Italian culture is highly diversified, with regional distinct academic and popular traditions, linguistic dialects and world-famous delectable cuisines. All this regional diversity combines to make studying abroad in Italy an experience of a lifetime.
Italian universities are renowned for their strong alumni networks. The student will not only receive a world-class education but also gain access to a community of accomplished graduates who can offer mentorship, internships, and career opportunities that extend far beyond your academic years.
The Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) develops and delivers the International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT). IMAT is a 100 minute subject-specific admissions test in English for applicants to medicine and surgery and dentistry courses. These courses are taught in English, with places open to both home and international students. 16 Italian Public Universities which offer English taught MD degree programs, require IMAT.
IMAT is a pen-and-paper test and it is divided into five sections as mentioned below :-
There are total 60 questions in the exam and negative marking is there for wrong answer !
100% Scholarship which covers approx. 6100 Euro to 7000 Euro Stipend per year. Every year the scholarship will renew basis on the student’s satisfactory performance.
Following are some particular benefits under scholarship:-
IELTS or TOEFL test are mandatory only for a few universities.
Some universities do consider MOI (Medium of Instruction) certificate.
MBBS course duration is 6 years. After that student will get 1 Year of Post Study Work Visa.
Students will get the benefit of Schengen Visa(if they get a chance to study in Italy) i.e. one can travel all the 27 Schengen countries on the basis of same visa. — These 27 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
As per the current process, student need to show INR 20 lakhs- 25 lakhs as per 6 years of the entire intended period of stay in a liquid amount as visa fund in sponsor’s bank account. Embassy needs sponsor’s 6 months (minimum) original bank statement. (For MBBS INR 20, 00,000– INR 25 00,000 approx).
1. Is International medical graduate(IMG) of ITALY pass out who is not a citizen of ITALY but studied in ITALY exempted from PLAB medical exam to apply for post of Senior House officer(SHO) in UK (i.e. after the student pass out their MBBS from ITALY ) ? Or it is like Indian students that they have to clear PLAB both parts?
If you are graduated from a medical school outside the UK, EEA or Switzerland, you probably need to sit for the plab test or attain a recognized post graduate qualification.
If you are an EEA (Economic European union) doctor and qualified at an EEA institution, then your post-graduation qualification will automatically satisfy the GMC (General Medical Council) skills and knowledge criteria and don’t need to sit for plab.
Hence the student does not need to sit for any exam if the student is passing the MBBS degree from Italy.
Who are the Member States of European Economic Area(EEA) ?
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
2. Does the student get any benefit in applying for work in Australia or New Zealand or the student has to clear AMC & NXREX exam before being allowed to work there?
The student has to clear AMC & NXREX exam before being allowed to work in Australia and New Zealand.
3. Which of the universities in Italy offer post-graduation medical courses as well ? And CAN students of other universities also apply to these universities for post-graduation course?
Below is the list of universities which offers post-graduation medical courses –
University of Bologna
University of Turin
University of Seina
University of Rome Tor Vergata
University of Pavia
University of Bari
And Yes, students of other universities can also apply to these universities for post-graduation course.
4. AFTER PASSING OUT MBBS course from Italian Universities, does student get job in ITALY to practice medicine? How much do a junior fresh pass out MBBS doctor earn in ITALY?
Non-EU graduates can seek employment in hospitals, clinics, or can do private practices in Italy. They may also consider networking with medical professionals and exploring job opportunities through professional associations and online platforms assisted by the university.
The average salary of a doctor in Italy is approximately €130,983 in a year. Depending on experience/skills and specialisation, this salary range can be like €103,000-174,000 per year.
5. DO international students get insurance coverage for medical needs or are these out of pocket payment?
Student will do the required health insurance on their own and the travel insurance from India before filing the Visa.
6. Where will the students stay? In hostel or on their own in nearby rented house? Is that covered in 7200 euro he will be getting?
The student will be allotted the hostel after three months. Till that time student has to stay outside university premise. Student will book their outside accommodation from India assuming the cost of INR 30000 per month.
7. Is the MBBS course duration of 6 years semester wise or annually ?
The academic year in Italy is made up of two semesters. The first semester starts in September/October and ends in January/February. The second semester starts in February and ends in July.
Courses a part of MBBS in Italy follow the worldwide examination pattern. The primary Semester begins around September or October and finishes around January or February. Every Semester is about 20 weeks long, including a 6-week assessment period.
8. For clinical practice, the student will be allowed to touch patients and examine them or will be only observer?
The clinical procedure is same for every country. In modern clinical practice, physicians and physician’s assistants personally assess patients to diagnose, prognose, treat, and prevent disease using clinical judgment.
9. Will the student be getting help in learning ITALIAN to talk to patients in clinical rounds?
Yes. In MBBS course, there is separate section for learning the regional language which will be taught by the university.
10. Is there any bond for the International medical graduate(IMG) students to serve free for MBBS studies?
There is no such bond. They only have to meet the eligibility criteria as required to study continueously.
11. What is the status of the scholarship if the student miss an exam on health ground or couldn’t pass any one subject? Supplementary exam how much later the student is allowed to give?
Initially the student will get the first 50% instalment of the stipend and then the student has to maintain the required credit points semester wise else the scholarship will be cancelled.
The student will be allowed to give the Supplementary exam after 15 –16 days and normally they get three chances to clear it.
12. Limited job opportunities: Finding a job as a doctor in Italy after graduation can be difficult, especially for non-EU students – is it true ?
As mentioned earlier, Job happens through networking and university career counsel department. There is no dearth of opportunity for right candidate. It completely depends on student’s performance.
13. If the student doesn’t clear IMAT exam with the required cut of score which university wants this year for the MBBS, then, does the student have to again register next year for IMAT exam ? Or the University application of this year applies for next year too ?
New registration has to take up next year again. It could be same or other university. This can be determined based on consultation and student’s IMAT preparation.
14. The scholarship money which the student gets annually will be sufficient for his stay and food and books etc. or are there more out of pocket expense to bear?
The scholarship amount suffices for standard ration and accommodation for a student in Italy however additional individual expenses cannot be determined.
15. Do the student allows university transfer after a year of studies in one to a better one for same MBBS course? Any criteria to meet for that?
After passing the first year at host university, student can seek transfer to chosen university for second year. For the formal transfer process between two Italian universities, student do not need to retake the IMAT exam.
Please call Frame Learning for more information regarding MBBS course admission process in Italy.