Medicine in English in Italy: everything you need to know about the IMAT
The admission exam to study Medicine in English at Italy's public universities. Here you will find the structure and content of the exam, the competition categories, the cut-off scores from recent years, the map of universities and the step by step of the process.
What is the IMAT
The IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) is the national admission exam for Medicine programs taught in English at Italian public universities. It is administered once a year since 2011 and, since 2023, it is designed and managed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), which took over the exam from Cambridge Assessment.
There is also the path of Medicine taught in Italian, with its own rules (the so-called filter semester). This guide covers the IMAT, that is, Medicine in English.
The full IMAT 2026 calendar, already confirmed by the decree. Further down, in the Reference dates section, it appears compared with 2025 and 2024.
- Decree06/08
- Registration26/08
- Exam29/09
- Anonymous score08/10
- Individual score19/10
- Result26/10
- Classes startTBA
Competition categories: EU vs non-EU
The IMAT seats are divided into two competition categories, and you compete in only one of them, according to your situation:
EU citizens and equivalents
The following compete in this category:
- EU citizens, including those with Italian citizenship or citizenship of another EU country;
- non-EU citizens who already reside legally in Italy and do not need a study visa, who are treated as equivalent to EU citizens.
Non-EU visa applicants
The following compete in this category:
- non-EU citizens who live outside Italy and need a study visa and a pre-enrolment on Universitaly;
- it is the category of most international students;
- the number of seats varies by university (at some there are even more seats for non-EU than for EU candidates).
Structure of the exam
In the last three editions, the exam had 60 multiple-choice questions (five options, one correct), to be answered in 100 minutes, with a maximum score of 90 points. The number of questions per subject area is set by each year's decree; taking 2025 as a reference:
| Subject area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading comprehension and general knowledge | 4 |
| Logical reasoning and problems | 5 |
| Biology | 23 |
| Chemistry | 15 |
| Physics and Mathematics | 13 |
Content of the exam
The sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics) account for most of the questions. In addition, each topic carries a different weight, and some come up far more often than others over the years.
The official syllabus (Allegato A)
The 2026 syllabus is identical to the 2025 oneThe programme for each subject comes from Allegato A of the decree: it lists, topic by topic, what can come up in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, plus what is expected in logical reasoning and reading comprehension. For 2026 the content has not changed from 2025 - if you were already studying with last year’s programme, you are on the right track.
We carried out a detailed analysis of the content and recurrence of each IMAT topic on a separate page, based on the exams from recent years.
See the content and recurrence analysis →Map of the universities
Each dot is a public university offering Medicine in English. See the 2026 seats, already from the new decree, and the 2025 cut-off score - the 2026 one only exists after the exam. The dashboard below lets you compare all years.
Click a city on the map to see the 2026 seats and the 2025 cut-off score.
Seats & Cut-off Scores
Choose the category and year, filter by region and compare the universities. Click one of them to see its year-by-year trend and switch between cut-off score and seats. The cut-off is always from the 1st round; the non-EU category is the one for most international students.
Click a university to open the detail and switch between cut-off score and seats, year by year.
Click a university in the list below to see, on the chart, how its cut-off score evolved year by year.
Enter the score you got (or would get) and see, like a mock exam, which universities you would have gotten into. It is just a reference: it guarantees nothing for 2026.
We use only 2023, 2024 and 2025: it was from 2023 that the exam came under the MUR (before that it was Cambridge, with a very different exam and dynamics), so these years reflect the current reality. Learn more in our analysis →
Our platform has a free guest mode where you practise the questions from the latest IMAT exams. Beyond practising the exam, you get a performance report with plenty of insights on what you need to improve, plus access to our detailed solutions. Talk to our team and we will unlock a trial access.
Talk to the team and try itHow the seats have evolved
Each year’s decree sets how many seats each university opens, split by competition category. We have put together the series for public universities since 2021 to show how that number has moved - and the two categories have not moved together.
Seats at public universities, year by year
Hover or tap the points to see each year’s figure. The 2026 decree is the first in which the two lines move in opposite directions.
Seats per university, year by year
Sorted by 2026 seats. A dash means the university did not offer the course that year.
Step by step of the process
Overview of the path. The exact deadlines change each year and each university; use it as a map.
- 1Planning
- 2Documents, Notices & Decrees
- 3IMAT registration
- 4Exam
- 5Results
- 6Enrolment & visa
- 7Classes
- 1. Start of planning
Decide on the track (Medicine in English, via the IMAT), organize your academic documents and start studying well in advance.
- 2. Notices, documents, pre-enrolment and pre-application
These paths can run in parallel. Each university sets its own deadlines for pre-application and pre-enrolment. Pre-application and pre-enrolment are different procedures and may or may not be required of you, depending on the university and your competition category.
Learn more ↓EveryoneDecrees and notices
The MUR publishes the official decrees, generally between July and August, and each university publishes its notice with dates, seats and rules.
Non-EU candidates not residing in ItalyPre-enrolment on Universitaly
You declare the university and the program and attach the documents it requires. It is the first step of the visa application: without it, you cannot apply for the visa if you are admitted. It has its own deadline, sometimes early.
Depends on the universityPre-application / pre-evaluation
Some universities require their own registration, on their portal, to assess your foreign diploma and other documents. It may apply to any candidate. It usually has its own deadline, sometimes early. It does not replace the IMAT or enrolment, but it can be an eliminatory step.
- 3. IMAT registration
Register for the exam within the notice period and choose the test center. This registration is also done through Universitaly, which is why many people confuse it with the pre-enrolment. But they are independent, parallel procedures: the IMAT registration is for taking the exam; the pre-enrolment should only be done by those who will need a study visa to study legally in Italy.
- 4. Exam (IMAT)
The exam has historically taken place in September (the exception was 2023, in October).
- 5. Results and ranking
The anonymous score is released first and, later, the named one. Admission follows the rules of your competition category (see below).
- 6. Enrolment and visa
After enrolment, the study visa (at the Italian consulate) and the permesso di soggiorno apply only to non-EU candidates who do not reside in Italy. Those with EU citizenship or who already reside legally in Italy do not need a visa or a permesso di soggiorno.
- 7. Start of classes
Classes begin a few weeks after the result.
Pre-enrolment and pre-application: what is the difference
They are two different, independent procedures. Understanding each one avoids confusion (and missed deadlines).
Pre-enrolment (Universitaly)
Official MUR procedure, on the universitaly.it portal, required of those who will need a study visa (non-EU candidates not residing in Italy). You declare the university and program you want and attach the documents; the university validates the application, and it is this validation that allows you to apply for the visa. Without it, there is no visa application.
Pre-application / pre-evaluation
A registration specific to some universities, on their portal, for a preliminary assessment of your foreign diploma and other documents. It may be required of any candidate (including an EU candidate with a diploma from abroad) and usually has its own deadline, sometimes early.
The ranking and how dynamic it is for EU candidates
After the exam, the way seats are allocated changes depending on the category. And, especially in the EU category, the list is far more dynamic than it seems: it moves almost every week.
Single national ranking
A single national ranking. You list the universities in order of preference (you can list all the universities that offer the program, in order of priority) and, with at least 20 points, you enter the list. Each candidate is given a status on the list (Assegnato, Prenotato or In attesa), which we explain in detail just below.
It is very mobile: at each round of scorrimento (weekly), admitted candidates drop out (many go to universities in their own country) and free up seats, and the queue moves. That is why it is essential to confirm your interest at each round so you do not fall off the list.
Local ranking (per university)
There is no national list: each university has its own ranking and its reserved seats. You make a single choice before the exam and compete for that institution only, with the cut-off score published per university (the tables above).
This local list also has scorrimento, but within that university and, in general, with fewer seats, so it usually moves less than the national one. Choosing where to compete matters a lot.
How the national ranking works, in practice
Everything that follows in this section describes the national ranking (EU citizens and equivalents). For non-EU candidates, the competition happens in the local ranking of each university, described above.
- Assegnato (assigned): you are in the best possible seat for your position and there is nowhere higher to move. Usually it is your 1st choice; but, when a Prenotato can no longer improve (the options above them have run out), their seat is confirmed and also becomes Assegnato. Action: enrol within the deadline (in 2025, 4 business days), or you lose the seat.
- Prenotato (booked): you have a seat, but in an option that can still improve if a seat opens up higher. Action: confirm your interest at each round and decide between securing this seat (by enrolling, which ends your participation) or waiting to try to move up. Waiting is a gamble: if the options above run out, the queue can stall and you do not move up.
- In attesa (waiting): you are eligible, but still without a seat. Action: confirm your interest at each round to stay on the list and wait for a seat to open.
English proficiency
What follows is what we have observed in recent editions, and not official information that we take responsibility for: always confirm with the university.
As a rule, the requirement to enrol is B2 level English. In practice, however, most universities have not required a certificate in recent years: many take the view that passing the exam, which is already in English, proves this level, and they even write it that way in their notices.
This is not a recommendation to skip getting an English certification. We do not advise against getting the certificate; we are simply reporting what we have seen. Each university may or may not require it, and it may differ between EU and non-EU candidates, so always confirm on the official page or in the notice, once it is out.
Reference dates: IMAT 2026, 2025 and 2024
The IMAT 2026 decree is out. Published on 06/08/2026 (Ministerial Decree no. 1005), it confirms the exam for 29/09/2026 and sets out the full calendar for the year: registration, scores and results. Note: the exam date changed more than once during 2026 - the decree is what counts. Alongside, we have kept 2025 and 2024 as a reference. The calendar changes each year (in 2023, for example, the exam was in October).
- Decree06/08
- Registration26/08
- Exam29/09
- Anonymous score08/10
- Individual score19/10
- Result26/10
- Classes startTBA
| Stage | IMAT 2026 | IMAT 2025 | IMAT 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decree with the exam date | 03/07/2026 | 15/05/2025 | 06/08/2024 |
| Decree with the details | 06/08/2026 | 07/08/2025 | 06/08/2024 |
| Registration | 26/08 to 09/09/2026 closes at 3pm, Rome time (GMT+2) | 26/08 to 09/09/2025 | 02/09 to 12/09/2024 |
| Exam | 29/09/2026 1.30pm, Italian time | 17/09/2025 | 17/09/2024 |
| Anonymous score | 08/10/2026 | 25/09/2025 | 26/09/2024 |
| Individual score | 19/10/2026 | 06/10/2025 | 03/10/2024 |
| Result | 26/10/2026 | 13/10/2025 | 10/10/2024 |
| Start of classes | usually ~2 to 3 weeks after the result | usually ~2 to 3 weeks after the result | usually ~2 to 3 weeks after the result |
Where to register
The decree is blunt on this point: IMAT registration happens exclusively online, on a single website. There is no registration through the university, by email or in person.
26/08 to 09/09/2026
closes at 3pm (GMT+2)
Fill in your details exactly as they appear on your ID
When creating your Universitaly account, enter your personal details in full and identical to the identity document you will bring on exam day: first and last names written out, no abbreviations, date of birth and document number.
This matters more in 2026. The decree changed the procedure: the exam registration slip now arrives pre-filled with what you typed at registration, and you must sign it confirming the details match. Previously you filled the slip in by hand on the day. So a typo now becomes a problem on exam day - and later at enrolment and at the visa application.
Registration only counts once paid
You register on Universitaly, list the campuses in order of preference and pay the contribution. The decree is explicit: a payment without the online registration receipt does not entitle you to sit the exam. Payment methods are published on Universitaly itself when registration opens, and the 2026 amount has not been announced yet.
Where the exam is held
The exam is held at centers around the world, and for many years Brazil has been one of the host centers. In 2026 there are 25 countries besides Italy - two more than in 2025. The decree lists the countries; the city and venue come later, in a MUR notice, so always confirm on Universitaly.
Tap a country to see its test centre. The dots in gold joined the list in 2026.
What is new for 2026
The exam moved: 29 September 2026
The IMAT 2026 decree (DM no. 1005, of 06/08/2026) set the exam for 29/09/2026, no longer 30/09. The date was rescheduled more than once during the year - many candidates still have the old one in mind. The decree also set out the whole calendar:
Medicine/Dentistry or Veterinary: now just one
In practice this affects EU candidates and equivalents: the change is to the national ranking, which only exists for that category.At registration, candidates declare which track they are competing for: Medicine and Dentistry, or Veterinary Medicine. The choice locks on 09/09/2026 and cannot be changed. In 2025 you could list preferences across both tracks with the same exam - not any more, because each track now has its own national ranking.
Non-EU candidates: you also make the declaration at registration, but you compete in the local ranking of the university where you pre-enrolled - already a single choice of course and university, so your dynamic does not change.
Florence joins with 50 seats
Florence had no official confirmation and now appears in Table B of the decree: 50 seats for EU candidates. The course is undergoing accreditation, so the seats depend on that process being approved.Zero seats for non-EU candidates. Without EU citizenship you cannot compete in Florence in 2026.
Padova MedTech: 70 and 15 seats
Padua’s Medicine and Surgery - MedTech is out of “pending approval” and sits in Table B with 70 seats for EU candidates and 15 for non-EU. It brings biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence and medical technology into the 6-year curriculum. Also undergoing accreditation.
Catania reopens for EU candidates
In 2025 Catania offered zero seats for EU candidates - holding EU citizenship simply ruled you out there. In 2026 there are 40 EU seats. In exchange, the non-EU reserve fell from 60 to 40.
Veterinary in English at Federico II
Federico II (Naples) had its Veterinary Medicine in English course confirmed, with 18 seats for EU candidates and 2 for non-EU, undergoing accreditation. It joins Bologna (Ozzano), which already offered the course and is now accredited.
Kenya and Tunisia join the list
Table A of the 2026 decree now includes Kenya and Tunisia as host countries, reaching 25 countries outside Italy. No country was dropped, and Brazil is still on the list. The city and venue for each centre come later, in a MUR notice. See on the map ↓
Why this page only covers public universities
There are also Medicine in English courses at private institutions, plus Tor Vergata’s Tirana campus, run with a private Albanian university. They all take part in the same IMAT and appear in the same decree tables:
They are not part of this page’s analysis, which covers public universities. Worth knowing: annual fees at these institutions tend to be considerably higher than at public ones.
List of universities with Medicine in English
The 17 public universities offering Medicine in English in the 2026 decree, across 18 campuses (subject to change each year; confirm in the current decree):
- Bari
- Bologna
- Cagliari
- Campania Vanvitelli
- Catania
- Messina
- Milano Statale
- Milano-Bicocca (Bergamo)
- Napoli Federico II
- Padova (in Venice)
- Parma (Piacenza)
- Pavia
- Politecnica Marche (Ancona)
- Sapienza (Roma)
- Tor Vergata (Roma and Tirana)
- Torino (Orbassano)
- Firenze
- Padova MedTech