The Italian government is proposing a new system for admission to medical school, which would eliminate entrance exams and instead admit students based on their performance in a semester of courses. This proposal aims to make the selection process more fair and transparent by removing the current test-based selection criteria. The change would increase the number of available spots in medical, dental, and veterinary schools to 25,000 from the current 20,000, offering more opportunities for aspiring students to pursue careers in healthcare. Students who do not pass the selection process after the first semester would still be able to use the credits they have earned to enroll in other degree programs, providing them with a second chance without losing a year of academic progress.
The proposal was introduced in the Italian Senate by the presidents of the Education and Health committees, Roberto Marti and Francesco Zaffini, respectively. The government hopes to implement the new system starting in the academic year 2025-2026, pending parliamentary approval. The legislation has already been approved by the Senate Education Committee and will now proceed to a vote in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. According to Zaffini, the goal of this reform is to reorganize the healthcare professions sector to ensure sustainability for both universities and the National Health Service. The details of the new selection process will be outlined in the legislation, with the aim of providing a more equitable and competency-based approach to admission.
Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini described the proposed changes as a historic step towards providing all students with the opportunity to pursue careers in the medical field. She emphasized the increasing demand for healthcare professionals in Italy, with a projected need for 30,000 new doctors over the next seven years. In response to this demand, the government has already increased the number of available spots in medical and veterinary degree programs. The elimination of entrance exams and the introduction of a semester-long selection process based on exams and assessments aim to promote quality education and ensure that students have access to high-quality training.
The new system would also apply to dental and veterinary degree programs, in addition to medical schools. Students who successfully complete the first semester of courses and exams will be ranked nationally based on their performance, allowing for a more transparent and merit-based selection process. This change would prioritize the acquisition of competencies and skills over traditional examination-based selection criteria, with the goal of offering opportunities to a larger pool of qualified candidates. The proposed legislation is part of a broader effort to reform the healthcare professions sector in Italy, with the aim of improving access to quality education and training for future healthcare professionals.
The implementation of the new selection process would require alignment with existing university and academic regulations, as well as coordination with healthcare institutions. The government’s goal is to ensure that the reform is implemented effectively and efficiently, with a focus on enhancing the quality of education and training for future healthcare professionals. The proposed legislation represents a significant shift in the admissions process for medical, dental, and veterinary schools in Italy, with the potential to increase access to education and training in the healthcare professions. As the legislation progresses through the parliamentary approval process, stakeholders will continue to monitor its impact and implementation to ensure that it achieves its objectives of promoting fairness, transparency, and excellence in the selection of students for these degree programs.
