Single-cycle Master in Veterinary Medicine at University of Bologna
Five-year English-taught veterinary degree (LM-42) at the University of Bologna's Ozzano dell'Emilia campus, with a final year of practical training. Entry is by the national admission test, with 5 places for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2026/27.
Master
5 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Veterinary Medicine is a five-year single-cycle degree (class LM-42) taught in English at the University of Bologna's Ozzano dell'Emilia campus. Entry needs a school-leaving qualification after 12 years of schooling and a place in the national admission test ranking, with 5 places for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2026/27. The test also assesses English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Veterinary Medicine degree asks for a school-leaving qualification after at least 12 years of schooling and a place in the admission test ranking, with a separate quota for non-EU applicants living abroad. The test also assesses English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
You need a school-leaving qualification obtained after at least 12 years of schooling that gives access to university in Italy, under the Ministry of University and Research rules for international students. It counts only if you passed at least the last two years of school in the system that awarded it. You must hold it by the enrolment deadline. [1]
The call sets no minimum grade or subject list: your place depends on your admission test score. [1]
What this means for your school results
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: an Indian Class 12 certificate from CBSE, CISCE or a state board after 12 years of schooling, a Pakistani HSSC, a Bangladeshi HSC, or Sri Lankan or Cambridge A levels.
- Check carefully: a diploma where you spent fewer than the last two years in the system that awarded it, for example after changing country or board late.
- Often short: a Class 10 certificate on its own, or any qualification after fewer than 12 years of schooling.
Biology, chemistry, physics and maths still matter, because they make up 51 of the 60 test questions. [1]
English
English at B2 or higher is required. It is assessed through the admission test, and passing the test counts as meeting it, so a language certificate is not mandatory. [2]
If you hold a certificate listed in the call, you declare it when you register for the test. It only counts to break a tie in scores. Candidates who attended a school taught in English for at least one school year are automatically treated as holding a certificate. [1]
The admission test
Entry is through a national admission test with identical content in every location. For 2026/27 it was held on 29 September 2026; in Bologna it took place at the BolognaFiere exhibition centre and ran for 100 minutes. You can also choose a test site abroad from the call's list when you register. [1]
- 60 multiple-choice questions with five options each: 4 on reading skills and knowledge from school studies, 5 on logical reasoning and problems, 23 on biology, 15 on chemistry and 13 on physics and mathematics.
- Scoring: 1.5 points for a correct answer, minus 0.4 for a wrong one and zero for a blank, up to 90 points.
- Non-EU applicants living abroad compete in a separate local ranking set by Bologna and qualify with any score above zero. Italian, EU and equivalent applicants need at least 20 points.
- Ties are broken by the biology, chemistry, physics and maths, logic and reading scores in turn, then by a declared English certificate.
If your results show gaps, the course sets an additional learning requirement, checked by a separate test. If it is not met by the end of the first year, you re-enrol in the first year. [1][2]
Places
For 2026/27 the call set 5 places for non-EU citizens living abroad and 45 for Italian, EU and equivalent non-EU applicants, 50 in all. Non-EU places left unused can pass to the other quota. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
- Test registration on Universitaly: 26 August to 3:00 pm on 9 September 2026 (Italian time), with payment of the test fee.
- Extra step for all non-EU applicants: an admission request in the IMAT Non-EU citizens competition on Studenti Online, by 1:00 pm on 5 October 2026. Without it you cannot see the ranking or enrol.
- Admission test: 29 September 2026.
- Scores: 8 October 2026, with test papers visible on Universitaly from 19 October 2026.
- Ranking for non-EU applicants living abroad: 26 October 2026, with enrolment by 29 October 2026.
All deadlines are final. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
- Non-EU applicants living abroad pre-enrol on Universitaly for this course and request a study visa in time for the test, if they need a visa even for a short stay in Italy, or otherwise in time to complete enrolment.
- To enrol you register on Studenti Online, enter your details with a passport-style photo and pay the first instalment. Without payment you are excluded.
- You then upload your residence permit, or your study visa and the receipt of your permit request, and the documents for your foreign school qualification by 26 February 2027.
- The international student office in Bologna checks your qualification against the originals after you pay the first instalment. Admission and a validated pre-enrolment do not by themselves complete enrolment.
In 2026/27 only the first and second years of the course were running and there were no places in year two, so there was no entry to later years. These steps come from 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 Bologna. Call for admission to the single-cycle degree programmes in Medicine and Surgery (class LM-41) and Veterinary Medicine (class LM-42) taught in English, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Veterinary Medicine programme website. How to enrol, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Fees and exemptions: amounts and deadlines, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Veterinary Medicine degree programme page (duration, language, campus and places), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Veterinary Medicine is a five-year single-cycle degree (laurea magistrale a ciclo unico, class LM-42) offered by the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) of the University of Bologna. It is delivered entirely in English at the Ozzano dell'Emilia campus, just outside Bologna, and it is a qualifying degree for the veterinary profession.
The course combines evidence-based theory with hands-on training and follows a One Health approach, linking animal health with public health and the environment. It suits students with a strong interest in biology and animal care who want to work as veterinarians in an international setting.
What you will study
The 2026/27 plan is built from integrated courses. The course is being activated year by year: in 2026/27 only the first and second years were running. [1] The first two years cover the healthy animal and the basics of veterinary science, Year 3 moves to farming, food safety and production animals, Year 4 to companion animal and equine medicine, and Year 5 is given to practical training and the final examination. Integrated courses include:
- Movement, Skin and Nervous System, and The Cell: from Molecules to Tissues
- Blood, Circulation, Respiration and Excretion, and Nutrients, Digestion and Metabolism
- Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology
- Pharmacology, Toxicology, Anaesthesiology, Laboratory Animals and Bioethics
- Farming and health management of ruminants, swine, poultry, rabbits, aquatic species and insects
- Food Processing, Preservation and Food Safety Management Systems
- Dog and Cat Medicine, Equine Medicine, and Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
How the programme is taught
Teaching mixes theory with practical and clinical training and places weight on soft skills and lifelong learning. The fifth year is organised around a practical examination, elective practical training in Italy or abroad, and preparation of the final thesis, which can also be done abroad.
Career paths
Graduates register with the professional board to practise as veterinarians. The university lists these routes:
- Clinical care of pets, horses, exotic and production animals, as a freelance or in large practices
- Livestock farming and production animal health
- Veterinary public health and food safety, in national and international public bodies such as WHO, FAO and WOAH (some roles need a postgraduate qualification)
- Pharmaceutical, animal feed and veterinary equipment companies, and scientific consulting
- Research at public and private institutes, and PhD or specialisation schools
Fees and scholarships
Unibo sets fees by family income. For 2026/27 everyone paid fixed charges of €157.04, and there was no variable part when the family economic indicator (ISEE) was €27,000 or less, filed through ER.GO by 30 October 2026. [2][3] Students whose family income is outside Italy and who come from listed non-OECD countries can request a reduced flat fee instead. ER.GO grants are open to eligible students, and the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Admission runs through the national IMAT test. For 2026/27, registration was open on Universitaly from 26 August to 9 September 2026, the test took place on 29 September 2026, and 5 of the 50 places were reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. [1] If you need a visa to sit the test in Italy, we pre-enrol you on Universitaly for this course first.
Non-EU applicants also register on Studenti Online by the call's deadline (5 October 2026 for 2026/27), or they cannot see the ranking or enrol. Once ranked, you enrol on Studenti Online and pay the first instalment: for 2026/27, the ranking for non-EU applicants living abroad was set for 26 October 2026, with enrolment by 29 October 2026. The university then validates your pre-enrolment for the study visa. [1][2] The 2027/28 call has not been published yet.
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 Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your IMAT registration on Universitaly, Studenti Online registration and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Veterinary Medicine at Bologna?
A school-leaving qualification after at least 12 years of schooling that gives access to university, with at least the last two years passed in the system that awarded it. The call sets no minimum grade: your place depends on your admission test score. [1]
What entrance test do I need?
The national admission test, known as IMAT: 60 questions in 100 minutes on reading, logic, biology, chemistry, physics and maths. For 2026/27 it was held on 29 September 2026, and non-EU applicants living abroad qualified with any score above zero. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher, which the admission test itself assesses, so IELTS or another certificate is not mandatory. A certificate declared at registration only helps break a tie, and a year at an English-medium school counts as one. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, test registration on Universitaly closed at 3:00 pm on 9 September 2026, and non-EU applicants also had to register on Studenti Online by 5 October 2026. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the call set 5 places for non-EU citizens living abroad, ranked locally by Bologna, alongside 45 places for Italian, EU and equivalent applicants. We check the 2027/28 call for next year's numbers. [1]
I have Class 12 with PCB from CBSE or a state board. Can I apply?
A Class 12 certificate after 12 years of schooling that gives access to university in India usually meets the school rule. Physics, chemistry and biology then matter for the admission test, where they make up most of the questions. We check your documents first. [1]
Where is the course taught?
At the Ozzano dell'Emilia campus, part of the University of Bologna's Bologna campus, and entirely in English. The course is being activated year by year: in 2026/27 only the first and second years were running, so everyone starts in year one. [1][4]
How much are the fees?
Fees depend on family income. For 2026/27 everyone paid fixed charges of €157.04, with no variable part for an ISEE of €27,000 or less. Students from listed countries whose family income is only outside Italy can request a reduced flat fee. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Veterinary Medicine at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Veterinary Medicine?
A Class 12 certificate after 12 years of schooling, from CBSE, CISCE or a state board, usually meets the school rule. Your rank in the admission test decides the place, with 5 seats for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2026/27. The steps are IMAT registration on Universitaly, the test, Studenti Online registration and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [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 Veterinary Medicine are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: IMAT registration on Universitaly, the admission test, Studenti Online registration and Universitaly pre-enrolment, 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 Veterinary Medicine are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: IMAT registration on Universitaly, the admission test, Studenti Online registration and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: IMAT registration on Universitaly, the admission test, Studenti Online registration and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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