Single-cycle Master in Medicine and Surgery (Harvey course) at University of Pavia
Six-year English-taught medical degree at the University of Pavia, the first in Italy, with three pre-clinical years, three clinical years and 60 credits of traineeships in Pavia hospitals. Entry is by the IMAT, with 35 places for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2026/27.
Master
6 years
Pavia
English
University of Pavia
The Harvey course is the University of Pavia's six-year, 360 ECTS single-cycle degree in Medicine and Surgery (class LM-41), taught in English. Entry needs a school diploma after at least 12 years of schooling and a place in the IMAT ranking; the B2 English requirement is met by passing the test. For 2026/27 there were 35 places for non-EU applicants living abroad.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Pavia's Harvey course asks for a secondary school diploma after at least 12 years of schooling, or three science A levels or APs for UK and US applicants, and a place in the IMAT ranking. For 2026/27, 35 of the 143 places were reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
You need a secondary school diploma, or a qualification obtained abroad that is considered equivalent. Foreign qualifications must come after at least 12 years of schooling, and the university must confirm that yours is eligible before you can enrol. [1]
Applicants with UK or US qualifications need three A levels or three AP exams in scientific subjects. [3]
What this means for your school results
Your school marks do not rank you: places follow your IMAT score, and your qualification only has to meet the rule above. As a guide, based on that rule:
- Usually a fit: a completed Class 12 or Higher Secondary certificate from India (CBSE, ISC or a state board), an HSSC or FSc from Pakistan, an HSC from Bangladesh or GCE A levels from Sri Lanka, each completing 12 or more years of schooling.
- Check carefully: British A levels or US APs with fewer than three science subjects, a school system with fewer than 12 years, or a qualification you are still completing.
- Often short: a Class 10 or secondary school certificate, or any diploma that does not complete upper secondary school.
The IMAT covers biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, so a science stream gives you the closest preparation. [1]
English
The course regulations ask for English at B2 and treat passing the admission test, which is held in English, as meeting that level. [2]
When you register for the IMAT, you can declare a language certificate from the Ministry's list. For 2026/27 you had to hold it by 9 September 2026, and it counted only as a tie-breaker in the ranking. [1]
The IMAT admission test
There is a single admission test prepared by the Ministry of University and Research, with the same content at every Italian university. For 2026/27 it had 60 multiple-choice questions with five options each, to be answered in 100 minutes: [1]
- 23 on biology
- 15 on chemistry
- 13 on physics and mathematics
- 5 on logical reasoning and problems
- 4 on reading skills and knowledge from your studies
Each correct answer earns 1.5 points, each wrong answer loses 0.4 and an unanswered question scores 0, for a maximum of 90. Foreign venues for 2026/27 included India, Pakistan, Dubai in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, the UK and the USA. [1]
Places, minimum score and ranking
For 2026/27 the call set 143 places: [1]
- 103 for EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy, ranked on a single national list with a minimum of 20 out of 90.
- 35 for non-EU applicants living abroad, ranked by Pavia on its own list. You need a score above zero, and candidates who answer no questions are not ranked.
- 5 for Chinese students on the Marco Polo programme. Unused Marco Polo places pass to the non-EU quota, and unused non-EU places pass to EU and resident candidates.
Ties are broken by the biology score, then chemistry, physics and mathematics, logical reasoning and reading, then by a declared language certificate, and finally in favour of the younger candidate. [1]
Students admitted with fewer than 30 points must complete an online course on the test topics and pass a final test, with at least half the answers correct, before taking any exams. A failed test can be retaken after 30 days. [2]
2026/27 deadlines
- By 31 August 2026: study visa pre-enrolment on Universitaly for non-EU applicants living abroad, validated by Pavia.
- 26 August to 9 September 2026 (15:00 Italian time): IMAT registration on Universitaly, with the choice of universities and test venue.
- 26 August to 9 September 2026 (23:59): diploma assessment on Pavia's application portal, for non-EU applicants sitting the test in Pavia.
- 29 September 2026: the IMAT, starting at 13:30 in Pavia.
- 8 October 2026: scores published on Universitaly.
- 26 October 2026: national ranking published. Admitted non-EU applicants living abroad enrol by 29 October 2026 at 23:59 by paying the regional tax.
- 3 November 2026: any free non-EU places reassigned, with enrolment by 6 November 2026.
The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
After Pavia validates your Universitaly pre-enrolment, you complete the study visa at the Italian consulate in your country of residence. The qualification check asks for: [1]
- your school diploma after at least 12 years of schooling, translated into Italian and legalised or apostilled, or a CIMEA statement of verification; no translation is needed for diplomas in English, Spanish or French
- a declaration of value from the Italian mission, a CIMEA statement of comparability or a correspondence certificate from the ARDI database
- the certificate of any university entrance exam your country requires
Legalisation and the declaration of value can follow later, within the set deadlines. Applicants who sit the IMAT abroad skip the pre-test diploma assessment. At a test venue in Italy, non-EU applicants living abroad show a passport with an entry visa or a residence permit. [1]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Pavia, Teaching and Student Services Area. Call for admission to the first year of the Master's degree in Medicine and Surgery taught in English (LM-41), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia, Department of Molecular Medicine. Course regulations of the Single-cycle Master's degree in Medicine and Surgery taught in English (Harvey course), entering class 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia, Harvey course website: home page and access requirements. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
The Harvey course is a six-year single-cycle master's degree in Medicine and Surgery, class LM-41-R, worth 360 ECTS and taught entirely in English. Set up in 2009 and named after the seventeenth-century physician William Harvey, it was the first medical course in Italy taught in English. It belongs to the Department of Molecular Medicine and the Faculty of Medicine, and is based at the Campus della Salute beside the Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia.
Access is restricted and decided by the IMAT ranking. According to the course site, more than 40% of students come from other European and non-European countries. It suits school leavers with a strong science background who want to train as doctors in an international class.
What you will study
Years 1 to 3 are pre-clinical: scientific method, molecules, the structure and functions of the body and disease processes, with laboratory work. Years 4 to 6 are clinical, organised around diagnosis, treatment, communication with patients and precision medicine, with case-based discussion. Course units in the study plan include:
- Structure of the Body and Biochemistry (year 1)
- Functions of the Body and Biology of Disease (year 2)
- Clinical Foundations and Drug Discovery and Actions (year 3)
- Cardiovascular Disease and Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases (year 4)
- General Surgery I and II, and Childhood and Woman Health (year 5)
- Clinical Medicine, Oncology and Imaging, and Public Health (year 6)
First-year electives include How to Approach an Italian Patient and Basic Life Support. Students whose school qualification comes from abroad also take a 4-credit Italian exam at B1 level in the first year, unless they already hold a B1 certificate or an Italian qualification. [2]
How the programme is taught
Teaching mixes lectures with themed seminars, small study groups and handouts given before class. Traineeships run in every year from the third, and years 5 and 6 add practical evaluative traineeships in medical and surgical areas and in general practice. The university names the San Matteo, Maugeri and Mondino clinics among the Pavia hospitals where students train alongside Italian and international doctors. Traineeships total 60 credits, about 1,425 hours, including 15 credits of practical evaluation traineeships. Attendance is compulsory, and the course ends with a degree thesis worth 18 ECTS, written in English. [2]
Career paths
The course overview describes the aim as a rigorous scientific understanding of medicine and a solid basis for continued training, leading on to specialisation schools and medical practice. Once you pass the practical evaluation traineeships, the degree also serves as the licence to practise medicine in Italy, and a member of the medical council sits on the final exam committee. [2] If you plan to work outside Italy, it is worth knowing before you apply that the country where you work decides how it recognises Italian medical degrees.
Fees and scholarships
Medicine is in the university's science fee area. With a study visa, non-EU students can pay a 2026/27 flat rate set by citizenship bracket, and bracket 1 includes countries like India, Nepal and Ghana. The alternative is a fee based on an equivalent ISEE, with an exemption up to €32,000, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. That route also lets you apply to EDiSU Pavia for a scholarship.
How to apply from outside the EU
Medicine has its own national procedure. For 2026/27 the call set 35 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, 5 for the Marco Polo programme and 103 for EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy. Non-EU applicants living abroad submitted their study visa pre-enrolment on Universitaly by 31 August 2026 and registered there for the IMAT from 26 August to 9 September 2026. Those sitting the test in Pavia also had their diploma assessed on the university's application portal by 9 September. [1]
The IMAT took place on 29 September 2026. Pavia ranks non-EU applicants living abroad on its own list, and admitted candidates have until 29 October 2026 to enrol by paying the regional tax, with any free places reassigned on 3 November. Admitted non-EU students need a type D study visa, which the consulate decides. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your school results against Pavia's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Universitaly visa pre-enrolment, IMAT registration and foreign qualification check.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What school qualification do I need for the Harvey course?
A secondary school diploma, or a foreign qualification judged equivalent, after at least 12 years of schooling. Applicants with UK or US qualifications need three A levels or three AP exams in scientific subjects. Your marks do not rank you: places follow your IMAT score. [1][3]
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes, the IMAT. For 2026/27 it had 60 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes: 23 on biology, 15 on chemistry, 13 on physics and maths, 5 on logical reasoning and 4 on reading and general knowledge. A correct answer earns 1.5 points and a wrong one loses 0.4. [1]
What IMAT score do non-EU students need?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad needed a score above zero and were ranked by Pavia on its own list for 35 places. EU and equivalent candidates needed at least 20 out of 90. Anyone admitted with fewer than 30 points must pass a catch-up course before taking exams. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
The course regulations ask for English at B2 and treat passing the admission test, which is held in English, as meeting it. IELTS is not required for admission, but a listed language certificate declared at IMAT registration can break ties in the ranking. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had to submit the Universitaly visa pre-enrolment by 31 August 2026 and register for the IMAT between 26 August and 9 September 2026 at 15:00 Italian time. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
Can I take the IMAT in India or Pakistan?
Yes. The 2026/27 foreign venues included India, Pakistan, Dubai in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, the UK and the USA. Applicants who sit the test abroad skip the diploma assessment that applicants testing in Pavia complete before the test. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the call set 35 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, 5 for the Marco Polo programme for Chinese students and 103 for EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy. Unused Marco Polo places pass to the non-EU quota. [1]
Where do students do clinical training?
Traineeships total 60 credits, about 1,425 hours, from the third to the sixth year, including 15 credits of practical evaluation traineeships in medicine, surgery and general practice. Teaching is based at the Campus della Salute at the Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia. [2][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to the Harvey course at Pavia?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against Pavia's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into the Harvey course?
Indian Class 12 results from CBSE, ISC or a state board complete 12 years of schooling, so they can meet Pavia's school rule. Places then follow your IMAT score, and India is one of the foreign test venues. The steps are Universitaly visa pre-enrolment by the late August deadline, IMAT registration and the test, then enrolment and the foreign qualification check if you win a place. [1] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for the Harvey course are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Universitaly visa pre-enrolment, IMAT registration and the IMAT itself, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for the Harvey course are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Universitaly visa pre-enrolment, IMAT registration and the IMAT itself. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for the Harvey course are the same whatever your nationality, and your school results are assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: Universitaly visa pre-enrolment, IMAT registration and the IMAT itself, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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