Many decided to enroll in the Medicine test already in the first days of online procedures opening: more than double the same period last year: there are 33097 in the first nine days compared to 16404 in 2019. Covid effect? Or the fact that this year the test can be held not too far from home? You have to wait for the registration to end in almost two weeks for a more accurate analysis. The only certainty at the moment is that this growing number of students who enthusiastically approach Medicine have, with enormous surprise, found costs often higher, sometimes doubled or even tripled. This is the effect of a decision by the Conference of University Rectors, the association that brings together Italian state and non-state universities, and which this year has decided to unify the registration fee for the tests, bringing it to € 100 for everyone. Until last year, each university decided for itself and now in many cases the differences are felt: those who tried the test in 2019 in L’Aquila, Padua, Catania and Sassari paid 30 euros, those who tried it in Cagliari paid 23 euros, in Parma and Milan state 50 euros, in Perugia 60 euros.
The decision didn’t just surprise the students. Even some universities had to change the rules quickly. For example, the University of Catania published a supplementary decree with the new cost of 100 euros on 1st July – the first day for registration – while the tender still had the previous cost of 30 euros. Even the minister of the University Gaetano Manfredi knew nothing of the increase and did not appreciate at all.
To explain the decision is Eugenio Gaudio, rector of Sapienza, vice president of CRUI with responsibility for issues on medicine. “The figure is the result of a weighted average achieved taking into account the costs expected in previous years in the universities where the tests were held – he says -. In some cases the cost has increased but in others it has decreased. We must also take into account the fact that this year for the Covid emergency an attempt was made to avoid gatherings by offering members the possibility to take the exam even in universities closest to their places of residence and eliminating the obligation to go to the first choice. It is a costly service to prepare all that is necessary for the correct performance of the tests, especially from the locations where the tests have never been carried out and which make their spaces available free and generously. Furthermore, by eliminating the obligation to go to the first choice location to take the test, students are able to save significantly on travel and accommodation costs. Overall, as a good family man, I believe that in the end most of the expenses will be lower. ”
Students don’t seem convinced. Enrico Gulluni, National Coordinator of the University Union stresses the “paradox” of undergoing increases despite the crisis faced by many families. Gulluni assures that students are “aware of the logistical difficulties that may occur since the candidates will not take the test in the first location indicated by them, but in the university closest to their municipality of residence (which will also involve universities that they do not have the degree course in Medicine) “. And yet: “We believe it is absolutely unfair and unfair that only the students pay the consequences of these difficulties”. Udu’s request to the government and universities is to “bring the cost of the test back to its original values” and to “find the necessary funds from other sources than just the pockets of students and families”.
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