Medical study places without entrance exam restrictions — in Europe and worldwide

Personally guided by Marcel Kloos, founder of Medschool Experts, from your first consultation to the start of your career.
Book a free consultation
  • The right university for you — and a secure placement
  • A study place abroad with no entrance exam, internationally recognised
  • Support with enrolment, preparation and finding accommodation
  • Support with your university transfer
  • Guidance all the way to your first job as a doctor
Quick survey · anonymous
What was the main reason your studies came to a halt?
One question, ten seconds. Your answers feed directly into our advising — and into the next analysis here in the magazine.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Anonymous. We use your answers internally only, to improve our advising — never shared with third parties.
Magazine

Transfer from University of Milan La Statale: Where to Continue Medicine in 2026

Transfer from University of Milan La Statale: Where to Continue Medicine in 2026

21.10.2026

16 min read Lesezeit

Short answer

Transfer from the University of Milan (La Statale) to another European university: CFU/ECTS credits, failed exams, language and costs. Free consultation.

The University of Milan, known as La Statale, is Italy's largest university by student numbers and offers an English-taught Medicine and Surgery course that admits international students every autumn through the IMAT. Clinical teaching takes place at several large hospitals in the Milan metropolitan area. Some of those students, at some point between year one and year five, ask the same question: can I continue my studies somewhere else in Europe without starting again?

The answer is yes, and the path is well-trodden. A transfer from the University of Milan to another university is an ordinary academic procedure. Passed courses carry CFU credits, which are ECTS, receiving faculties compare curricula, and a place in the matching year is agreed. The reasons behind the question vary: the cost of living in Milan, an examination cycle that did not go to plan, the Italian language on the wards, or a wish for a smaller and more personal faculty.

Marcel Kloos, the founder and owner of Medschool Experts, is a federally recognised dentist who studied dentistry in Sofia from 2015 to 2021 and has placed more than 500 students at universities abroad. His team has planned and carried out study transfers for almost ten years.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Is a transfer from the University of Milan possible in 2026?

Yes. A transfer from the University of Milan in Milan to another university in Europe is possible in 2026 for students of the Medicine and Surgery (English-taught course) programme, provided the transcript, the syllabi and the passed examinations are prepared properly and the receiving faculty has a place in the matching year. Medschool Experts checks every case individually and free of charge.

Quick answer

A transfer from the University of Milan to another university in Europe is possible in 2026 for students of the English-taught Medicine and Surgery course. Completed semesters of the 360-CFU programme can be credited as ECTS, the placement year depends on your transcript, and Medschool Experts plans and carries out the entire transfer. The consultation is free.

The course is a six-year single-cycle degree of 360 CFU with 60 credits per year. The first years cover the basic and preclinical sciences in integrated courses; the later years are clinical and are spread across several hospitals of the Milan area, which means that students move between teaching sites and that patient contact is in Italian. Examinations are held in sessions within the rules of the faculty. That structure matters for a transfer, because receiving universities compare exactly these stages with their own curriculum. Here is the faculty at a glance.

Transfer from the University of Milan: the faculty at a glance (2026)
ItemDetail
UniversityUniversity of Milan (La Statale), Medicine and Surgery (state university, founded 1924)
CityMilan, Lombardy, Italy
ProgrammeMedicine and Surgery (English-taught course)
Tuition per year (2026)income-based, approx. 150 to 4,500 EUR
Living costsapprox. 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per month
LanguageEnglish (Italian required for clinical years)
Degree and durationLaurea Magistrale in Medicine and Surgery, 6 years
Credits360 CFU/ECTS (60 per year)
University pageUniversity of Milan profile

Failed exams at the University of Milan: what now?

Students who failed exams at the University of Milan in 2026 have three realistic options: resit within the faculty rules, repeat the year in Milan, or transfer to another university in Europe where the passed courses are credited and the failed ones are retaken in a different teaching environment. None of these ends a medical career. The third option is the one we deal with every week.

At the University of Milan the pattern we hear about most is scale. Large cohorts mean large lecture halls and examinations with many candidates, and students who need close contact with teachers sometimes feel lost in the crowd. Combined with the freedom to postpone examinations, this can lead to a backlog that grows unnoticed. Being 'fuori corso' is common in Italy and is not a formal failure, but it stretches the degree. The courses you did pass remain fully documented with their CFU value and are recognised elsewhere.

What matters now is your transcript. Every passed course with its credit value is an asset that travels with you. Before you decide anything, request an official transcript of records and the syllabi of all passed courses. Then speak to Marcel or another experienced consultant on our team. We look at the documents, not at the failed exam, and tell you which routes are open to you.

Why do students consider a transfer from the University of Milan?

Students consider a transfer from the University of Milan for four recurring reasons: the cost of living in Italy's most expensive city, the size of the cohorts, an examination backlog under the session system, or the Italian language required on the wards. Each reason has a matching solution, and a transfer is one of them.

Milan's rents are the first topic in most conversations. Tuition is low, but a student who pays 1,000 to 1,500 EUR a month for housing, food and transport spends more on living than on tuition several times over. Students who planned with a smaller budget, or whose family support changed, often discover that the low fee does not translate into a low total cost. A smaller city elsewhere in Europe can cut the monthly line by a third or more.

The second reason is size. The University of Milan is a large institution, and students who want smaller groups, closer contact with teachers and a more personal clinical environment sometimes decide that another faculty suits them better. The third reason is language: the wards work in Italian, and a transfer after year three is the classic timing for students who want to spend their clinical years in a language they already speak.

Is Milan too expensive for a medical student, and what are the alternatives?

It depends on the budget, and for many students Milan is the most expensive part of an otherwise inexpensive degree. A room in the city typically costs more than in any other Italian university town, and commuting from cheaper districts adds time and transport costs.

The alternatives are not limited to other Italian cities. Several universities in Central and Eastern Europe offer English-taught Medicine with living costs around half those of Milan, and a transfer after two or three years can keep the credits while cutting the monthly budget considerably.

We do not push students out of Milan. In the consultation we put the annual budget of staying next to the budget of realistic alternatives and say plainly when Milan is still the better choice for the remaining years.

How are credits from the University of Milan transferred to another university?

Credits from the University of Milan are transferred through the CFU system, which is identical to ECTS: 60 credits per year, one credit per 25 hours of student workload. Each passed examination is recorded in the transcript with its CFU value and a grade out of 30, and the university issues course syllabi in English. Integrated courses that combine several subjects are split into their components for the comparison, and clinical rotations at different hospitals are documented as one transcript.

The receiving faculty compares your passed courses with its own curriculum course by course. Subjects with matching content and comparable hours are credited; subjects that exist only in the new curriculum are added; failed or missing subjects are retaken. The result is the placement year. A student with two complete years often enters year three, sometimes with two or three additional modules to catch up in the first semester. Medschool Experts prepares this comparison before any application is sent, so that no faculty sees an incomplete file.

Two documents decide the outcome: the official transcript of records with grades and credits, and the syllabi of the passed courses. Faculties want to see hours, content and examination form for each subject. Students who collect these papers early, while they are still enrolled, save weeks later.

Which universities accept transfer students from the University of Milan?

Which universities accept transfer students from the University of Milan depends on the individual profile: the number of passed semesters, the grades, the language of the target programme and the year in which a faculty has free places. Medschool Experts checks these options individually for each student and does not publish lists of accepting universities, because such lists are outdated within a semester and mislead more than they help.

That is how transfers actually work. A faculty with three free places in year three in 2025 may have none there in 2026 and two in year four instead. Our consultants know current capacities because Medschool Experts places students at its partner universities every year.

A study transfer is a complex undertaking. Our experts have almost 10 years of experience in study transfers worldwide, which is why they plan and carry it out confidently. The consultation is free.

How is a degree from the University of Milan recognised, and what changes after a transfer?

A degree from the University of Milan is an Italian Laurea Magistrale in Medicine and Surgery awarded by a state-accredited university in an EU member state, and since 2020 the Italian degree includes the professional qualification, so no separate state examination follows. Under Directive 2005/36/EC it is automatically recognised throughout the EU and the EEA, and the Italian accreditation agency holds WFME recognition, which keeps the USMLE route open. Nothing about this changes for the worse after a transfer to another EU university: the final diploma remains an EU degree with the same automatic recognition.

What changes is where you graduate, in which language the clinical years take place and how much the remaining years cost. The passed Milan courses are credited into the new programme, and the diploma at the end is issued by the university where you finish.

Students who already know where they want to practise should raise this early. Licensing authorities across the EU require professional-level language skills, and a transfer can be timed so that the clinical years happen in the language of your future workplace.

What does a transfer from the University of Milan cost compared with staying?

A transfer from the University of Milan changes two budget lines: tuition and living costs. In Milan a student pays income-based tuition of roughly 150 to 4,500 EUR per year in 2026 plus about 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per month for rent, food and transport. In total, one year in Milan adds up to roughly 12,150 to 22,500 EUR.

One year at the University of Milan: tuition + living (2026)Low scenario12,150 EURHigh scenario22,500 EURTuitionLiving costs
Annual cost of staying at the University of Milan in 2026: tuition plus living costs in a low and a high scenario.

Milan is the rare case where the living-cost line, not the tuition line, decides the comparison. A transfer may raise tuition, since Medicine at our European partner universities starts from €1,750 per semester (2026), but cut monthly costs sharply, and over the remaining years the two effects can cancel out or even favour the move. That calculation belongs in the decision as much as the fee itself.

Whether a transfer saves money or costs money therefore depends on the receiving university and city. We put the real numbers side by side in the consultation, including one-off costs such as application fees, a deposit for accommodation and the move itself, so that the decision rests on a complete budget rather than on a tuition figure alone.

Can I transfer from the University of Milan without losing a year?

A transfer from the University of Milan without losing a year is possible when three things line up: your passed courses match the receiving curriculum closely, the application reaches the faculty before its deadline for the coming academic year, and the faculty has a free place in the year you are aiming for. Timing is the part students underestimate most.

Most European faculties decide on transfer applications for the autumn intake between spring and late summer. A student who contacts us in January or February has the whole window available. A student who starts in August often has to choose between a late-decided place for the same autumn and a well-prepared application for the following year. Medschool Experts does not quote a cap on recognised years and regularly achieves placements in year 3, 4 or 5 when the documents allow it.

Free transfer consultation

Thinking about a transfer from the University of Milan? 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 Consultation

Can I continue from the University of Milan towards the USA and the USMLE?

Yes. A student of the University of Milan can pursue the USA route in 2026 in two ways: graduate in Milan and apply for ECFMG certification on the basis of the WFME-recognised Italian accreditation, or transfer to another European university whose graduates take the same USMLE path. Both routes lead to Step 1, Step 2 CK and the residency match.

Timing is the practical question. Students who plan the USA route usually want to sit Step 1 after the preclinical stage. A transfer that lands you in year three or four of a new programme should therefore be planned around your Step 1 schedule, so that the move and the exam do not fall into the same term. We map this out with you in the consultation.

How does a transfer from the University of Milan work with Medschool Experts, step by step?

A transfer from the University of Milan with Medschool Experts follows six steps over roughly four to seven months: free consultation and transcript check, document collection in Milan, credit-recognition assessment, application to the matching faculties, admission decision, and finally visa or registration, housing and enrolment. Marcel or another experienced consultant on our team accompanies each step personally.

Transfer timeline: about 4 to 7 months1Free consultation2Documents3Credit assessment4Applications5Admission6EnrolmentMonths 1 to 2: steps 1 to 3 · Months 2 to 5: steps 4 to 5 · Before term start: step 6
Typical timeline of a transfer from the University of Milan with Medschool Experts in 2026, from the first free consultation to the first day at the new faculty.

Step one is a conversation. You send us your transcript and tell us what you want: a lower budget, a different teaching setting, a fresh start after a failed year, or a degree that fits your career plan better. Within a week or two you get a realistic picture of the years and routes that fit your documents.

Step two takes place in Milan: you request the official transcript of records, the course syllabi in English and a certificate of enrolment, and we tell you exactly what each paper must contain. Steps three to six are ours to carry. We prepare the credit comparison, submit the applications, follow up with the faculties, secure the admission letter for the matching year and guide you through registration, housing and enrolment. Students who started in spring are usually sitting in their new lecture hall by autumn. Read how others experienced this on our student stories page, and then book your free consultation.

The author's view

Students from Milan often start the conversation with money, and I take that seriously. I came to medicine late, at 24, and I financed a large part of my studies myself, so I know how a monthly budget can decide a degree. Nobody should feel embarrassed to say that a city has become too expensive.

Since founding Medschool Experts I have placed more than 500 students, many of them mid-degree. Milan transcripts are clear and well documented, and receiving faculties are used to them. What decides the outcome is timing and the completeness of the documents, and both are things we can control together.

My advice: do the annual budget before the next semester begins, not after it. Have your transcript checked now. The conversation is free, and even if you stay in Milan, you will know exactly what your credits are worth.

Summary

  • A transfer from the University of Milan to another university in Europe is possible in 2026 and follows a standard academic procedure.
  • The course carries 360 CFU, identical to ECTS, with 60 per year; passed courses are compared and credited course by course.
  • The most common reasons for a transfer are the high cost of living, the size of the cohorts, an examination backlog and the Italian language on the wards.
  • Because tuition is low and rent is high, the living-cost line often decides the comparison.
  • The final diploma after a transfer inside the EU remains an EU degree with automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC; the USMLE route stays open.
  • The process takes roughly four to seven months from the first free consultation to enrolment.

Conclusion

The world needs more doctors, and a student who has passed a few years in Milan is well on the way to becoming one. A rent that outgrew the budget, a very large cohort or a language barrier on the ward does not change that. It only changes where the remaining years are spent, and a transfer is the tool for exactly this decision.

Marcel Kloos and his team have accompanied more than 500 students to universities abroad, many of them mid-degree. If you are studying at the University of Milan and asking yourself where to continue, send us your transcript. The consultation is free, and you will know within days what your credits are worth.

Frequently Asked Questions about a transfer from the University of Milan

Is an agency necessary for a transfer from the University of Milan?

An agency is not legally required for a transfer from the University of Milan; a student can apply to a faculty in Europe directly. In practice most students use Medschool Experts because the credit-recognition assessment, the choice of the matching year and the timing of applications decide whether a semester is lost. Our consultants have handled study transfers for almost ten years, and the first consultation is free.

Will I lose a year if I transfer from the University of Milan?

Not necessarily. Whether a year is lost depends on how closely your passed courses in Milan match the curriculum of the receiving university and in which year that faculty has free places. Medschool Experts does not quote a cap on recognised years and regularly achieves placements in year 3, 4 or 5. A free transcript check tells you what is realistic for your documents.

I failed a year at the University of Milan. Can I still transfer?

Yes. A failed year at the University of Milan does not prevent a transfer. The receiving university looks at the courses you passed and their credit value, not at the courses you failed. Failed modules are simply retaken in the new programme. Students with an incomplete year are placed regularly; the placement year is then usually the one in which the missing subjects can be taken.

How many credits from the University of Milan will be recognised?

There is no fixed percentage. Each receiving faculty compares your passed courses with its own curriculum and credits those with matching content. Italian medical curricula use ECTS (CFU) with 60 credits per year, so a complete year is usually recognised in full by faculties with a comparable curriculum; integrated courses that combine several subjects are split into their components for the comparison. Medschool Experts prepares this comparison in advance so that you know the likely placement year before you apply.

When should I start planning a transfer from the University of Milan?

Ideally in the winter or spring before the academic year in which you want to change, because most European faculties decide transfer applications between spring and late summer. Students who contact us early have the whole application window available; late starters usually have to accept a compromise on timing or on the placement year.

Which documents do I need for a transfer from the University of Milan?

An official transcript of records with grades and credits, the syllabi of all passed courses in English, a certificate of enrolment, your secondary-school leaving certificate and a valid passport. Some faculties also ask for a letter explaining the reason for the transfer. We tell you exactly what each paper must contain.

Can I transfer from the University of Milan to a programme in a different language?

Yes, as long as you meet the language requirement of the target programme. Most of our students move between English-taught programmes, which keeps the credit comparison simple. Some faculties require a language certificate for clinical teaching in the local language; we check this for every option before you apply.

What does the consultation with Medschool Experts cost?

The consultation is free and without obligation. Marcel or another experienced consultant on our team reviews your transcript, explains which routes are realistic and what they cost, and you decide afterwards whether you want us to plan and carry out the transfer.

Is a transfer from the University of Milan worth it if tuition is already low?

It can be, when living costs are the main burden. In Milan the monthly cost is often higher than the tuition for the whole year, so a city with cheaper rent can lower the total budget even if the new tuition is higher. We compare both lines for your case in the consultation.

Can I transfer from La Statale if my clinical rotations have already started?

Yes. Students in the clinical years can transfer, and the rotations you have completed are documented in the transcript. Receiving faculties compare the clinical subjects and the hours of supervised practice, and we prepare that documentation with you so that the placement year reflects the work you have done.

Your question · answer by email
Still have a question?
Write it here. I'll respond by email and, if it helps others, include it anonymously in the Q&A for this article.
Thanks — your question has arrived. You will get an answer by email, usually within two working days.
That didn't work, unfortunately. Please try again or contact us using the contact form.
We use your email address solely to reply to your question. No sharing with third parties, no newsletter.

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.

Read 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.

More articles worth reading

English-Taught Medical Degrees in Germany 2026: UMCH Hamburg, EUC Frankfurt and What They Cost

Countries

12 min read Lesezeit

English-Taught Medical Degrees in Germany 2026: UMCH Hamburg, EUC Frankfurt and What They Cost

Marcel Kloos

Marcel Kloos

20.10.2026

Read article
NHS Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship 2026: Current Status and the Alternatives

Admission Process

12 min read Lesezeit

NHS Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship 2026: Current Status and the Alternatives

Marcel Kloos

Marcel Kloos

20.10.2026

Read article
Gap Year Before Medicine: Is It Worth It in 2026?

Medical Studies Abroad

12 min read Lesezeit

Gap Year Before Medicine: Is It Worth It in 2026?

Marcel Kloos

Marcel Kloos

20.10.2026

Read article
View all articles
Portrait photo of Ahmad, Medschool Experts client

Ahmad

Portrait photo of Sabrina, Medschool Experts client

Sabrina

Portrait photo of Rami, Medschool Experts client

Rami

Portrait photo of Noah, Medschool Experts client

Noah

500+ students placed.
Now it's your turn!

No daydreaming, no empty promises. Just a clear plan — for the start of your medical degree.

Book a free consultation
  • 40 minutes, no obligation