BREAKING NEWS: Federico II University Launches Italy's Second English-Taught Veterinary Medicine Degree

If you've been eyeing Italy for your veterinary studies but weren't thrilled about studying in Italian, this is the news you've been waiting for. The University of Naples Federico II, one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1224, has officially announced a brand-new, fully English-taught Veterinary Medicine degree, launching in the 2026–27 academic year.

This makes Federico II only the second university in Italy to offer this programme in English, joining the University of Bologna. If you've been holding out for more options, the wait is over.

What's the Degree?

It's a five-year, single-cycle Master's degree (Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico) in Veterinary Medicine, taught entirely in English, open to both EU and non-EU students. The programme is accredited by EAEVE (the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education), the gold standard for vet schools across Europe.

Spots are extremely limited: just 20 places per year. That's a tight cohort, but it also means an outstanding student-to-teacher ratio and direct, continuous contact with academic staff from day one.

What Will You Study?

The curriculum spans five years of progressively deeper veterinary training, covering the full breadth of the discipline:

Year 1 lays the scientific foundations: chemistry, biochemistry, histology, embryology, comparative anatomy, zoology, veterinary genetics, and medical informatics, plus a dedicated English language module.

Year 2 moves into physiology, microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, parasitology, and livestock science, alongside agronomy and rural economics.

Year 3 gets clinical: pharmacology, toxicology, pathological anatomy (including autopsy techniques), surgical pathology and radiology, food hygiene, and veterinary semeiotics, essentially, how to read and diagnose disease in animals.

Year 4 dives into clinical practice: surgical and medical clinics, anaesthesiology, food inspection, bacterial and avian diseases, animal welfare, and veterinary legislation.

Year 5 brings it home with virology, obstetrics, reproductive pathophysiology, and a block of 12 ECTS elective courses to specialise in the areas you care about most.

The department also runs a University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (UVTH) on campus, meaning real clinical exposure is built right into your training.

Who Can Apply?

Admission is competitive and closed number (restricted entry), open to both EU and non-EU applicants. To be eligible, you'll need:

• A secondary school diploma (or equivalent qualification) that grants access to university in your home country
• Demonstrated proficiency in English: the degree is taught entirely in the language, so this is non-negotiable
• Successful completion of an admission test; the Federico II programme is brand new and its admission test format hasn't been announced yet (the MUR circular is still pending). It will, most likely, use the IMAT as its admission test, like the University of Bologna does for its English-taught Veterinary Medicine course.

The official MUR circular and application procedures have not yet been released. Bookmark the department's page at mvpa-unina.org and check back regularly. You'll want to be ready the moment applications open.

Non-EU students applying from abroad will need to complete the Italian pre-enrolment procedure via the Universitaly portal (universitaly.it) and obtain the appropriate study visa, standard procedure for all Italian university programmes.

Why Naples?

Federico II is no ordinary university. Founded eight centuries ago and ranked among Europe's top research institutions, it brings serious academic firepower to this new programme. The Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production has decades of experience, a fully equipped teaching hospital, and strong international networks including active Erasmus+ partnerships.

Then there's Naples itself: a UNESCO World Heritage city, home to extraordinary food, culture, and coastline, with a cost of living considerably lower than Milan or Rome.

The Bottom Line

One of two English-taught vet schools in Italy. Twenty seats. One city that's genuinely impossible not to love. If you're an aspiring veterinarian looking to train in Europe, and you want a programme with real clinical depth, European accreditation, and a small-cohort experience, Federico II just moved to the top of the list.

Stay tuned to medschool.it for updates the moment applications open.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is this the onlu English-taught Veterinary Medicine degree in Italy? No, it's one of two. The University of Bologna was the first. Federico II is now joining them, making it one of only two public universities in Italy offering this programme entirely in English.

How many places are available? Just 20 per year, open to both EU and non-EU students.

Do I need to take the IMAT to apply? Unknown for now. The University of Bologna uses the IMAT for its English-taught vet programme, but Federico II's admission test format has not yet been announced. The official MUR circular, which will confirm this, is still pending. We'll update this page as soon as it drops.

What are the basic eligibility requirements? You'll need a secondary school diploma (or equivalent) recognised for university entry in your home country, and a solid level of English proficiency. Specific requirements will be confirmed in the official circular.

When does the programme start? The 2026–27 academic year, so the first cohort enrolls in autumn 2026.

How long is the degree? Five years, leading to a single-cycle Master's degree (Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico), the standard format for veterinary medicine across Europe.

Is the degree internationally recognised? Yes. The Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production at Federico II is accredited by EAEVE (the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education), the benchmark accreditation for vet schools across Europe.

Where can I find official updates? Keep an eye on the department's official page: mvpa-unina.org/corsi/vetmed.xhtml — and stay tuned to medschool.it for updates the moment applications open.