University of Siena was for many years the only university in Italy offering dentistry in English (Sapienza Rome added an English dentistry track in 2022). Siena is a public university with income-based tuition of €0–€4,496/year — the same affordable public structure as IMS Milan but for dentistry rather than medicine. Seats: approximately 23–33 EU + 2–15 non-EU (varies by year; 2025 allocation: 33 EU + 2 non-EU — the non-EU number fluctuates dramatically year to year). IMAT entrance exam (standard — same as medicine programmes). IMAT cut-offs here are notably lower than medicine (~43–45 vs 51+ for Milan IMS), reflecting lower competition for dentistry seats. GMC: 50+ graduates (2022). Siena itself is a small, safe, medieval Tuscan city — one of Italy's most beautiful university towns
Programmes
Recognition
Score breakdown
Strengths
- Lowest-cost dentistry in Europe (€0–€4,496/year public income-based fees in Siena's ~€600–900/month city) — for a low-income EU student, 6-year total cost could be under €55,000 all-in
- historically the only English-taught dentistry programme in Italy (Sapienza only added English in 2022)
- ADEE-compliant curriculum
- Year 6 fully clinical (daily patient work)
- IMAT cut-offs lower than medicine (~43–45 vs 51+ for IMS Milan)
Is this university right for you?
Best suited for
EU students targeting affordable dentistry in a beautiful setting (Siena is arguably the most pleasant small city of any school in this survey); students who can achieve IMAT ~44–45 (lower bar than medicine); UK-track dental students targeting GDC registration; students seeking a small-cohort, highly personal dental education; students who appreciate Tuscany's quality of life over big-city networking
Not recommended if
Non-EU in a year with only 2 seats (check annually before applying); need Italian language exemption for clinical years; need larger peer cohort for networking; need a city with major international airport access; targeting medicine rather than dentistry
Overall assessment
(The most financially accessible dentistry programme of any university in this survey — €0–€4,496/year in one of Italy's most beautiful medieval cities. The lower IMAT bar (vs medicine), ADEE-compliant curriculum, GDC eligibility, and DSU Toscana scholarship support make this the outstanding value-for-money Italian dental option. The non-EU seat volatility and mandatory Italian for clinicals are real practical constraints, but for EU students and determined non-EU IMAT performers, Siena is hard
Considerations
- Non-EU seats vary wildly by year (2 in 2025
- up to 18 in other years) — the most volatile non-EU seat allocation in this survey
- Italian language required for Year 3+ clinicals — more practically demanding than for medicine schools where English sometimes extends through more clinical interactions
- 75% mandatory lecture attendance
Quick facts
Scores calculated using the route.doctor methodology. All recognition data verified from official sources. Tuition fees approximate — verify directly with the university before making financial plans.