PTEN
Prefere ver esta página em português?Ver em português
Exam guide

Medicine in English in Italy: understand what the IMAT is

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.

Discover our prep course →See the analysis of what comes up most

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.

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).
What defines your category is not only nationality, but your residence and visa situation: this determines only which group of seats you compete for, not the exam itself. The cut-off score is calculated separately for each competition category and for each university. Because it involves international competition and a number of seats that changes by university, the non-EU cut-off score can vary quite a lot from one year to the next.
Watch out for dual citizenship: holding two citizenships, one of which is from a European Union country, requires the candidate to compete as EU/equivalent, according to the rules governing the selection process (EU citizenship prevails). It is not possible to choose to compete as non-EU in order to target a specific seat. Read the rule at the source (legal basis: Italian Law 218/1995, art. 19).

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:

60questions
85% sciences
Subject areaQuestions
Reading comprehension and general knowledge4
Logical reasoning and problems5
Biology23
Chemistry15
Physics and Mathematics13
Scoring: each correct answer is worth +1.5; each wrong answer deducts -0.4; a blank question is worth 0. That is why guessing without eliminating options usually does not pay off. The sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics) make up most of the exam, and that is where focused study pays off the most.
This format (60 questions, 100 minutes, 90 points) has been repeated in recent years. Even so, each edition the rules are confirmed by a new MUR decree, which usually comes out with little notice (generally between July and August, for the exam in September). Treat the per-year figures on this page as a reference from recent years until the 2026 decree is published.

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.

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 university offering Medicine in English. See the most recent cut-off score and seats (2025), by competition category; the dashboard below lets you compare all years.

Interactive mapTap a city on the map or use the buttons to browse.
TorinoTorino(Orbassano)MilanoMilanoBergamoBergamoPaviaPaviaPiacenzaPiacenzaVeneziaVeneziaPadovaPadovaBolognaBolognaAnconaAnconaRomaRomaNapoliNapoliBariBariMessinaMessinaCataniaCataniaCagliariCagliariFirenzeFirenze
UniversitySelectedNew, to be confirmed

Click a city on the map to see the 2025 cut-off score and seats.

Cut-off scores from recent years

Cut-off score of the 1st round. Choose the category and year, filter by region and compare the universities. The non-EU category is the one for most international students.

Interactive panel
Cut-off scores by university

Choose the category and year, filter by region and compare. Click a university to see its year-by-year trend.

Category
Year
Regions
Ranking by cut-off score

Click a university in the list below to see, on the chart, how its cut-off score evolved year by year.

Featured simulator
Simulator: where would you have gotten in?

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 →

Want to practise the past IMAT papers in our simulator?

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 it
The cut-off score goes up and down depending on the difficulty of the exam, the number of seats and the competition in each year. Understanding this movement helps you set your target. Click and better understand this fluctuation in our analysis →

Step by step of the process

Overview of the path. The exact deadlines change each year and each university; use it as a map.

  1. 1Planning
  2. 2Documents, Notices & Decrees
  3. 3IMAT registration
  4. 4Exam
  5. 5Results
  6. 6Enrolment & visa
  7. 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.

    Everyone

    Decrees 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 Italy

    Pre-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 university

    Pre-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.

    Learn more ↓
  • 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.

The goal of this page is to give a sense of direction to those who are starting to get organized. We have gathered here the general points of the process; the deadlines and rules of each university change each year, so always confirm on the official websites and notices. The bureaucratic and paperwork side tends to be demanding, and many candidates choose professional support at this stage: it is a personal choice.

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: it is exclusive to non-EU candidates who will need a visa (not residing in Italy).
Pre-application: it is a procedure carried out by a minority of universities, and the list changes every year, so we always recommend checking. On this page we do not go into that level of detail, nor do we manage this follow-up.
Ministerial

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.

From the university

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.

One does not replace the other, and neither of them replaces the IMAT registration or enrolment. The pre-application, when required, can be eliminatory. Always confirm on the website and notice of the university you want whether each one applies to your case and your competition category.

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.

EU citizens and equivalents

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.

Non-EU

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.

Exclusive to EU citizens and equivalents
Simulator: see the national ranking in action, in practice
Let us suppose, hypothetically and for practical purposes, that there were only 2 seats per university, at three universities. Each candidate has their own order of preference, and you decide what to do at each step.
Your turn to decide
Bologna: 2 seatsPavia: 2 seatsTorino: 2 seats
Simplified illustration. The real numbers and preferences vary each year and by university.

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.

The three statuses of the national ranking (shown in Italian):
  • 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.
Can you put the seat on hold? Not exactly: it is a choice. If you are Prenotato, you decide between enrolling now (this secures the seat, but takes you out of the ranking: you no longer try for a better option and you do not come back) or waiting for the scorrimento (without enrolling, confirming your interest at each round) to try to move up to a better option, without losing your current position. The two things do not happen together: enrolling ends your participation. If you are Assegnato, it is already the best possible option for your score and preferences: just enrol within the deadline.
Does a Prenotato above me guarantee that the seat will come down to me? No. This is the point that confuses people the most. The seat you already have as a Prenotato cannot be taken by anyone above you (those above can only move up, never come down to yours). But do not count on the seat of a Prenotato above you: if that person's 1st choice runs out, they do not move up, their seat is confirmed (the Prenotato becomes Assegnato) and it does not open downwards. In other words, the real risk is not losing what you have, but the queue not moving in your favor and you being stuck in a worse option. See this happening in the simulator above.

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.

Documentation is a serious matter: failing to meet a required item can lead to disqualification. If you would like professional support, get in touch and we will recommend our documentation partners.

Reference dates: IMAT 2026, 2025 and 2024

Reference dates
For 2026, so far only the decree with the exam date has been released. It was published on 03/07/2026 and confirms the exam for 30/09/2026; the other 2026 dates are yet to be announced (which is why they appear as “Awaiting announcement”). Alongside, we have kept 2025 and 2024 as a reference. The calendar changes each year (in 2023, for example, the exam was in October).
Process timeline (IMAT 2026)
  1. Date decree03/07
  2. Details decreeTBA
  3. RegistrationTBA
  4. Exam30/09
  5. Anonymous scoreTBA
  6. Individual scoreTBA
  7. ResultTBA
  8. Classes startTBA
StageIMAT 2026IMAT 2025IMAT 2024
Decree with the exam date03/07/202615/05/202506/08/2024
Decree with the detailsAwaiting announcement07/07/202506/08/2024
RegistrationAwaiting announcement26/08 to 09/09/202502/09 to 12/09/2024
Exam30/09/202617/09/202517/09/2024
Anonymous scoreAwaiting announcement25/09/202526/09/2024
Individual scoreAwaiting announcement06/10/202503/10/2024
ResultAwaiting announcement13/10/202510/10/2024
Start of classesAwaiting announcement~2 to 3 weeks after the result~2 to 3 weeks after the result

Registration fee (2025): about €130, paid on Universitaly. The amount may have slight fluctuations depending on the country and the currency of the test center, and it is also subject to changes from one year to the next.

Where the exam was administered in 2025

2025 reference
The exam is administered at centers around the world, and for many years Brazil has been one of the host centers. The official decree lists the countries; the exact city and venue can change each year, so always confirm in the decree and on Universitaly.

Tap a country to see the city where the exam was administered in 2025.

Interactive mapTap a country on the map or use the buttons.

What is new for 2026

Date

IMAT 2026 on 30 September

The exam is scheduled for 30/09/2026. The official specifications (subject areas, number of questions and calendar) come out in the MUR decree, generally 1 to 3 months beforehand. Always confirm at the official source.

New program

Padova: Medicine and Surgery - MedTech

The University of Padua has proposed a new Medicine in English program, MedTech, which integrates biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence and medical technology into the 6-year curriculum. Provisional seats of ~65 (EU) and ~15 (non-EU). Still pending approval from the Ministry and definition of the admission process. Padua's Medicine in English is now based in Venice.

To be confirmed

Florence: no confirmation

Information is circulating about a Medicine in English program in Florence, but the sources are conflicting and there is no official confirmation that Florence offers Medicine in English through the IMAT. We recommend waiting for the decree and the university's official website.

Others

More programs in English

There are now around 20 public universities offering Medicine in English. Politecnica delle Marche (Ancona) runs a "Medicine and Technology" program. Federico II (Naples) has announced a new Veterinary Medicine program in English for 2026/27.

List of universities with Medicine in English

Reference list of the public universities that have historically offered the program in English (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 to be confirmed
  • Padova MedTech, in Venice to be confirmed
Notice, in the spirit of transparency: this page is institutional material from Aprova Italia and is not an official source. The rules, dates, seats and universities change each year. Always confirm with the official sources: the MUR (mur.gov.it), Universitaly (universitaly.it) and the website of the university you want. Last revision of our guide's content: 7 July 2026.
Aprova Italia · Medicine in English · Intensive Course · IMAT Analysis