Student's Guide

The goal of the Course in Medicine and Surgery is to produce a highly competent and scientifically literate medical doctor equipped to practice patient-centred medicine in a constantly changing modern world, with a foundation in the basic medical and social sciences. The focus is on the development of the student as a scientifically informed, socially responsible professional who, in turn, can serve the health needs of individuals and communities. The delivery of the program is coordinated by the Federico II Medical School of Naples (Italy), an interdisciplinary group who focus on the needs of today’s medical students and the requirements of tomorrow’s doctors in the changing healthcare environment. The course is intended for EU and non-EU residents and non-residents high school graduated students. Integrating clinical and basic courses across the curriculum, together with vertical and horizontal implementation, represents a new model for a translational medical approach. This approach is in keeping with the need to offer students an integrated educational student-centered process, oriented to the novel trends in medical education, mainly based on the translation of basic sciences knowledge into the clinical theoretical knowledge. The English course in Medicine and Surgery lasts six years and includes 360 credits.  

The single-cycle master’s degree graduate in the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery in English after following the training course described in the system aimed at fully achieving the qualifying educational objectives of the degree class and the specific objectives outlined, in complete harmony with what is indicated by the WHO, intervenes in all its activities for the maintenance of the state of health in the complete sense of a complete physical, mental and social well-being and not simply by the absence of disease. The graduate in Medicine and Surgery is prepared to express his professional skills at the highest level compatible with the national and international structures of the place where he is operating. The single-cycle master’s degree graduate in the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery in English practices the medical profession within the rules and definitions established by the European Union both nationally and internationally. Graduates in Medicine and Surgery work as surgeons in various roles and professional clinical, health and biomedical fields.

The course is organized in 12 semesters and 34 integrated courses; these are assigned specific credits by the Council of the teaching structure in compliance with the provisions of the table of essential training activities.

The qualifying characteristics of the doctor you intend to train include:  

1) Good capacity for human contact (communication skills); 

2) Self-learning and self-assessment skills (continuing education); 

3) Ability to analyse and solve in full autonomy the problems related to medical practice together with a good clinical practice based on scientific evidence (evidence-based medicine);  

4) Habit of constant updating of knowledge and skills, and possession of the methodological and cultural bases suitable for the autonomous acquisition and critical evaluation of new knowledge and skills (continuing professional development); 

5) Good practice of interdisciplinary and inter-professional work (inter-professional education); 

6) In-depth knowledge of the methodological foundations necessary for a correct approach to scientific research in the medical field, together with the autonomous use of information technologies. 

Universities are increasingly required to verify and promote skills of a generalist nature (problem solving, critical thinking, ability to communicate), as well as the specialized ones. In the context of the latter, the graduate in Medicine and Surgery in English must be equipped with solid cognitive skills but also with valid practical operational skills, as well as adequate relational skills that allow him to have a correct relationship with the patient and with all the operators in the health area, ability to integrate the cognitive and relational skills acquired and to approach the patient with a holistic approach. The doctor in the exercise of the profession must adhere to scientific knowledge and be inspired by fundamental ethical values, taking as a principal respect for life, physical and mental health and the relief of suffering with respect for the freedom and dignity of the human person, without discrimination of age, sex, race, religion, nationality and social status. 

The single-cycle master’s degree graduate in the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery in English practices the medical profession within the rules and definitions established by the European Union both nationally and internationally. Graduates in Medicine and Surgery work as surgeons in various roles and professional clinical, health and biomedical fields. The single-cycle master’s degree in Medicine and Surgery in English, in addition to being a requirement for access to specialization schools, II level masters and doctoral courses in the biomedical area of the national territory, it also allows access to international postgraduate training courses such as “Residency programs, II level masters, PhD programs in the biomedical area”, allowing a full and conscious participation of the graduate in the training processes. Graduates in medicine and surgery work as surgeons in various roles and professional clinical, health and biomedical fields. The Master’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery is also a requirement for access to the Specialization Schools of the medical area. The course prepares you for the professions of Surgeon in its different functional joints. 

The employment opportunities normally offered to single-cycle master’s degree graduates in 

Medicine and Surgery are provided by: 

− Public Health System; 

− Universities and Research Centres; 

− Free-lance activity; 

− Public and private institutions; 

− National and international health and humanitarian organizations. 

The Graduate in Medicine and Surgery, ultimately, has ample employment opportunities both in the national and European territory and internationally. 

They can be admitted to the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery ‘applicants holding a high school diploma or equivalent foreign qualification. 

According to the Italian legislation governing admission to university courses, 40 students will be admitted to the course for each academic year. 

The number takes into account national planning, teachers, teaching facilities and laboratory and hospitalization facilities for patients in ordinary and outpatient care. 

The number has also been defined in agreement with the ‘European Union’s Advisory Committee on Medical Training’ and the Committee of the School of Medicine and Surgery of the Federico II University. The admission of candidates is based on the ranking that results from the analysis of the entrance exams. 

The selection of candidates will be carried out on the basis of national legislation on admission to medical courses. The exam forth selection is defined by national law and under the regulatory control of the Ministry of Education, of the Italian University and Research. The exam will take place on the same day in all Italian state universities and on a day other than that for admission to the traditional course. 

It consists of 80multiple choice questions on the following topics: logic and general knowledge, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.