The City
Padova is the second oldest university in Italy and is well renowned for its excellence. Despite ranking among the top Italian medical schools, the medicine in English program is very new (only starting in 2019). While this may result in some learning required on the universities behalf, you should base your decision on where to study mainly on the city itself, as this is where you will live for the next 6 years of your life. Let’s take a look at what Padua has to offer
Size
Padova/Padua has around 214,000 people, and about 90,000 of them are students. This means almost one-third of the population are students, meaning it is by all definitions a student city. Located in Veneto, you will be close to the magnificent Dolomite Alps, as well as the magical city of Venice. You are about 2 hours and 30 minutes by bus from the metropolis of Milan as well. If you like a small university town that is close to both nature and bustling civilisation (but not immersed in either directly) then you will be very happy here.
You should be aware however that the city is very small, if you like the big city (and don’t consider Venice close enough) then this might not be for you
The University Location
As the second oldest university in Italy (and fifth in the world) you will be studying in a true piece of history. The campus is very close to the university hospital, meaning you will be able to have lectures and rotations in the same area.
Transport
Trams and buses exist, but given the small size of the city, you are generally within walking distance to most places that you need to go. Overall expect to pay about 30 euros per month if you use public transport every day. If you want to save money, walking or cycling will work excellently in this city.
Weather
Winters can be fairly cold, with lows around 0 degrees Celsius. The winter can also be rainy and foggy, with snow being rare. Summers are warm and sunny, with temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius
Cost of Living
Being in the north of the country you will face a higher cost of living as compared to the south. However, being a small city you will still have an easier time financially than in Milan or Rome. Expect around 250-300 euros for rent if you get lucky and share an apartment with roommates, but expect much higher (600+) if you want to live alone.
Food and utilities are quite standard as compared to the northern part of Italy. The same holds true for going out to bars and clubs, but as Padua is not a tourist trap you are less likely to be ripped off.
You can check out this Facebook group if you are interested in renting in Padua https://www.facebook.com/groups/314428045409099
Safety
Padua is safe. As a small town in an economically well-off region of Italy, you do not need to worry much about crime. Obviously, you should exercise common sense precautions.
Activities
Padua is quite small and does not boast the most abundant list of activities. This is more of a quiet town with a laid-back lifestyle. However, you are close to Venice, and not far from the Dolomite alps (about 2 hours by bus) so you can always get away for a weekend either in the city or in nature. In Padua itself, you will find bars, restaurants, gyms and all the standard features of a small city, but do not expect the greatest variety in terms of nightlife.
The University
The Students
With 51 EU places and 25 non-EU places, you will have a medium to large-sized class that is fairly diverse. It is a popular university choice among international students, but the EU bracket will still be mainly filled by Italians. However about half the class will come from all over the world.
Exam Structure
Quite unique among Italian universities, Padua prefers to give its exams in written format. Your exams will be done on a computer as opposed to on paper, with most being multiple choice and the others written. You can retake exams if you do not like the grade and can take an exam within 7 sessions per year.
Ranking
Padua is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in Italy, usually falling between 5th and 2nd place. However, do not let this be the basis for your decision on whether or not to study in Padua. It has virtually no impact on future employment.
Tuition Fees
The maximum fee is €2626 which can be lowered based on your family income (ISEE). For more details check their official tuition fee page here https://www.unipd.it/en/tuition-fees
Competitiveness
Padua is more competitive than the average Italian medical school. Below are the past minimum IMAT scores required for entry. Note however that these can change considerably in the future
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| EU | 37.5 | 45.1 | 39.4 |
| Non-EU | 46.6 | 27.5 | 48 |
Scholarships
Like all universities, you can apply for a regional scholarship based on your family income (ISEE). You can find more information here https://www.unipd.it/en/veneto-region-scholarship
On top of this, the university offers numerous scholarships. Here are the scholarships you can apply for as an international student
- Padua academic excellence scholarship: https://www.unipd.it/en/padua-excellence
- Fee waivers: https://www.unipd.it/en/fee-waivers
- Medicine and surgery scholarship: https://www.unipd.it/en/departmental-scholarships
- Galilean School of Higher Education Scholarships: https://www.unipd.it/en/galilean-school-higher-education-scholarships
As a bonus, the applicant with the highest IMAT score who selected Padua as their first choice will get a lump sum scholarship. You can contact the university to learn more about this.
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 need to officially attend 70% of your lectures, but whether or not this requirement is enforced depends on your professor.
What You Will Study
I Year
- THE APPROACH TO PATIENTS [CFU 8]
- INTERNSHIP [CFU 6]
- OTHER LINGUISTIC ACTIVITIES [CFU 3]
- CELL FUNCTION, CELL PHYSIOLOGY AND ARCHITECTURE [CFU 11]
- THE BUILDING BLOCKS [CFU 12]
- BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES 1 [CFU 12]
- BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES 2 [CFU 8]
II Year
- BIOCOMPUTING [CFU 6]
- PRINCIPLES OF BASIC RESEARCH [CFU 8]
- THE NERVOUS SYSTEM [CFU 14]
- THE HUMAN BODY IN ACTION [CFU 8]
- THE HUMAN BODY [CFU 8]
- INFECTION AND IMMUNITY [CFU 13]
III Year
- THERAPEUTIC MOLECULES: GENERAL PROPERTIES [CFU 5]
- PATIENT VISIT AND MEDICAL INTERNSHIP [CFU 10]
- DIAGNOSTIC TESTING [CFU 13]
- PHYSICAL SIGNS AND CLINICAL METHODOLOGY [CFU 8]
- INFECTIOUS DISEASES [CFU 5]
- MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 1: MOLECULAR INSIGHT [CFU 8]
- MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2: ORGAN DYSFUNCTION [CFU 7]
- EMERGENCY ROOM [CFU 4]
- ADVANCED BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES [CFU 4]
IV Year
- BLOOD DISEASES AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY [CFU 8]
- CLINICAL ROTATIONS – MEDICAL – FOURTH YEAR [CFU 4]
- CLINICAL ROTATIONS – NEUROSCIENCE [CFU 2]
- CLINICAL ROTATIONS – SURGICAL – FOURTH YEAR [CFU 2]
- HEART AND LUNG DISEASE [CFU 9]
- GASTROINTESTINAL AND URINARY TRACT DISEASES [CFU 11]
- HEAD AND NECK [CFU 7]
- CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES [CFU 10]
- PATHOLOGY [CFU 6]
- ELECTROCARDIOGRAM INTERPRETATION [CFU 4]
V Year
- MOTHER AND CHILD [CFU 13]
- MUSCLE AND BONES [CFU 8]
- INTERNSHIP FOR MEDICAL LICENSE II – SURGICAL AREA [CFU 5]
- INTERNSHIP FOR MEDICAL LICENSE I – MEDICAL AREA [CFU 5]
- ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION [CFU 6]
- SOFT TISSUE DISEASES [CFU 6]
- GENERAL SURGERY [CFU 9]
- PUBLIC HEALTH [CFU 12]
- RECONSTRUCTIVE ROBOTIC SURGERY [CFU 4]
- SUTURES AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUES [CFU 4]
VI Year
- CLINICAL ONCOLOGY [CFU 7]
- CLINICAL ROTATIONS [CFU 13]
- INTERNSHIP FOR MEDICAL LICENSE III – GENERAL MEDICINE AREA [CFU 5]
- CLINICAL MEDICINE [CFU 13]
More Information
University website: https://www.unipd.it/
