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Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Cattolica International

Course details

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Class size

The programme has 110 seats in total, divided as follows:  
  • 40 seats for:  
    • Italian and EU citizens living anywhere.
    • Non-EU citizens living in Italy with a permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno).  
  • 70 seats for:  
    • Non-EU citizens living abroad.  

 

The number of seats may change based on decisions by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) under Law no. 264, August 2, 1999.  

 

Not sure which group you belong to? Check the application guidelines.

You will take classes over six years. Each subject includes ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System), for a total of 360 credits. 60 credits consist of activities aimed at acquiring specific professional skills. 

First year

  • Basic sciences (14 ECTS)
  • Functional architecture of the human body 1 (msk/heart/vascular system) (12 ECTS)
  • Gene regulation and cell metabolism (11 ECTS)
  • Italian language 1 (3 ECTS)
  • Life of cells, tissues and microbes (10 ECTS)
  • Scientific English (2 ECTS)
  • Theology 1*: introduction to christology and scriptures

Second year

  • Cellular and molecular pathology (8 ECTS)
  • Epidemiology and biostatistics (6 ECTS)
  • Functional architecture of the human body 2 (respiratory/digestive/urinary/reproductive) (15 ECTS)
  • Functional architecture of the human body 3 (endocrine/nervous system) (12 ECTS)
  • History of medicine and antropology (2 ECTS)
  • Italian language 2 (2 ECTS)
  • Italian language 3 (2 ECTS)
  • Microbe - host interaction (10 ECTS)
  • Theology 2*: introduction to theological anthropology and ecclesiology

Third year

  • Approach to diagnosis and treatment (11 ECTS)
  • Hematology (8 ECTS)
  • Infectious diseases (9 ECTS)
  • Introduction to clinical medicine (13 ECTS)
  • Italian language 4 (3 ECTS)
  • Mechanisms and manifestations of diseases (13 ECTS)
  • Theology 3*: introduction to ethics and Christian ethics

Fourth year

  • Endocrinology (6 ECTS)
  • Gastroenterology (12 ECTS)
  • Gynecology (10 ECTS)
  • Liver and biliary tract (6 ECTS)
  • Materno-fetal medicine and obstetrics (5 ECTS)
  • Metabolism and clinical nutrition (6 ECTS)
  • Neurosciences (14 ECTS)
  • Theology* (seminarial course)

Fifth year

  • Cardiac diseases (9 ECTS)
  • Dermatology and rheumatology (9 ECTS)
  • Emergency and intensive care (9 ECTS)
  • Geriatrics and palliative medicine (7 ECTS)
  • Kidney and urinary system (8 ECTS)
  • Pediatrics (9 ECTS)
  • Respiratory diseases (8 ECTS)
  • Vascular diseases (6 ECTS)

Sixth year

  • Being a physician (14 ECTS)
  • Bones and joints (8 ECTS)
  • Eye, ear, nose and throat (10 ECTS)
  • Practical-evaluation training general medicine (5 ECTS)
  • Public health, occupational medicine and forensic sciences (7 ECTS)
  • Thesis dissertation (18 ECTS)

*Theology Seminar

Theology courses are seminars in religious studies that explore religious and ethical topics from an academic and cultural viewpoint, promoting thoughtful discussion across diverse traditions.
Starting in the fourth year, students begin clinical training in hospitals. You will rotate through key areas like internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics. 

 

Where will I train? 
  • You will do internships in hospitals approved by the Degree Programme Committee. 
  • The Commission for Professional Training Practice checks that all hospitals meet teaching standards. 
  • Some internships can take place in other Italian or international healthcare centres. 

 

How is the training organised? 
  • Most teaching is through lectures and hands-on sessions in class or labs. 
  • You will also learn in small groups, guided by a tutor or professor. Your tutor keeps track of attendance and supports your progress. 

 

Attendance rules 
  • You must attend at least 65% of all professional training activities. 
  • If you miss too many sessions, you must speak with your course coordinator. 
  • You will need to complete make-up activities approved by the coordinator before taking exams. 

 

Credits and workload 
  • You must earn 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits in professional training. 
  • One credit equals 25 hours of training. 
  • The full programme includes 360 ECTS credits. 

 

Italian language support for non-Italian students 
Italian courses are available to help you adapt and talk with patients. This is important for specialty school applications in Italy. 

 

After graduation, passing the State Examination, and registering with the Medical Association, you are qualified to work as a medical doctor in Italy. 

 

Career paths include: 
  • Doctor or general practitioner 
    Working in public or private healthcare to treat patients and diagnose illnesses. 
     
  • Surgeon 
    Performing surgeries in different medical areas depending on your training. 
     
  • Postgraduate specialist training 
    You can apply to medical specialty schools or a 3-year general medicine training programme in Italy. 
     
  • International opportunities 
    You can take the USMLE Steps 1 and 2 to apply for medical residencies in the USA. You can also apply for medical training in other European or English-speaking countries. 

 

Yes — the programme offers a special Double Degree opportunity for first-year students. 

You can earn: 

  • A Laurea Magistrale in Medicina e Chirurgia from Università Cattolica 
  • A Medical Degree from Thomas Jefferson University – Sidney Kimmel Medical College (USA) 
  • Classes start: September 2026 
  • The academic calendar for 2026/27 will be online in July 2026 (visit this page).