Summer medical camp for young people in 2026: complete guide
When an adolescent says they want to study medicine, most families immediately think about the entrance exam, the ENEM, and the college years ahead. Few think that it is already possible, before the age of 18, to put on a lab coat and enter a real surgical simulator, attend a lecture by a specialist from the San Raffaele Hospital, or learn to reason clinically alongside trained doctors.
The medical summer camps for young people changed what it is possible to do before graduation. They bring teenagers from 15 to 18 years old in direct contact with medical practice, with the university environment, and with the decisions that shape a career in health. In 2026, the most complete program available in this area is the Medicine Summer Camp, held in Milan in partnership with the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, one of the best-positioned medical schools in the world. This guide explains how all of this works, what your child learns, and what sets this type of program apart from any other alternative available today.
What is a medical summer camp for young people?
A medical summer camp is a short-term immersion program, generally one to two weeks, aimed at adolescents who are interested in pursuing a career in health care. Unlike online courses or preparatory classes, the format combines three elements that no digital environment can reproduce:
- In-person contact with doctors, university professors and clinical specialists
- Use of real simulation equipment and laboratories
- Living with other young people from different countries with the same profile and objectives
The model was born in the United States, where programs such as those at Johns Hopkins and Harvard universities have existed for decades. In Europe, the expansion of this format has come with force to Italy, which combines cutting-edge university infrastructure with an internationally recognized health system.
The focus is not on teaching medicine in depth, that is the role of the college. The objective is to anticipate contact with the reality of the profession, to help young people confirm (or question) their career choice and to build a concrete differential in the curriculum before the university selection process.
Why is Milan a relevant destination for this type of program?
Milan is home to some of the best medical institutions in Europe. The city is home to the San Raffaele Hospital, a reference center for advanced clinical research, and the Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (UNISR), which ranks among the top 40 universities in the world and offers a six-year international MD program fully in English.
This is not irrelevant for those who are planning a career in medicine. Students who already know the environment of UNISR and San Raffaele before applying to universities arrive at the selection process with a concrete reference, not just with an abstract idea of “I want to study medicine abroad”.
In addition to its institutional weight, Milan offers:
- A multicultural context that develops communication in English in a natural way
- Affordable hospital and research infrastructure for guided tours and immersions
- Centrally located in Europe, with air connections from almost any country
For families who consider Italy as an undergraduate destination, the experience in the summer of 2026 also acts as an exploratory visit with academic substance.
How does the Medicine Summer Camp work in practice?
The Medicine Sportech Summer Program is an intensive two-week program, with academic coordination from UNISR. The total load is 50 hours of activities including classes, laboratories and simulations. The program runs from July 5 to 18, 2026, with arrival on Sunday (5/7) and departure on Saturday (18/7).
The daily structure combines theoretical classes in the morning (from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) with practical laboratory activities in the afternoon (from 1:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.), as well as entertainment activities and excursions during the night shift.
What happens in the first week?
The first week focuses on clinical fundamentals and neuroscience:
- Second: welcome, orientation and introduction to the Italian health system; structure and operation of the IMAT exam (the entrance exam for medicine in English in Italy)
- Tuesday: doctor's life and careers in the health area; practical cellular and molecular biology laboratory; IMAT logical reasoning session
- Fourth: introduction to anatomy and physiology; basic life support and trauma laboratory in the simulator
- Thursday: introduction to neuroscience; neurological laboratory with reflex tests and monitoring; IMAT biology and chemistry session
- Sixth: introduction to medical psychology; doctor-patient communication and clinical interaction skills
What happens in the second week?
The second week progresses to specialties and research:
- Monday: cardiology and radiology; X-ray and ultrasound workshop; IMAT mathematics session
- Tuesday: introduction to surgery; anesthesia management workshop on the simulator
- Fourth: gynecology and infectious diseases; IMAT session with practical questions
- Fifth: epidemiology; simulation of epidemiological outbreak investigation
- Friday: oncology and medical research; admission session and closing ceremony
What makes this program different from an online medical course?
The answer lies in three words: experience, environment, and evidence.
Real experience: Getting your hands on a basic life support simulator is not the same as watching a video on the topic. The brain learns differently when the body is engaged. Young people who undergo emergency simulations or anatomy laboratories carry this knowledge in a way that no digital content reproduces.
University environment: Being part of one of the best medical universities in the world, in contact with active professors and specialists, creates references that directly influence motivation and clarity of purpose. Adolescents who participate in programs such as Medicine Sportech return with a much more realistic and grounded perception of what a medical career is.
Evidence in the curriculum: The program certificate, issued in partnership with UNISR, is a document with real weight in applications to international universities. By mentioning the experience in a motivation letter to a European or American medical school, the young person presents something verifiable, not just a declaration of interest.
To understand the weight of this certificate in more detail, see our article on AC Milan certificate in the curriculum, which explores the same logic of valuing international experiences before graduation.
Who can participate in the Medicine Summer Camp?
The program is aimed at young people from 15 to 18 years old, boys and girls, with an English level B1 or higher. All content is conducted in English, both theoretical classes and laboratory sessions.
There is no minimum school grade requirement or previous experience in biology or science. The expected profile is that of a teenager:
- With a genuine interest in medicine, health, or life sciences
- Willing to actively participate in practical activities and group discussions
- With a functional level of English to follow classes and interact with teachers and classmates
The program is deliberately inclusive: it brings together young people from different countries and cultures, which enriches the debate about health systems, clinical approaches, and career prospects.
What is the accommodation and routine like outside of class?
Participants are staying at Residence Apartment, located in the center of Milan. The structure includes:
- Single rooms with private bathroom and equipped kitchenette
- TV rooms, games areas, gym, study rooms, terraces and common rooms
- Night supervision by house parents
- 3 daily meals included in the residential package
- 24-hour reception, yoga studio, cinema and laundry
The after-school routine combines group entertainment activities with cultural excursions, including:
- Lake Como Tour
- Milan city tour
- Supervised evening activities
The structure was designed to create a safe and stimulating environment, where young people from different countries build connections that often extend beyond the program. Living with colleagues with similar profiles and objectives is, for many participants, one of the most striking aspects of the entire experience.
How does the program prepare young people for the medical selection process?
One of the most practical dimensions of the Medicine Summer Camp is the preparation for the IMAT, the entrance exam for medical courses in English in Italy. IMAT sessions take place daily over the two weeks and cover:
- Exam structure and scoring
- Logical reasoning
- Biology and chemistry
- maths
- Practical and simulated questions
Even for students who do not intend to study in Italy, this contact with the IMAT model develops scientific reasoning and problem solving skills that have value in any rigorous selection process.
In addition, Friday of the second week includes a session dedicated to the admission process for medical universities, where students receive guidance on how to build competitive applications for European schools.
What medical specialties are covered in the program?
Medicine Sportech covers a wide spectrum of specialties over the two weeks:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Neuroscience
- Cardiology and radiology (using real ultrasound and X-ray equipment)
- Surgery and anaesthesia (with procedure simulators)
- Gynaecology
- Infectious diseases and epidemiology
- Oncology and medical research
- Medical psychology
This variety is intentional. The objective is not to deepen a single specialty, but to give young people a sufficiently broad overview to understand the medical field as a whole before starting college.
Is the program valid for those who want to study medicine outside Brazil?
Yes, especially for those who consider Italy as an undergraduate destination. UNISR, the program's academic partner, offers a six-year International Medicine course in English that is highly competitive and has a solid reputation in research. Participating in the summer camp at its facilities is a concrete advantage when applying for the course.
For other European destinations, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, the program's certificate and history of immersion in a university level medical environment also have demonstrable value. Motivation letters and admission interviews are substantially stronger when the candidate can describe real experiences with health professionals, clinical simulations, and medical research.
For families considering graduating abroad, the program of University abroad from Be Easy offers specific advice for applications for medical courses in different countries.
How does Medicine Summer Camp compare to other medical summer programs?
The market for summer camps focused on medicine has grown in recent years. When comparing options, the most relevant criteria are:
- University partnership: Is the program coordinated by a recognized medical university or is it just an event company with thematic content?
- Access to real equipment: Do young people use simulators, laboratories, and hospital equipment, or do they just watch presentations?
- Faculty: Are the classes taught by active doctors and researchers or by facilitators without clinical training?
- Certificate amount: Is the certificate issued by the partner university, recognized internationally, or by a company without an academic reputation?
- Accommodation and supervision structure: Is there adequate supervision for minors, with house parents and a dedicated structure?
Medicine Italy meets all of these criteria. The partnership with UNISR, ranked among the 40 best universities in the world and affiliated with the San Raffaele Research Hospital, places the program at a different level from most of the available alternatives.
How to register for Medicine Summer Camp 2026?
The process follows the same five steps that apply to Sportech Academy programs:
- Completion of the reservation form sent by the Be Easy consultant
- Receipt of the confirmation email and payment of the deposit
- Submission of the requested additional documentation
- Payment of the remaining balance by May 29, 2026
- Travel preparation and boarding for Milan
The only intake available in 2026 starts on July 5 (residential) or July 6 (daily), ending on July 18. Because it is a single term, places tend to sell out faster than in programs with multiple intakes.
The necessary documentation includes a valid passport, medical form, proof of English level, travel insurance and, for minors traveling alone, authorization from legal guardians.
FAQ
Does my child need to be sure they want medicine before enrolling?No. The program is precisely to help young people confirm or review this interest based on real experiences. Adolescents who participate with doubts about their careers tend to leave with much greater clarity, either to advance in medicine or to explore other areas of health.
Is the program certificate accepted by universities outside Italy?Yes. The certificate is issued under the academic coordination of UNISR, which gives it credibility in applications to international universities. Its most effective use is in motivation letters and admission interviews, where the young person describes the experience in depth.
What is the difference between residential and daily mode?In residential mode, young people are staying at the Aparto Residence throughout the program, with meals, evening supervision and group activities included. On a daily basis, she attends classes and academic activities without staying overnight at the apartment, returning to her place of accommodation at the end of the day.
Can children under 15 participate?
No. Medicine Sportech is aimed at young people aged 15 to 18. For younger ages, other programs have a wider age range.
Does Be Easy follow up during the enrollment process?Yes. From the choice of the program to the return, Be Easy guides families through each stage: documentation, visa, tickets, insurance and logistics in Milan.
Be Easy
If your child wants to discover in practice what it means to be a doctor, the Medicine Summer Camp 2026 offers the most complete environment available for this: real laboratories, university professors and a certificate with international weight. Be Easy takes care of the entire process, from first contact to arrival in Milan. To find out how to secure the vacancy, please contact us.
