Medicine & Surgery in English at the University of Pavia

The University of Pavia runs one of Italy's best-known English-taught medical degrees: the Harvey course in Medicine and Surgery, named after the 17th-century English physician William Harvey. It was the first medicine programme taught entirely in English in Italy, and it remains a popular destination for international applicants. The degree leads to a single-cycle MD qualified across the EU; graduates have also historically been able to register with the UK General Medical Council.

Quick facts


City	Pavia (Lombardy, ~30 km south of Milan)
Language	English
Degree	Single-cycle Medicine & Surgery (MD)
Length	6 years
Admission	IMAT (merit ranking)

Why students choose Pavia

Pavia is a compact, historic university town built around one of Europe's oldest universities (founded 1361). It offers a genuine student-city feel — walkable centre, riverside, lively colleges and a large international cohort, with international students making up a substantial share of the Harvey course — while sitting close enough to Milan (about 30 km, roughly 25 minutes by frequent trains) for travel and connections. Clinical training is delivered through respected teaching hospitals, including the San Matteo Polyclinic, the Maugeri Foundation and the Mondino Neurological Institute.

Admission is via the IMAT

Entry to the Harvey course is through the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test), an English-language, multiple-choice exam covering logical reasoning, general knowledge, biology, chemistry, physics and maths. Places are limited and awarded by merit ranking — your IMAT score determines your position. If you're new to the test, start with our IMAT complete guide and learn exactly how marks turn into rank in our scoring & ranking explainer.

How competitive is it? Pavia is consistently in demand, so cut-off scores tend to be high — but they vary every year with the applicant pool and available seats, so treat any single number you see online with caution and check the official rankings each cycle.

EU vs non-EU

Both EU and non-EU candidates sit the same IMAT. EU/equivalent applicants compete in one national-level ranking, while non-EU (overseas) applicants are ranked within a separate per-university quota. Seat numbers are set annually by the Italian Ministry — confirm the current figures on the university's admissions page rather than relying on past years.

How to apply

Register and pre-enrol on Universitaly and select Pavia / the Harvey course.
Register for and sit the IMAT on the scheduled date.
Wait for the official merit ranking, then complete enrolment if offered a place.

The best preparation is realistic, timed practice. Try a free IMAT mini-mock to benchmark yourself, sharpen your raw-to-scaled estimate with the IMAT score calculator, then build a full study routine with realistic IMAT practice. See pricing for full-length papers and analytics.

FAQ

Is Medicine taught in English at the University of Pavia?

Yes. The Harvey course in Medicine and Surgery is taught entirely in English and was the first such programme in Italy. It is a six-year single-cycle MD.

How do I get into Pavia Medicine?

Register on Universitaly, sit the IMAT, and earn a high enough score to place within the merit ranking for your category (EU or non-EU). Admission is competitive, so strong, exam-realistic preparation matters.

What IMAT score do I need for Pavia?

There's no fixed number — cut-offs shift every year with demand and seats. Aim as high as you can and check each year's official ranking; use our scoring & ranking guide to understand how positions are calculated.