Dentistry Schools and Programs in Italy

Dentistry Studies in Italy

Dentistry in Italy is a single-cycle degree: students enter straight from secondary school and study for six years towards the Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico in Odontoiatria e protesi dentaria. Since the 2025-26 academic year, admission to the Italian-taught programmes no longer starts with an entrance test but with an open "filter semester" followed by a national ranking. Our directory currently lists one school in Italy for this subject, the Università degli Studi di Ferrara (Unife).

How the degree is organised

Italian universities measure workload in CFU (crediti formativi universitari). According to Universitaly, the portal of the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), 1 CFU corresponds to 1 ECTS credit and 60 credits are normally earned in one year. Dentistry is one of the single-cycle master's degrees, which combine the first and second cycle in one programme: like medicine, it lasts six years and requires 360 CFU, followed by a dissertation.

At Unife, the first years cover the basic sciences and general medical subjects, and the dental disciplines follow. During the year students attend lectures, work in pre-clinical simulation labs, study on their own and take placements in clinical settings. In the sixth year most of the time goes to supervised clinical training in university facilities. Teaching is in person, and attendance at lectures and placements is compulsory.

Admission: the open filter semester

Places in dentistry are set nationally (numero programmato nazionale). Since 2025-26, candidates enrol freely in an open semester (semestre aperto, also called semestre filtro) for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine and, at the same time, in a related degree course. The semester has three core courses, Chemistry and introductory biochemistry, Physics and Biology, each worth 6 CFU, for 18 CFU in total.

The exams are written, identical across Italy and held at the same time in every university that runs the semester. Each exam lasts 45 minutes, and each course has two exam sessions. The scores produce national merit rankings for admission to the second semester of dentistry, medicine or veterinary medicine. Students who do not obtain a place can continue in the related course they chose, with all their credits recognised. The ministry's FAQ refers to a flat contribution of 250 euros for the open semester.

The open semester is open to EU and non-EU students living in Italy and to non-EU students living abroad. Unife runs the filter semester for the 2026-27 academic year and lets candidates follow classes in person or by streaming.

Applying from abroad and language

Candidates need a secondary school diploma, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable for admission. Non-EU students who need a visa pre-register through Universitaly, the ministry's official portal. For 2026-27, visa applications must reach the Italian consulate by 30 November 2026 at the latest; for 2027-28 the deadline is 31 October 2027.

Each university also checks the eligibility of foreign qualifications. Unife asks applicants to apply on its own portal and pay a 20 EUR evaluation fee; in May 2026 it announced that applications from non-EU students requiring a visa were closed for 2026-27, so applicants for the following year should start early.

Dentistry at Unife is taught in Italian. According to Universitaly, most undergraduate programmes in Italy are taught in Italian, and universities test the language skills of students who choose an Italian-taught course.

Where to study dentistry in Italy

The school in our directory is the Università degli Studi di Ferrara, whose history goes back to 1391. Its dentistry degree is run by the Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale e per la Romagna, with teaching from other departments of the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention. Students can take part in Erasmus+ and other mobility programmes, and periods of study abroad are recognised in their Italian curriculum.

Recognition and careers

For students enrolled from the 2023-24 cohort onwards, the Unife degree qualifies graduates to practise as a dentist: the final exam includes a practical evaluation test (Prova Pratica Valutativa, PPV) based on an internal evaluation placement, taken before the thesis defence. Students from earlier cohorts had to pass the state exam (Esame di Stato) to practise.

Graduates can work as self-employed dentists or in the Italian national health service (SSN); the latter requires a specialisation diploma from a dental specialisation school. Graduates can also go on to a PhD, a university master's programme or an advanced course. Practising outside Italy requires recognition by the competent authority of that country, so check its rules before enrolling.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study dentistry in Italy?

The degree in Odontoiatria e protesi dentaria is a single-cycle programme of six years and 360 CFU (ECTS credits), ending with a dissertation.

Is there still an entrance test for dentistry in Italy?

Not for the Italian-taught courses. Since 2025-26, candidates enrol in an open semester with three courses (Chemistry and introductory biochemistry, Physics and Biology), and the national exam results decide who continues in dentistry.

Do I need to speak Italian to study dentistry in Italy?

For Italian-taught programmes, yes. The degree at the Università degli Studi di Ferrara is taught in Italian, and universities test the Italian of students who enrol in Italian-taught courses.

Can I work as a dentist straight after graduating?

At Unife, students enrolled from the 2023-24 cohort onwards receive a qualifying degree: the final exam includes a practical evaluation test, so no separate state exam is needed to practise in Italy.