RequirementsOptional titles (to choose from the following)
[TSS] - High School Diploma
[TS] - Foreign Qualification
ObjectivesProfessional status conferred by the qualification.
Medical surgeon in various clinical, healthcare and biomedical roles and professional fields.
The main career opportunities, at national and international level, for graduates in Medicine and Surgery, after passing the qualifying examination and registering with the professional association, are represented by the practice of the profession in:
− Public and private healthcare companies and hospitals;
− Private medical practices;
− Healthcare and humanitarian organisations.
The Master's Degree is also an essential requirement for admission to:
− Specialisation Schools in the Medical, Surgical and Services Areas;
− Specific Training Courses in General Medicine.
Finally, graduates can continue their studies in Level II Master's Degrees and PhD programmes and undertake work in the field of basic, translational and clinical research.
Final exam characteristics.
The final exam, worth 18 credits, represents an important educational opportunity to complete the course of study. It consists of the writing and public discussion of an original thesis before a specially appointed Degree Committee, composed in accordance with current legislation and the University's teaching regulations. The written thesis, on a research topic related to the subjects covered by the Master's Degree Course, must be written by the student under the guidance of a supervisor and, if necessary, a co-supervisor, who may also be a foreign national.
Knowledge required for admission.
To be admitted to the single-cycle Master's Degree programme in Medicine and Surgery in English, applicants must hold a secondary school diploma or other equivalent qualification obtained abroad and recognised as suitable.
The following are also required: a) the knowledge defined annually by the relevant Ministerial Decree governing the admission test and published in the admission notice, b) knowledge of English as a mother tongue or possession of a certificate of at least B2 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR).
a) Knowledge is considered to have been verified, overall, upon admission to the degree programme, if a mark equal to or higher than the minimum threshold for admission defined by the annual Ministerial Decree relating to the methods and content of admission tests for degree programmes with limited enrolment at national level is achieved. If the Ministerial Decree does not set the above threshold for admission, the degree programme will indicate the minimum threshold above which knowledge is considered verified. If the national test reveals deficiencies in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, assessed with a score of less than 25% of the maximum score for each subject, or if students have not reached the minimum threshold, the degree programme will assign additional educational requirements to be met in the first year of the programme.
b) Knowledge of the English language is automatically recognised for native speakers. Non-native English-speaking students are required to have an English language certificate of at least CEFR level B2. The scientific and technical terms used in the course entrance test (IMAT) are considered to be above level B2, which is necessary for students who intend to undertake the international degree course in Medicine and Surgery.
Finally, non-native Italian speakers are not required to have any basic knowledge of Italian when they enrol on the degree programme. However, in order to ensure productive learning during professional training activities at the patient's bedside, Italian language courses are organised from the first year of the programme at the University Language Centre (CLAM), which will certify that the minimum level of knowledge required has been achieved: B1 (CEFR).
Specific educational objectives.
The degree programme aims to train doctors equipped with multidisciplinary theoretical and practical knowledge, methodological skills and professional, decision-making and operational autonomy for the promotion of health, prevention and treatment of diseases in Italy and in international contexts. It also provides the methodological foundations of scientific research and the methodological and cultural bases for lifelong learning.
The course of study is divided into six years, for a total of 360 university credits (CFU), in accordance with current Italian and European regulations, of which at least 60 must be acquired in training activities aimed at developing specific professional skills. Professional training activities are mainly carried out in the Operational Units of the “G. Martino” University Hospital in Messina, where patient care and assistance are combined with teaching and scientific research, and in the offices of general practitioners. Students have 18 credits available for the preparation of their thesis and can personalise their study plan with elective teaching activities of particular interest to them, for a total of 8 credits (seminars, monographic courses, participation in conferences and congresses, clinical and research internships in Italy and abroad, etc.).
The first year is dedicated to acquiring the fundamental and methodological concepts of physics, computer science and statistics, knowledge of living matter, molecular and cellular organisation, together with genetic and tissue information of living organisms, ontogenesis and the architecture of the human body, and a course that immediately introduces students to the clinical dimension.
the second year leads to knowledge of the morphology and normal functioning of organs and systems and the basic mechanisms of disease processes, further consolidating initial knowledge of the clinical dimension;
from the third to the fifth year, training is aimed at acquiring clinical skills through integrated courses in medical and surgical disciplines, in which classroom teaching is accompanied by professional training;
the sixth year focuses on the student's clinical reasoning skills, applying the knowledge and scientific method previously learned to the examination of clinical and surgical cases, including in emergency situations. In order to be able to work as a surgeon in various clinical, healthcare and biomedical roles and professional fields, the training programme concludes with the preparation and discussion of a thesis, which represents an important educational moment for the development of original speculative skills based on the scientific method.
The training programme is characterised by:
- the harmonious and progressive acquisition of knowledge provided by basic sciences and clinical skills;
- the enhancement of the doctor-patient relationship through early contact from the beginning of the course and integrated with basic and clinical sciences;
- particularly solid clinical practice, through a considerable number of credits and extensive use of tutorial-type teaching, capable of transforming theoretical knowledge into personal experience in such a way as to build one's own scale of values and interests, in order to professionally manage the complexity of medicine;
- a multidisciplinary and integrated view of the most common health and disease problems, with training focused on prevention and health promotion centred on the human being as a whole and on gender and population specificity, as well as intercultural communication;
- the use of scientific, clinical and professional methodology aimed at the health problems of individuals and communities, with due attention to population and gender differences;
- the application of interactive teaching methods that allow students to play an active role, such as Problem-Based Learning, the Case Method, Problem Solving, Concept Maps, discussion of clinical cases and clinical triggers, as well as laboratories, exercises, small group teaching, conferences and interdisciplinary seminars;
- examinations structured not only in the traditional oral or written form but also in a sequence of items useful for verifying the knowledge acquired, such as multiple-choice tests or short written answers organised around interdisciplinary problems or clinical cases, followed by examinations useful for assessing the clinical skills acquired, such as the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, the mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise, and the Direct Observation of Procedural Skills.
The official language of the course for lectures, practical activities and examinations is English. In order to ensure productive learning during professional activities at the patient's bedside, Italian language courses are organised during the first two years at the University Language Centre (CLAM), which will certify the achievement of the required level of knowledge: B1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Dublin Descriptors:
I - Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, graduates will have the knowledge and understanding necessary to develop and/or apply original ideas within the context of biomedical and translational research.
Therefore, they must possess:
- knowledge of living matter and the genetic, molecular, cellular and developmental bases of the human organism;
- knowledge of the morphological, physiological, social, gender and population factors that contribute to determining the health status of individuals;
- knowledge of the causes and mechanisms of the onset and progression of diseases, with attention to gender and population differences;
- knowledge of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to diseases, also in relation to gender and population differences;
- knowledge of healthcare organisation and the ethical and medico-legal aspects of the medical profession;
- knowledge of basic and clinical research methods and scientific updating tools.
Graduates will achieve these results through attendance at lectures, small group teaching, discussion of clinical cases, laboratories, exercises, interdisciplinary conferences and seminars, elective and professionalising activities.
Assessment will be carried out through examinations, ongoing assessments, evaluation of practical activities and the final project.
II - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, graduates should be able to apply their knowledge, understand and solve problems relating to new or unfamiliar issues in broad, interdisciplinary contexts, with attention to gender specificity, so as to exercise the clinical skills necessary to address the complexities of the health problems of the population and their treatment.
Therefore, they must be able to:
- assess a patient's state of health, also in relation to lifestyle and any congenital or environmental risk factors, and suggest appropriate approaches for disease prevention;
- correctly collect a clinical history and perform an examination of the patient's physical and mental state;
- differentiate between morphological and functional abnormalities in diseases, applying appropriate diagnostic strategies, analysing and interpreting the results in order to formulate a correct diagnosis and administer the appropriate therapy, with attention to gender differences;
- correctly and independently manage the most common clinical emergencies;
- apply the legal and ethical principles of the profession, respecting specific ethnic or gender differences, and the fundamentals of good healthcare;
- collaborate with other healthcare professionals in the overall management of the patient.
Graduates will achieve these results through attending lectures, small group teaching, discussion of clinical cases, laboratories, exercises, conferences and interdisciplinary seminars, elective and professional activities.
Assessment will be carried out through examinations, ongoing assessments, evaluation of practical activities and the final project.
III - Independent judgement
At the end of the course, graduates should be able to integrate knowledge and manage complexity, as well as formulate judgements based on limited or incomplete information, including reflection on the social and ethical responsibilities associated with the application of their knowledge and judgements.
Therefore, they must be able to:
- demonstrate a critical approach, constructive scepticism, and a creative, research-oriented attitude in the performance of their professional activities;
- take into account the importance and limitations of scientific thinking based on information obtained from various sources in order to establish the cause, treatment, and prevention of diseases;
- critically evaluate data and formulate personal judgements to solve analytical and complex problems, using the foundations of scientific thinking and research and based on information obtained and correlated from various sources without waiting for it to be provided to them, while being aware of the role that complexity, uncertainty, and probability play in decisions made during medical practice;
- plan effectively and manage their time and activities efficiently to cope with conditions of uncertainty, and exercise the ability to adapt to change;
- exercise personal responsibility in caring for individual patients, in accordance with the code of ethics of the medical profession;
- correctly apply the principles of moral reasoning and make the right decisions regarding possible conflicts in ethical, legal and professional values, including those that may arise from economic hardship, the commercialisation of healthcare and new scientific discoveries;
- exercise reflective thinking about one's professional activity in terms of relationships with patients and other professionals, the methods used, the results obtained, personal and emotional experiences, and the moral, ethical and legal principles that underpin the profession.
Graduates will achieve independent judgement through attendance at lectures, interaction with patients during professional training, interactive discussion of clinical cases with lecturers and tutors, and independent preparation of their dissertation.
Assessment will be carried out through examinations, ongoing assessments, evaluation of practical activities and the final dissertation.
IV - Communication skills
Graduates must be able to communicate their conclusions, knowledge and underlying rationale clearly and unambiguously to specialist and non-specialist audiences, as well as - in the manner required by the circumstances - to their patients, including in international and multicultural contexts.
To this end, they must be able to:
- listen carefully in order to extract and summarise relevant information on all issues, understanding their content;
- put their communication skills into practice to facilitate understanding with patients and their relatives, enabling them to share decisions as equal partners;
- communicate effectively with colleagues, the community, other sectors and the media;
- interact with other professionals involved in patient care through effective teamwork;
- demonstrate the basic skills and attitudes required to teach others;
- demonstrate sensitivity to cultural and personal factors that enhance interactions with patients and the community;
- communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
- create and maintain good medical records;
- summarise and present information appropriate to the needs of the audience, and discuss achievable and acceptable action plans that represent priorities for the individual and the community.
Communication skills will be developed through group activities included in the training programme, attendance in the department, and continuous and critical discussion with tutors.
Communication skills will be assessed through the evaluation of individual and group activities, particularly in professional activities characterised by a wide variety of interactive situations, as well as in oral examinations and the final dissertation.
Language(s) of instruction/examination.
ENGLISH
V - Learning skills
Graduates will need to develop learning skills that will enable them to continue studying mostly in a self-directed or autonomous manner, including in the context of lifelong learning and subsequent study cycles.
To this end, they must be able to:
- collect, organise and correctly interpret scientific knowledge and biomedical information from the various resources and databases available;
- actively participate in and contribute original personal data and observations to international and national scientific or refresher events;
- obtain specific patient information from clinical data management systems;
- use information and communications technology as a valuable aid to diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive practices and for health surveillance and monitoring;
- understand the application and limitations of information technology;
- manage a good archive of their medical practice for subsequent analysis and improvement.
The expected results will be achieved within the framework of teaching activities, during practical activities, and through activities associated with the preparation of the degree thesis.
The skills acquired throughout the entire training programme will be assessed through continuous assessment during the training activities and through the assessment of the self-learning skills acquired during the final examination.
Skills associated with the role.
Medical surgeon in various clinical, healthcare and biomedical roles and professional fields.
The course allows students to acquire skills, including cross-disciplinary skills, that enable them to perform the duties associated with the profession adequately. In particular:
- knowledge of the scientific foundations and theoretical and practical training required under current legislation for the practice of the medical profession;
- acquisition of a level of professional, decision-making and operational autonomy resulting from a training programme characterised by an interdisciplinary approach to the health problems of healthy or sick people, also in relation to their surrounding environment;
- competence in examining data relating to the health and illness of individuals in a unified manner, interpreting them critically also in the light of basic scientific knowledge;
- knowledge of the international health situation and global trends in morbidity and mortality in the era of globalisation;
- the skills, experience and sensitivity to responsibly address and resolve priority health issues from an ethical, preventive, diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative point of view;
- ability to communicate clearly and humanely with patients and their families, including in international and multicultural contexts;
- ability to recognise community health problems and intervene competently, based on the principles of effectiveness and appropriateness of clinical practice;
- ability to collaborate with different professionals in group healthcare activities, including in international and multicultural contexts;
- knowledge of the methodology and culture necessary for lifelong learning;
- knowledge of methods and ability to critically interpret knowledge for participation in scientific research groups.
Role in the workplace.
Medical surgeon in various clinical, healthcare and biomedical roles and professional fields.
Graduates are prepared to carry out the task of health promotion and disease prevention, as well as to diagnose pathologies, prepare appropriate therapeutic treatment and monitor the resulting course of treatment, applying the ethical principles and responsibilities associated with the medical profession.