Medicine Entrance Exam: Quota System Delayed, Not Abolished – What the Reform Entails

Exciting Changes Coming to the Medicine Entrance Exam

Exciting updates are on the horizon for the Medicine entrance exam, specifically regarding the numerus clausus, which is not being abolished but rather postponed, according to the latest insights on the reform proposed by the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, a topic that has been under discussion for quite some time.

What Does the Medicine Exam Reform Entail?

The reform of the Medicine entrance exam, which could be in place as early as 2025, received its initial approval from the restricted Committee of the Senate’s Culture and Education Commission.
This reform not only impacts the Medicine and Surgery department but also Dentistry, Dental Prosthetics, and Veterinary Medicine.

The first significant change to the Medicine entrance exams came with the Tolc exam, and now the focus is on revising the barriers that occur after the first six months of study.

According to early reports on the reform bill, the Medicine entrance exam will not be eliminated but rather postponed until the end of the first semester.
What does this mean? All aspiring medical students will have access to the first semester of studies and will need to prove their readiness for the program.
This will involve identifying specific subjects that will serve as barriers to progress to the next semester, with dedicated exams to be passed as part of the process.
Additionally, candidates will need to pass a national quiz.

Postponed Numerus Clausus and Credit Recognition

If candidates do not pass the required exams after the initial six months of study, the credits earned will not go to waste.
Instead, these educational credits can be recognized for enrollment in a different study program.

Initial rumors suggest that this academic year might be the last one with the Medicine entrance exam determining a strict numerus clausus, and the new rules are expected to come into effect in 2025.
Access to the second semester, contingent upon meeting uniform credit standards, will be based on a merit ranking.
The draft bill that obtained the first approval from the Senate’s Education and Culture Committee delegates the government to adopt legislative decrees implementing the Medicine entrance exam reform within 12 months of the law coming into force.

While the postponement of the Medicine entrance exam is welcomed by aspiring medical students, there is some opposition from those who are already practicing in the field.
The National Federation of Orders of Surgeons and Dentists, through its president Filippo Anelli, expressed doubts about the reform implementation:

“We remain firmly opposed to the abolition of the numerus clausus in Medicine.
We appreciate the intention of the Legislature to link the number of students to the needs of professionals and the number of specialization positions.
However, we have reservations about the implementation methods, which we hope will be clarified soon.”

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