Located in: Italy
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) was established in 1921 as a private research university. Also called the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, the university has 6 campuses - in Milan, Cremona, Brescia, Piacenza, Bolzano and Rome. The Bolzano campus specialises in medicine and is the newest and most modern addition to the university. Currently, UCSC has over 40,000 students, over 3,000 of whom are international.
UCSC is the biggest private non-profit university in Europe and the largest Catholic university in the world. It is known as one of the best and most comprehensive universities in Italy, and the UCSC School of Medicine is famous for providing world-class medical education that trains exceptional doctors.
Although it is one of the most challenging universities in Europe to get into, UCSC's medical school is still one of the most applied to by international students. For example, 8907 people applied to take the admissions test in 2017 for just 300 seats. Although there is a lot of competition to get in, you don't need to worry because Medlink Students can significantly improve your chances of getting admitted.
In employability, teaching, facilities and engagement, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore has been granted 5 stars by the global university ranking system QS Stars.
The Bolzano campus of USCS offers a thorough medicine and surgery programme in English. The university uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to ensure that students are evaluated in a fair and transparent way. Additionally, by using ECTS, the university facilitates easy student transfers between accredited medical schools in Europe. The MD course at USCS Bolzano is worth 360 ECTS credits and lasts for 6 years.
Università Cattolica doesn't offer a graduate-entry programme but accepts student transfers up to the 3rd year. If you want to learn more about your options at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, sign up for a free consultation with one of our expert academic advisors..
The 6-year degree in medicine and surgery at USCS Bolzano gives students all the knowledge and skills they need to have a successful career on a global scale. Through an extensive, cross-disciplinary approach, the MD course brings together the educational goals of both European and American medical higher education systems.
One of the stand-out features of the medicine programme at the Bolzano campus is that students will learn both Italian and German languages as part of their curriculum. Lectures are carried out in English, but students will have the opportunity to take on internships in a variety of hospitals and clinical settings in both Italy and Germany. This means that upon graduation, students will be able to easily transition into practising medicine in English, Italian, and German-speaking countries around the world.
Additionally, students who graduate from the UCSC MD programme will be eligible to take on the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Steps 1 and 2. This means that once students finish their medical degree, they can enrol in clinical training and residency programmes in the USA. Additionally, graduates are also eligible to take a variety of licensing exams in European countries, like the United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) and Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) tests in the UK.
The programme places significant focus on both the fundamental and clinical sciences, as well as patient management, the legal obligations of the medical profession, communication, empathy, ethics, and other related areas. On top of that, UCSC provides students with the chance to engage in research, internships, and volunteer international programmes through its vast network of global partners.
The medicine and surgery programme is presented through the partnership between Università Cattolica and Claudiana Polo Universitario delle Professioni Sanitarie. The lectures are carried out in Claudiana, the capital of South Tyrol.
The university has a highly experienced and dedicated teaching staff, drawing on the expertise of professionals from the A. Gemelli University Hospital. Additionally, students enrolled in this academic course will have access to the cutting-edge facilities of Claudiana Polo Universitario delle Professioni Sanitarie, including modern lecture halls, libraries, a dedicated simulation centre, laboratories with state-of-the-art medical equipment, and much more.
UCSC is partnered with local hospitals and clinical institutions, where students will be able to get clinical training in a safe and controlled environment. This includes the Central Hospital in Bolzano as well as in the other hospitals belonging to the Hospital Network in the South Tyrol Region.
The Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore tuition fees and available seats for the 6-year medicine programme in English at the Bolzano Campus are as follows:
Unlike many other Italian medical schools, USCS doesn’t use the International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) but instead has developed its own admission exam. The entrance exam consists of 65 questions for 65 minutes and covers scientific subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Maths.
Additional questions in the USCS entrance exam include logical exercises, general knowledge, and religious and ethical culture.
Students who aren’t native English speakers need to prove their English language proficiency by taking either the TOEFL, IELTS, or similar accepted language exams.
Typically, the application period for the USCS MD programme in English at the Bolzano Campus begins in the middle of January and closes towards the end of April. The entrance exam is usually conducted in the middle of May and results become available towards the end of the month.
*Your advisor can provide the latest information on program intake periods which may be subject to change.
The university is on the World Directory of Medical Schools, which is a list of only accredited medical schools put together by the World Health Organization. UCSC is also recognised by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which is one of the 6 groups in the US that accredits schools and colleges.
When you graduate from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, you'll get a diploma that is recognised all over the world. Additionally, thanks to the multilingual medical curriculum you will easily be able to find postgraduate specialisation and career opportunities around the globe.
Graduates of UCSC are also prepared to take the US Medical Licensing Examination and similar exams in other European countries, such as the UKMLA and PLAB in the UK.
Students need a pleasant environment for study and community life, and providing one is an important objective of The University of the Sacred Heart. The Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in cooperation with UCSC, provides more than 700 accommodation places in 12 different student residences. These residences are divided between male and female buildings and are all furnished in a modern and functional style.
UCSC typically starts the fall term in the middle of September and ends around the beginning of December. Fall exams usually take place in the middle of December. The spring semester starts in the middle of February and ends in mid-May, followed by the spring examination period which takes place at the end of May.
To make sure its students have a fulfilling and enjoyable time as students, UCSC offers comprehensive support services to take care of their well-being. These services include:
Ariana Malsavi from Università Cattolica praised Medlink Students in a recent webinar for their excellent support. She highlighted their new English-taught medical program in Bolzano. Watch the full interview in the webinar here to learn more.
Bolzano, located in the northern part of Italy, is a picturesque city that combines the charm of Italian culture with the beauty of the Alps. The official language is Italian, but due to its proximity to Austria and Germany, both English and German are widely spoken. It is safe to say that you’ll face close to no language barriers in Bolzano.
Here’s what you can expect as a medical student in the city:
Bolzano boasts a unique blend of Italian and Tyrolean influences. The city is home to stunning attractions like the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, where you can see Ötzi the Iceman and the mediaeval Maretsch Castle. In Bolzano’s historic centre, you’ll encounter a variety of historic piazzas, frescoes, and impressive Gothic-style churches.
Bolzano is also rich in natural beauty. Students can enjoy hiking, skiing, and mountain biking in the surrounding mountains. The city's location provides easy access to the beautiful Val Gardena, Seiser Alm, and the stunning Lake Caldaro, making it a perfect destination for students who love the great outdoors.
The people of Bolzano are known for their warm hospitality and friendliness, creating a welcoming atmosphere for students from all over the world. The local community's laid-back nature and the city’s safe environment make it easy for students to feel right at home.
Bolzano is renowned for its lively cultural scene and vibrant nightlife. Students can enjoy a variety of bars, pubs, and clubs, as well as many cultural events and festivals throughout the year. Important events include the Bolzano Film Festival, the South Tyrol Jazz Festival, and the famous Christmas Market, which is one of the largest in Italy.
Additionally, Bolzano hosts various seasonal events, such as the Flower Festival in spring and the Transart Festival in autumn, offering students the chance to immerse themselves in local traditions, music, and cuisine.
People from all over the world live in Bolzano. This creates an exciting, multicultural and welcoming atmosphere that combines a wide range of cultures, values, and heritages. As an example of how open the city is, it has both mosques and churches to meet the religious needs of its many residents.
It is important to accept others, be open-minded, and look out for each other in Italian culture. This is easily proven by the fact that students, including hijabi women, always say they feel welcomed in Bolzano. The Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore also goes to every length possible to make sure that all of its students feel right at home.
The university has 6 campuses across Italy. USCS has 2 Faculties of Medicine - in Rome and Bolzano. The Bolzano Campus is located at the Scuola Provinciale Superiore di Sanita' Claudiana. The address is Via Lorenz Böhler, 13, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy
Yes, you can transfer to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart up to the 3rd year.
No, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart does not offer a graduate entry path into medicine.
The tuition fees at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Bolzano Campus are per year.
Yes, lectures at the Bolzano Campus of UCSC are carried out in English, but internships are in Italian and German.
Yes. As of 2024, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart has over 210 graduates registered with the UK General Medical Council.
Yes, there is an entrance examination for the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, which consists of 65 questions in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, logical exercises, general knowledge, and religious and ethical culture.
Students have to take part in an entrance exam, and non-native English speakers need to prove that they are proficient in English through an exam like IELTS, TOEFL or any other accepted language test.
The semester at UCSC Bolzano starts in September.
The application deadline for the USCS MD programme in English at the Bolzano Campus is typically towards the end of April. In 2024, it will be on the 24th of April.
*Contact your advisor for the most up-to-date program intake dates, as these are subject to change.