Medicine & Surgery in English at the University of Catania

The University of Catania (Università degli Studi di Catania) runs a six-year, English-taught Medicine and Surgery degree aimed squarely at international students. It is one of the newer additions to Italy's roster of English MD programmes, with a stated "MedTech" emphasis — health technology, medical informatics and digital tools — alongside the standard medical curriculum, training a clinically-oriented physician comfortable working with engineering and innovation. Like every English-language Medicine course in Italy, admission is decided entirely by your score on the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) and the resulting merit ranking.

Quick facts


City	Catania, Sicily
Language of instruction	English
Degree	Single-cycle Medicine & Surgery (MD)
Length	6 years
Admission	IMAT (merit ranking)
Fees	Income-based (ISEE) — among Italy's most affordable

Why students choose Catania

Catania sits on Sicily's east coast in the shadow of Mount Etna, with the Ionian Sea on its doorstep. Students consistently mention the warm Mediterranean climate, the low cost of living relative to northern Italy, and a genuinely Italian student-city feel that the bigger tourist hubs can lack. Clinical training is anchored at the university's teaching hospital, the A.O.U. "Policlinico - San Marco", giving good hands-on exposure from the later years onward. Note that although teaching is in English, you will typically be expected to build a working level of Italian before clinical rotations — the university usually offers Italian courses to help.

How competitive is it?

Catania, like all IMAT schools, admits strictly by national merit ranking. Cut-off scores change every year and even shift during the post-results "scrolling" process as higher-ranked candidates pick other universities, so it's a mistake to fixate on a single number. Treat any quoted threshold as a rough guide only and aim to maximise your raw IMAT score. If you want to benchmark yourself honestly, start with a free IMAT mini-mock and check how marks convert using the IMAT score calculator.

EU vs non-EU applicants

The IMAT runs as a single national ranking, but seats are split into separate EU and non-EU quotas at each university, and those quotas can differ year to year (Catania has in recent years offered its seats to the non-EU pool). You compete within your own category for that university's allocation. Always confirm the current EU/non-EU seat split on the university's official admissions page before you apply, since it directly affects your odds.

How to apply

Register on Universitaly and select the University of Catania as a preference.
Pay the IMAT fee and book your test seat.
Sit the IMAT on the official date.
Provide proof of English (typically B2, e.g. IELTS/TOEFL or a medium-of-instruction letter) and complete enrolment if ranked within the seats.

For the test itself, read our complete IMAT guide and learn how marks become a place via scoring and ranking. To prepare seriously, realistic IMAT practice and full mocks make the biggest difference — see pricing.

FAQ

Is Medicine taught in English at the University of Catania?

Yes. The Medicine and Surgery (MD) programme at Catania is taught in English. A working knowledge of Italian is generally expected before clinical training, and the university typically supports this with language courses.

How do I get into University of Catania Medicine?

Register on Universitaly, choose Catania, and sit the IMAT. Admission is by national merit ranking against the university's EU or non-EU seat quota — there is no separate interview or alternative route.

How long is the Medicine degree at Catania?

It is a six-year single-cycle programme leading to a degree in Medicine and Surgery, after which graduates qualify to practise following the national licensing requirements.