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Located in: Italy
Alma mater studiorum (meaning nourishing mother of studies) is the world's oldest continuously operating university, founded all the way back in 1088. It’s also 1 of the largest in Europe with over 90,000 students currently enrolled.
Its main campus is located in Bologna, Italy. However, the university has additional campuses in New York, Brussels, Shanghai, and Buenos Aires and comprises 11 schools, including the School of Medicine and Surgery.
Università di Bologna hosts a 6-year programme in medicine and surgery as well as a 5-year veterinary medicine programme, both of which are taught in English.
The medicine and surgery programme costs per year. On the other hand, the veterinary medicine programme is priced at , and both programmes are split into 3 instalments.
Keep in mind that how much you actually pay can vary since they’re calculated based on your ISEE (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator).
To apply, you need:
Once you pass the test and get ranked, admission depends on your position and the number of seats available (130 seats for EU citizens, and 20 for non-EU). And since clinical training starts pretty early in the course, you’ll also need to reach at least a B1 level of Italian by the time you begin hospital rotations, of which the university offers courses to help you catch up.
The Medical Faculty of the University of Bologna is accredited by Agenzia Nazionale di Valutazione del sistema Universitario e della Ricerca (ANVUR) which is an accrediting agency recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
The University offers a 6-year degree in medicine and surgery taught entirely in English. Itexams curriculum combines basic sciences, clinical sciences, medical humanities as well as public health. The school also offers clinical exposure from year 1 at the medical school’s affiliated hospital Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi.
During the 1st year of studies, you'll hit the ground running with foundational subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, and molecular Biology alongside laboratory work, seminars, problem-based learning, and clinical clerkships throughout the studies.
Graduate qualifications at Bologna Medical School are also aligned with the European LM-41 classification of degrees and are eligible for medical licensing and specialisation pathways in Italy and abroad.
Bologna's 5-year veterinary medicine program covers everything from the fundamentals as in anatomy, physiology, microbiology to hands-on clinical work with different animal species. The first years build your foundation in the sciences and ethics, while later years get into diagnostics as well surgery. By graduation, you're equipped to work in clinics, research labs, or veterinary public health anywhere in the world.
The Bologna Medical School is very well respected thanks to its research output across medical sciences. Their activities include topics such as oncology and haematology; meanwhile, environmental factors that affect disease patterns in populations have been examined by their public health research division.
Bologna's researchers are also investigating biomarkers related to aging and developing new therapeutic approaches. The diagnostic side includes advances in molecular pathology techniques. There's also work happening in maternal health, paediatrics, and developmental medicine - basically the full spectrum of reproductive and child health conditions. On the surgical front, they're refining techniques and studying patient outcomes in areas like vascular procedures, thoracic surgery, and transplantation.
Beyond surgery, their teams study the underlying mechanisms of major disease categories, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, and other chronic illnesses. This includes both treatment development and clinical management strategies.
While the University of Bologna offers a solid medical education, consider and have other options lined up before deciding on which medical university you’re attending for the next 6 years.
Here’s a quick comparison between the University of Bologna and Humanitas University, a top choice for international students looking to study medicine in Italy:
| Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna | Humanitas University | |
| University Focus | The oldest public university in the world. | A modern life sciences school that puts all its focus and resources into medical education. |
| Accreditation & International Recognition | Accredited by ANVUR | Accredited by MIUR and ANVUR, and recognised in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia |
| Students Accommodation | Doesn’t offer on-campus accommodation. But it’s possible to get subsidised housing if you meet specific criteria. | Campus housing offers 240 beds in single/double rooms including study areas, gym access, laundry, and cleaning services. |
| Location | Bologna, a historical city. | Milan, Italy's wealthiest and most economically advanced city. |
| Application Process | The application process is complex, and seats are very limited | International students benefit from a simpler application process and dedicated support throughout admissions. |
The University of Bologna doesn’t have on-campus housing facilities for students and instead helps by subsidising accommodation (only if you meet specific income-based criteria).
1 bedroom apartments cost between to depending how close it is to the city centre, while students sharing a flat can pay -/month.
Bologna has a population of over 400,000 residents and is actually considered 1 of Italy's major “student cities”. The city's medieval architecture exists alongside libraries and cafes that serve as study spots. The city also has an extensive portico system - covered walkways that run throughout the historic centre.
Living costs in Bologna are relatively moderate since expenses range between and per month depending on your lifestyle choices.
Tuition costs per year but this can change based on your ISEE score.
Submit a high school diploma and a B2 English test as well as pass the IMAT with a score of at least 55/80.
Students in Bologna spend to monthly on living expenses including rent.
Seats are limited as it offers 130 seats for EU citizens, and only 20 for non-EU, so admission is competitive based on IMAT rankings.
