Italian medical education

Italian medical education is based on a careful combination of theoretical training and practical experience. During their studies, students master a wide range of disciplines, including natural and biomedical sciences, clinical medicine.

Training as a doctor in Italy is a long process that lasts at least six years. Students decide for themselves when to take exams in subjects. You can retake them as much as you want. Therefore, it is not uncommon in Italy when training (without internship) stretches for 7-8 or more years.

The first stage is a single cycle course. Students begin their education in the field of medicine by studying basic scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology. Further, future doctors receive in-depth knowledge in the field of medicine and undergo specialized training in various clinical areas, such as surgery, pediatrics, etc. Also, the program of study at the Faculty of Medicine includes a three-month unpaid internship in hospitals or university clinics. 

At the end of the course of study, students are required to pass a state exam to obtain a doctor's license. The exam includes theoretical and practical parts. After successful completion, the graduate receives a diploma and can start working — for example, as a night doctor on duty, as a paramedic in an ambulance, as a substitute for a family doctor or for vaccination.

The second stage is an internship. To take a more prestigious position and get a career promotion, you need to enroll in an internship. To do this, you need to pass an entrance exam (a test with 200 questions) and pass a competitive selection. Internship in Italy is divided into two large groups by specialty:

• family doctor — three years,

• a doctor of a narrow specialty — training for up to five years. 

During the internship, students work under the supervision of experienced doctors and accumulate practical experience in various fields of medicine. After successful completion of the internship, graduates receive a diploma of a narrow specialist and can start

The third stage is residency. This is an additional specialized training that gives a degree in a certain field of medicine and allows you to start managerial work. During the residency, a young doctor receives a salary for his work.

Stages of admission:

1. Choosing a university. Italy has 37 universities offering medical education programs. In large cities (Rome, Milan), medical faculties are represented in several universities. 

2. Application for admission. The next step is to apply for admission to the selected university. Usually, the application process begins in early July and lasts for several weeks.

3. Entrance exams. All medical faculties in Italy accept new students based on the results of entrance