Medicine and Surgery in English at the University of Bologna

The University of Bologna — the Alma Mater Studiorum, founded in 1088 and widely regarded as the oldest university in the world — offers a single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree taught entirely in English. It is one of the most internationally recognised English-medium MD programmes in Italy, blending traditional clinical training with medical humanities and patient-centred teaching, plus Erasmus+ exchange opportunities.

Quick facts


City	Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
Language of instruction	English
Degree	Medicine and Surgery (single-cycle MD)
Length	6 years (12 semesters)
Admission	IMAT (merit ranking)

Why students choose Bologna

Bologna is a true student city — roughly a third of its residents are students, and the medical school's facilities sit in the historic centre. It is compact and walkable (you can cross it on foot in well under an hour), with terracotta porticoes, lively cafés, parks and an affordable, welcoming atmosphere. Italy's income-based (ISEE) tuition system also tends to make studying here far cheaper than equivalent degrees in the UK or US — though you should confirm current fees on the university's admissions page.

Admission is by the IMAT

Entry to the English-taught course is through the International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) — a 100-minute, 60-question multiple-choice exam covering logical reasoning, general knowledge, biology, chemistry, physics and maths. Admission is purely merit-based: candidates are ranked by score, and seats are filled top-down until the quota is full. If you are new to the exam, start with our complete IMAT guide, then learn exactly how IMAT scoring and ranking works.

Bologna is a popular, competitive choice, so cut-off scores vary every admission cycle and can even shift during scrolling as candidates accept or decline places. Avoid fixating on a single "magic number" — aim as high as you can. The best preparation is realistic timed practice: try our free IMAT mini-mock and check your raw score against the official rules with the IMAT score calculator.

EU vs non-EU applicants

Seats are split into two pools. EU (and equivalent) candidates compete in a single national ranking across all universities, while non-EU candidates living abroad compete for a separate, smaller per-university quota at Bologna specifically. The non-EU pool is typically much smaller, so it is usually more competitive — check the official call for the year's exact seat numbers.

How to apply

Register and complete your pre-enrolment on Universitaly, choosing Bologna as a preference.
Register for and sit the IMAT at an authorised test centre.
Follow the published ranking and enrolment (scrolling) deadlines if you are offered a place.

When you are ready to train seriously, structured realistic IMAT practice with full mocks and analytics gives you the edge a one-off mini-mock can't — see pricing for plans.

FAQ

Is Medicine taught in English at the University of Bologna?

Yes. Bologna runs a six-year single-cycle Medicine and Surgery (MD) programme delivered entirely in English, designed for international and Italian students alike.

How do I get into University of Bologna Medicine?

You must sit the IMAT and earn a high enough score to place within Bologna's seat quota in the merit ranking. First pre-enrol on Universitaly, then register for and take the IMAT.

How competitive is Bologna for Medicine?

Very. As a prestigious, central-city programme it attracts strong applicants, and cut-offs change every year. Treat published past scores as a rough guide only and aim to maximise your result.