# Italian medical school admission reforms

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-medical-school-admission-reforms
> Updated: 2026-08-31T18:11:01.000Z. Sources: 50. Developments: 2.

Italy has implemented a new ‘Semestre aperto’ (Open Semester) access model for students seeking admission to single-cycle master's degrees in Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine. Under a decree from Minister Anna Maria Bernini for the 2026/2027 academic year, students attend classes in subjects such as physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and biology before undergoing qualifying exams. While specific institutions like the University of Florence reported enrollments of 1,359 students for its medicine and dentistry programs, the broader national enrollment for the semester reached approximately 62,000 students. The government has increased the total number of available places by over 3,000. Qualifying exams are scheduled for December 10 and January 11, with results released in late December and late January respectively. Despite the new model, critics note that restricted enrollment remains, with roughly 39,000 students expected to be excluded following the January results. Some professional associations have also raised concerns regarding a potential future surplus of medical professionals.

As the academic cycle progresses, institutional implementations vary. UniCamillus is conducting online entrance tests for 520 spots in Medicine and Dentistry, offering options in both Italian and English. In Benevento, local officials have noted the economic and social benefits of the medical faculty’s ‘filter semester’. Additionally, a separate national entrance exam for students pursuing Medicine in English at state universities is scheduled for September 29, 2026, utilizing a different selection mechanism than the Italian-language courses. Educational activities continue at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the University of Insubria, while Università Federico II and Università del Sannio maintain collaborative tutoring services.

## Claims

- The start of the semester should be viewed as a new educational and human experience rather than an intense competition. (single source)
- The 'Semestre Filtro' activities for Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine begin on September 1. (single source)
- Approximately 62,200 students are enrolled in the filter semester, with roughly 39,000 expected to be excluded in January. (single source)
- The ministry has announced 30,225 total places, with 23,495 reserved for state universities. (single source)
- The total number of educational places has increased by over 3,000 compared to the previous academic year. (single source)
- Exam questions consist of 31 items: 10 open-ended and 21 multiple-choice. (single source)
- Students have 50 minutes to complete the exams, which is 5 minutes more than the previous year. (single source)
- A penalty of 0.1 points is applied for each incorrect answer in the multiple-choice section. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Italy launches new medical school access pathways

Italian universities have begun the 'Semestre aperto' for medical and dental degrees, featuring new entrance pathways, while English-language medical programs prepare for a national exam on September 29.

44 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italys-medical-filter-semester-begins-for-62000-students

### 2026-08-26: University of Florence starts open semester for Medicine and Dentistry

The University of Florence begins its open semester for Medicine and Dentistry on September 1, with 1,359 students enrolled for the 2026-2027 academic year.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/university-of-florence-starts-open-semester-for-medicine-and-dentistry

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Cite as: Italian medical school admission reforms. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-medical-school-admission-reforms