Part 1 - All about the University
What are the timetables like?
The timetables at Messina can be a real crunch. It can be 10 – 12 hours per credit, meaning classes can start as early as 7:30am and are usually 2 – 2 ½ hours, making the schedule busy and intense. The academic year starts in October, lasting until the end of December when the school breaks for Christmas. Following this is the exam season, after which, you get a very short break. You then start the 2nd semester in March which lasts until June.
How do the exams work?
Most of the exams are written or multiple choice questions as a first part, which you will then be requested to expand on orally if you pass the written portion. It can be just oral, or it can be just written; it really depends on the professor. Unlike most other universities once you are given a grade by the professor, you have to accept it with no chance of rejecting it.
What is the clinical experience like?
Years 1 and 2 have no clinical experience. But then in the 3rd year you have a ramp up in clinical experience. During COVID, practical experience is taken in small groups; which makes it very easy to have close and strong communication with professors. Unfortunately, not all good doctors are good teachers. There is no strict timetabling for experience per-say, as you will be expected to manage aspects of this yourself, being covered by integrated clinical experience anyway.
Does Messina do cadaver dissections?
No. Autopsies can be witnessed, like most other Italian universities offer. However you will not be able to conduct your own autopsies, or dissections.
What are the average tuition fees & scholarships?
International students pay a flat fee rate of 750 euro. However Italian students’ fees will be adjusted according to their ISEE. Scholarships are given by an Association called Messina Ersu, as well as by Messina University itself. The studying scholarship, is given by the ERSU. The higher your grades, and the higher your credits, the more likely you are to get this scholarship.
How is the community and class dynamics?
The community is widely international, but the close nature of the class dynamic means it can be easy to feel like part of a team. Wide varieties of age and personality ranges make up the group, as you’d expect with studying medicine.
How good are class and teaching resources?
The majority of resources are available online, which is because of the current COVID situation bringing everything to online platforms. The depth and quality of resources available between the online access and the professors is more than sufficient.
What are professors like?
The professors also come from a variety of international backgrounds. Most of them are Graduates, Doctors, Surgeons; so what they may lack in teaching skills they make up for in knowledge. The staff is trying to improve all the time.
What are the university facilities like in Messina?
Unfortunately, the facilities at Messina are comparatively lacking against La Sapienza, or Tor Vergata, with most of the more appealing facilities being far from the general university. There is a library in the policlinico (hospital) itself, though it is small, with a capacity of around 30 people. The most used library is the law library, which is in the city centre, because it stays open from 8am to 12am; there are no 24 hour libraries available. There are some student facilities, though they’re not specific to the Medicine Department. There are 3 main campuses; one of which features a sports facility including climbing gyms, a swimming pool, and large sports fields.
There are even well equipped gyms in which, if you hit a certain number of hours, you can actually get recognised credits! Universities in Italy require you to earn 8 full ECTS credits throughout the 6 years not related to didactic activities. In some universities this might be in the form of internships, or guest seminars, but in Messina you can work out and learn languages to earn these!
What are the language requirements?
Before passing the third year, you have to actually have a B1 Language Certification. The university provides a course to cover A1 and A2. There are no English requirements for Messina. As always, Italian fundamentals are advised before applying to ANY Italian University.
Part 2 - All about the City
What is Messina like as a city?
Messina is a normal Italian city, with warm temperate summers and occasional rainfall. Sometimes Winters can be quite cold, though snow is unlikely. The nightlife is somewhat remarkable, with many locations and a diverse population of both students and locals; so the party’s always bumpin’ but never too crowded. Messina is not like Rome in its tourist nature; so not a lot of people can give you advice on what to do around as a tourist or student.
What are the costs of living?
Though normally the biggest dent in the wallet, housing costs in Messina are quite worth it. Two bedrooms can be as little as 500 euro, for a newly renovated building. Transports is also cheap, though not as cheap as riding a bicycle – a very apt form of transport for making your way round the city. The general expenses of food and leisure are also very affordable.
What are the activities available to students?
Messina has everything the average Italian university city could need; restaurants, pools, sports centres and of course the unforgettable nightlife scene.
How is travel through Messina?
Unfortunately in Messina there is only one tram line and only one bus line; there is no Metro. However Messina is very well connected to the other parts of the of the island. No trip takes more than around 1 – 1 ½ hours. Travel outwards from the island can be achieved through combination of trains and ferry; though this can be expensive.
What kind of student would be perfect for Messina?
The perfect way describe the perfect Messina student is opportunistic, when you find an opportunity, take it. Messina has lots of advantages and lots of disadvantages, so making the most of what you get given is essential.
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