Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery

Our mission is to provide our students with the knowledge and tools especially geared towards a biomedical, psychological, social and territorial perspective of the medical profession. The course is characterized by a multidisciplinary and integrated approach in disease prevention and health promotion. The training is primarily patient-oriented involving community-based health centers and hospitals, providing a varied and rich clinical experience for our students. In the curriculum, there is vertical and horizontal integration of the curriculum across all years, bringing clinical cases and challenges into the early years. Integrating clinical and basic science across the curriculum, developing new models for clinical reasoning and engaging students in an in-depth and long-term scholarly experience is also part of our mission. Our single-cycle degree course in Medicine and Surgery lasts six years. In order to graduate our students must earn 360 credits. The course is held entirely in English. We expect to prepare our students for a competitive and international career.

The specific learning outcomes of the programme are coherent with the general provisions of the Bologna Process and the specific provisions of EC Directive 2005/36/EC. They are represented within the European Qualifications Framework (Dublin descriptors) as follows:

• Knowledge and understanding

Graduates in Medicine and Surgery will:
- demonstrate the extent of the basic knowledge acquired in secondary education, as verified at the time of enrolment to the degree programme, to basic biomedical sciences; in particular they will possess knowledge of scientific data, concepts and methods which build the foundations for the acquisition and application of all aspects of clinical medical sciences. They will be able to understand that even the most vocational aspects of professional activities are determined by the development of personal tools, based on solid scientific knowledge.

Specifically, graduates will know:
1) the normal morphological characteristics of individuals and the alterations caused by tissue and cell pathologies, physiological mechanisms and fundamental pathologies which, at molecular, tissue, organ and system level, determine the condition of wellbeing or development of disease at any age or state of human development;
2) the natural history of acute and chronic diseases, defence systems of the organism and the pathological consequences of such responses;
3) the fundamental bases and mechanisms of diagnostics and pharmaceutical action.
The above knowledge is acquired through lectures, laboratories, practical exercises and clinical internships, and assessed through oral and written exams.

• Applying knowledge and understanding

Graduates in Medicine and Surgery will know how to apply their knowledge and understanding to skilfully solve the problems arising in their own professional context, both directly and applied in an interdisciplinary field.
In particular they will be able to:
1) gather relevant information on their patients;
2) establish the diagnostic and treatment procedures to manage the state of illness or promote the state of health, reducing pathological risk;
3) recognise all conditions of imminent danger to the patient's life;
4) integrate their activities within the general and specific organisation of the various healthcare systems operating in the territory.
Much of the knowledge and understanding is developed and assessed through the intense clinical internship activities.

• Making judgements

Graduates in Medicine and Surgery will know how to acquire and autonomously interpret the relevant data to solve both simple and complex problems in their professional context. They will be able to form opinions even when the available information is insufficient due to the technical and scientific development of medicine. In such contexts, when forming their conclusions they will be able to consider the ethical and social responsibilities that this implies.
In particular they will be able to:
1) critically use the information produced by fundamental and clinical biomedical research, including the principles of evidence-based medicine;
2) dedicate sufficient time to examining the ethical contents of the profession in terms of both general code of conduct and the social context of the patient.
The acquisition of this knowledge is assessed principally through the autonomous preparation of the dissertation produced for the final examination. It is assessed through oral exams.

• Communication skills

Graduates in Medicine and Surgery will be able to use their knowledge and skills to relate to the typical figures of their professional context: colleagues, collaborators, patients and relatives. In this context, comprised of both specialist and generic stakeholders, they are able to clearly and directly communicate the rational bases and knowledge lying behind their judgements.
In particular they will know how to:
1) simply and clearly express information concerning their professional activity orally and in writing according to the cultural level of their interlocutors;
2) interact respectfully and with intellectual honesty both with patients, to provide the best possible support for their health decisions, and with relatives to assure the informed understanding of the patient's point of view and attitudes.
As the most appropriate environment for acquiring such skills lies in clinical internship activities, characterised by a wide variety of interactive situations, this knowledge will be assessed through oral exams. Communication skills are also developed through the presentation of an original dissertation for the final examination.

• Learning skills

Graduates in Medicine and Surgery will have developed learning skills which allow them to continue their studies in an autonomous manner, with a view to lifelong learning in their specific professional sector. In particular, they will put their ability to consult all kinds of scientific documentation to full use in order to apply the results of their research to the treatment of patients in a reliable manner. Finally, graduates will be able to correctly exercise their profession in compliance with all related and applicable laws and ethical standards.
The learning outcome referred to here is represented by the final result of the whole study programme. Therefore, the acquisition of these skills is assessed through the methods described above.

Current legislation (DM 16 March 2007 GU 155 July 6 2007 - Suppl. Ordinario n. 153) lays down six years of study for the degree course in Medicine and Surgery with a total of 360 credits including credits for Vocational Training to be acquired in educational activities designed to promote the acquisition of specific vocational skills. Attendance at these educational activities (lectures and training) is compulsory and is a prerequisite to taking exams. Semesters: The Degree course is divided into 12 semesters. The average duration is 14 weeks each, based on a teaching progression starting with basic science in the first two years and progressing with medical and clinical methods, health care organization in Italy, ethical and legal aspects of medicine. Courses and exams: Individual courses are grouped into modules in keeping with the principle of integrated teaching with a total of 36 examinations (esami di di profitto) undertaken in the six-year course. Continuous assessment may be prescribed for courses held across two terms. Internship: The period of Vocational Training functions to all intents and purposes as an integral part of the Degree course. The internship takes the form of tutorial teaching in which practical activities are conducted under the supervision of a Tutor-Teacher. Elective activities: Credits are assigned to elective educational activities (ADO) chosen by students. There are no exams. Thesis: Credits are assigned to thesis preparation.

Assessment is either by: • exams without marks (idoneità) designed to determine the effectiveness of learning and teaching processes; • exams with marks (esami di profitto) designed to assess course objectives have been fulfilled, to certify an individual student’s preparation and quantify the outcome with a mark. All exams are taken during specific exam periods. Official exam sessions are: First session in January-February; Second session in June - July; Third session in September. Special sessions are planned annually by the Academic Board. Degree exam To be eligible to take the Degree exam, students must: • have followed all the courses and have passed all the exams; • have obtained a total of 360 credits in the course of the six years; • have delivered to the Segreteria Studenti a) an application to the Rector; b) a copy of the thesis before the Degree session. Students must check dates and deadlines at the Students’ Secretariat. Degree Exams are held in the summer, fall and specially scheduled sessions. Final Degree mark / Degree thesis discussion Currently, the final score of the Degree in Medicine and Surgery, following the thesis defense, is determined by the following sum: average exams in the Degree Course in Medicine: the average is multiplied by 11 and divided by 3, the result is rounded up or down to a ‘whole number’ (e.g. 95.5 -> 96 and 95.4 -> 94). The result is the baseline score. Points are determined by the presentation and discussion of the thesis. These points depend on the baseline score referred to in Column 1 in the following table:

To reach 99 (legal votes), the baseline score should be an average of no less than 92.

To reach 110 (full legal marks), the curriculum should be an average of no less than 101.

To reach 110 cum laude, the curriculum should be an average of no less than 102.5 and have achieved at least one "laude" distinction in the curriculum.
The discretion in the range of scores depends on the commitment shown by the candidate during the thesis preparation, the exposition the student gives on the subject and ability to respond to the questions raised by Thesis Board members during the discussion.

A student who interrupts enrolment in this course for more than 6 consecutive years or who has not complied with the compulsory attendance for more than 6 consecutive years or who has not passed exams for more than 6 consecutive academic years, must apply to the Medical Teaching board for career reassessment. Provided they are no longer obsolete, credits earned previously will be accepted.

How to register for the IMAT test

The total number of seats is 25 per year (20 EU and 5 non-EU) to be assigned through a single   IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) session held contemporaneously at Rome Tor Vergata University and other test centres in the world (see list below), in collaboration with the Cambridge Assessment. The IMAT test lasts 90 minutes.

Our test consists of 60 multiple choice questions based on

• overall cultural knowledge and logical reasoning
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics  and Mathematics

Should the candidates have any of the certificates listed here below, or have attended a school with an English language curricular programme, he/she will automatically be assigned 5 credits. 

The evaluation is based on the last three years of studies before high school graduation. The subjects considered are: Language and Literature of the country of origin, one foreign language, Mathematics. The points are attributed only if a final grade is indicated for all subjects and if the grades reach sufficiency on the basis of each academic year.
Should these subjects not be part of the high school curricula, the average is calculated on the subjects actually taken only if all data and grades pertaining to the last three years of attendance are provided.

Candidates with disabilities must inform the Students’Office FAX 0039 06 7259 6914 (School of Medicine – Via  Montpelier, 1 – 00133 Rome about their kind of disability   so that they may  be supplied with all the necessary equipment to take the admission test (Law n. 104 – February 5th 1992).
Candidates affected by dyslexia  will have 30% extra time to take the test with respect to standard time  (Law n. 170/2010).

Tuition and fees
Tuition is based on the students’ certified family income (ISEEU certification) and does not include food nor accommodation; an additional annual fee of € 2,000.00 (two thousand) is also due as an extra  yearly contribution.
CAF offices (Revenue Offices) having an agreement  with the University are entitled to officially provide the data of the students’ ISEEU  certification directly to the University.
INFO: http://iseeu.uniroma2.it
HOUSING : http://www.campusxroma.it/soluzioni-abitative/

ADISU: http://www.laziodisu.it/default.asp?id=874

Errata Corrige: ALL students who wish to attend the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery taught in English must pay the extra yearly fee of  2,000.00 (two thousand) Euro. ADISU scholarships DO NOT cover the above extra fee.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE COURSE: http://linguaitaliana.lettere.uniroma2.it/
Info.linguaitaliana@uniroma2.it

BANKING INFO:    Students may open a bank account at UNICREDIT bank present on campus.

• You need  the FISCAL CODE (issued by the Foreign Students’ Office – Via O. Raimondo 18 – 5th floor )
• ID student booklet (libretto universitario).

Didactic plan

FIRST YEAR
BIOCHEMISTRY
HUMAN ANATOMY I
APPLIED PHYSICS
MEDICAL STATISTICS
INFORMATICS
SCIENTIFIC WRITING & RESEARCH COMMUNICATION
APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
MEDICAL GENETICS
HISTOLOGY
MEDICAL PRACTICE I

THIRD YEAR
GENERAL PATHOLOGY
MEDICAL AND LABORATORY SCIENCE TECHNIQUES
CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
MICROBIOLOGY & CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
PARASSITOLOGY
HISTORY OF MEDICINE
GENERAL & APPLIED HYGIENE
DEMOETHNOANTHROPOLOGY
GENERAL  & SOCIAL PEDAGOGY
SYMPTOMATIC GENERAL SURGERY
SYMPTOMATIC INTERNAL MEDICINE
GENERAL PATHOLOGY
ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY
RESPIRATORY DISEASES
HEART DISEASES
THORACIC SURGERY
VASCULAR SURGERY
CARDIAC SURGERY
MEDICAL PRACTICE III

FOURTH YEAR
PHARMACOLOGY
INFORMATICS
GASTROENTEROLOGY
ENDOCRINOLOGY
NEPHROLOGY
UROLOGY
GENERAL SURGERY
APPLIED DIETARY TECHNIQUES
GENERAL & APPLIED HYGIENE
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
APPLIED ECONOMY
DERMATOLOGY
PLASTIC SURGERY
MEDICAL STATISTICS
ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY
BLOOD DISEASES
ALLERGOLOGY & CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
RHEUMATOLOGY
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
MEDICAL PRACTICE IV

FIFTH YEAR
NEUROLOGY
NEUROSURGERY
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES
PHYSICAL MEDICINE
NEURORADIOLOGY
PSYCHIATRY
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
GENERAL & SPECIALIZED PEDIATRICS
INFANT & PEDIATRIC SURGERY
PEDRIATICS
GENERAL SURGERY
MEDICAL GENETICS
INTERNAL MEDICINE
MEDICAL PRACTICE V

SIXTH YEAR
INTERNAL MEDICINE
PUBLIC LAW
APPLIED MEDICAL TECHNIQUES
GENERAL SURGERY
MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
DENTISTRY & DISEASE
VISION & DISEASE
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
AUDIOLOGY
FORENSIC MEDICINE
PUBLIC LAW
ANESTHESIOLOGY
INTERNAL MEDICINE
GENERAL SURGERY
MEDICAL PRACTICE VI