Transfer from Università Cattolica Rome: Failed Exams, Costs and Your Options in 2026
21.10.2026
Short answer
Transfer from Cattolica Rome: tuition of €18,150 a year, failed exams, ECTS credit transfer and how to change university without losing a year in 2026.
What does a transfer from Università Cattolica Rome involve?
Quick answer: A transfer from Università Cattolica Rome means moving your completed Medicine and Surgery credits (CFU, identical to ECTS) to another medical faculty that recognises them. The receiving university compares your transcript and syllabi with its own curriculum and places you in a year. Planned early, most students keep their study time.
| Point | Cattolica Rome, Medicine and Surgery |
|---|---|
| Programme length | 6 years, 360 CFU/ECTS |
| Tuition | €18,150 per year, fixed for all nationalities |
| Six-year tuition | €108,900 |
| Clinical training | Policlinico Gemelli, Rome |
| Credit system | CFU, 1 CFU = 1 ECTS |
| Transfer support | Free consultation with Medschool Experts |
A transfer is not a new application in the usual sense. You are not starting from zero. The receiving faculty looks at what you have already passed, checks how closely it matches its own modules and decides where you continue. The better this comparison is prepared, the higher your placement tends to be.
Why do students transfer away from Cattolica Rome?
Most students who contact us from Cattolica Rome name one of three reasons. The first is cost. Tuition is €18,150 per year and there are currently no scholarships or tuition waivers for this programme. Add rent in Rome and a six-year budget quickly passes €180,000.
The second reason is academic. A single exam that you keep failing can block progression, and in Italy that often means becoming a student fuori corso, enrolled beyond the regular duration and still paying fees.
The third reason is language. Lectures are in English, but the wards of a large Roman hospital work in Italian. Some students enjoy that. Others find that it slows their clinical learning. None of these reasons is a verdict on the university. They are personal fits, and a transfer is a practical way to fix them.
Failed exams at Cattolica Rome — what can you do?
Failing an exam at Cattolica Rome is not the end of your medical career. It happens every semester, at every medical school in Europe. What matters is what you do next.
If you have failed a key exam several times, or you are worried about losing a full year, it is worth looking at your whole transcript rather than only the failed module. A transfer lets you continue at a faculty where the passed exams count, where the exam format may suit you better and where you are not stuck repeating the same hurdle under the same conditions.
Short sentences help here. Do not wait. The earlier you speak to us, the more options remain open for the next intake.
How much does Cattolica Rome cost compared with cheaper options?
Tuition at Cattolica Rome is €18,150 per academic year in 2026, which adds up to €108,900 over six years. Living costs in Rome come on top. With a planning figure of around €1,100 per month for rent, food and transport, a full degree costs roughly €188,000.
English-taught medical faculties elsewhere in Europe start at about €3,500 per year in tuition. Over six years that is €21,000 instead of €108,900. For many families this difference is the main reason to consider a transfer.
| Item | Per year | Six years |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | €18,150 | €108,900 |
| Living costs in Rome (approx. €1,100 per month) | €13,200 | €79,200 |
| Total | €31,350 | €188,100 |
Can you transfer from Cattolica Rome without losing a year?
Yes, in many cases. Whether you lose time depends on three things: how many exams you have passed, how closely your modules match the receiving curriculum and when you apply. A student who plans the move before the summer exam session usually has more choice than one who starts in September.
Medschool Experts regularly achieves high placements for transfer students, often without any loss of study time. We do not promise a fixed year in advance, because the decision belongs to the receiving faculty. What we do is prepare your file so that every passed credit is visible and comparable.
How do Cattolica Rome credits transfer (CFU and ECTS)?
Italian universities count credits in CFU (crediti formativi universitari). One CFU equals one ECTS credit, so a full year of 60 CFU at Cattolica Rome is a full year of 60 ECTS anywhere in the European Higher Education Area. This makes the formal side of a credit transfer from Cattolica straightforward.
The content comparison is where the work lies. Italian curricula often combine subjects differently from other countries. Anatomy, for example, can be split across several semesters. Your syllabi, with teaching hours and exam dates, show the receiving faculty exactly what you have covered.
Which universities accept transfer students from Cattolica Rome?
A transfer from Cattolica Rome is possible to a range of English-taught medical faculties in Europe. Which ones fit depends on your transcript, your budget and your career plans, so there is no single list that suits everyone.
Our experts have close to ten years of experience with study transfers worldwide. In a free transfer consultation we look at your transcript and tell you which options are realistic for your profile.
Free transfer consultation
Thinking about a transfer from Cattolica Rome? Have your transcript checked for free.
Medschool Experts plans and carries out study transfers to our 25+ partner universities in Europe and aims for no loss of time. The consultation is free.
Book a Free Transfer ConsultationWhich documents does a transfer from Cattolica Rome need?
Every transfer starts with your academic record from Cattolica Rome: an official transcript of records, the syllabi of the modules you have passed and proof of enrolment. The exact list and format, including translations and legalisation, depend on the receiving university and country. We tell you what is needed once your options are clear, so you only request each document once.
How long does a transfer from Cattolica Rome take?
Plan with three to six months from the first consultation to the start at your new faculty. Most transfers are timed to the start of an academic year or semester.
Does a transfer affect recognition of your medical degree?
No. If you transfer from Cattolica Rome to another EU medical faculty, your final degree comes from that faculty and is recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC like any other EU medical degree. What counts is that the full programme meets the EU minimum of five years and 5,500 hours of training, which every accredited EU medical faculty does.
Why transfer from Cattolica Rome with Medschool Experts?
A study transfer is a complicated undertaking. Credits, deadlines, documents and placement decisions all have to fit together. Our experts have close to ten years of experience in study transfers worldwide, which is why they plan and carry out a transfer from Cattolica Rome with confidence. The consultation is free. Have a look at our transfer services or read what former students say in our student stories.
The author's view
I started my own studies in Sofia in 2015, at 24, and I remember how much a single exam could weigh on a whole semester. That is why I never see a transfer as giving up. It is a decision to continue under conditions that fit.
Cattolica Rome is a strong school with an excellent hospital behind it. When students from Rome write to us, it is almost never about the quality of teaching. It is about money, one stubborn exam or the question of whether Italian-speaking wards are the right place for them. Each of these can be solved.
Since December 2023 I have been running Medschool Experts from Bern, and over the years we have placed more than 500 students. My advice to anyone at Cattolica who is unsure: talk to us early. A calm plan made in spring is worth far more than a rushed one in September.
Marcel Kloos, founder and owner of Medschool Experts, federally recognised dentist.
Summary
- Cattolica Rome charges €18,150 per year for Medicine and Surgery in 2026, with no scholarships for this programme.
- CFU credits equal ECTS credits, so your passed exams remain formally comparable across Europe.
- Failed exams or a stalled year are a common reason to transfer, not a dead end.
- With early planning, many students transfer without losing study time.
- Medschool Experts plans the whole transfer and the consultation is free.
Conclusion
A transfer from Università Cattolica Rome is a realistic option if costs, a blocked exam or the clinical setting no longer fit your plans. Your credits are portable, and the main task is preparing your file so the receiving faculty can see everything you have achieved.
If you are thinking about leaving Cattolica Rome, talk to us before the next exam session. Book your free transfer consultation and we will look at your transcript together.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer from Cattolica Rome to another medical school?
Yes. A transfer from Università Cattolica Rome to another medical faculty in Europe is possible. The receiving university checks your transcript and syllabi and decides in which year you continue. Medschool Experts prepares this process for you and the first consultation is free.
Do I lose a year if I transfer from Cattolica Rome?
Not necessarily. Many students transfer from Cattolica Rome without losing study time. It depends on your passed exams, how well they match the new curriculum and when you apply. Planning early, ideally before the summer session, keeps the most options open.
I failed a year at Cattolica Rome. Can I still transfer?
Yes. A failed year at Cattolica Rome does not rule out a transfer. Your passed exams keep their value. Many students use a transfer precisely to continue their studies somewhere the passed credits count and they are not stuck repeating the same exam.
How are Cattolica Rome credits converted into ECTS?
Italian CFU credits equal ECTS credits one to one. A full academic year at Cattolica Rome is worth 60 CFU, which equals 60 ECTS. The receiving faculty then compares the content of your modules with its own curriculum.
Is it cheaper to study medicine elsewhere than at Cattolica Rome?
Often, yes. Cattolica Rome charges €18,150 per year in 2026. English-taught medical faculties elsewhere in Europe start at around €3,500 per year, so the six-year difference in tuition can exceed €80,000.
Do I need an agency to transfer from Cattolica Rome?
You can apply on your own, but a transfer involves credit comparisons, deadlines and documents in several formats. Medschool Experts has close to ten years of experience in study transfers worldwide and advises you free of charge before you decide.
Which universities accept students from Cattolica Rome?
Several English-taught medical faculties in Europe accept transfer students from Cattolica Rome. Which ones suit you depends on your transcript and goals. In a free consultation we tell you which options are realistic for your profile.
When should I start planning a transfer from Cattolica Rome?
Ideally three to six months before the semester in which you want to start. Many transfers take effect at the start of an academic year, so spring is a good moment to begin preparing your documents.
Is a degree after a transfer recognised in the EU?
Yes. If you finish at another EU medical faculty, your degree is recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC like any EU medical degree. The transfer itself has no effect on recognition.
Does Medschool Experts charge for the first consultation?
No. The first consultation about a transfer from Cattolica Rome is free. We review your situation, explain the options and only then do you decide whether you want our support.
What students say about Medschool Experts
Over 500 placements at 25+ partner universities across 10+ countries. See how our students experienced their path into medical school abroad in our student stories.
About the author

Marcel Kloos
Founder and owner of Medschool Experts, federally recognised dentist
Marcel Kloos is the founder and owner of Medschool Experts, a placement agency for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy degrees abroad. Since 2021 the team has secured more than 500 study places at 25+ partner universities in Europe and worldwide.
Study medicine abroad: Marcel's own path
Born in Stuttgart, Marcel started his degree late: at 24 he enrolled at the Medical University of Sofia, Faculty of Dental Medicine, and graduated in 2021 from the English-language programme. He went through the same steps his clients face today — nostrification of school certificates, entrance interviews, finding a flat in Sofia and later the recognition of a foreign degree. He is a federally recognised dentist.
What Marcel does at Medschool Experts
Today Marcel lives in Bern and runs Medschool Experts full-time. He visits every partner university in person, negotiates placement agreements directly with faculties and deans, and leads the free consultations in which applicants learn at which university they can start next semester. His YouTube channel on studying medicine abroad has helped thousands of applicants compare universities, costs and recognition.
Topics Marcel writes about
- Study medicine abroad independent of your high school diploma grades: universities, costs and admission
- Study dentistry, veterinary medicine or pharmacy in Europe in English
- Tuition fees and living costs at medical schools in Europe and worldwide
- Recognition of foreign medical degrees in the EU, Switzerland, the UK and the US
- Transferring between medical schools and returning home into a higher semester
All articles by Marcel Kloos are based on first-hand visits to the universities and conversations with current students. Book a free consultation to discuss your own path.
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