Bachelor in Nursing at University of Palermo
Three-year English-taught nursing degree at the University of Palermo, with 60 ECTS of clinical internships at IRCCS-ISMETT under English-speaking tutors and a final exam that qualifies graduates to practise. Entry is by admission test for limited places.
Bachelor
3 years
Palermo
English
University of Palermo
Nursing at the University of Palermo is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's (class L/SNT1) taught in English, with clinical training at IRCCS-ISMETT and a final exam that qualifies you as a nurse. Entry is by admission test. Non-EU fees are low and income-based options exist, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
- A secondary school diploma after at least 12 years of schooling, valid for university entry in the country where it was awarded.
- English at B2 level of the Common European Framework, as required by the call.
- A place in the ranking of the admission test: 60 multiple-choice questions in English on reading, logic, biology, chemistry, and physics and maths.
- For 2026/27 there were 26 places for non-EU candidates living abroad, ranked separately, pending ministerial confirmation.
- At enrolment, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement for your school diploma.
About the programme
Nursing is a three-year bachelor's degree in class L/SNT1 (nursing and midwifery professions), worth 180 ECTS over six semesters and taught in English at the University of Palermo. It is run by the Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) in Palermo, and all three years are active.
The degree qualifies graduates to work as nurses. It suits school leavers with a good grounding in biology and chemistry who want to train for a nursing career in English and are ready for a large share of hospital-based practice.
What you will study
The first year builds the biomedical base and the foundations of nursing. The second year moves to pathophysiology, pharmacology and nursing care in medical and surgical areas, with research methods. The third year covers maternal and child care, critical and emergency care, and the legal and organisational side of the profession. Units in the current plan include:
- Human Anatomy and Histology, Physiology, and Biology and Genetics
- General Nursing and Medical Humanities (theory of nursing, bioethics, general psychology)
- Nursing Methodology and Techniques
- Pharmacology, Oncology and Palliative Care
- Research Methodology, Hygiene and Prevention in Nursing
- Nursing Methodology in the Critical and Neurological Area
- Specialist Nursing in the Maternal and Paediatric Area
- Forensic Medicine, Deontology and Health System Management
How the programme is taught
Classroom teaching in English runs alongside a guided clinical internship in each year, always with an English-speaking clinical tutor. Internships are worth 60 ECTS in total (15, 20 and 25 ECTS in years one to three) and take place at IRCCS-ISMETT, with tasks that grow in complexity as you progress.
To reach the final exam you need 174 ECTS. The exam starts with a practical professional test, at the bedside or as a simulation, followed by the discussion of a written thesis in English. It has the value of the state exam that qualifies you to practise.
Career paths
Graduates are responsible for general nursing care: prevention, treatment, palliative care and rehabilitation for patients of all ages, planning and evaluating nursing interventions, and applying diagnostic and therapeutic prescriptions in teams with other health professionals. The university lists these settings:
- Public and private hospitals and health facilities
- Community health services and home care
- Employed or freelance practice in Italy or other EU countries
- Further study in a master's degree in nursing and midwifery sciences
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, non-EU students living abroad choose between a fixed yearly amount by country of origin (€211, €267 or €378, each including €156 of regional tax and stamp duty) and an income-based fee using the ISEE parificato. ERSU Palermo awards regional scholarships on merit and family income, and UniPa lists a university fee waiver among the benefits, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Nursing has limited places and a competitive admission test. Under the 2026/27 call, candidates registered on the UniPa student portal and paid a non-refundable €60 fee by 24 August 2026, then sat the test in person in Palermo on 17 September 2026. Non-EU candidates living abroad had 26 places and a separate ranking.
You need at least 12 years of schooling. Alongside the test you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa, and at enrolment UniPa asks for a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement for your diploma.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Is the Nursing degree at Palermo taught in English?
Yes. Lectures are given in English, clinical training takes place with English-speaking tutors, and the final exam is written and discussed in English. The call asks for English at B2 level of the Common European Framework.
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the call set 26 places for non-EU candidates living abroad and 36 for EU and non-EU candidates living in Italy, both pending ministerial confirmation. Non-EU candidates abroad are ranked on a separate list.
What is the admission test like?
For 2026/27 it was a 100-minute test in English on 17 September 2026 in Palermo: 60 multiple-choice questions on reading, logic, biology, chemistry, and physics and maths. Correct answers score 1.5 points and wrong answers lose 0.4.
How much clinical practice is there?
Internships count for 60 of the 180 ECTS: 15 in the first year, 20 in the second and 25 in the third. Practical training is held at IRCCS-ISMETT under English-speaking clinical tutors.
Does the degree qualify me to work as a nurse?
Yes. The final exam includes a practical professional test and counts as the state exam that qualifies graduates to practise as nurses. Graduates can also continue to a master's degree in nursing and midwifery sciences.
When can I apply for 2027/28?
The 2027/28 call is not published yet. For 2026/27 the call came out on 10 August 2026, the €60 test fee was due by 24 August 2026 and the test was held on 17 September 2026.
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