Studying in Italy.

Truelegend · 28-02-2013 1:07pm #1

I'm considering Studying Medicine in Italy next year because the fees are relatively cheap, the universities have a high standard and the entance exam(The Imat) is supposedly easier than the Irish Hpat. Oh and the courses are offered in english. I'm not a home bird and the idea of studying abroad appeals to me. The Universities I'm considering are in Milan(Universita di Milano), Rome(La Sapienza) and Bari(Universita di Bari). Has anyone lived/studied in any of these cities and if so what are your experiences of them? Also what do Italians think of us Irish?

Medme · 06-03-2013 4:57pm

Hi, I'm also looking at Italy at the moment. I've no more info other than what google told me so would be keen to hear anyone's experiences too. Have you sat the IMAT already or planning on April?

RAnnaC · 07-03-2013 1:12am

I'd be really interested in finding out more about this! I had looked into it before but when I considered all the clinical work that I'd be at a disadvantage on it put me off. How do students deal with their lack of italian on placements?

Medme · 07-03-2013 1:47am

Re Italian -I'm guessing it would be same situation as all the Eastern European Unis, which generally seems to be that you have the first 4yrs to get learning the language! I'm not 100% sure but I'm assuming they expect a level sufficient to communicate on clinical placements etc. I have zero Italian but I'm hoping that if I was living there and learning it in Uni for this purpose it would be doable?

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 6:46pm

Truelegend wrote: »

I'm considering Studying Medicine in Italy next year because the fees are relatively cheap, the universities have a high standard and the entance exam(The Imat) is supposedly easier than the Irish Hpat. Oh and the courses are offered in english. I'm not a home bird and the idea of studying abroad appeals to me. The Universities I'm considering are in Milan(Universita di Milano), Rome(La Sapienza) and Bari(Universita di Bari). Has anyone lived/studied in any of these cities and if so what are your experiences of them? Also what do Italians think of us Irish?

Me too!

See you in London?

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 7:49pm

I haven't sat the Imat yet either so I will be sitting in this April. Does anyone now what it's like or where I can get more practise exam's like the one on the Imat website. From what I heard most of the people sitting the Imat are Italians who apply for the English speaking course aswell, as it might be easier to get into than the Italian one. The majority of them overestimate their standard of English and do poorly in the exam. Also they award 5 bonus points if you speak English fluently in your country. This gives us an advantage over the Italians.
The disadvantage of applying to Italy, is that they expect you to have a fairly high standard of Italian by the time you do your placements which I think is usually around fourth year.
Also Rome and Milan are much better universities than than the southern Italian ones but are far more competitive to get into. Saying that Ireland is considered as being one of the most competitive countries to get into medicine in Europe so pretty much everywhere you apply will be easier to get into.
That's all I know about the Italian system, I hope it helps.

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 7:54pm

outnumbered - Have you done much study for the IMAT? And if you have,how did you study for it?

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 7:54pm

Truelegend wrote: »

I haven't sat the Imat yet either so I will be sitting in this April. Does anyone now what it's like or where I can get more practise exam's like the one on the Imat website. From what I heard most of the people sitting the Imat are Italians who apply for the English speaking course aswell, as it might be easier to get into than the Italian one. The majority of them overestimate their standard of English and do poorly in the exam. Also they award 5 bonus points if you speak English fluently in your country. This gives us an advantage over the Italians.
The disadvantage of applying to Italy, is that they expect you to have a fairly high standard of Italian by the time you do your placements which I think is usually around fourth year.
Also Rome and Milan are much better universities than than the southern Italian ones but are far more competitive to get into. Saying that Ireland is considered as being one of the most competitive countries to get into medicine in Europe so pretty much everywhere you apply will be easier to get into.
That's all I know about the Italian system, I hope it helps.

Great! it good to hear bout other Irish applying there! i am applying to Pavia! its meant to be really good!
yeah, there are past papers on www.medschool.it there is a load of info there! everything you need! even practice question book recomendations!

hopefully we get in!

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 8:00pm

Thanks, I'm sure that will be helpful. I'm also considering Pavia. Best of luck with the IMAT, if you get in let me know, it would be nice to know someone else Irish over there.

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 8:05pm

Truelegend wrote: »

Thanks, I'm sure that will be helpful. I'm also considering Pavia. Best of luck with the IMAT, if you get in let me know, it would be nice to know someone else Irish over there.

Thanks very much! yeah pavia has so many positive aspects which you will find out on that website!

oh god definitely! it would be great!
if you want to add me on facebook, then there is a group for medicine in italy!
heres the link: https://www.facebook.com/jason.doran.7?ref=tn_tnmn

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 8:07pm

outnumbered wrote: »

Thanks very much! yeah pavia has so many positive aspects which you will find out on that website!
oh god definitely! it would be great!
if you want to add me on facebook, then there is a group for medicine in italy!
heres the link: https://www.facebook.com/jason.doran.7?ref=tn_tnmn

Ok thanks I will do

. Did you do the hpat this year?

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 8:08pm

Truelegend wrote: »

Ok thanks I will do . Did you do the hpat this year?

i did indeed!

did you ?

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 8:12pm

Yeah, i did it in cork, I was happy enough with my section 1 and 3, I got them both finished in time and I did't guess too many. My section 2 was very poor though so I think that will bring my percentile down. How did you find it?

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 8:18pm

Truelegend wrote: »

Yeah, i did it in cork, I was happy enough with my section 1 and 3, I got them both finished in time and I did't guess too many. My section 2 was very poor though so I think that will bring my percentile down. How did you find it?

ah well done! i did it in sligo!

yeah, i found them alright too surprisingly enough! strangely i had loads of time! :P
so are you confident or not so much? i am not sure. i just want to have back ups, yano yourself? :P

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 8:25pm

Yeah I'm the exact same, on the fence at the moment, could go either way. Italy is my plan B if I don't get it here. I'm also considering Budapest in Hungary aswell. That is very easy to get into but is much more expensive (over 12k a year).

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 8:26pm

Truelegend wrote: »

Yeah I'm the exact same, on the fence at the moment, could go either way. Italy is my plan B if I don't get it here. I'm also considering Budapest in Hungary aswell. That is very easy to get into but is much more expensive (over 12k a year).

Yeah same! ummm i considered there but way too expensive. i would have to give it another try here or italy before forking out that money! :P
btw, did you just add me on facebook or was that someone else? :P

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 8:30pm

Nope i Haven't added you yet. My name's Conor O' Sullivan. Does your picture have baloons on it?

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 8:33pm

Truelegend wrote: »

Nope i Haven't added you yet. My name's Conor O' Sullivan. Does your picture have baloons on it?

em nope. it is of me in a suit and sun glasses. if you click on the link, it should take you to my page

Truelegend · 08-03-2013 8:35pm

yeah I tried It's not working. Could you post another one?

outnumbered · 08-03-2013 8:36pm

Truelegend wrote: »

yeah I tried It's not working. Could you post another one?

absolutely!

http://www.facebook.com/jason.doran.7

if that doesnt work, could you give me your link or email address

you can pm me with it if you prefer?

kaki · 08-04-2013 5:46pm

I studied abroad in Italy for a year. Granted, it wasn't medicine (Graphic Design) but if I can be of help with any particular questions re: life, language, bureaucracy etc just shoot.

outnumbered · 08-04-2013 6:01pm

Hi Kaki. whereabouts did you study?

What are the Italians like in general to foreign students?

kaki · 08-04-2013 8:39pm

I studied for one glorious year in Turin (Politecnico di Torino).

I think that it depends on your class group, my course was in Italian and I was one of 2 foreigners in a class of 120, tbh I found it a bit hard to integrate and adjust. That said I've heard much more positive things from people who've studied in English-streamed courses - you're all in it together, even the Italians who have to study in English!

Pavia is a gorgeous city, it's also quite handy for Milan which is a cultural and logistic hub (think it's like 30 minutes by train). Don't underestimate the importance of transport links, direct flights are a godsend when you're flying over and back between Ireland at least 2-3 times a year.

Oh and their butter is mani (unsalted...) so when in Rome, do as the Romans: mayo and olive oil all the way.

outnumbered · 08-04-2013 9:09pm

kaki wrote: »

I studied for one glorious year in Turin (Politecnico di Torino).

I think that it depends on your class group, my course was in Italian and I was one of 2 foreigners in a class of 120, tbh I found it a bit hard to integrate and adjust. That said I've heard much more positive things from people who've studied in English-streamed courses - you're all in it together, even the Italians who have to study in English!

Pavia is a gorgeous city, it's also quite handy for Milan which is a cultural and logistic hub (think it's like 30 minutes by train). Don't underestimate the importance of transport links, direct flights are a godsend when you're flying over and back between Ireland at least 2-3 times a year.

Oh and their butter is mani (unsalted...) so when in Rome, do as the Romans: mayo and olive oil all the way.

hahaha great to hear!

well i have my exam this day next week so fingers crossed!

kaki · 08-04-2013 9:16pm

Best of luck! (or in bocca al lupo!)

outnumbered · 08-04-2013 10:17pm

kaki wrote: »

Best of luck! (or in bocca al lupo!)

thanks.
if i get in i shall bombard you with questions haha.

momina · 12-10-2013 11:17pm

whenthe registration for imat is due

miissjuly · 01-01-2014 3:13am

Mid February

corkleo · 23-03-2014 5:09pm

Hi everyone, I hope the 3d isn't too old. What about those imat tests lads?
I'm not in medicine school but have some friends in there, and I'm Italian, so any questions about bureaucracy, language, accommodation or life feel free to ask

Kadiv · 05-08-2014 4:33pm

Hi everyone I got assigned to Bari I think and I'm gonna enroll I suppose at around the end of this month and I was wondering about the city in general(if it's safe or not) as I heard my neighbour who went to Italy said that there was a lot of pickpocketing in any case I'm not really sure what to expect when I go there so any info would be really useful!

outnumbered · 05-08-2014 5:15pm

Kadiv wrote: »

Hi everyone I got assigned to Bari I think and I'm gonna enroll I suppose at around the end of this month and I was wondering about the city in general(if it's safe or not) as I heard my neighbour who went to Italy said that there was a lot of pickpocketing in any case I'm not really sure what to expect when I go there so any info would be really useful!

Well done!
I got assigned to Bari last year but turned it down. You'll have to do your own research but the city is meant to be riddled with crime... Big decision to spend 6 years in somewhere like that.. research it tho!

miissjuly · 08-08-2014 2:34am

I got Bari too but unfortunately I have to stay in Ireland. Crimes like that occur in all big cities. You just have to be very careful. Bari is suppose to be lovely (the weather, scenery etc) but do keep in mind it's the south of Italy, I'd say its hard to get jobs without knowing little italian (ok maybe it's the opposite.. I don't know). And heard the uni lecturers aren't that helpful check out the med school(it) website about Bari and the university it's written by a current student.

cedivad · 16-08-2014 7:14pm

outnumbered wrote: »

I got assigned to Bari last year but turned it down. You'll have to do your own research but the city is meant to be riddled with crime...

Wise decision. You would have ended up in a mostly corrupted institution that is discriminated by the same italians (as basically is every university from Rome, included, to Sicily).

Due to an unfortunate and unwise decision from our minister of education, starting next year there won't be an access test anymore to study medicine in Italy. There is gonna be a flood of enrolments and many universities will apply restrictive entry requirements, but they won't be able to assess you with a test.

I don't know if this applies to Italians only, but it wouldn't make sense.

Kadiv · 16-08-2014 9:12pm

cedivad wrote: »

Wise decision. You would have ended up in a mostly corrupted institution that is discriminated by the same italians (as basically is every university from Rome, included, to Sicily).

Due to an unfortunate and unwise decision from our minister of education, starting next year there won't be an access test anymore to study medicine in Italy. There is gonna be a flood of enrolments and many universities will apply restrictive entry requirements, but they won't be able to assess you with a test.

I don't know if this applies to Italians only, but it wouldn't make sense.

Where did you find this out?

cedivad · 16-08-2014 9:32pm

http:// www .repubblica. it/scuola/2014/05/20/news/addio_numero_chiuso_medicina_ministro_giannini_annuncia_modifica_entro_luglio-86708296/

Nocofee · 12-10-2014 12:01pm

Hi guys I'm thinking of doing the imat. Do you have to go to London to do it or can you do it in Ireland?

oisinp · 19-10-2014 9:49pm

Hi, im thinking of studying medicine in Italy as a first choice as I am eager to discover foreign cultures and lifestyles. However, I'm concerned about the imat exam as I am not studying chemistry for leaving cert. I am confident regarding all other sections of the exam. I was wondering roughly what score out of 80 would more or less guarantee a place at one of the unis. Any other information is welcome. Cheers

miissjuly · 25-10-2014 1:32pm

The test is out of 90 (that was the case this year and last year also) it's not that easy to get 80/90 the highest this year was probably in the late 70s or early 80s (can't remember exact figure). Scores are different for every university but for Milan and Pavia it's slightly higher. You should aim high but I think you would be okay with 50+ It doesn't sound like alot but bear in mind people score as low as -5!

oisinp · 27-10-2014 4:24pm

miissjuly wrote: »

The test is out of 90 (that was the case this year and last year also) it's not that easy to get 80/90 the highest this year was probably in the late 70s or early 80s (can't remember exact figure). Scores are different for every university but for Milan and Pavia it's slightly higher. You should aim high but I think you would be okay with 50+ It doesn't sound like alot but bear in mind people score as low as -5!

I don't study chemistry and I'm also sitting the leaving cert this year so I don't have time to take it on. Aagh it's a pain. Are there many Irish people over there?

miissjuly · 27-10-2014 8:34pm

You could get a chemistry revision book maybe? Focus on biology and general knowledge section there isn't as much chemistry or maths/physics as Bio and General section.

oisinp · 27-10-2014 11:02pm

miissjuly wrote: »

You could get a chemistry revision book maybe? Focus on biology and general knowledge section there isn't as much chemistry or maths/physics as Bio and General section.

Thanks for your advice! Ill probably do that. The test date is usually around April so there's plenty of time anyway. I looked at a past exam, and the biology appears to be to a higher level than leaving cert..

miissjuly · 28-10-2014 2:15am

It actually looks very easy but trust me when you go and sit there with that amount of time it's tough and the questions look very difficult and some are indeed difficult some biology questions are very easy and for some you'd need at least 2nd year college level science. I was in 6th year preparing for the test and I remember saying omg this is 5th year stuff but no you only think that in reality it's harder. There was a group on Facebook of all the irish people wanting to do the imat and I was the only leaving cert student most were doing degrees like chemical and pharmaceutical science/general science/biology or they were already graduated and some people even had 10 years experience of working in the pharmaceutical sector!

catmister · 29-01-2017 4:00pm

Im currently in a looking into medicine courses in Italy is there anyone who is currently studying medicine in italy? If so any advice, tips on absolutely anything would be appreciated

Kadiv · 01-05-2017 1:07am

catmister wrote: »

Im currently in a looking into medicine courses in Italy is there anyone who is currently studying medicine in italy? If so any advice, tips on absolutely anything would be appreciated

I got into Bari turned it down then again in Pavia later on when a place opened up. Third year now... a late reply but hope it helps rumor is that the exam is on in september for english IMAT and you can find the past papers online on the accesso programmato miur website. The website below is an example... I just went through all of them and then took my exam. There are 5 places 1 private and one to new one to open in bologna. Pavia, Milan, Rome tor vergata, Rome La sapienza, Bari. Bologna is said to be starting their programme soon and Milan has the Humanitas private university.
http://accessoprogrammato.miur.it/2016/IM_HP.html

Daggermouth · 02-05-2017 3:10pm

Are you happy with your decision about going to Pavia? If now you had a choice out of any of the Universities, which one would you choose?

Kadiv · 04-05-2017 9:44am

I would choose pavia... I've been to milan and I'm not a fan of intercity. Also milan is quite expensive. Rankings wise pavia is supposed to be better for medicine in Italy. Some of the people in my class are also got in milan but turned it down because of the price. Bari is supposed to be a rough city and the course itself is not good apparently. Rome I'm not too sure I've never been there or heard much other than one guy in my class transferring in from there saying the quality of teaching is similar to paiva but more self study oriented, so the exams are equivalent but the teachers don't provide anything.

Studying in Italy.

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