The City
Size
Milan is the second most populous city in Italy with about 1.4 million people in the city proper (around 10 million in the wider metropolitan area). If you want to live in a big city but don’t want the chaos of Rome, then this could be a good fit for you. Milan is world-famous as a fashion capital and is the economic heart of the country.
If you are the type of person who thrives in a busy city environment of the likes of New York, Shanghai and the like, then Milan is one of the closest things Europe has to offer. If you prefer a more quiet town, look elsewhere.
The University Location
The University of Milan has many campuses, but the one you will be studying at is called the LITA campus. The location is outside of the centre, but it is definitely possible to access the campus when living in a more central area. Below you can see a hypothetical travel time by public transport from the central station of Milan to the campus.

Transport
Public transport is developed in Milan and is handled by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi). Monthly/annual passes are available and are generally quite affordable.
Like any European city personal transport is feasible. Milan is a big city so expect some traffic if you are driving. Biking is a great affordable option for students, but as the city is quite large it may be difficult to get around everywhere if this is your only means of transportation.
https://www.atm.it/it/Pagine/default.aspx
Weather
The weather is quite volatile, but expect humidity throughout the year. 30 degrees Celsius in summer and 0 in winter is the typical range that you can expect to experience. Snow is rare, and it rains on average 83 days a year.
Cost of Living
Milan is quite expensive compared to other Italian cities. If your choice of city is heavily influenced by the cost of living, then Milan is probably not your best choice.
Rent will depend on where you wish to live, obviously, the central areas are more expensive. Expect anywhere from 300-1500 euros per month depending on the location, number of roommates, and quality of the accommodation. Gas, electricity, internet, heating and condominium fees are not included in most rents, so expect to pay over €100 per month for this as well.
A monthly public transport pass will cost you €40 (€22 if you are under 27 years old).
Food prices are generally cheaper than in most western European countries. You should choose your supermarket carefully, and consider going to food markets if you want the best value for money.
Going out for a meal can cost anywhere from €10-€30 at a reasonable place, of course, the central areas are more expensive.
Safety
Milan is a safe city by European standards, but it is a big city so you need to be on the lookout for scam artists, and pickpockets and avoid dangerous neighbourhoods. You can learn more about which areas in Milan to avoid at night here https://sacavoyage.fr/en/milan-ville-dangereuse/
Activities
Milan is a big city so you will have access to a lot of entertainment. What’s nice as well is that it is an international city, so you can find things like cinemas and other entertainment venues delivered in English.
The city is filled with gyms, sports facilities, bars, restaurants and museums.
The University
The Campus
The campus is situated a bit outside the main city and is not as glamorous as the main campus building you will find online. Nevertheless, it contains everything you need for a solid medical education.
The campus has lecture halls, cafes, bars, restaurants, outdoor areas and study rooms.
The Students
There are 60 seats open for the English medical program (44 for EU students, 16 for non-EU students). The EU bracket is mainly filled with Italians and a few other Europeans, while the non-EU students will come from everywhere around the world.
Exam Structure
You can retake exams as many times as you want, but only 3 times per academic year. The exams are held 7 times per year (about once every two months).
Usually, exams are in both written and oral format, with the written exam allowing passage to the oral exam which then determines the grade.
Ranking
Rankings vary depending on the ranking agency but in general place Milan at 2nd or 3rd in Italy. Do not let rankings influence your decision too much, however, as they have almost no impact on your future employment possibility and mean very little in terms of the university experience.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees can vary from €0 to a maximum of €3600 per year. Your parent’s country of residence can be used to determine what this amount will be (based on the country’s GDP per capita).
Alternatively, you can also base your tuition fee on your family’s income, with poorer families paying no fees. Regardless, the maximum fee is €3600.
Fees can also be reduced if you complete at least 90% of your CFU (university credits), meaning those who keep up with their exams will pay less tuition.
Competitiveness (IMAT Score)
Milan is probably the most competitive university regarding IMAT scores. This is probably based both on the appeal of the university and the limited number of seats. Of course, the actual cut-off score changes every year, but if you are non-EU you should be confident in getting a high score if you wish to apply to this university.
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
EU | 43.3 | 45 | 42.1 | 39.7 | 46.7 |
Non-EU | 51.5 | 47.8 | 54.2 | 45.7 | 51 |
Scholarships
Scholarships based on family financial situation and merit exist and are found here https://www.unimi.it/en/study/financial-support/university-scholarships
Canteens
There is a Mensa cafeteria which allows you access to canteen food at significantly reduced prices.
Educational Facilities
You will have your lectures at the LITA campus. There is also an anatomy building in the city centre where you will have some more practical education. Clerkships take place in the hospital.
Attendance Requirements
You need to attend 66% of lectures to sit the exam, however, it is up to the lecturer’s discretion whether this is enforced or not.
What Subjects Will I Study?
You can find a list of the subjects you will study from year 1 to year 6 here: https://www.unimi.it/en/education/international-medical-school-ims
More Information
Course website: https://www.unimi.it/it