A landmark cohort of 54,313 students will commence the open semester in Medicine and Surgery on September 1st. They are joined by 4,473 students in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics and 6,039 in Veterinary Medicine, bringing total enrollments to 64,825. With over 23,000 places available, nearly one in two students stands to secure admission. Sapienza University of Rome leads with 4,821 enrollees, followed by Naples’ Federico II (3,113), Bologna (2,674), and Padua (2,658).
The open semester, running from September 1 to November 30 in hybrid format, features three foundational courses: Chemistry and Introductory Biochemistry, Physics, and Biology. Each course carries 6 academic credits (CFUs), totaling 18 CFUs. Students must complete national standardized exams for all three subjects by semester’s end. These synchronized exams—offered on two dates (November 20 and December 10, 2025)—each comprise 31 questions per subject: 15 multiple-choice (single correct answer) and 16 fill-in-the-blank, with 45 minutes allotted per test.
Scores contribute to national rankings and are graded out of 30 (with honors possible). A minimum threshold of 18/30 in *every* exam is mandatory for ranking eligibility and progression to the second semester. Students not advancing but scoring ≥18/30 in all exams retain earned credits for related degree programs.
In an open letter, Universities Minister Anna Maria Bernini framed medical studies as “not merely a career choice, but one of responsibility, empathy, and courage—a declaration of love for life in all its fragility.” She emphasized universities as “growth arenas, not walls to scale,” where professors “welcome and mentor, rather than select and reject.” Acknowledging enrollment pressures, Bernini pledged responsive scaling: “If another lecture hall is needed, it will open. If extra afternoon courses are required, they will run.” She highlighted increased infrastructure funding—doubling to €50 million in 2025—and record university system financing of €9.4 billion, vowing further investment.