Healthcare Professions in English: Costs and Universities

When someone starts looking into Healthcare Professions degrees taught in English, the same doubts always come up. How much does the admission test cost. Who organizes it. How much university tuition is really going to be every year. Whether it is better to choose a public or a private university. And, most importantly, where it is actually possible to study in Italy.

In this guide we go straight to those questions and answer them one by one, using only what is officially available today. We focus on costs and universities, because that is what matters most when deciding if and where to apply. No theory, no distractions, just what a student needs to understand before booking the test and committing time and money.

Who Organizes the Admission Test and How Much It Costs

For public universities, the admission test for Healthcare Professions in English is regulated at national level. The rules, structure of the exam, timing, and evaluation criteria are defined every year by the official ministerial framework, while each university manages registrations and logistics independently.

This means one very important thing.
There is no single national price for the admission test.

Each public university sets its own mandatory participation fee, which must be paid within a strict deadline. If the payment is not completed in time, the application is automatically excluded, without exceptions.

Based on the most recent official data available, the test cost for public universities has been between 60 and 100 euros, depending on the institution. This amount is non refundable and is required simply to be admitted to the selection process.

For private universities, the situation is different. The test is organized directly by the university, outside the national test calendar. The fee is defined in the admission call and is paid during the online application phase. For the most recent calls published for the 2026 intake, the admission test fee is 50 euros, again non refundable.

In both public and private cases, the test fee only covers participation in the selection. It does not include enrollment, tuition, or any other academic cost.

Understanding this distinction early avoids one of the most common mistakes students make: confusing the test cost with the cost of university attendance.

Public vs Private Universities: Real Differences in Costs and Services

Choosing between a public and a private university for a Healthcare Profession degree in English is mostly a financial and structural decision.

Public universities follow national regulations for admission and degree structure. Tuition fees are not fixed and depend on the student’s economic situation. Services are standardized, with centralized procedures, fixed calendars, and limited flexibility once deadlines are set.

Private universities operate independently. Admission procedures, calendars, and services are managed internally. Tuition fees are fixed and clearly stated in advance. Administrative support is generally more direct, and communication tends to be more centralized through a single student portal.

From a cost perspective, the difference is significant.

Public universities usually require lower annual tuition, but the final amount is not always known at the time of the test. Private universities clearly state the full cost from the beginning, which is higher but predictable.

From a service perspective, private institutions often include structured digital platforms, continuous student assistance, and defined academic schedules, while public institutions rely more heavily on traditional administrative channels.

Neither option is better in absolute terms. What matters is being fully aware of how much you will pay and when, and how rigid the system will be once you enter it.

Annual Tuition Fees for Healthcare Professions in English

This is where many students feel lost, because tuition fees are not always explained in the admission test call.

For public universities, the annual tuition for Healthcare Professions degrees in English is determined after admission. Fees are calculated based on income brackets and national contribution rules. As of today, official tuition amounts for the 2026 academic year have not yet been published for public institutions offering these courses.

The most recent available framework shows that tuition is composed of:

• A university contribution, variable by income
• A regional fee for the right to study
• Minor fixed administrative charges

Exact figures are communicated only after enrollment procedures open.

For private universities, tuition is explicitly stated in the official regulations. For the most recent academic cycles, the annual tuition fee for Nursing taught in English is 3,000 euros, excluding the regional fee. Payment is divided into multiple installments across the academic year, with fixed deadlines.

This clarity allows students to evaluate the full financial commitment before even booking the admission test.

Scholarships and Economic Support

When it comes to scholarships, expectations need to be realistic.

For the national admission test, there are no automatic scholarships linked to test performance. The official documents focus on access rules, not financial rewards.

Public universities rely on regional and national study grants, which are managed outside the admission test itself. These are usually applied for after enrollment and depend on economic conditions and academic status. As of now, no specific scholarship amounts for the 2026 cycle are officially published within the admission documentation.

What is clearly regulated, however, are access accommodations. Candidates with disabilities or specific learning disorders can request dedicated measures during the test, provided documentation is submitted by the stated deadline. This is not an economic benefit, but it is an important form of institutional support.

Private universities specify in their calls that admission fees are non refundable and that financial conditions are fixed. Any form of economic facilitation is communicated separately, outside the admission test process.

Where You Can Study Healthcare Professions in English in Italy

Availability is more limited than many students expect.

Based on the most recent officially published data, public universities offering Healthcare Professions in English are concentrated in specific locations. Nursing taught in English has been activated in Naples and Palermo, with a defined number of seats for each category of candidates.

These courses follow the national admission test schedule and are part of the standard public university system.

In the private sector, Healthcare Professions degrees in English are offered in Rome, with Nursing and additional healthcare-related programs available through independent admission procedures for the 2026 intake.

This geographic concentration means that choosing this path often implies relocating or carefully planning logistics well in advance.

Payment Deadlines, Accepted Methods, and Enrollment Confirmation

One of the most underestimated aspects of the admission process is payment timing.

For both public and private universities, the payment of the admission fee is an integral part of the application. There is no grace period. If the deadline passes, the application is excluded automatically.

Payments are made through official digital systems, including PagoPA or equivalent university platforms, and can be completed via online banking, authorized payment providers, or physical payment points linked to the system.

If a payment fails or is not registered in time, the official rules are clear. The responsibility lies with the candidate. This is why verifying the successful completion of the transaction is essential.

After payment, confirmation happens in two ways:

• The application appears as completed in the personal area of the university portal
• A confirmation email or receipt is generated by the system

Only when both elements are present can the application be considered valid.

This is exactly the phase where many students feel anxious and unsure. Having a structured way to track deadlines, requirements, and preparation progress makes a real difference. Tools like TestBuddy exist precisely to reduce this uncertainty during test preparation, helping students focus on studying instead of worrying about procedural mistakes.

Sources

The information in this guide is based on the official admission calls, regulations, and academic documentation published by Italian institutions for Healthcare Professions in English, including the official ministerial framework, the University of Palermo admission call, the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli admission documentation, and the UniCamillus admission calls and tuition regulations.