Medicine in English at the University of Milan

The University of Milan — known in Italy as "La Statale" — runs one of the country's longest-established English-taught medical degrees through its International Medical School (IMS). The single-cycle degree in Medicine and Surgery is taught entirely in English: it was first launched in 2010 and took its current name as the International Medical School in 2014, and it remains one of Italy's most competitive and highly regarded English-language medical programmes. For international students who want a world-class clinical education at a major public university, it is one of the most sought-after destinations on the IMAT circuit.

Quick facts


City	Milan (with teaching sites in nearby Segrate)
Language	English (Italian B2 required before clinical rotations)
Degree	Medicine & Surgery (single-cycle MD)
Length	6 years
Admission test	IMAT (merit ranking)

Why students choose Milan

Milan is Italy's financial and design capital — an international, fast-moving city where English is widely spoken and the student community comes from dozens of countries. Clinical rotations start from the third year across leading Milan hospitals, including Niguarda, San Paolo and the National Cancer Institute, so you train in genuinely high-volume teaching environments. Popular student areas like Città Studi and Lambrate sit close to campus, and the city's transport, culture and nightlife are a big draw.

Admission is via the IMAT

Entry is by merit ranking based on your IMAT score — there is no interview or portfolio. The IMAT is 60 multiple-choice questions covering reading/general knowledge and logical reasoning, biology, chemistry, and physics & maths. If you are new to the exam, start with our complete IMAT guide and learn exactly how marks convert to a ranking in our scoring & ranking explainer.

EU vs non-EU

EU (and equally-treated) candidates compete in the national EU ranking, while non-EU applicants compete for a separate per-university quota at Milan specifically. Non-EU places are limited and historically among the most competitive in Italy, so confirm your category and quota on the IMS admissions page before you commit.

How competitive is it?

Very. The University of Milan typically sits near the top of every IMAT ranking, which means its cut-off is usually one of the highest in the country. Exact thresholds change every year and shift live during the ranking "scrolling" period as admitted candidates accept or decline, so treat any single past number with caution and aim well above it. The most reliable preparation is timed, exam-realistic practice — try our free IMAT mini-mock to benchmark yourself, then use the IMAT score calculator to see where your raw answers would land. For a full simulated experience, our realistic IMAT practice mirrors the real test conditions. See pricing for plan details.

How to apply

Register on Universitaly and select the IMAT and your chosen universities during the official window (usually late summer).
Pay the fee and sit the IMAT on test day.
Wait for the ranking, then enrol at Milan if you place within its seats.

FAQ

Is Medicine taught in English at the University of Milan?

Yes. The International Medical School delivers the entire six-year Medicine & Surgery degree in English. You will, however, need Italian to roughly B2 level by the start of clinical rotations in the third year — the university offers free language courses in the first two years to help you get there.

How do I get into University of Milan Medicine?

Register on Universitaly, sit the IMAT, and rank highly enough for one of Milan's seats. Admission is purely by IMAT merit ranking, so your score is what counts. Practising on a free IMAT mini-mock is a good first step.

Is the University of Milan hard to get into for Medicine?

It is one of the most competitive IMAT universities, often with a top cut-off. Cut-offs vary yearly and during scrolling, so don't rely on a fixed target — aim for a strong, well-above-threshold score and verify current details on the university's admissions page.