English-Taught Medical Schools in Italy: Fees, Seats and Options

Studying Medicine in English in Italy is possible at both public and private universities.

In this article, we cover which Italian medical schools offer English-taught programmes, how much tuition costs, how many seats are available and how admission changes for EU, equivalent and non-EU students living abroad.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, several private universities have already published their fees and seat numbers. Final seat allocations for public universities, however, have not yet been confirmed nationally.

Public vs private medical schools in Italy

English-taught medical schools in Italy fall into 2 main groups.

Public universities

• Usually have lower tuition fees
• Follow the national admission process for Medicine in English
• May calculate fees based on income, financial documents or country of residence
• Divide seats between EU and equivalent applicants and non-EU applicants living abroad

Private universities

• Organise their own admission tests
• Set independent application deadlines
• Usually charge higher tuition fees
• May use fixed tuition or income-based brackets

A private university is not automatically better than a public one. Students should compare total costs, admission rules, location, available seats and course structure.

Admission to public medical schools in Italy

English-taught public Medicine programmes are not included in the new open-semester system used for Italian-taught Medicine.

Students applying to these programmes must still take the national admission test for Medicine taught in English.

For 2026/2027:

• the test is scheduled for 30 September 2026
• final public university seat numbers have not yet been published
• students must apply under the correct admission category
• deadlines may differ for EU and non-EU applicants

The latest available national allocation, for 2025/2026, included 1,632 seats at public universities.

This total should not be treated as the confirmed number for 2026/2027. Seat distribution between universities may also change.

Students preparing for the admission test can start for free on TestBuddy, using realistic simulations, topic-based exercises, a digital manual and performance statistics. The TB™ Score shows the score they would currently achieve in the exam.

Public medical schools in Italy taught in English

The main public universities included in the latest available national allocations are:

• University of Bari
• University of Bologna
• University of Cagliari
• University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples
• University of Catania
• University of Messina
• University of Milan
• University of Milano-Bicocca, Bergamo campus
• University of Naples Federico II
• University of Padua, with activities linked to Venice
• University of Parma, Piacenza campus
• University of Pavia
• Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona
• Sapienza University of Rome
• University of Rome Tor Vergata
• University of Turin, Orbassano campus

The final list and seat numbers for 2026/2027 will only be confirmed when the new national allocation is published.

Students should not choose a university based only on seat numbers from previous years.

What is the cheapest medical school in Italy?

Public universities are usually the most affordable option.

Tuition may depend on:

• family income
• ISEE or equivalent financial documents
• income earned outside Italy
• country of residence
• university contribution bracket
• regional scholarships
• merit-based or financial exemptions

There is no single cheapest university for every international student.

Two students enrolled in the same programme may pay different fees because of their financial and personal circumstances.

University of Milan Medicine fees for international students

The International Medical School at the University of Milan is a public medical programme taught entirely in English.

For 2026/2027:

• the first instalment is €146
• it includes the regional tax and stamp duty
• the second instalment depends on the student’s financial position
• the second instalment can reach €4,101.12

For students whose family, income and assets are located abroad, fees are not always calculated using the standard Italian ISEE system.

The university may consider:

• country of residence
• family income
• family assets
• assigned contribution bracket

There is therefore no single tuition amount that applies to every international student.

University of Messina Medicine and Surgery fees

The University of Messina is one of the most affordable public options for studying Medicine in English.

Annual tuition for international students may be:

• €156
• €256
• €356
• €506

The exact amount depends on the student’s assigned economic or geographical group.

The initial enrolment payment is €156.

For 2026/2027, international applicants had to apply through both the university portal and Universitaly. This preliminary procedure does not replace the admission test and does not guarantee a student visa.

Sapienza University of Rome Medicine fees

Sapienza offers a Medicine and Surgery programme taught in English.

Students declaring income earned outside Italy may be placed in one of these contribution brackets:

• €300
• €700
• €1,500

These figures are not the standard tuition automatically charged to every international student.

The ordinary tuition amount listed for medical programmes is approximately €2,924, usually divided into several instalments.

Final contribution rules for 2026/2027 may change when the new student regulations are published.

Sapienza also offers Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics in English. This is a separate degree with its own admission process and seat allocation.

Private medical schools in Italy taught in English

Private universities use independent admission tests, calls and rankings.

Fees and seats must always be checked for the correct academic year. Private universities may update tuition, instalments and admission numbers between calls.

Humanitas University Medicine fees

Humanitas University is a private medical university near Milan and uses its own admission test.

For 2026/2027, it published:

• 200 total seats
• 150 EU and equivalent seats
• 50 non-EU seats for applicants living abroad

EU tuition is divided into financial brackets:

• €10,206
• €15,206
• €19,206
• €23,206

Non-EU students living abroad pay €23,206 per year.

The first instalment after admission is €5,206.

The 2026/2027 admission test sessions took place in March 2026, and applications are now closed.

San Raffaele University Medicine fees and seats

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University offers the International Medical Doctor Program in Milan.

For 2026/2027, the published seats are:

• 86 EU and equivalent seats
• 64 non-EU seats for applicants living abroad

First-year tuition is €20,690, divided into 3 instalments:

• €7,190
• €7,000
• €6,500

EU applicants must also provide a C1 English certificate at enrolment.

Cattolica Medicine in Rome and Bolzano

Università Cattolica offers 2 English-taught Medicine and Surgery programmes.

Rome

• 110 total seats
• 40 EU and equivalent seats
• 70 non-EU seats for applicants living abroad
• annual tuition of €18,000
• first payment of €4,000

Bolzano

• 60 total seats
• 50 EU and equivalent seats
• 10 non-EU seats for applicants living abroad
• teaching activities at Claudiana
• first payment of €4,000

The available documentation for Bolzano does not yet provide a complete annual tuition amount comparable with the Rome programme.

UniCamillus Medicine in English

UniCamillus offers a private Medicine and Surgery programme in English in Rome.

For 2026/2027, annual tuition is €21,000, divided into:

• initial payment of €2,000
• second instalment of €6,000
• third instalment of €6,500
• fourth instalment of €6,500

Regional tax and stamp duty must be added.

Some calls published during the year show only the seats still available after earlier admission rounds. These numbers should not be confused with the original capacity of the programme.

Campus Bio-Medico Medicine and MedTech

Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome offers 2 programmes in English:

• Medicine and Surgery
• Medicine and Surgery MedTech

For both programmes, tuition for 2026/2027 is €19,000, excluding the regional tax.

Payment is generally divided into:

• €8,000 initially
• €5,500
• €5,500

Published MedTech seats include:

• 68 EU and equivalent seats
• 12 non-EU seats for applicants living abroad

For the standard Medicine and Surgery programme, the dedicated non-EU call lists 36 reserved seats.

Medicine and technology programmes in English

Some Italian medical degrees combine clinical education with technology or engineering.

Humanitas MEDTEC

• lasts 6 years
• is organised with Politecnico di Milano
• combines Medicine and biomedical engineering
• may allow students to obtain an additional Biomedical Engineering qualification after completing the required credits

Official Humanitas pages currently show inconsistent seat numbers. Students should rely on the admission call for their specific academic year.

Campus Bio-Medico MedTech

• is taught entirely in English
• combines Medicine and biomedical engineering
• follows a dual-degree structure
• uses an independent admission test

Medicine and Technology in Ancona

• is offered by Marche Polytechnic University
• belongs to the public university system
• follows the national admission route for Medicine in English

These programmes are not identical to a standard Medicine and Surgery degree.

Students should check:

• qualification awarded
• curriculum
• admission test
• tuition fees
• available seats
• teaching location

Cattolica international double degree

The Medicine programme at Cattolica Rome allows a small number of students to apply for a pathway with Thomas Jefferson University in the United States.

The programme includes:

• 3 years at Cattolica
• 4 years in the United States
• a maximum of 4 students
• the possibility of earning the US Medical Degree after completing all requirements

The pathway has substantial additional costs:

• $3,630 for summer courses
• $69,195 per year at the partner university
• reduced Cattolica tuition of €11,000 from Years 4 to 6

This is not an additional degree automatically included in the standard Medicine tuition fee.

How much does it cost to study Medicine in Italy?

The main difference is between public and private universities.

Public universities

• usually cost from a few hundred to several thousand euros per year
• calculate fees according to the student’s financial position
• may offer regional scholarships and exemptions
• may charge different amounts to students in the same programme

Private universities

• generally cost from around €10,000 to more than €23,000 per year
• use independent admission tests
• usually have more predictable tuition fees
• may offer scholarships or reductions

Students must also budget for:

• rent
• utility bills
• public transport
• books and study materials
• health insurance, when required
• residence permit costs
• travel to and from their home country

Rent is usually the largest monthly expense.

Living costs depend heavily on the neighbourhood, distance from campus and whether the student chooses a private room, shared room or university residence.

Monthly cost figures found online should be treated as estimates, not guaranteed university expenses.

EU, equivalent and non-EU applicants

Citizenship is not the only factor that determines which admission ranking applies.

The main categories are:

EU and equivalent applicants

This category includes EU citizens and certain non-EU citizens legally living in Italy who meet the conditions stated in the admission call.

Non-EU applicants living abroad

These applicants usually compete for a separate number of seats and must also complete the international pre-enrolment procedure.

A non-EU student already legally living in Italy should not automatically assume they belong to the non-EU abroad category.

The correct status must be checked before submitting the application.

Pre-enrolment and visas for non-EU students

Non-EU students living abroad must complete pre-enrolment through Universitaly.

The process normally includes:

• choosing the degree programme
• uploading academic documents
• preliminary university validation
• applying for a visa
• completing enrolment after admission

University validation:

• does not guarantee admission
• does not replace the entrance test
• does not guarantee a visa

For 2026/2027, visa applications must be submitted by 30 November 2026.

Universities may set much earlier deadlines. Students must distinguish between:

• university application deadline
• admission test date
• Universitaly pre-enrolment
• visa application
• final enrolment

After entering Italy, non-EU students must apply for a residence permit within 8 working days.

EU students do not need a visa, but they may need to complete local registration for stays longer than 3 months.

How to choose the right medical school in Italy

Before applying, students should compare:

• public or private university
• real annual tuition
• EU and non-EU seats
• type of admission test
• application deadlines
• required financial documents
• cost of living
• teaching hospitals
• language requirements
• scholarships
• programme structure
• possible dual degree

Low tuition does not always mean a lower total cost. A cheaper university may be located in a city with expensive rent.

A programme with more seats may still have a highly competitive test or stricter language requirements.

Admission preparation should therefore begin before choosing only one university. With TestBuddy, students can practise with simulations and topic-based exercises, follow a structured study path and track progress through statistics and the TB™ Score. It is possible to start for free.

What students should check before applying

Students should verify:

• correct academic year
• active admission call
• final number of seats
• EU, equivalent or non-EU category
• required admission test
• application deadline
• application fee
• annual tuition
• first instalment
• English certificate requirements
• Universitaly procedure
• visa and residence permit rules
• scholarship deadlines

Previous-year data can help students compare universities, but it never replaces the official 2026/2027 admission call.

Official information used for this update

• The national test date comes from the corrected 2026 ministerial calendar. National procedures are published through the Accesso Programmato portal. The latest available total for public university seats comes from the 2025/2026 seat announcement and the related EU and non-EU allocation table. The exclusion of English-taught programmes from the open-semester system is stated in the official ministerial measure.
• Information about the International Medical School comes from the University of Milan enrolment page. Tuition details come from the 2026/2027 fees page and the university’s international student fee guidance.
• University of Messina fees come from its official fees and funding page, while international application requirements come from the application and admission page. Sapienza amounts come from its standard registration fee page and student regulations page.
• Humanitas data comes from the Medicine and Surgery programme page, the fees and scholarships page and the admissions page. MEDTEC information comes from the programme page and the programme overview with Politecnico di Milano.
• San Raffaele seats, requirements and tuition come from the EU and equivalent applicant page and the non-EU applicant page.
• Cattolica Rome data comes from the Medicine and Surgery admission procedures and the 2026/2027 programme and fee brochure. Bolzano data comes from the admission and tuition page and the 2026/2027 admission guidelines. The double degree details come from the official programme structure and the double degree brochure.
• UniCamillus tuition comes from the annual tuition fee page and the 2026/2027 tuition regulations. The distinction between original capacity and remaining seats comes from the July EU call and the non-EU call.
• Campus Bio-Medico programmes come from the degree course admissions page. Tuition comes from the taxes and contributions page and the 2026/2027 fee document. MedTech seats come from the EU and equivalent admission procedure and the non-EU admission call. The dual-degree structure is described on the Medicine and Surgery MedTech programme page.
• International student categories, pre-enrolment and visa requirements come from the Universitaly international student procedure. Requirements after arrival in Italy are described on the first steps in Italy page.