Single-cycle Master in Medicine and Surgery (International Medical School) at University of Milan
Six-year English-taught medical degree at the University of Milan, based in Segrate with clinical training at Niguarda hospital from the third year, qualifying graduates to practise as physicians in Italy. Entry is through the national admission test.
Master
6 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
The International Medical School is the University of Milan's six-year, 360 ECTS single-cycle degree in Medicine and Surgery (class LM-41-R), taught in English. Entry needs 12 years of schooling and a ranked score in the national admission test, and non-EU applicants upload an English certificate at B2 or higher. Full regional scholarship winners pay no second instalment, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's International Medical School asks for a school-leaving qualification obtained after 12 years of schooling and a place in the ranking of the national admission test for medicine in English. Non-EU applicants living abroad also upload an English certificate at B2 or higher with their Universitaly pre-enrolment. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
You need an Italian upper secondary diploma or an equivalent foreign qualification. A foreign qualification is valid if it was obtained after 12 years of schooling and allows university admission in the country that issued it. [1]
Admission is capped: places go to candidates in eligible positions in the ranking of the admission test. [2]
What this means for your school results
The rule is about years of schooling and university access, not grades or subjects. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: Class 12 from CBSE, ISC or an Indian state board, Pakistan's HSSC, Bangladesh's HSC, Sri Lanka's GCE A levels and UK A levels, which come after at least 12 years of schooling.
- Check carefully: school systems with fewer than 12 years, and vocational or polytechnic diplomas, which may not give university access in the issuing country.
- Often short: Class 10, SSC or O levels on their own.
The rule sets no subjects, but the test asks 23 biology, 15 chemistry and 13 physics and mathematics questions out of 60, so a science stream with biology prepares you best. [1]
English
Non-EU applicants living abroad must upload a valid English certificate with their Universitaly pre-enrolment. Candidates who do not meet this requirement cannot sit the test. [1]
The call's list accepts certificates from B2 to C2, including Cambridge, Pearson PTE General, Trinity ISE, IELTS and TOEFL. On that list, IELTS 5.5 to 6.5 and TOEFL 87 to 109 count as B2. Attendance at a school taught in English is recognised in place of a certificate under the conditions the call sets. [1]
The admission test
The test is set by the Ministry of University and Research and is the same for all Italian public universities with an international medical degree, held on the same day and at the same time worldwide. [2]
- Format: 60 multiple-choice questions with five options in 100 minutes: 4 reading comprehension, 5 logical reasoning, 23 biology, 15 chemistry and 13 physics and mathematics.
- Scoring: 1.5 points for a correct answer, minus 0.4 for a wrong one and 0 for no answer, out of 90.
- Minimum score: EU and equivalent candidates need at least 20 points to be ranked. Non-EU applicants living abroad compete only on Milan's own ranking for the reserved places.
For 2026/27 the test could be sat in Italy or at venues abroad, including India, Pakistan, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the UK and the USA. [1]
Admitted students who score below 45 out of 90 overall and below 17.5 out of 34.5 in biology are given additional learning obligations, which they must clear before taking the Cells, Molecules and Genes exam. [2]
2026/27 dates
For 2026/27, registration for the test on Universitaly ran from 26 August to 3 pm Italian time on 9 September 2026, with no extensions. The test was held on 29 September 2026. Scores were published by code on 8 October 2026, and the named national ranking is due on 26 October 2026. [1]
Candidates marked as assigned have no more than four working days to enrol, or they lose the place. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Places, documents and non-EU steps
For 2026/27 there were 60 first-year places, plus 15 reserved for non-EU students living abroad. [1]
- Non-EU applicants living abroad submit a Universitaly pre-enrolment for the University of Milan and compete only on its local ranking.
- At enrolment you provide ID and an Italian tax code, your school diploma legalised with an official Italian translation, and a declaration of value from the Italian embassy, a CIMEA statement of comparability or an ENIC-NARIC statement. For 2026/27, missing foreign qualification documents could be submitted by 30 November 2026.
- Non-EU students also provide a residence permit, and visa applicants their Universitaly pre-enrolment receipt and student visa.
These steps are set out in the 2026/27 call. [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 Milan. Call for admission to the single-cycle degree in Medicine and Surgery, International Medical School (LM-41 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. Programme description (manifesto), single-cycle degree in Medicine and Surgery, International Medical School (LM-41 R), students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. International Medical School programme page and application page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Fees, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
The International Medical School (IMS) is the University of Milan's single-cycle degree in Medicine and Surgery, class LM-41-R, taught in English over six years and 360 ECTS. The school is based at the LITA laboratories in Segrate, and clinical training from the third to the sixth year takes place at Niguarda hospital (ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda) and other hospitals affiliated with the university. Attendance is required at all activities, with absences allowed for no more than a third of the hours. [2]
Entry is limited and national: for 2026/27 there were 60 places for EU and equivalent candidates and 15 for non-EU applicants living abroad. [1] The course trains doctors with a strong scientific base, clinical skills, and exposure to research methods from bench to bedside, communication with patients and teamwork with other health professions.
What you will study
The first two years cover the biological and physiological basis of medicine. Clinical medicine and clerkships start in the third year and widen to surgery, specialties and emergencies by the sixth. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include:
- Cells, Molecules and Genes, Histology and Anatomy (first year)
- Functions 1 and 2, Genetics and Mechanisms of Diseases (second year)
- Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine 1 to 3, with clerkships (third year)
- Translational Medicine and Biotechnologies (third and fourth years)
- Clinical Oncology, Hemato-Oncology and Radiotherapy, and Infectious Diseases (fourth year)
- Fundamentals of Surgery and Neurological and Behavioral Disorders (fifth year)
- Public, Global Health, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Sciences (fifth year)
- Emergencies and Multidisciplinary Clinical Management (sixth year)
How the programme is taught
Most clinical units come with their own clerkships, and you choose further optional clerkships in areas such as cardiology, oncology, paediatrics or surgical specialties. In the fifth year you choose a final track, taught in the sixth year, for example Primary Care or Methodological Approach to Biomedical Research. The degree includes the TPVES evaluation internships in medical sciences, surgical sciences and general medicine. Erasmus+ exchanges and traineeships and non-European mobility are available, and study periods abroad can count as electives. [2]
If you do not hold an Italian school diploma or degree, you must prove Italian at B2 by the end of the second year to enter the third year and start clinical activities. You can use a recognised certificate or the university language centre's entry test, followed by its Italian courses if needed. [2]
Career paths
Because the evaluation internships are built into the course, graduates qualify to practise as physicians and can register with the Italian medical register. The degree is also the entry point for:
- Medical specialty residency programmes
- The School of General Medicine, after a national admission test
- PhD programmes, after a university admission test
- Clinical, healthcare and biomedical roles
Fees and scholarships
Medicine is in the university's fee Area B. For 2026/27, students whose family income and assets are abroad pay a fixed second instalment set by country group, and Group A includes countries like India, Pakistan and Nigeria. [4] The university manages the Lombardy regional DSU scholarship, and full winners pay no second instalment, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Medicine follows a national procedure. Non-EU applicants living abroad submit a pre-enrolment on Universitaly for the University of Milan, uploading an English certificate, and compete only on its local ranking for the reserved places. For 2026/27, registration for the test on Universitaly ran from 26 August to 9 September 2026, with the test fee paid there. The test was held on 29 September 2026, in Italy and at venues abroad, and the named national ranking is due on 26 October 2026. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Admitted students have four working days to enrol and need a type D study visa, plus a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement for their diploma. [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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your test registration, Universitaly pre-enrolment and enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Milan 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 results do I need for Medicine at Milan's International Medical School?
A school-leaving qualification obtained after 12 years of schooling that allows university admission in your country, or an Italian upper secondary diploma. Places then go to the best-ranked candidates in the national admission test. [1]
Which admission test do I take?
The national admission test for medicine in English set by the Ministry of University and Research: 60 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes on reading comprehension, logical reasoning, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. For 2026/27 it could be sat at venues abroad, including India. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
Non-EU applicants living abroad upload an English certificate from the call's list, at B2 to C2, with Universitaly pre-enrolment, or cannot sit the test. IELTS is on the list, with 5.5 to 6.5 counting as B2. English-taught schooling can also be recognised. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, test registration on Universitaly ran from 26 August to 9 September 2026, alongside pre-enrolment for Milan, and the test was on 29 September 2026. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
I did not take biology in Class 12. Can I apply?
Yes, if your qualification meets the 12-year rule, because the call sets no school subjects. But 23 of the 60 test questions are biology and 15 are chemistry, so without biology you would need to prepare it from the start. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the University of Milan reserved 15 places for non-EU applicants living abroad, alongside 60 places for EU and equivalent candidates. Non-EU applicants compete only on the university's own ranking. [1]
Do I need to speak Italian?
Not to apply. Teaching is in English, but students without an Italian school diploma or degree must prove Italian at B2 by the end of the second year to enter the third year and start clinical training. [2]
Can I work as a doctor in Italy after graduating?
The degree includes the evaluation internships that qualify graduates to practise as physicians and register with the Italian medical register. It also gives access to residency programmes, general practice training and PhDs. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to IMS Medicine and Surgery at Milan?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against Milan's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Milan 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 IMS Medicine and Surgery?
Indian Class 12 results from CBSE, ISC or a state board come after 12 years of schooling, so they can meet the school rule. You also need an English certificate from the call's list, or recognised English-taught schooling, and a test score that ranks you within the 15 non-EU places. The steps are Universitaly pre-enrolment, test registration and the admission test, which can be sat in India. [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 IMS Medicine and Surgery are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Universitaly pre-enrolment with an English certificate, test registration and the admission test, 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 IMS Medicine and Surgery are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Universitaly pre-enrolment with an English certificate, test registration and the admission test. 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 IMS Medicine and Surgery 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 pre-enrolment with an English certificate, test registration and the admission test, 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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