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Foundation Year at Campus Bio-Medico

Official course

Foundation Year

Admission test

Own university test

Type

Non-degree preparation

Duration

1 academic year

2025/2026 dates

27 Oct 2025 - 30 Sep 2026

Language

English / Italian

Annual tuition fees

EUR 6,000

Places

21 places

Eligibility focus

Non-EU abroad

Foundation Year at Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome is a one-year pre-university curriculum for international students who want to study in Italy. UCBM frames it around preparation for Medicine and Surgery and Biomedical Engineering entry options.

This is not a Medicine degree and it does not guarantee admission to UCBM Medicine. It is a preparation year: students still need to pass the relevant admission procedure for the degree they want to enter.

Foundation Year overview

Best fit

Non-EU applicants outside Italy who need a structured pre-university year before targeting UCBM or another Italian Italian university application.

Preparation focus

Science, logic and language preparation for students building the academic base needed for admission-test readiness.

No automatic progression

Successful completion gives a certificate, but degree admission still depends on passing the relevant admission procedure.

Who should consider Foundation Year

The checked 2025/2026 procedure is aimed at non-EU citizens not resident in Italy who hold, or are completing, a foreign high-school qualification valid for university entry in their country and who have at least 11 years of schooling. Candidates need at least B2 CEFR English certification, with specific accepted certificates listed in the procedure.

Good fit

Students needing a bridge year

You need a twelfth year before accessing Italian higher education.
You want a campus-based year in Rome before a Medicine or Biomedical Engineering application.
You can document English at B2 level or meet the listed exemption rule.

Less suitable

Direct IMAT-only candidates

If you already meet the entry requirements for public IMAT universities, Foundation Year may be broader than you need. Public IMAT candidates should still prepare against the official IMAT format and ranking rules.

Application and availability

UCBM's checked 2025/2026 Foundation Year materials list 21 places, allocated in order of application submission until places are filled. Priority is given to candidates with 11 years of schooling who need a twelfth year to access Italian universities.

Window 1

22-25 Jul 2025

First checked submission window, closing at 12:00 CEST on 25 July 2025.

Window 2

1-26 Sep 2025

Second checked submission window, closing at 12:00 CEST on 26 September 2025.

Documents

Email application

Application form, B2 English proof, qualification with legal translation and passport copy.

Qualification proof

31 Oct 2025

Deadline listed for Declaration of Value or CIMEA certification in the checked procedure.

These dates belong to the 2025/2026 procedure. Students planning a later Foundation Year intake should use the latest UCBM page and procedure before sending documents or making payments.

Application item	Checked 2025/2026 detail	Planning note
Candidate lane	Non-EU citizens not resident in Italy	Check the current intake if your status is mixed, dual-citizenship or resident-in-Italy.
Schooling requirement	Foreign qualification valid for university admission and at least 11 years of schooling	Priority is listed for candidates who need a twelfth year to access Italian universities.
English level	At least B2 CEFR	The procedure lists accepted certificates and a narrow English-medium schooling exemption.
Place allocation	Order of application submission until 21 places are filled	Submitting complete documents early matters, but eligibility still has to be verified.

Subjects and study focus

UCBM states that Foundation Year helps fill educational gaps in fundamental subjects assessed in admission tests for Medicine and Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, while improving Italian and English for academic purposes. The enrollment procedure lists introductory courses in Mathematics, Biology, Logic, Chemistry, Physics and Italian Language.

Subject area	Why it matters
Mathematics	Builds the quantitative base needed for science and engineering admissions.
Biology	Supports students targeting Medicine and Surgery or other life-science programs.
Logic	Helps students approach admissions-style reasoning and problem-solving questions.
Chemistry	Strengthens a core subject for Medicine, Surgery and Biomedical Engineering preparation.
Physics	Covers another tested science area for UCBM and many Italian admission tests.
Italian Language	Supports academic and daily-life readiness in Italy, even when target courses are in English.

Fees and living-cost planning

The checked Foundation Year page lists the total tuition fee at EUR 6,000, split into two installments of EUR 3,000. The first installment is paid during enrollment, and the second installment was listed as due by 15 December 2025 for the 2025/2026 intake.

Cost item	Published figure	Notes
Foundation Year tuition	EUR 6,000 total	Listed by UCBM for the 2025/2026 Foundation Year page.
First installment	EUR 3,000	Paid during enrollment after eligibility review and enrollment instructions.
Second installment	EUR 3,000 by 15 December 2025	Deadline from the checked 2025/2026 procedure.
Refund caveat	Generally non-refundable	The procedure lists an exception for candidates denied a visa by competent authorities.
Living costs in Rome	Approx. EUR 1,000-1,500 / month	Planning range before housing deposits, visa costs, insurance, flights and personal travel.

Progression after Foundation Year

The Foundation Year procedure says students who successfully complete the program receive a certificate and may be admitted to a Bachelor's degree or single-cycle Master's degree at UCBM upon passing one of the admission procedures for the relevant academic year. In practice, treat Foundation Year as preparation and eligibility support, not as a reserved Medicine seat.

Certificate on completion

Successful students receive a certificate after completing the Foundation Year program.

Admission test still matters

Medicine and Surgery applicants must still follow and pass the relevant UCBM admission procedure.

Visa is separate

UCBM states that university pre-enrollment does not guarantee a consular visa appointment or study visa.

How IMAT Mentor fits around Foundation Year

Foundation Year is not the same product as IMAT preparation, but there is meaningful subject overlap. IMAT Mentor can support the science and exam-habit layer around Biology, Chemistry, Physics, logic, flashcards and timed practice while students follow UCBM's official Foundation Year procedure for eligibility, payment and progression.

Before Foundation Year

Build core Biology, Chemistry and Physics familiarity so the pre-university year starts from a stronger base.

During the year

Use spaced repetition and timed quizzes to turn course topics into durable exam-ready recall.

Before admissions

Separate Foundation Year requirements from UCBM Medicine admission-test dates, documents and fees.

Start preparing

FAQ

What is the Foundation Year at Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome?

UCBM describes Foundation Year as a one-year pre-university curriculum for international students who wish to study in Italy. It helps fill gaps in subjects assessed in admission tests and supports language readiness.

Is UCBM Foundation Year a Medicine degree?

No. Foundation Year is a non-degree preparatory course. It can support preparation for Medicine and Surgery or Biomedical Engineering, but it is not itself a Medicine program.

Who can apply to UCBM Foundation Year?

The 2025/2026 procedure is aimed at non-EU citizens not resident in Italy with a foreign qualification valid for university admission in their country and at least 11 years of schooling. Eligible candidates need at least B2 English certification.

How many places are available for Foundation Year?

The checked 2025/2026 UCBM Foundation Year page and procedure list 21 available places, allocated in application order until filled, with priority for candidates who need a twelfth year before accessing Italian universities.

How much does UCBM Foundation Year cost?

The checked 2025/2026 Foundation Year page lists a total fee of EUR 6,000, divided into two EUR 3,000 installments.

Does Foundation Year guarantee admission to UCBM Medicine?

No. The procedure says successful Foundation Year students receive a certificate and may be admitted to a UCBM Bachelor or single-cycle Master program only after passing one of the relevant admission procedures.

Is Foundation Year the same as IMAT preparation?

No. It is a broader pre-university course for international students at UCBM. It overlaps with subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics and reasoning, but public IMAT candidates still need IMAT-specific preparation.

Can IMAT Mentor help alongside UCBM Foundation Year?

Yes. IMAT Mentor can help with science practice, flashcards, timed review and exam habits, while official UCBM requirements, application windows and progression rules must come from the current UCBM procedure.

Sources

Last updated: May 2026.

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Other pre-med and preparation options to compare

Compare UCBM Foundation Year with other pre-med or preparation options. Foundation years and public IMAT preparation should be planned as related but separate work.