MBBS in University of Foggia Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

Founded in 1999 by the Ministry of University and Scientific Research, the University of Foggia (in Italian: Università di Foggia) is a public university. It is one of the younger universities in Italy, but has grown quickly and now has more than 9,000 students in six fields. The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is part of the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences. The department operates from the main building of the university in Foggia, in the Apulia region of southern Italy. The medical school has been turning out doctors since its first class in 1999, but its research reputation and clinical ties are still developing.

The Medicine and Surgery (LM-41) single-cycle degree program is a 6-year course providing 360 CFU credits, the standard in Italy for medical education. The program is grounded on the new national curriculum created by D.M. 1649/2023, which has reformed the delivery of medical education throughout Italy. Since all classes are taught in Italian, the university requires that you show you can speak and understand Italian at a B2 level before you can enroll. The way they teach includes traditional lectures, lab work, problem-based learning sessions, and early practical experience in hospitals that are part of the school.

The clinical training facilities are centered on the teaching hospitals of Foggia, such as Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia. Most of the clinical training takes place here. After a while, you will rotate through areas such as Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Surgery. The hospital complex serves a great number of people from the surrounding area, so you get to see a lot of common and uncommon clinical cases. The university also cooperates with the local health authorities (ASL) to provide more training in community medicine and basic care.

The new national reform in Italy, which started for the 2025-2026 school year, made it easier to get into the program. As part of the reform, the competitive entrance exam was changed to an open “filter semester” method. In the first semester, you can sign up for any classes you want. During that time, you take three subjects that meet national requirements: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry and Biochemistry. There are 6 CFU credits for each subject. At the end of the term, you take national exams that are graded the same way in all Italian medical schools. How you are placed in the program relies on where you score on these tests that are used to make a national merit list. You can try the filter semester up to three times with this method. If you do not get in Foggia, the national ranking can send you to another Italian medical school according to your choices and the available seats.

It has invested money in research facilities, mainly in the areas of oncology, metabolic diseases and public health. The Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences has partnerships with national study groups and European Union-financed projects. Students are encouraged to start research projects as early as they start college and many professors are actively seeking student collaborators for laboratory and clinical research projects. The university also supports student exchanges through the Erasmus network. Students can spend time studying at partner universities in Europe on these programs.

Living costs are lower than in the student towns of northern Italy. The city is located in the Tavoliere plain, an agricultural area famous for wheat and traditional foods. Students can choose from a variety of accommodation, including private lets and university residences managed by the regional student welfare agency (ADISU). The university offers dining rooms, sports facilities and a library system that includes medical collections. The site is compact and it is easy to walk or take the bus from the lecture theaters to labs and the teaching hospital.

In recent years the university has grown in the international rankings. This year the University of Foggia is ranked in the world between 801 and 1000 by Times Higher Education. The university scored 20.2 overall in the QS World University Rankings 2026, but performed well on research output and internationalization. The school also featured in the QS Europe rankings. The university’s progress has been highlighted in recent editions of the Censis report, an Italian national university review.

The medical program emphasizes community-oriented healthcare. The curriculum includes dedicated modules for population health, preventive medicine, and health promotion. Throughout your studies you learn to care for patients, with an understanding of the social and environmental determinants of health. Concepts such as digital health, evidence-based medicine and interprofessional collaboration are weaved throughout the six-year program. This prepares you for the changing demands of contemporary medicine.

Foggia is a city of about 150,000 people with a history going back to the Middle Ages. It was badly damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt after the war and is now an important agricultural and administrative center in the region. It is quieter than the bigger Italian towns, has lower housing costs, and is slower paced, which many students like because it allows them to concentrate on their studies. The city has good rail connections to Bari, Naples, and Rome, making it easy to travel to other parts of Italy.

Accessibility and social mobility remain important at the university. Tuition fees may be zero, depending on the income of a student’s family. Academic excellence is rewarded and special support is available to students who face challenges. The medical program is gaining recognition and low tuition and living costs make Foggia an attractive destination for Italian and international students seeking a quality medical education in a welcoming environment.