Marta Russo was attending a PhD retreat day at Humanitas University when she was feeling low about her experiments. Many weren’t working out the way she had hoped, leaving her discouraged after all the time and effort spent.
But when she confided in her peers and faculty, Russo would come to realise that the situation wasn’t as bad as it appeared. “Having the chance to discuss my results, troubleshoot the problems, and reflect on the broader vision of my project was incredibly helpful and inspiring,” she says.
In fact, Russo’s project earned a far more positive reception than she could ever imagine, winning her the “Best Poster Award.” “That moment truly gave me a renewed sense of motivation and belief in the scientific process,” she says.
Challenge, self-doubt, even failure: such trials are inevitable when you’re a student striving for success. That’s where Humanitas University comes in. Based in Milan, Italy, alongside the award-winning Humanitas Research Hospital, the cutting-edge campus is designed to advance your aspirations through innovation. Ranked among the top 175 institutions for clinical and health subjects globally, its international environment supports you through the challenges, self-doubt, and failures. Faculty and staff have your back especially then, a key feature of an active learning approach that trains students to become future leaders.
Students at Hunimed leverage technological advancements to better the future of clinical health. Source: Humanitas University
A campus where curiosity and collaboration thrive
The Hunimed campus is 20,000 square metres in size. Resources for patient-centred research in the life science are vast: nearly 600 researchers and physicians and over 10,000 square metres of laboratories, facilities, and advanced technology. These unite theory, research, and clinical practice. Experts have led projects such as improving the efficacy of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, and using AI to distinguish tumour progression and tissue changes resulting from radiotherapy treatment, among many other examples of forward-thinking work.
Working in tandem with the university is the Humanitas Research Hospital (ICH), recognised as Italy’s top hospital in 2025. It’s the centre of excellence for research and treatment of cancerous, cardiovascular, neurological, and orthopaedic diseases, with over 50 clinical specialities and more than 700 doctors. It holds international accreditations and is based in a region where medical and surgical technology is developing rapidly.
“[I’m] now in my fourth year of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Residence in Chur, Switzerland,” says Alexandru, who graduated from Hunimed in 2019. “Always happy to say I am a Humanitas alumnus where state-of-the-art medical and surgical care, besides innovation and training, are fostered.”
Immerse yourself in globally recognised, hands-on programmes
In shaping the next generation of life sciences professionals, Hunimed offers high-quality undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes that are internationally ranked for their academic excellence. You’ll participate in discussions of real-world problems that arise in clinical settings, bridging theory with practice, developing a strong sense of autonomy, decision-making, and teamwork.
The six-year Medicine and Surgery degree programme is taught entirely in English and integrates practical training and simulation activities into theoretical courses from the outset. Classes are dynamic, as 40% of the students are international, coming from over 20 countries. Learning never looks quite the same from one week to another. You could be immersed in surgical practice at the Mario Luzzato Simulation Centre one day and conduct hands-on research in a lab the next. Clerkships begin in the third year, with clinical training taking place at various Humanitas hospitals.
The MEDTEC School is another top choice to consider. Also spanning six years, MEDTEC School awards graduates with two qualifications: a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biomedical Engineering and an MD in Medicine. Run in partnership with Politecnico di Milano, the programme will train you to use new technological developments across medicine and related sectors to better treat patients. Clinical training starts in the fourth year, and by graduation, you’ll gain the license to practise as a medical doctor.
Both programmes require you to sit for a multiple-choice admission test, with the option to apply for either one or both. Check out the Preparation Week course here.
Hunimed boasts an international network, often collaborating with universities, research centres, and institutions worldwide. Source: Humanitas University
A vibrant learning experience — on campus and beyond
Not all your waking hours are spent in a lab or a classroom at Hunimed, even if its spaces are high-tech, engaging, and flexible in use. To nurture not only your academic growth but also your personal well-being, many opportunities are offered for you to enjoy a well-rounded and stimulating university experience.
Student societies, sports teams, social events, and study abroad — you’re spoilt for choice when deciding what to get involved in. There are many academic opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills, from pursuing a specialised Honours Track or conducting biomedical research in the Virgilio Programme. Beyond class hours, you could mix with the campus’s multicultural cohort in a game of beach volleyball or over food at the Campus Bistrot. That’s Hunimed for you: a place where connections grow and last.
“Humanitas was not only my first working place in Milan, but also the environment where I met many of my colleagues who later became close friends,” she says. “I still remember unpacking all the instruments and even the computer when I joined — everything was brand new, and it truly felt like the beginning of something special.”
Russo graduated with her PhD from Humanitas University in 2020. Today, she’s running her own lab as principal investigator in Munich, Germany. She’s investigating the crosstalk between metabolism and transcriptional regulation and has just been awarded one of the nation’s most prestigious research grants.
