cost you approx. 30-35 thousand INR on monthly basis. Costing depends upon no of sharing and its distance from the city centre.

3. Indian Food in Italy

You can find many Indian restaurants in Italy, But they are quite expensive and can’t be consider as an option for your daily meal need. Only option is self-cooking. All apartments are a kitchen with all facilities like Induction cooktops, Microwave oven Fridge etc. You can buy the groceries which usually cost 12-15K INR in a month.

4. Travel Cost

Rome and Milan in Italy have direct flights from Indian cities Delhi and Mumbai. The time and cost of the flight depend upon your chosen airline. Direct Flight can cost you approx. 30-35K for one way and take around 8-9 hours.

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. 

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-

Climate in Italy

Eligibility for MBBS Admission in Italy

MBBS in Italy for Indian student’s eligibility typically requires below condition to be fulfilled

  • 12th Grade with 50% and above
  • Age should be more than 17 Years
  • NEET Qualified (NMC Requirement)
  • Proficiency in English like IELTS 6 or above band

Meeting these MBBS in Italy requirements is essential for admission to medical universities in the country.

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

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 below steps for MBBS Admission in Italy

STEP 1: Pre-enrollment:

Pre-enrolment 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 University.

Declare your first preference for the Medical School Abroad and your IMAT test centre. Furthermore, you will have to pay a teeny-weeny subscription fee of around 130 Euros for the test itself. It is important to note that ,no university will admit in MBBS in Italy without IMAT Score

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:

Div Subject Ques.
Sec-1 Logical Reasoning 20 
General Knowledge 2
Sec-2 Biology 18
Sec-3 Chemistry 12
Sec-4 Physics and Math 8

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

    Italy MBBS Course Syllabus

    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:

    Year Subject Teaching-Hrs
    1st Basic Science 80 hrs
    Structure of Body 172 hrs
    Living Molecules 156 hrs
    Scientific Foundations 52 hrs
    2nd Biology Of Disease 124 hrs
    Ethics And Society 56 hrs
    Functions Of Body 164 hrs
    Laboratory Medicine 52 hrs
    Microbiology 64 hrs
    3rd Blood Diseases 40 hrs
    Clinical Foundations 128 hrs
    Clinical Foundations Practicals 120 hrs
    Disease Control and Eradication 88 hrs
    Endocrine System and Metabolism 40 hrs
    Drug Discovery and Actions 48 hrs
    Systemic Pathology 52 hrs
    4th Cardiovascular Disease 48 hrs
    Clinical Cases 320 hrs
    GI and Urinary Tracts 80 hrs
    Lung Disease 40 hrs
    Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases 88 hrs
    Sensory System Diseases 64 hrs
    Soft Tissue Diseases 48 hrs
    5th Childhood and Woman Health 96 hrs
    Clinical Cases 120 hrs
    Clinical Pharmacology, Genetics,Pathology 80 hrs
    General Surgery I 88 hrs
    General Surgery II 96 hrs
    Internship in Medical Area 100 hrs
    Internship in Surgical Area 100 hrs
    6th Clinical Cases 160 hrs
    Clinical Medicine 112 hrs
    Degree Thesis 144 hrs
    Internship in General Practice 100 hrs
    Practical In Degree Thesis Subject 180 hrs
    Public Health 40 hrs

    During the clinical practice year, students work in hospitals and clinics, where they gain practical experience in various medical fields, under the supervision of experienced doctors. They also have the opportunity to choose electives in specialized areas of interest.

    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

    Know More

    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.

    Medical PG in USA (USMLE)

    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.

    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

    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,

    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.

    Download the NEET Predictor
    No, there is no age restriction on applying to medical school. Students of all ages are eligible to study medicine in Italy.
    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. 
    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 for your VISA stamping, to secure your VISA better to have IELTS/TOFEL Score.
    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. 
    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.

    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.
    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.
    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

    MOKSH is the most trusted consultant in India and the Only publicly listed Company on the National Stock Exchange that differentiates from other local agents. MOKSH's helps the students with their Admission Process, Accommodation and other requirements as well.
    As all Medical Colleges in Italy follow the ECTS system, as you are studying at a Medical Univ in Italy in an English taught program you are meeting the NMC Eligibility Criteria. 
    MBBS in Italy seems to be a very promising option, the only challenge is, that very few are able to make it IMAT Exam, the Primary requirement for admission.
    MBBS Italy fees ranges from 2-4 Lacs for a year in INR.
    You can look for STEM and arts programs at Italian universities, as multiple scholarships are available.
    Yes, you can study in Italy with English as your language of instruction. Italy offers numerous English-taught programs, especially at the master's and doctoral levels. However, some programs may be in Italian, so be sure to check the language of instruction for your chosen program.
    Every university in Italy offers an art program; hence, you can choose from 100 art schools in Italy. The most popular are:

    The University of Bologna
    The University of Padua
    The University of Florence
    The University of IULM
    The Rome University of Fine Arts
    The MAECI Scholarship is a government-funded scholarship for international students and Italian citizens living abroad to pursue Master's and PhD degrees in Italian public universities. It covers tuition, living expenses, travel, and health insurance for one year, renewable for up to four years.
    No, admissions in most Italian universities require academics at 65%. IELTS scores are a great saviour for access to most universities.
    You must apply for scholarships like the IYT or RO Scholarship in Italy to study for free.

    You can refer to the Indian Embassy in Milan website cgimilan.gov for Italian government scholarships offered to international students

    Yes, Indian citizens require a visa to study in Italy.
    Besides the general study visa, there are six other types: enrolling in an Italian university, attending a single university course, postgraduate studies, participating in exchange programs, traineeships, and vocational training.
    No, you don't need a new visa. Within eight days of entering Italy, you should apply for a stay permit at the local immigration office in your area. It is necessary to renew this permit prior to its expiration.
    Your long-term stay permit allows you to travel to other Schengen countries for up to ninety days in six months.
    If you're from a country not requiring a visa for short stays, you can remain in Italy and the Schengen area for up to an additional 90 days after your study permit expires. Contact the local immigration office for details.
    You can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week with a study permit.
    Yes, you can convert your study permit into a work permit if it's still valid. It requires a stay contract with your employer at the One-Stop Immigration Desk (SUI).
    Indian qualifications are not automatically recognized in Italy. It is advisable to complete the equivalence procedure for your educational or professional qualifications before relocating to Italy, involving both Indian authorities and Italian consular offices in India.
    To recognize your qualification in Italy, you must legalize the original document, provide an official translation, and obtain a certificate of equivalence of qualification
    Undergraduate programs taught in Italian: B2 level of Italian proficiency
    Master's and doctoral programs taught in Italian: B2-C2 level of Italian proficiency, depending on the program
    Programs taught in English: B2 level of English proficiency

    Yes, various scholarships are available for Indian students to study in Italy. These include scholarships from the Italian government, Italian universities, external organizations, and Indian government scholarships for international education.

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