The City
Size
With around 1 million people in the city and over 3 million in the metropolitan area, Naples is the third largest city in Italy and the largest city in the southern half of the country. Naples is one of the more chaotic and busy cities in Italy, if you are fine with a lot of chaos and a busy city vibe, then Naples might be for you. You will also be close to the beach!
However, if you prefer being in a quiet and calm environment, then this won’t be for you.
The University Location
You will be studying at the university hospital, not the university’s main campus. The university hospital is located a bit outside the city centre and is reachable by metro/bus. The metro stop is called “Policlinico” and is about 25 minutes by metro from the city centre train station.
Transport
The metro, busses and trams are good options for taking you around the city and to the university. About €40 per month will be enough to cover daily transport. As a typical chaotic southern Italian city, do not expect public transport to arrive on time. If you have a car, then expect the traffic and driving to be a bit crazier than in the rest of Europe.
Weather
Prepare for hot rain-free summers reaching about 32 degrees Celsius. The winters are mild, with lows of about 6 degrees Celsius, and the occasional rain. Naples has the perfect location and climate for a beach lifestyle
Cost of Living
Naples is more affordable than Rome or Milan. Rent will depend on how you choose to live, expect around 250-300 euros for a room if you are sharing an apartment with a few roommates in the centre. If you prefer to live alone this will increase to 500-600 euros. You can bring these costs down by moving further away from the centre. You can also apply for dormitories if your ISEE (family economic situation) permits.
Groceries, drinks at the pub, restaurant food etc are in general cheaper than compared to the more northern cities.
Safety
Naples is fairly safe but is not among the safest in Italy. While the reputation of it being a mafia capital has some truth to it, the mafia is not likely to cause you any trouble. However, pickpockets, scammers, petty crime etc are something to watch out for. Women also tend to report a higher level of unwanted attention (catcalling, wolf-whistling etc). You should also avoid the dangerous neighbourhoods, which you can find here.
Activities
Naples has all the features a big city offers, if you like clubs, bars, restaurants, museums etc then you are covered. What’s more, is that you have the beach right by the city, so weekends will not be boring. The city is also the home of pizza! You will find many historical buildings in the centre as well. The city is also filled with character, and people tend to be more passionate, loud and vibrant than in the north. If this interests you, definitely consider Naples!
The University
The Campus
The campus is quite basic and is a university hospital (where you will both take your lectures and gain practical experience). The campus is fitted with lecture halls, labs, simulation rooms and other amenities
The Students
There are 15 EU and 25 non-EU seats available, which makes this university unique in that it will certainly be more international than the others in terms of student composition. Most EU students are Italian, while the non-EU can come from anywhere
Exam Structure
In typical Italian fashion, the exams are mainly oral. You take an exam 7 times per year. Often times there are written exams that you need to pass first to progress to the oral exam, which is the exam that determines your grade. You can always reject your grade and attempt the exam again.
Ranking
The university falls somewhere between the 7th to 30th in Italy for medical education. Do not let official rankings sway your decision however, it has little to no importance regarding future employment.
Tuition Fees
EU students: €200/year (university fees) + €140/year regional tax (compulsory)+ €16.00 legal stamp (compulsory)
Non-EU students: ISEE determined amount (university fee based on family income) + €140/year regional tax (compulsory)+ €16.00 legal stamp (compulsory)
Competitiveness
Naples Federico II is more competitive than the typical southern university, but still easier to get into than the typical northern universities. Remember that this can change, the past scores do not necessarily predict future scores required for entry. The limited number of seats is definitely a factor to keep in mind. Below are the past minimum scores required for entry
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| EU | 34.6 | 41.8 | 37.6 | 37.8 | 37.2 |
| Non-EU | 41.4 | 31.7 | 33.1 | 37.6 |
Scholarships
You can apply for regional scholarships based on your ISEE.
If you are Ukrainian there is also the possibility to receive 1100 Euro per month for one year as an Erasmus student http://www.international.unina.it/university-of-naples-federico-ii-for-ukraine/
Canteen Facilities
There is a Mensa (state-sponsored fee-reduced canteen) as well as a bar, café and restaurant at the university campus.
Attendance
You are most often required to attend 75% of your lectures. Failure to do this can result in a lower grade, extra tasks before sitting the exam and in the absolute worst case the requirement to attend the course again (very rare).
For many courses these attendance rules are not enforced, you will have to see what each lecturer is like.
What Subjects Will I Study?
Year 1
- Bioethics
- Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Physics in Medicine
- Medical Statistics & Informatics
- Molecular & Cellular Biology
- Human Histology & Embryology
- Human Anatomy I
- Scientific English I
Year 2
- Human Anatomy II
- Human Biochemistry
- Scientific English I
- Human Physiology I
- Microbiology & Immunology
- Human & Medical Genetics
Year 3
- Human Physiology II
- General Pathology
- Medical, Surgical, Clinical Methodology I
- Medical, Surgical, Clinical Methodology II
- General Pathophysiology
- Hygiene & Community Medicine
- Laboratory Medicine
Year 4
- Medical Pharmacology & Toxicology I
- Medical Pharmacology & Toxicology II
- Pathological Anatomy & Histology I
- Pathological Anatomy & Histology II
- Clinical Immunology & Allergology, Cutaneous and Venereal Diseases & Plastic Surgery
- Endocrine & Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Respiratory & Cardiovascular Diseases
- Urological diseases
Year 5
- Head & Neck & Sensory Organ Diseases
- Rheumatology & Degenerative-Malformative Diseases of Locomotor system
- Imaging Diagnostics and Radiotherapy
- Forensic & Occupational Medicine
- Neurology & Psychiatry
- Infectious Diseases
- Translational Medicine
- Oncological & Haematological Diseases
Year 6
- Clinical Medicine
- Paediatrics
- General Surgery
- Gynaecology & Obstetrics
- Medical & Surgical Emergencies
More Information
Course website: https://www.medicina.unina.it/zit/smc.php
Smart guide for international students: http://www.international.unina.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Smart-Guide_2019.pdf
University website: https://www.unina.it/home
