Medicine and Surgery

LevelUndergraduate

Type of DegreeBSc + MSc Single Cycle

CostEUR 18,000

CountryItaly

CityRome

Cost non-EUEUR 18,000


Why study medicine in Rome at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore?

Cattolica is Italy’s (and Europe’s) largest private university. Its internationally acclaimed medical school has been in existence since the 1960s and is affiliated to the Agostini Gemelli University Hospital. The medicine and surgery program aims at integrating basic and clinical sciences through an interdisciplinary approach that addresses the medical, ethical and legal dimensions of patient care and management.

Single-cycle Master Degree in Medicine & Surgery

One of the most distinguishing features of the Program is the complete integration of basic and clinical sciences. This will be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach and an early involvement in patient management which includes moral and ethical issues, as well as legal responsibilities which are at the basis of the profession. In addition medical anthropology, bioethics and medical humanities will be emphasized as well as the ability to communicate with the patient and the family. It will provide a strong specific background, and theoretical and practical preparation in medical practice and methodology, as well as a high level of professional decisions and operational independence in terms of ability to face and solve the main health problems from the preventive, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic point of view.

Is the Degree recognised by the General Medical Council in the UK?

In common with all degrees offered within the European Union that are recognised in their own country, the degree is recognised throughout the European Union. In addition, the program is designed to assist students who may wish to work in the USA after graduation.

Learning objectives

The Program will provide complete integration of learning objectives of European and US curricula.

The curriculum is designed also to help students prepare for the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) Step 1 and Step 2. Students will benefit from high quality teaching and learning designed to encourage active participation and support independent thinking.

They will acquire the ability to identify the state of health or illness of individuals on the basis of the knowledge of biopathology and pathophysiology. In addition they will develop skills and general experience in the field of Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Paediatrics and Obstetrics, as well as Medical and Surgical specialities.

Career Opportunities

The Medicine and Surgery degree course is designed for students who wish to become qualified medical practitioners. A various range of careers are open to medical graduates. In addition, students who will graduate in Medicine and Surgery at Università Cattolica will be able to practice their profession not only in Europe but also in developing countries. Due to the innovative curriculum, they will also be able to start a career in both basic and clinical scientific research.

Curriculum

In order to achieve formative goals, the Medical Degree Program is organized to offer a total number of 360 university credits (Crediti Formativi Universitari, CFU) spread over a 6-year course. 60 credits consist of activities aimed at acquiring specific professional skills. Each CFU corresponds to 12 hours of teaching. In case of professional training each credit corresponds to 17 hours.

First Year

  • Introduction Course to Medicine
  • Molecules and Cells
  • Electromagnetism and Physiology of Excitable Cells
  • Organic and Functional Systems I
  • First Aid and Nursing Practice I
  • Residency in Health Center
  • Introduction to Theology and Questions of Fundamental
  • Theology
  • Italian Language
  • Optional Project I
  • Electives I

Second Year

  • Organic and Functional Systems II
  • First Aid and Nursing Practice II
  • Methodology of Research I
  • Organic and Functional Systems III
  • Family, Society and Health
  • Questions of Speculative and Dogmatic Theology
  • Italian Language
  • Optional Project II
  • Electives II

Third Year

  • Biopathology
  • Introduction to Medical Therapy
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Public Health
  • Introduction to Clinical Medicine
  • Methodology of Research II
  • Questions of Moral and Practical Theology
  • Scientific English
  • Italian Language
  • Optional Project III
  • Electives III

Fourth year

  • Clinical Center Residency I
  • Medicine Residency I
  • Maternal and Child Health Residency
  • Clinical Neurosciences
  • From Clinical to Molecular Biology I
  • Optional Project IV
  • Electives IV

Fifth Year

  • Clinical Center Residency II
  • Public Health Residency
  • Medicine Residency II
  • Surgery Residency I
  • Surgery Residency II
  • From Clinical to Molecular Biology II
  • Optional Project V
  • Electives V

Sixth Year

  • Health Center Residency - Final Training
  • From Clinical to Molecular Biology III
  • Hospital Residencies - Final Training
  • Community Care and General Medicine
  • Optional Project - Final Project
  • Final Dissertation

Can I learn Italian while studying?

Studying in a country with a different culture and language can be a very daunting experience. The Italian language and culture course is designed especially to help students take their first steps and build their knowledge of the Italian language and environment, giving them the necessary tools to communicate better with locals and deal with everyday situations.

The Medicine and Surgery curriculum is designed to help students learn Italian, in order to be more confident once they start interacting with the patients during the second triennium.

Italian Language Course:

  • 1st year 24 hours (2 ECTS)
  • 2nd year 24 hours (2 ECTS)
  • 3rd year 12 hours (1 ECTS)

While the course is taught entirely in English, it is necessary to speak Italian when working in clinics and dealing with patients.

Entry requirements

The most important entry requirement is your performance on the university’s own entrance exam. See below for further details.

Admitted students must have a high school diploma, conferred after a minimum of 12 years of previous schooling (from the beginning of primary school to the end of high school), that satisfies the requirements for entry into the university in the awarding country.

For British students this means that you will need to have 3 GCE A’ Levels. This is one of the few international medical schools where students without Biology A' level can apply. While there is some flexibility in the Italian entrance system and it is technically possible to apply with EEE at A level, we would not encourage applications from students with below BBB at A level or 30 on the International Baccalaureate. Such students tend to perform poorly on the entrance exam. 

Students with BTECs in Applied Science cannot apply. Students with Access to Higher Education qualifications that serve as pathways to limited British universities are also not suitable. Students with a pass in the International Baccalaureate diploma will be eligible to take the entrance exam (depending on suitability of higher level subject choices). Students with passes in Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers or with a pass in the Irish Leaving Certificate are also eligible to take the exam.

Students in their final year of school can take the entrance exam and apply on the basis of their predicted grades. If you are successful in getting an offer it will be unconditional on the grades you actually achieve at A level.

There is no interview requirement and while a strong application with extensive work experience is to be encouraged, it will not have an impact on your chances of being accepted.

If you already have a Bachelors degree in a related discipline and are looking to continue your studies in medicine, there is no graduate entry route available. However, there may be a possibility to achieve exemption from some modules. This will depend on availability of places and, perhaps more importantly, your ability to speak Italian which becomes vital once you enter the clinical phase of the studies.

If in your home country admission to university level studies is subject to a special exam (e.g. Selectividad in Spain; Prova de Aferiçao or Prova Geral de Acesso ao Ensino Superior in Portugal; Matura Shteterore in Albania), applicants will be required to provide evidence of having passed such selection with the required scores.

Please contact us so that we can review your application and advise on your likelihood of success. We are as keen as you are to establish whether entry to Universita Cattolica is a viable option for you.

Application Process

Applications for 2022 admission are now open. If you are interested in applying, please contact us with details of your existing qualifications.

  • Admission test application deadline: 18th March 2022
  • Admission test date: 6th-7th April 2022
  • Admission results announced: 12th April 2022

Admission to the 6-year program in Medicine and Surgery is subject to the evaluation of the entrance exam that will take place in May in Italy and other European cities (tba). The test  is  focussed on scientific questions as well as maths and logic. As always, there are some questions on religion but we can provide you with full details of these once you have applied.

Please contact us and we will review your application and provide details of the online application process. There is a non-refundable examination registration fee of €160 (payable online by credit card) that must be received no later than 18th March 2022. This is the first fee that you will have to pay and we will advise you in advance if there are any reasons why you would not be successf ul in your application.

There are 30 places for EU students and 50 places for non-EU students. UK students are now non-EU candidates.

Successful candidates will be asked to pay the sum of € 4,000 within 10 days of receiving an offer as a non-refundable deposit to secure their place in the program. This will be deducted from the 2021-2022 tuition fees. Should the admitted candidates not pay the deposit by the deadline they shall be considered to have withdrawn their application. Vacant places shall be made available to the candidates who achieved the next-highest marks on the entrance exam.

Tuition fees for EU citizens (or non-E.U. residents with an E.U. generated income)

Tuition ranges from €7,000 to €16,000 per annum (varies according to the financial background of the student or student’s family if dependent).E.U. residents may apply for regular financial aid and additional scholarships provided by EDUcatt. For details please refer to www.educatt.unicatt.it. This information is currently only available in Italian. We would suggest that most British students pay closer to the highest amount.

Tuition fees for non-EU residents are €15,800 per annum. Scholarships are available and you can apply to be considered for these in the online application form.

Student Support

As a private university, Cattolica has extensive experience of looking after Italian and international students from all around the world. Living abroad can be a major upheaval for young, British students but Cattolica offers to make it as smooth as possible.

Accommodation is available on campus in self catering apartments. Costs are around €4,200 to €4,400 per annum which compares favourably with the cost of accommodation at British universities.

The university is located in the suburbs of Rome, near to Gemelli train station.

Registration for the entrance examination

To register for the exam, please click here.


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About A Star Future

A Star Future provides information and guidance to British students looking to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad.

Through our presentations in schools and our websites we aim to ensure that British-educated students are well informed about their choices.