Bari University offers a medicine in English programme that is perfect for international students that prefer a coastal life with beautiful beaches, and quiet but quaint streets to spend summer evenings on. The city is the capital of southern Italy’s Puglia region, and escapes the chaos of metropolitan cities like Rome and Milan to offer a calmer life to its many students. We have also written an article on the life in Bari as an international medical student.
Before I decided which university I was going for, I had a lot of trouble choosing as I felt that I didn’t have all of the information needed about each university to be able to make a good choice. So I asked student of different universities to get a bigger picture of every medical school in Italy, and have gathered all the information about Baris english medical programme in this article.
Academic Calendar Structure
October-December: First Semester lessons
December/January: roughly 2 weeks of Christmas holidays.
- The remainder of January is the end of the First Semester lessons
February: One month study break; Beginning of Winter Exam session
March-May: 2nd Semester Classes with 1 week Easter break.
June-July: Study break and Summer Exam Session
August: University is closed so no exams or classes
September: Study break and Fall Exam Session
Subjects of the 1st year in Bari Medical School
First semester subjects:
- Physics: 72 hours
- Chemistry and introduction to biochemistry: 72 hours
- General Psychology: 12 hours
- Informatics: 12 hours
- Doctor-Patient relationship: 12 hours
- Cytology: 12 hours
- Genetics: 36 hours
- Cellular Biology: 48 hours
- History of medicine: 12 hours
- Bioethics and moral philosophy: 12 hours
Second semester subjects:
- Biochemistry I: 72 hours
- Histology: 60 hours
- Embryology: 36 hours
- Human Anatomy: 48 hours
- Semiology of normal joints, part I: 12 hours
- Principles of Surgical Semiology: 24 hours
- Principles of Developmental US imaging: 12 hours
- Principles of emergency Medicine: 12 hours
- Principles of Medical Semiology: 12 hours
- Minor Surgery: 12 hours
Are the professors fluent in English?
Some of the professors are fluent English speakers, while others are not as smooth, but not to the extent that you cannot understand them. Most importantly, they are willing to help you pass your exams (trust me this is true!). I would like to inform you, though, that the exams are not a piece of cake, but then again neither is Medicine; they are not supposed to be easy. Someones life is going to be in your hands one day.
What are exams like in Bari Medical School?
What I’ve found to be difficult when it comes to examinations, is that it is mainly oral exams. Only some exams are written – and those are the easy ones, unfortunately. While the others are oral or both written and oral. Anyway, this depends on how you’re used to being examined. Thus, it depends on the person.
What are tuition fees and living costs in Bari?
The living expenses are lower compared to other cities of central and northern Italy. It is a small town, so much so, that within an hour walk you would have crossed it fully, thus also making it quiet. An average on the living expenses that we have calculated is around €500 Euro for rent and food. Obviously these numbers fluctuate per student, but it is quite difficult to go over such a budget since Bari is so affordable.
Tuition fees in Italian Medical Schools are all pretty similar, so since Bari Medical school is a public university will charge €156 Euro – €2000 Euro depending on financial circumstances. There are also scholarships available.
How do you find accommodation in Bari city?
You can find accommodation, but not that easily if you arrive in October because classes would have already begun. By then most apartments will have already been taken. If you are fortunate enough to learn of your acceptance by September, then you can easily find a place to live.
For you to get an idea: A private room in a shared apartment would be around €250 euros with most utilities covered (internet, gas, heat etc)
Are there free Italian Language Courses?
Unfortunately, at the moment the University itself does not provide free Italian lessons, but the Erasumus association does I believe, so learning Italian would not be an issue. Otherwise you will have to attend a private course. As far as I’m aware, they are not that expensive, but you still have to pay.
Class timetables and structure
Classes mainly take place in the morning. The 1st semester programme is quite long with lessons starting from 9:00 am and continuing until 17:00pm with a lunch from 13:00-14:00 (there are smaller breaks during the classes). While in the 2nd semester, classes are from 9:00am until 14:00pm latest.
Clinical Experience in Bari Medical School
Bari isn’t as heavily focused on clinical work, however students do get opportunities to visit the wards even if it is mainly just to observe. However, you can request to do a one week internship with a professor and from what I’ve heard, you can do a lot more “hands-on” stuff then. As is the norm in medical schools in Italy, you must be proactive about creating your own clinical experience.
Clinical years are not that much different with regards to the timetable from your first year semesters, the only thing that changes are your classes, and you spend a bit more time on the wards. A typical day is from 8am until 2pm.
Are you paid for practical lessons?
No, we do not get paid, given that we do not really do enough practical work to be worthy of getting paid. There are indeed scholarships and it is very easy to get one as a foreign student.
Also, there are jobs as University admins, specifically for students. I believe most of these jobs will basically be working as a receptionist or librarian. You can also find a part time job somewhere else, but usually this requires you to be fluent in Italian.