Status: Pending ministerial authorization – details subject to change.

The University of Padua (Unipd) is launching a Medicine and Surgery – MedTech degree starting in the 2026 academic year, marking a novel fusion of medical and engineering education. This new 6-year (360 ECTS) single-cycle program is taught entirely in English and is designed to train physicians who are fluent in digital health and bioengineering. The curriculum explicitly integrates clinical medicine with biomedical sciences, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies. In short, graduates will have a “medicine + engineering” mindset, combining patient-centered care with technological innovation.

Padua’s MedTech program is still awaiting official approval. Admission procedures (likely a national medical admission test) and exact seat numbers are not yet finalized. However, Unipd’s published outline emphasizes that students will gain skills in AI, statistics, bioengineering and patient care, preparing them for the modern healthcare landscape.

• Degree: Medicine and Surgery – MedTech (Single-cycle Master’s, Class LM-41)
• Duration: 6 years (360 ECTS total)
• Language: English (100% of instruction)
• Location: Padua, Italy (school of medicine)
• Intake (tentative): 65 EU/other + 15 non-EU students (subject to final approval)
• Tuition: ~€2,700–2,900 per year (income-based; similar to Padua’s English Medicine program)
• Entrance: National medical admission test (IMAT or equivalent, pending official decree)
• Website: Padua MedTech program (info page)

These figures are preliminary. Unipd will issue updated admissions notices once the Ministry of Education finalizes authorization.

Padua vs. Venice

Until now, Padua’s English-taught Medicine and Surgery program was based on the Padua campus. Starting 2025/26, however, that existing English Medicine course is being relocated to Venice. In other words, Padua’s new MedTech program is an additional offering, not a replacement.

Official news from Unipd confirms that Padua’s Medicine and Surgery degree will move to Venice (SS Giovanni e Paolo Hospital campus) in 2025–26. This means Padua will still train doctors in English – but through the MedTech track, which emphasizes technology – while Venice hosts the traditional MD curriculum. Unipd expects about 75% of Venice’s intake from EU (incl. Italian) students and 25% non-EU. By contrast, specific MedTech intake quotas at Padua are pending announcement.

What Makes MedTech Different?

Unlike a standard medical degree, MedTech explicitly embeds engineering and data science into the curriculum. The program aims to train “physicians with integrated expertise in biomedical/clinical, bioengineering, bioinformatics/statistical fields”. Students will not only study anatomy and patient care but also work with AI tools, digital systems, and bioengineering concepts in medical practice and research. Key elements include:

• Biomedical and clinical sciences – the core medical knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc.
• Bioengineering – fundamentals of medical devices, imaging, biomechanics, etc.
• Bioinformatics & Data Science – statistics, data analysis, computational biology.
• Artificial Intelligence & Digital Health – applying AI algorithms, telemedicine, digital diagnostics.

The official program description emphasizes “the conscious use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in medical practice and research”. In practice, this could mean training students to interpret medical imaging with AI, analyze large health datasets, or develop biomedical devices – always keeping patient care at the center. In short, graduates should think like doctor-engineers who leverage technology to improve healthcare outcomes.

This integration reflects a broader trend. For example, Humanitas University in Milan has a similar MedTech pathway combining Medicine and Biomedical Engineering. Such programs prepare doctors to operate in tech-driven fields (e.g. precision medicine, biotech startups, digital health companies) as well as traditional clinical settings.

Program Structure

The Padua MedTech program is a single-cycle Master’s (LM-41) lasting 6 years (360 ECTS). Coursework and training are structured as follows:

• Preclinical phase (Years 1–3): Core biomedical sciences (biology, chemistry, physiology), basic engineering and informatics, and introduction to research methods.
• Clinical phase (Years 4–6): Advanced medical training with internships and rotations. Students spend at least 60 ECTS on clinical activities and hospital rotations. Real-world internships begin early (often in the third year), so students apply technologies to patient care under supervision.

Throughout all years, there is a strong international orientation. Unipd highlights “transdisciplinary education” and “interaction with biotechnological/bioengineering research”. Lectures may involve joint teaching by clinicians and engineers. The program is aligned with global standards (WFME accreditation is noted), and there may be opportunities for international exchange (Erasmus+ or research internships abroad).

Compared to a traditional MD, the curriculum will include extra coursework in informatics, biostatistics, AI, etc., alongside the usual medical classes. Many courses will likely be co-taught with Padua’s engineering and computer science departments. The final year typically involves a culminating medical thesis or research project that could combine medical and technical topics.

Dual Degree Option

A distinctive feature is the dual-degree pathway. Students can earn supplemental ECTS credits to obtain an additional Bachelor’s-level degree alongside MedTech. The possible second degrees are in:

• Biomedical Engineering (L-8/L-9) – equivalent to an undergrad degree in medical engineering.
• Biology of Human and Environmental Health (L-13) – an undergrad degree in health sciences/biology.

By taking extra courses, a student could graduate with both an MD (LM-41) and a related Bachelor’s in engineering or biology. This dual training allows graduates to move fluidly between hospital medicine, research labs, biotech firms, and healthcare tech roles. In other words, a MedTech graduate could work as a physician and have the credentials to, say, lead a med-tech startup or work in biomedical R&D.

Admission and Next Steps

As of early 2026, official details are still pending. Admission to MedTech will be through a limited-entry national exam, most likely the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test), similar to other English-taught medical programs in Italy. On Unipd’s English admissions site for Medicine, IMAT is referenced as the entry test. However, the final choice of exam and exact process for MedTech will be announced after ministerial approval. Prospective students should watch Unipd’s “Call for Admissions” (Bando di ammissione) and the Ministry’s official notices for up-to-date information.

For context, Padua’s standard Medicine program uses IMAT as of 2025. It is reasonable to expect the MedTech track to use a similar test schedule (often held in September each year for Italian/EU students). Preliminary sources suggest roughly 80 total seats (65 EU, 15 non-EU) for the new MedTech course, but these are provisional figures (awaiting final decree). The Italian news release about relocating Medicine to Venice noted 75% EU and 25% non-EU distribution for the English programs, which aligns with this breakdown.

Tuition for MedTech will follow Unipd’s standard fee scale. By comparison, Padua’s English Medicine program currently charges about €2,739 per year for non-scholarship cases (with reductions for lower income). Similar income-based fees (~€2,700–3,000/year) can be expected for MedTech. Financial aid and scholarships are available through Unipd’s student services, and requirements (such as ISEE threshold) will be published on Unipd’s funding page.

Stay Informed: Because the MedTech program is new, students should regularly check Unipd’s official announcements and the Italian Ministry of Education (MUR) for updates. Important information (admissions notices, enrollment procedures, exact seat numbers) will be published once the course is formally accredited.

Career Pathways

Graduates of Medicine and Surgery – MedTech will be fully qualified physicians (Class LM-41) under EU law. They can pursue any medical career path. The Unipd description emphasizes that MedTech doctors:

• Can enter specialization (residency) schools in all clinical fields.
• May enroll in PhD programs, university Masters, or advanced research fellowships.
• Are eligible for employment as medical doctors in public/private hospitals, clinics, research institutes, or as independent practitioners.

Crucially, their technology fluency will be a unique asset. Employers may recruit them for roles in healthcare technology, digital health companies, biomedical firms, or innovation labs. Hospitals and health systems are rapidly adopting AI and robotics; a MedTech graduate can bridge the gap between physicians and tech teams.

Unipd notes that students will be able to work “in multidisciplinary environments — bridging hospital medicine, research labs, biotech startups, and health innovation systems.” In practice, a typical MedTech graduate might, for example, design AI algorithms for medical imaging, conduct clinical research with advanced data tools, or serve as a technology expert within a clinical department. Importantly, all of this training is built on the same core medical degree as other doctors in Italy, so standard medical licensure and recognition is guaranteed.

In summary, Padua’s MedTech program is intended to produce doctor-innovators: professionals who keep patient care central while harnessing biomedical engineering and AI to enhance it. This aligns with Italy’s broader push for digital health; European health strategies increasingly emphasize the need for “digitally competent” clinicians. MedTech graduates should be well-positioned for leadership in 21st-century healthcare.

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Sources: University of Padua official program description; University news and EU MedStudy reports. All details based on the latest available Unipd materials and announcements as of 2026.