Contatti Cerca
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Cattolica International

Course details

You are viewing

  

In order to achieve formative goals, the MD Medicine and Surgery offers a total number of 360 University Formative Credits, Crediti Formativi Universitari (CFU) or ECTS = European Credit Transfer System, spread over a 6-year course.

60 credits consist of activities aimed at acquiring specific professional skills.

The curriculum refers to the academic year 2024-2025 and may be subject to variations.

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)
During clinical studies in Years Four, Five, and Six, students must learn about different medical areas, including internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics.

To do this, they are required to take part in internships at hospitals chosen by the Degree Programme Committee.

Teaching is mainly done through classroom lectures, with some hands-on activities in class or labs. Extra training is given in small groups led by tutors or professors. Each group has a tutor who teaches, records attendance, and helps students.

Attendance is mandatory: if a student misses too many classes (less than 65% attendance), they must speak with the course coordinator to plan extra activities to make up for missed work. The coordinator must approve these activities before the student can take the exam.

According to European rules, one professional training credit (called CFU or ECTS) is equal to 25 hours of teaching. Students need to earn at least 60 credits for professional training, out of 360 total credits needed to complete the programme.

The Degree Programme Committee can choose other hospitals or healthcare centres where students can complete some or all of their internships. The Professional Training Practice Commission (CTP) evaluates these places to ensure they meet the necessary academic standards.

After completing their internship, passing the State Examination, and registering with the Medical Association in their local Province, Medicine and Surgery graduates are qualified to provide medical care in Italy.

They can work as doctors and perform surgeries in various medical fields.

This programme is designed for students who want to become general practitioners. Graduates can also continue their studies in specialty schools or enter a three-year regional programme to train further in general medicine. Our graduates can choose either as they are eligible for both. 

Graduates from the programme taught in English can take the USMLE Steps 1 and 2 exams to apply for postgraduate training and residencies in the USA. They can also apply for similar programmes in European and other English-speaking countries.

Non-Italian graduates have the chance to take Italian language courses to help them fit into Italian society and communicate with patients. Knowing Italian will also help them get into Italian specialty training schools.

The programme offers students enrolled in the first year of the Single-Cycle Master’s Degree Programme in Medicine and Surgery the possibility of obtaining a Triple Degree at the conclusion of their study plan:
 
  • Laurea Magistrale in Medicina e Chirurgia (Master’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery) from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
  • Medical Degree from Thomas Jefferson University – Sidney Kimmel Medical College

 

To find out more, visit the dedicated webpage.

Classes for academic year 2025/2026 will start in September 2025.

You can refer to the academic calendar of the Faculty for the academic year  2023/2024 for reference.

Students are required to attend theology teachings aimed at offering a reasoned and critical knowledge of the Christian message. Bachelor students will have to attend three seminars, for a total of 36 hours per year.