You have probably already seen five different cutoff lists that contradict each other.
You have been told different things by different people about whether your diploma qualifies. You are not sure if you need IELTS or not. You do not know if you should pick Catania or Ancona. And you know you only get one shot as a non-EU student. This guide exists because that confusion should not cost you your shot.
We built this because we watched students make avoidable mistakes. Missing pre-enrollment because nobody told them the deadline was in May. Choosing the wrong university because they compared their score to the wrong year's cutoff. Paying agents thousands for visa appointments that should have cost nothing. The information existed. It was just scattered, contradicting, and hidden behind paid consultants. This guide fixes that. It has been free since 2024 and it will stay free.
Kanz ur Rehman & Muhammad Abubakar · Imatify
SKAAMRNJ
Students preparing for IMAT 2026 from Pakistan, India, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and dozens of other countries. Questions asked. Questions answered. Every single day.
Non-EU students compete in a separate ranking at their first choice university only. Numbers based on the 2025 MUR decree. 2026 figures not yet confirmed.
Section A
What is IMAT?
IMAT (the International Medical Admissions Test) is the official entrance exam for English-language medicine degrees at Italian public universities. It is run by Italy's Ministry of University and Research (MUR). Your score on one 100-minute test determines your offer. That is the only criterion.
No interviews. No personal statements. No grade requirements beyond a high school diploma. If two candidates tie on score, the younger one ranks higher, an English certificate can serve as a further tiebreaker, but ties at competitive universities are rare in practice.
IMAT 2025 was held on 17 September 2025. For IMAT 2026, expect the same mid-September window, with registration opening in late August and closing roughly 9 to 12 days later. There are no extensions, no exceptions, no late registrations.
Key fact
Your IMAT score is valid only for the year you sit it. A 2025 score cannot be used for 2026 entry. There is no attempt limit, you can retake as many times as you need.
How does it compare to other medical entrance exams?
IMAT (Italy)
60 questions · 100 min. Public universities. Pure science and logic. Score determines everything. ~€130 fee.
UCAT (UK)
No science content. Used alongside A Levels, personal statement, and interview. A completely different type of process.
MCAT (USA/Canada)
7.5 hours. Requires a bachelor's degree first. Post-graduate route only. An Italian degree does not automatically lead to US or Canadian licensure.
NEET (India)
Required for medical study in India, and required before enrolling at a foreign institution if you plan to return to India. Critical for Indian students.
MDCAT (Pakistan)
PMC administered. Required for entry to Pakistani medical colleges. Not required to sit IMAT. Graduates returning to Pakistan still need NLE and PMC recognition of their Italian degree regardless of MDCAT status.
16 Italian public universities offer English-taught medicine through IMAT. These are genuine public universities with European standards, full clinical training, and total tuition costs over six years that are a fraction of what one year at a UK medical school costs.
Section B
Eligibility
EU vs Non-EU: the most important distinction in this guide
Seats at every Italian medical university are split into two completely separate quotas, EU and Non-EU. The two groups never compete against each other, and the process works very differently for each.
EU students compete in a single national ranking across all universities. You list multiple universities in preference order and participate in weekly scrolling rounds, where cutoffs gradually drop as seats open up. In the 2020 to 2021 cycle, scrolling ran all the way to 39 rounds and the last admitted EU student received their offer the following July.
Non-EU students compete in a completely separate ranking at exactly one university of their choice. No national ranking. No preference list. No scrolling rounds. No second chances. If your score does not clear that university's cutoff, you have no offer in Italy that year.
This makes the Non-EU quota significantly more competitive, not just in scores, but in the weight of a single decision. Choosing your university is the most consequential decision in your entire IMAT application. Base it on your realistic practice test scores, not on reputation or prestige.
Italy does not look at grades, interview performance, or personal statements. Your IMAT score is the only criterion. The requirements to sit it are: 12 years of schooling, a high school diploma, and a €130 entry fee.
EU vs Non-EU: which category are you?
🇪🇺 EU Student
Citizenship of any EU member state
Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, or San Marino
Dual citizens including any of the above apply as EU
Non-EU citizens holding a valid Italian permesso di soggiorno for qualifying reasons such as employment, family, humanitarian asylum, or special protection
Non-EU citizens holding a permesso di soggiorno for study purposes may also qualify as EU at some universities but not all. Always confirm directly with your target university before applying
Non-EU citizens currently enrolled at an Italian university and seeking a programme transfer, while holding a valid study permit. Do not withdraw from your current programme before applying
Diplomatic staff and family members holding an Italian Diplomatic Identity Card
UK citizens holding a Carta di soggiorno under the post-Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Confirm eligibility with your target university
🌍 Non-EU Student
South Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal
Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, South Africa, and most African countries
Middle East and Central Asia: Iran, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq
East and Southeast Asia: China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia
Americas: USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and all Latin American countries
UK, Australia, New Zealand unless holding qualifying Italian residency documents as described above
Not sure which category applies to you? EU equivalent rules are complex and some are interpreted differently university by university. If you hold any Italian residency document or have a connection to Italy through study or work, confirm directly with your target university before submitting your application.
🇵🇰 Pakistani students: what you actually need to know
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
PMC recognition Every single IMAT university is currently on the PMC recognised list. Pavia, Bologna, Milan, Catania, Messina, Ancona, all of them. We have verified this from the official PMC document. You do not need to worry about choosing the wrong university from a recognition standpoint right now. That said, PMC lists do get updated. Before you enroll and again before you graduate, check pmc.gov.pk yourself. Do not rely on anyone else's screenshot or word of mouth. The PMC website is the only source that matters.
The exam is in Lahore. Only Lahore. There is one IMAT test center in Pakistan and it has been Lahore for multiple consecutive years. Not Islamabad. Not Karachi. Lahore. If you are not based in Lahore, factor in travel and accommodation before registration day. Seats fill fast. You cannot choose a different city.
Your payment card The 130 euro registration fee is paid online on Universitaly. Any Pakistani bank card works as long as international transactions are enabled on your account. This is usually off by default. Call your bank before registration day and ask them to enable it explicitly.
Sadapay and similar digital wallet cards do not work. Do not find this out on registration day.
Allied Bank deducts additional tax on the transaction. It still goes through but you pay more than 130 euro. If you have another bank card use that instead.
Wise works perfectly if you have it. Most Pakistani students do not, so a regular bank card with international transactions enabled is your most practical option.
Test your card with a small international purchase at least a week before registration opens. Not the day before. A week before.
IELTS You do not need IELTS to sit IMAT. The Italian embassy technically has an English requirement for student visa applications but in practice Pakistani IMAT students have not faced issues because of this. Verify the current embassy requirements before your visa appointment regardless.
Coming back to practice in Pakistan You need to pass the NLE (National Licensing Examination) and complete one year as a housejob doctor at a PMC recognised hospital. This is the standard pathway for every Pakistani graduate returning from abroad. Plan for it from day one, not from graduation day.
DoV or CIMEA After admission you need one of these two documents to confirm your school certificate qualifies you for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulate in Karachi. Free or minimal cost. Some universities allow you to request it alongside your visa application rather than as a completely separate step. Check your specific university's enrollment page for guidance on timing.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Faster and more predictable than the embassy route. Fees and timelines are shown on the platform when you apply. Only use the official platform. There have been reports of fake CIMEA certificates circulating in Pakistan. The only legitimate website is cimea-diplome.it.
Most IMAT universities accept either. Check your specific university's enrollment page to confirm which they require before starting either process. Start whichever route you choose the same day your offer arrives. Do not wait.
The community has Pakistani students who went through this in 2024 and 2025. Card payment issues, DoV timelines, and NLE preparation all come up regularly.
🇮🇳 Indian students: what you actually need to know
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
NEET UG
If you plan to return to India to practice, you must have passed NEET UG before enrolling at any foreign medical institution. No exceptions. If your plans are to practice outside India this does not apply to you. Either way verify the current requirement at nmc.org.in before committing to anything.
Test centers in India
Two centers. New Delhi and Chennai. Seats fill within minutes of registration opening. Have your Universitaly account ready and your payment card confirmed before registration day. Go straight to selecting your center and paying. Do not browse first.
Coming back to practice in India
Two stages after graduation. First, a 12 month internship at your Italian university hospital in Italy. Then after passing FMGE you complete another 12 month internship at an NMC approved hospital in India before receiving permanent registration. Most students do not know about the second internship going in. Plan your timeline around both from day one.
FMGE is the current licensing exam for foreign medical graduates returning to India. Held twice a year, June and December. NExT was supposed to replace it but has been officially deferred. Check nmc.org.in for any updates.
DoV or CIMEA
After admission you need one of these two documents to prove your school diploma is valid for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Consulate in Delhi, Mumbai, or Chennai. Free but slow. Start the process the same day your offer arrives.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Fees and timelines are shown on the platform when you apply. Standard takes around 60 working days. Urgent around 30. If the consulate is slow or the queue is long, CIMEA is the faster and more predictable option.
Most IMAT universities accept either one. Check your specific university's enrollment page to confirm which they prefer.
Not covered here or something does not match what you have heard? The community has Indian students who went through this recently.
🇮🇷 Iranian students: what you actually need to know
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
Do not apply to the University of Siena This is not speculation. An Iranian student scored above the cutoff for Siena and never received results. The university did not process Iranian applicants. One year gone. Apply elsewhere. Federico II, Bologna, Milan, Pavia, all have confirmed Iranian admissions. Siena is not worth the risk.
The Tirana campus and the Albania visa problem Tor Vergata opened a campus in Tirana, Albania in 2025. IMAT applies. Cutoffs apply. Non-EU seats apply. Iranian students have been accepted there and then discovered that Albania does not issue visas to Iranian nationals. Acceptance means nothing without a visa. Do not apply to Tirana if you hold an Iranian passport.
Paying the registration fee Iranian cards cannot make international transactions due to sanctions. You cannot pay the 130 euro Universitaly fee directly. Iranian students have handled this through a trusted contact in another country who makes the payment on their behalf. Plan this arrangement before registration opens, not on registration day.
The Italian embassy in Tehran is not functional Due to the current situation, the Italian embassy in Tehran is not operational. For your student visa, you need to apply from Turkey or Azerbaijan. Factor this into your timeline and budget from day one.
CIMEA, not DoV Because the embassy in Tehran is non-functional, getting a DoV issued there is not currently possible for most students. Apply for CIMEA through cimea-diplome.it instead. It is fully online, faster, and entirely manageable from Iran. If your university later requires a DoV as well, you can submit it after arrival. CIMEA first.
English proficiency You do not need IELTS or TOEFL to sit IMAT. However, Italian embassies require proof of English proficiency from Iranian applicants for the student visa. British Council has significantly reduced IELTS seat availability for Iranians. Go for TOEFL instead. Book your slot early.
The situation for Iranian students is changing faster than for any other nationality on this list. The community has Iranian students who went through this in 2024 and 2025. Ask there before making any assumption based on what worked a year ago.
🇱🇰 Sri Lankan students: what you actually need to know
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
Test centers: there is no center in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has no IMAT test center. You will need to travel abroad to sit the exam. Based on all past cycles this has not changed.
Your best options in order of cost and convenience:
India is the most practical choice. Two centers, New Delhi at Radisson Blu Hotel and Chennai at Ramada Plaza. Round trip flights from Colombo run approximately 150 to 250 USD depending on how early you book. Chennai is usually cheaper. Sri Lankan citizens can apply for an Indian e-Tourist Visa online. It is straightforward and processed quickly.
Pakistan is the next closest option. One center in Lahore at Qasr e Noor, RA Bazar Cantt. Round trip flights from Colombo average 350 to 500 USD and usually require a short transit. Apply for a Pakistani tourist visa online through the Pakistan Online Visa System. In 2025 a number of Sri Lankan students ended up booking Pakistan after Indian seats filled up within minutes of registration opening. Have Pakistan as your backup plan and be ready to book it immediately if India fills.
If neither India nor Pakistan works, regional alternatives that do not require a Schengen visa include Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Jeddah at Arab Open University, and Baku at Hyatt Regency Baku. Flights from Colombo to all three are significantly more expensive.
If you miss seats at all regional centers you will be forced to book a center in Europe. Do not let it come to that.
Booking warning Seats at India, Pakistan, and UAE centers fill within five to ten minutes of registration opening on Universitaly. The portal typically opens in July. Create your Universitaly account before registration day. Have your payment card confirmed and ready. Click submit and pay the moment registration goes live. Do not browse first.
DoV or CIMEA After admission you need one of these two documents to confirm your school diploma is valid for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Embassy or Consulate serving Sri Lanka. Free but slow. Start the process the same day your offer arrives.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Standard processing is around 60 working days. Urgent is around 30. If the consulate queue is long, CIMEA is the faster and more predictable option.
Most IMAT universities accept either. Some accept only one. Check your specific university's enrollment page before starting either process.
Coming back to practice in Sri Lanka After graduation you must apply to the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) for degree equivalence and registration. Make sure your Italian university is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools before you apply, as SLMC requires this for consideration.
To obtain full registration to practice you must pass the ERPM, previously known as the Act of 16 Examination, conducted by SLMC. Check slmc.lk for the current exam schedule, syllabus, and required documents as these can be updated.
After passing ERPM, SLMC may require a period of supervised practice before granting full independent registration. Confirm the current post-exam requirements directly with SLMC before you start the programme.
Keep physical and digital copies of all yearly mark sheets, your internship completion letter, and your final degree. Have your degree attested as required by SLMC and the Italian Embassy after graduation. Do not wait until you return home to start organising these.
The community has Sri Lankan students who have been through this recently. Test center booking, ERPM preparation, and SLMC registration questions come up regularly.
🇹🇷 Turkish students: what you actually need to know
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
Test centers in Turkey Istanbul and Ankara have both been used as test centers in recent cycles. The official cities and venues for each year are confirmed in the IMAT call so check the registration portal when it opens. Seats can be limited. Have your Universitaly account ready and your payment card confirmed before registration day. Go straight to selecting your center and paying. Do not browse first. Centers can be added or removed year to year. Always verify the current IMAT call before making any travel plans.
DoV or CIMEA After admission you need one of these two documents to confirm your school diploma is valid for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Consulate serving your region in Turkey. Free but slow. Start the process the same day your offer arrives.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Standard processing is around 60 working days. Urgent is around 30. If the consulate queue is long, CIMEA is the faster and more predictable option.
Most IMAT universities accept either. Some accept only one. Check your specific university's enrollment page before starting either process.
Coming back to practice in Turkey Returning to practice in Turkey after an Italian medical degree involves several steps and takes longer than most students expect. Plan for this from day one.
First, submit your degree to YOK (Yuksekogretim Kurulu) for equivalence recognition. You will need your attested diploma, transcripts, certified translations, and any supporting documents YOK requires at the time. Processing times vary so check the current procedure on yokatlas.yok.gov.tr.
Second, you will need Turkish language proficiency at B2 level from an accredited center. This is required for clinical practice and licensing.
Third, after equivalence is granted, the Ministry of Health typically requires foreign graduates to pass theoretical and practical equivalence exams and complete a supervised training period, commonly six to nine months, at a government hospital before receiving permission to practice.
After passing all requirements you apply to the provincial health directorate and the Ministry of Health for your practice permission and work permit.
Some Italian universities or degree programmes may attract exemptions from certain equivalence steps. Check current YOK and Ministry of Health lists after graduation to see if any apply to you.
If you are traveling to Italy for enrollment, factor in time for your student visa appointment at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in Turkey alongside your DoV or CIMEA process. Consular slots can be limited. Start everything immediately after your offer arrives.
The community has Turkish students who have been through this. YOK recognition questions and document timelines come up regularly.
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
Before reading further, check the EU vs Non-EU section above. UK citizens holding a Carta di soggiorno under the post-Brexit Withdrawal Agreement may qualify to apply as EU-equivalent. If that applies to you the entire process is different. Confirm with your target university before proceeding.
If you are applying as Non-EU, read on.
Test centers in the UK In 2025 IMAT ran at two centers in the UK, London and Birmingham. The 2026 IMAT call has not been published yet. Check the IMAT call on Universitaly when it opens to confirm centers for your year. Seats fill fast. Have your Universitaly account ready and your payment card confirmed before registration day. Go straight to selecting your center and paying. Do not browse first.
DoV or CIMEA After admission you need one of these two documents to confirm your school diploma is valid for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Embassy or its consular offices in the UK. Free but slow. Start the process the same day your offer arrives.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Standard processing is around 60 working days. Urgent is around 30. If consular slots are limited or the queue is long, CIMEA is the faster and more predictable option.
Most IMAT universities accept either. Some accept only one. Check your specific university's enrollment page before starting either process.
Coming back to practice in the UK To practice in the UK after graduating in Italy you need GMC registration. The first thing to check is whether your Italian university appears on the GMC list of recognised medical schools. This list determines everything else. Check it at gmc-uk.org before you apply, not after you graduate.
If your university is on the GMC recognised list you may be eligible to apply for registration directly without sitting PLAB. If it is not on the list you will likely need to pass PLAB Part 1 and Part 2 before applying for registration.
Regardless of PLAB, you will need to demonstrate English language proficiency through IELTS, OET, or a GMC accepted equivalent, and provide verified evidence of your internship and clinical experience.
GMC requirements and recognised school lists are updated periodically. Always check gmc-uk.org directly for the current position.
After your offer arrives, factor in time for both your DoV or CIMEA process and your Italian student visa appointment at the Italian Visa Application Centre in the UK. Consular slots can be limited. Start everything the same day your offer arrives.
The community has UK students who have been through this. GMC recognition questions and PLAB preparation for Italian graduates come up regularly.
🇩🇪 German students: what you actually need to know
You are applying as an EU student. You compete in the national ranking across all Italian medical universities, list multiple universities in preference order, and participate in weekly scrolling rounds after results day.
German medical universities operate on a strict Numerus Clausus system where admission depends heavily on your Abitur GPA. Students who do not clear that cutoff choose IMAT because Italian medical admissions are based entirely on the entrance exam score. Your past grades do not matter here. Only your IMAT score does. This makes IMAT a genuine alternative path into medicine for German students who are fully capable but were shut out by a grade threshold.
Test center in Germany In 2025 IMAT ran at one center in Germany, Berlin. The 2026 IMAT call has not been published yet. Check Universitaly when the call opens to confirm the center for your year. Seats fill fast. Have your Universitaly account ready and your payment card confirmed before registration day. Go straight to selecting your center and paying. Do not browse first.
DoV or CIMEA After admission you need one of these two documents to confirm your school diploma is valid for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Embassy or Consulate serving your region in Germany. Free but slow. Start the process the same day your offer arrives.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Standard processing is around 60 working days. Urgent is around 30. If the consulate queue is long, CIMEA is the faster and more predictable option.
Most IMAT universities accept either. Some accept only one. Check your specific university's enrollment page before starting either process.
Coming back to practice in Germany Because Italy is an EU member state, your Italian medical degree is treated as an EU qualification for licensing purposes in Germany. This gives you a significant advantage over graduates of non-EU medical schools.
The general sequence after graduation:
Gather your documents. You will need your diploma, full transcripts, internship certificate, and diploma supplement. Get certified German translations done by a sworn translator and have documents apostilled as required.
Contact the Approbationsbehoerde of the German state where you plan to work. Each state has its own authority and slightly different requirements. Do this before graduation if possible so you know exactly what they need.
Pass the Fachsprachpruefung, the medical German language exam. This is mandatory for patient care regardless of your background. Most candidates need several months of focused preparation to reach the required level. Start early, ideally during your final year in Italy.
If the state authority finds your Italian training substantially equivalent to German standards, which is common for EU degrees, you will not need to sit the Kenntnisspruefung knowledge exam. If they identify gaps you may be required to sit it, which adds months to the process.
Once all requirements are satisfied you receive Approbation, the unrestricted licence to practise in Germany, and can apply for Assistenzarzt positions and begin specialty training.
Processing times vary significantly between states. Factor this into your post-graduation timeline and do not assume it happens quickly.
The community has German-based students who have been through this. Numerus Clausus frustration, scrolling round tracking, and Approbation timelines all come up regularly.
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
A note for expat students living in UAE If you were born or previously educated in another country, your licensing pathway back to that home country is covered in its own drawer above. This drawer covers the UAE licensing pathway specifically.
Test center in UAE In 2025 IMAT ran at one center in Dubai at the Sheikh Zayed Trade Centre 2, Dubai World Trade Centre. The 2026 IMAT call has not been published yet. Check Universitaly when the call opens to confirm the center for your year. Seats fill fast. Have your Universitaly account ready and your payment card confirmed before registration day. Go straight to selecting your center and paying. Do not browse first.
DoV or CIMEA After admission you need one of these two documents to confirm your school diploma is valid for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Embassy or Consulate serving your region in the UAE. Free but slow. Start the process the same day your offer arrives.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Standard processing is around 60 working days. Urgent is around 30. If the consulate queue is long, CIMEA is the faster and more predictable option.
Most IMAT universities accept either. Some accept only one. Check your specific university's enrollment page before starting either process.
Coming back to practice in UAE The UAE has three separate licensing authorities depending on which emirate you work in.
Dubai is handled by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Abu Dhabi by the Department of Health (DOH). The Northern Emirates (Sharjah, Ajman etc.) fall under the federal Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP).
The most common strategy is to start in the Northern Emirates under MOHAP to build experience, then convert to DHA or DOH.
Mandatory internship requirement All medical graduates must complete a twelve month continuous internship.
The licensing exam You must pass a Prometric written exam unless you hold specific Western qualifications.
Primary Source Verification All authorities require DataFlow PSV. Delays here are common.
The community has UAE-based students who have been through this. Ask there for latest advice.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabian students: what you actually need to know
You are applying as a Non-EU student. One university. One shot. No fallback.
Test center in Saudi Arabia In 2025 IMAT ran at one center in Jeddah. The 2026 IMAT call has not been published yet. Check Universitaly when the call opens to confirm the center for your year. Seats fill fast. Have your Universitaly account ready and your payment card confirmed before registration day. Go straight to selecting your center and paying. Do not browse first.
DoV or CIMEA After admission you need one of these two documents to confirm your school diploma is valid for Italian university entry.
DoV is issued by the Italian Embassy or Consulate serving your region in Saudi Arabia. Free but slow. Start the process the same day your offer arrives.
CIMEA is done fully online at cimea-diplome.it. Standard processing is around 60 working days. Urgent is around 30. If the consulate queue is long, CIMEA is the faster and more predictable option.
Most IMAT universities accept either. Some accept only one. Check your specific university's enrollment page before starting either process.
Coming back to practice in Saudi Arabia The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) is the single authority.
The process includes:
Document attestation and apostille
Primary Source Verification
Professional classification and possible licensing exam
Final registration
Keep all documents organised from day one.
The community has Saudi students who have gone through this process. Ask there for current requirements.
🇪🇺 EU and equated countries: what is different for you
You are EU if you hold citizenship of an EU member state, or citizenship of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, or San Marino, or if you are a non-EU citizen legally resident in Italy long-term with a valid permesso di soggiorno. UK citizens are non-EU after Brexit.
How the EU process actually starts
You do not need to pre-enroll at any university separately. Everything happens through Universitaly.
When you register for IMAT you first select your university preferences in order of priority, then pay the €130 fee. This order matters. Your preferences are locked the moment payment goes through. You cannot change them after paying.
Take time to think about your preference order before you open the registration page. Not during it. Your highest preference should be your dream university. Your lowest should be the one you would genuinely be happy attending if nothing better comes through.
After payment you sit the exam and wait for results day. Scrolling begins after results are published.
Scrolling rounds
After results day a scrolling process runs weekly. Each week, students must confirm continued interest in Universitaly by a stated deadline. Missing this confirmation can remove you from the ranking permanently. Set a recurring reminder for the full duration of scrolling.
The four business day enrollment window
When assigned to a university, you have exactly 4 business days to confirm on Universitaly. Miss it and your place passes permanently to the next ranked student. No appeal, no exception.
Immatricolazione: a separate step
After confirming on Universitaly, you must also complete immatricolazione through the admitted university's own student portal. This is a completely separate system with its own deadline. Log into the university portal immediately after accepting on Universitaly. Confirming on Universitaly is not enough on its own.
Questions about scrolling or your specific situation? The community has EU students tracking rounds in real time every October.
The regional guide above still tells you clearly whether you are EU or non-EU. If your country is not covered in detail by one of the drawers above, the core rules are the same everywhere for non-EU applicants: one university choice, one ranking, no scrolling rounds, and you will need a student visa and a Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA after admission.
The specifics that vary by country are: where you sit the exam, how you pay the €130 fee, and which licensing exam you need to practice medicine back home.
If you have doubts about your specific situation, drop your question in the Imatify community. Students from many different countries are in there.
Students from Pakistan, India, Turkey, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and dozens of other countries are preparing right now in the Imatify community. Some of them went through exactly your situation last year and got in. They are still there and they answer questions every day. The most reliable place to get country-specific answers is from someone who actually went through it from your country.
The 2026 registration dates are not yet officially confirmed. Based on the 2025 cycle, registration opened 26 August and closed 9 September at 15:00 CEST. Expect a similar window for 2026. All steps happen exclusively at universitaly.it.
Be careful with your personal information
When creating your Universitaly account, enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport. You do not get a second chance to change this information. A mismatch between your registration and your travel documents can cause serious problems at the exam center and during enrollment.
Separate from IMAT. Check your target university's page this week
IMAT registration opens
~Late August 2026
2025 opened 26 Aug. Watch www.universitaly.it
IMAT registration closes
~9–12 Sep 2026 at 15:00 CEST
No exceptions. No extensions. No appeals.
IMAT exam date
~17 Sep 2026
Same day worldwide
Anonymous results
~25 Sep 2026
Scores published without names
Personal results and non-EU rankings
~13 Oct 2026
Each university publishes its non-EU ranking separately
Enrollment window
Oct 2026
4 business days. Miss it = place gone permanently.
Immatricolazione (formal enrollment)
Oct–Nov 2026
University's own portal, separate from Universitaly
Dates based on the 2025 cycle. Updated as soon as official 2026 dates are published.
Pre-enrollment: non-EU students, check your deadline this week
Pre-enrollment is a completely separate step from IMAT registration. The full window is April–July, though some universities accept pre-enrollment as late as August. In practice, several universities close non-EU pre-enrollment in May. If you are reading this in March or April 2026, some pre-enrollment windows are opening right now. Go to your target university's international admissions page today.
Immatricolazione: Important Step
After clicking "confirm enrollment interest" on Universitaly, you must also complete immatricolazione (formal enrollment) through the university's own student portal, a completely separate system with its own deadline. Log into your admitted university's portal immediately after accepting on Universitaly. Missing this deadline loses your place.
Registration day moves fast. The window opens, seats fill, and it closes. Students who have been through it are in the community and they check in every August.
If you have a question about payment, test centers, or anything that comes up on the day, that is the right place to ask.
Payment quirks, test center options, what to have ready before registration day, and the exact steps in the right order for your country.
Section D
Exam Format & Syllabus
60 multiple choice questions. 5 options each. 100 minutes. Pen and paper. Sat worldwide on the same day.
Post-2023 format change: read this before using any past papers
Before 2023, IMAT was designed and administered by Cambridge Assessment. In 2023, MUR took over completely. Biology and Physics became more application-heavy, testing understanding rather than memorisation. Use only the 2023, 2024, and 2025 papers as your primary practice material. Pre-2023 papers build the wrong skills for the current exam.
Section breakdown
Scroll right →
Section
Questions
Max score
Reading skills & general knowledge
4
6.0
Logical reasoning & problem solving
5
7.5
Biology
23
34.5
Chemistry
15
22.5
Physics & Mathematics
13
19.5
Subject weight (by questions)
Biology
38%
Chemistry
25%
Physics & Maths
22%
Logic
8%
Reading / GK
7%
Scoring system
Each correct answer: +1.5 points. Each wrong answer: −0.4 points. Unanswered: 0 points. Maximum possible score: 90.0.
Guessing randomly across all 60 questions produces an expected score close to zero. If you can eliminate 2 or 3 options, guessing on the remainder is worth doing.
Strategic implication
Biology (23 questions, max 34.5 points) is where non-EU cutoffs are won and lost. Physics and Maths (13 questions, 22% of the exam) are consistently undertrained by students with a pre-med background. Those 13 questions are often the margin between an offer and a rejection.
2026 syllabus
MUR has not yet published the official 2026 syllabus. Based on the last three cycles it has remained consistent with no meaningful changes. Until the official version is confirmed, the 2025 syllabus is your most reliable reference.
High frequency topic breakdowns per subject are being added to the guide by the team. For biology, Kanz has already done the work. See the biology breakdown →
Where to start
Not sure what to prioritize? Students in the community are working through this right now.
The 2024 exam was unusually easy, cutoffs spiked across the board. IMAT 2025 was harder, cutoffs returned toward their historical range. Do not benchmark your 2026 preparation against 2024 data.
Non-EU students: one ranking, one chance
Non-EU students do not participate in scrolling rounds. You compete at exactly one university and there is exactly one ranking. The cutoff shown is the final score of the last admitted student. If you fall below it, there is no second chance that year. Choose your university based on where your consistent practice scores put you, not your best day.
2025 Non-EU Cutoffs & Seats: All Universities
Scroll right →
University
Non-EU Seats 2025
Non-EU Cutoff 2025
Non-EU Cutoff 2024
University of Pavia
35 (+5)
73.0
71.2
Milano Statale
15
72.9
75.7
La Sapienza (Dentistry)
5
71.8
73.1
University of Bologna
20
70.3
74.5
Tor Vergata
20
69.1
60.6
University of Parma
45
67.6
59.1
Luigi Vanvitelli
50
66.2
63.2
La Sapienza
13
65.8
73.4
University of Padova
25
65.4
71.6
Milano Bicocca
18
65.1
72.6
Federico II Naples
45
63.1
68.1
University of Catania
60
61.6
57.2
University of Messina
56
58.2
61.4
Università Politecnica Marche (Ancona)
60
58.2
60.3
Siena (Dentistry)
2
52.0
69.3
University of Cagliari
20
54.2
56.5
University of Bari
11
49.3
65.8
University of Turin
32
not available
70.8
Tor Vergata Tirana
150
0.0
not available
Bologna (VetMed)
5
not available
not available
Pavia (Marco Polo)
5
23.3
not available
Marco Polo seats are reserved for Chinese students under a bilateral programme. These spots often go unfilled and get redistributed to the general non-EU pool. If you are not applying under this programme, these seats may still be available to you after redistribution.
Tor Vergata Tirana is a separate campus in Albania. Not a satellite of the Rome university. Students who choose this option complete their entire degree in Tirana, not Italy. The cutoff is significantly lower but the location is a different country entirely. Make this decision with full awareness of what you are committing to.
We keep this updated as official data is confirmed from MUR and university ranking PDFs.
How to use the cutoff data
Use the score calculator below to see which universities are in range based on your practice test score. One thing the calculator cannot tell you: target the university whose cutoff sits 2 to 3 points below your consistent average across multiple tests. Not your best day. Your consistent average.
EU results in 2025 were affected by an unusually wide score distribution after the harder exam. The table shows confirmed round data. Green figures are confirmed final cutoffs. A dash means that round data was not confirmed at that point.
Scroll right →
University
EU Seats
Final
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R6
R7
R8
R9
R10
Left
La Sapienza
45
65.8*
62.4
62.4
65.8*
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Milano Statale
55
65.8
66.2
65.8
65.8
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Milano Bicocca
30
64.8
64.6
64.8*
64.8
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
La Sapienza (Dentistry)
19
56.7
58.3
57.5
57.5
57.1
57.1~
56.7
—
—
—
—
—
University of Pavia
103
60.1
60.5
60.2
60.2
60.2
60.1
60.4*
60.1
—
—
—
—
University of Bologna
130
60.5
61.2
60.6
60.6
60.5
60.5
—
—
—
—
—
—
University of Turin
70
59.1
59.5
59.4
59.4
59.3
59.1
59.1
59.1
59.1
—
—
—
University of Padova
75
58.6
59.8
59.4
59.4
59.4
59.3
59.4*
58.6
59.4*
58.6
—
—
Federico II Naples
25
58.3
60.2
60.1
58.6
58.6
58.6
58.3
—
—
—
—
—
Tor Vergata
60
—
58.5
58.2
58.2
58.0
57.9
57.8
57.9
57.9
57.9
57.9
3
Luigi Vanvitelli
60
—
56.6
56.4
56.3
56.3
56.3
56.3
56.2
56.1
56.0
55.9
15
University of Bari
69
—
56.5
56.3
56.2
56.0
55.9
55.9
55.7
55.7
55.5
55.2
18
Siena (Dentistry)
33
—
54.6
54.5
54.4
54.2
54.1
54.1
54.1
54.1
54.1
54.1
20
University of Cagliari
80
—
54.8
54.7
54.6
54.6
54.5
54.5
54.3
54.2
54.1
54.1
23
Bologna (VetMed)
45
—
53.8
53.8
53.8
53.7
53.7
53.7
53.4
53.3
52.7
52.7
30
University of Parma
75
—
58.0
57.8
57.4
57.4
57.2
57.2
57.1
57.1
57.0
57.0
10
Università Politecnica Marche (Ancona)
20
—
57.8
57.5
57.4
57.4
57.4
57.4
57.4
57.4
57.4
57.4
3
University of Messina
55
—
55.3
55.2
55.2
55.0
54.9
54.9
54.8
54.6
54.6
54.5
17
University of Catania
0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
* indicates a round where the cutoff rose from the previous round. ~ indicates an approximate figure. Catania had 0 EU seats in 2025. Final cutoffs shown in green where confirmed. Scrolling may continue beyond round 10 for universities with remaining seats.
Scrolling data updated as rounds are confirmed. Final cutoffs added as they close.
Score calculator
Set your correct and wrong answers per section. Switch between Non-EU and EU mode.
Biology 23 q · max 34.5
Correct12
Wrong4
Chemistry 15 q · max 22.5
Correct8
Wrong3
Physics & Maths 13 q · max 19.5
Correct7
Wrong2
Logic + GK 9 q · max 13.5
Correct5
Wrong1
0.0
estimated score
out of 90.0
We keep this updated as official data is published. Always verify against official university ranking PDFs before acting on any figure here.
Italian public universities are already affordable compared to UK or Australian equivalents. Scholarships can reduce your costs to near zero. Pakistani, Nigerian, and Indian students are eligible for both the regional DSU scholarships and the Italian government MAECI scholarship, but the deadlines are unforgiving.
DSU, Regional
Regional Merit Scholarship (DSU)
€0 tuition + allowance
Each Italian region has a scholarship body (EDISU in Pavia, DiSCo in Rome, ER.GO in Bologna). Based on financial need and merit. Available to non-EU international students. Can cover full tuition plus a €3,000–5,000 annual living allowance.
MAECI, Italian Government
Italian Government Scholarship (MAECI)
~€900/month
Available to students from eligible non-EU countries including Pakistan, Nigeria, and India. Application opens January–February. Check maeci.it each January, the eligible country list changes annually.
University specific
University Merit Awards
€500–€3,000
Individual universities offer merit-based awards. Pavia, Bologna, and Federico II have well-documented international student support programs. Check after admission.
MAECI timing: critical
The MAECI application opens in January–February and closes well before IMAT registration opens. If the window has already closed, mark your calendar for January 2027. Missing it means waiting a full year.
DSU scholarship questions answered
The DSU process trips up more students than any other part of the application. Which documents. Which portal. Which regional body. What ISEE parificato actually means for students from your country. Students in the community work through this together and share what worked.
Every city below has at least one IMAT university. Costs are estimates from 2025–2026 data, verify current tuition directly with your target university.
Tuition fees by university (2025/26)
University
Annual tuition range
DSU body
Programme
Milano StataleMilan
€200–€3,950
ISU Milano
Medicine
Milano BicoccaMilan
€200–€4,205
ISU Milano
Medicine
Tor VergataRome
€156–€6,215
DiSCo Lazio
Medicine
La SapienzaRome
€156–€3,290
DiSCo Lazio
Med + Dentistry
Federico II NaplesNaples
€140–€1,600
ADISU Campania
Medicine
Luigi VanvitelliNaples area
€156–€2,704
ADISU Campania
Medicine
University of BariBari
€200–€1,920
ADISU Puglia
Medicine
University of MessinaMessina, Sicily
€200–€750
ERSU Messina
Medicine
University of PaviaPavia
€450–€4,830
EDISU Pavia
Medicine
University of PaduaPadua
€156–€2,730
ESU Padova
Medicine
University of BolognaBologna
€156–€3,500
ER.GO Bologna
Medicine
University of TurinTurin
€156–€3,900
EDISU Piemonte
Medicine
University of ParmaPiacenza campus
€156–€2,700
ER.GO Emilia
Medicine
Università Politecnica MarcheAncona
€156–€1,745
ERDIS Marche
Medicine
University of CataniaCatania, Sicily
€156–€2,630
ERSU Catania
Medicine
University of CagliariCagliari, Sardinia
€0–€3,447
ERSU Cagliari
Medicine
University of SienaSiena
€0–€4,500
DSU Toscana
Dentistry only
These are approximate values. Your actual annual tuition fee can be significantly reduced depending on your family income and ISEE value. See queries about ISEE and fee reductions in the community.
City guide: living costs & universities
Milan
€1,200–1,500
per month
Italy's most international city. Most expensive on this list. Fast metro, English widely spoken, best post-graduation job market. Two IMAT universities.
Medicine
Rome
€900–1,400
per month
Two IMAT universities: La Sapienza and Tor Vergata. Warm climate, large student population.
Med + Dentistry
Bologna
€800–1,200
per month
Italy's definitive student city. Historic, well-connected, large IMAT cohort.
Medicine
Siena
€750–1,050
per month
Dentistry only. Compact and beautiful. Quieter than most university cities.
Dentistry
Turin
€700–1,150
per month
Underrated. Strong university infrastructure, excellent transport links.
Medicine
Padua
€700–1,000
per month
Historic and compact. 30 min from Venice. One of Europe's oldest medical schools.
Medicine
Pavia
€700–1,000
per month
Small university town 35 min from Milan. Walkable and safe. EDISU Pavia has strong housing support.
Medicine
Parma
€750–1,000
per month
IMAT campus is in Piacenza. Good rail links to Milan and Bologna.
Medicine
Cagliari
€700–900
per month
Sardinia. Sunny, relaxed, genuinely affordable. Lower cutoff makes it accessible.
Medicine
Naples
€650–950
per month
Two universities: Federico II and Vanvitelli. Large non-EU cohort. Vibrant and affordable.
Medicine
Catania
€700–900
per month
Eastern Sicily. 60 non-EU seats. Growing IMAT cohort after seats doubled in 2025.
Medicine
Ancona
€600–850
per month
Adriatic coastal city. 60 non-EU seats, lower cutoff. Underrated by students who default to Sicily.
Medicine
Messina
€500–750
per month
Northeast Sicily. 56 non-EU medicine seats. One of the most affordable student cities in Italy.
Medicine
Section H
Preparation
IMAT changed in 2023. Before that, you could memorise a list of biology facts and pass. Since 2023, questions test whether you can apply the concept to a novel problem. Students who spent their preparation time on flashcard biology scored significantly below expectation in 2024 and 2025.
Understanding the exam before you prepare for it
From 2011 to 2022, the IMAT was designed by Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge built questions that rewarded application over memorisation. Multi-statement questions. Hidden logic inside biology. You had to understand the concept deeply enough to apply it to a situation you had never seen before.
In 2023, MUR took over completely. The 2023 paper went harder than anything Cambridge had produced. Then MUR overcorrected. The 2024 paper became so easy that one biology question simply asked which process occurs inside mitochondria. Middle school knowledge. Cutoffs spiked across the board. Students who had prepared deeply felt cheated. Students who had memorised lists felt lucky.
The 2025 paper returned toward the middle. Harder than 2024. More application-based. Cutoffs dropped back toward historical ranges.
What this means for your preparation
You cannot predict what MUR will do in 2026. The safest preparation strategy is one that works regardless of which direction MUR moves. Understand why an answer is correct, not just that it is correct. That single shift in how you practice changes everything.
How to interpret your practice scores honestly
This is something almost nobody explains clearly and it costs students their confidence at the worst possible moment.
The mean score across all students in 2023 was 24.5. In 2024 it jumped to 42.2. Same number of questions. Same marking scheme. Completely different exam difficulty.
What this means practically is this. A score of 60 on the 2024 paper puts you around the 60th percentile of all students who sat that year. A score of 60 on the 2023 paper puts you in the top 20 percent. They are not the same score. Do not compare them as if they are.
Before you benchmark yourself
Only compare your practice score to others from the same year's paper. If you score 40 on the 2023 paper do not be discouraged. If you score 65 on the 2024 paper do not assume you are ready. Context is everything. The three papers from 2023, 2024, and 2025 together give you the most accurate picture of where you actually stand.
Where the exam is actually won and lost
The subject weightings shown in the format section above tell you the percentages. Here is what to actually do with them strategically.
Biology is 38 percent of the exam but it is also where the largest score gaps exist between students. A student who genuinely understands biology rather than memorises it can score 28 to 34 out of 34.5. A student who memorised without understanding typically scores 15 to 20 on the same section. That gap of 10 to 15 points is where non-EU admissions are won and lost at almost every university on the cutoff table.
Physics and Maths is 22 percent of the exam and the most consistently undertrained section for students from pre-medical backgrounds. Most students with FSc, A Levels Biology and Chemistry, or IB pre-med track have not touched physics since their first year of high school. Those 13 questions do not disappear because you ignored them. They sit there and cost you the margin between an offer and a rejection. Spend disproportionate time on Physics and Maths early in your preparation before you feel ready to.
Study timeline
Scroll right →
Timeframe
Focus
Goal by end
6+ months out
Foundation building. Biology concepts, organic chemistry, core physics.
No surprises in the syllabus. You know what you do not know.
3–6 months out
Systematic topic coverage, first past papers (2023–2025 only)
Comfortable with all five sections; scoring 40+ on practice
1–3 months out
Timed full mock exams, weakness targeting, logic practice
Consistent 55+ on practice tests at your target university's level
Final 2 weeks
Light revision, test logistics confirmed
Test center address confirmed, documents ready, sleep schedule fixed
What actually helps and what is noise
Past papers 2023, 2024, and 2025 only
That is the complete list of primary practice material. Download them from www.universitaly.it, do them timed, score them honestly. Three papers. That is your entire exam in a box. Pre-2023 papers build skills for an exam that no longer exists. Use them only to understand topic history, never as primary practice.
Khan Academy for biology and chemistry foundations
Free, clear, no fluff. Use it to fill conceptual gaps, not as your primary source. If you understand the Khan Academy explanation of a topic you are at the right depth for IMAT. If you are going deeper than that you are spending time that could go to weaker subjects.
Test medicina papers for additional practice
The Italian medicine entrance exam written by MUR. Since MUR now writes both exams the style overlaps significantly. The 2024 IMAT biology section was almost identical in style to the test medicina. Find them free on the official MUR website. Use them as supplementary practice after you have exhausted the three IMAT papers.
The Imatify community
Students who sat this exam last cycle are still in the community. Some of them are now in their first year at Catania, Ancona, and Pavia. They answer questions about specific topics, specific questions, and specific mistakes every day. That kind of real-time feedback from someone who sat the exam last year is worth more than any textbook.
What is noise
Pre-2023 past papers as primary practice. Paid question banks not built specifically around the post-2023 format. Any resource claiming to predict this year's questions or topics. Anything that encourages you to go deeper than IMAT depth on any single topic at the expense of covering all sections.
The 6 mistakes that end IMAT attempts
1
Using only pre-2023 past papers
The exam format changed fundamentally in 2023. Practicing on old papers builds skills for a test that no longer exists. Use 2023, 2024, and 2025 papers as your primary material.
2
Picking a university based on prestige alone
Non-EU students get one choice. If you are consistently scoring 56 on practice tests and pick a university with a 61 cutoff, you are not being ambitious, you are ensuring elimination.
3
Ignoring physics and maths
Physics and Maths account for 22% of the exam. Those 13 questions are often the difference between in and out at every cutoff level.
4
Missing registration day
In 2025, registration opened 26 August and closed 9 September. There is no late registration. No exceptions. No appeals.
5
Treating IMAT as the only deadline
Pre-enrollment, Dichiarazione di Valore, immatricolazione, and MAECI each have separate and earlier deadlines. Missing one can end your application regardless of your exam score.
6
Not practicing under time pressure
100 minutes for 60 questions is roughly 100 seconds per question. Students who have not timed themselves run out on biology, usually their strongest section.
From Kanz ur Rehman, Co-founder Imatify
Hey I am Kanz, here is what I made
The reason students lose marks on biology is rarely that they do not know the content. IMAT questions are designed to make the right answer look wrong. A question on cell membrane transport is not testing whether you know what active transport is. It is testing whether you can identify the specific wrong answer that trips students who know the concept superficially.
I went through every single IMAT paper from 2023 to 2025 and logged every concept that appeared more than twice. For each one I wrote what the trap is and which wrong answer students typically choose. It took two full weeks to build and it is completely free.
47 high-frequency biology concepts that keep repeating
The exact past paper where each one appeared so you can see it in context
The specific wrong answer each topic is meant to trick you into picking, this is the part that actually saves marks
Everything in this guide is genuinely enough to prepare well on your own. Thousands of students get into Italian medical school every year using only free resources. This guide exists to help you be one of them.
The academy exists for students who want something different from self-study. Not more content. A person in their corner. Someone who sat this exam last year watching how you prepare, answering your questions the same day, and adjusting your plan when something is not working. If that sounds like what you need, it is there.
Most guides stop at results day. For students from Pakistan, Nigeria, Iran, India, and the UK, getting an offer is the beginning of another process, and it has a hard deadline 4 business days after your results arrive.
Step 1 · October 2026
Accept your offer: 4 business days
Log into Universitaly. Click "confirm enrollment interest." You have exactly 4 business days. Miss this window and your place passes permanently to the next ranked non-EU student. No appeal, no exception.
Step 1a · October 2026
Immatricolazione: university portal
Immediately after confirming on Universitaly, log into your admitted university's own student portal and complete immatricolazione (formal enrollment). This is a separate system with its own deadline.
Step 2 · Oct–Nov 2026
Dichiarazione di Valore (DoV)
The Declaration of Value from the Italian Embassy in your home country. Bring your original diploma, a certified Italian translation, your passport, and the embassy's application form. Contact your embassy the same week your offer arrives, processing takes 4–8 weeks.
Step 3 · Nov–Dec 2026
Student visa (Type D)
Apply through your local Italian embassy or consulate with your offer letter, DoV, financial proof (~€8,500 per year), valid passport, accommodation proof, and health insurance.
Step 4 · Before arrival
Codice Fiscale
Italy's tax identification number. Required to open a bank account, sign a lease, and get a SIM card. Apply at the Italian Embassy before you leave, it is free and takes 1–2 days.
Step 5 · Within 8 days of arrival
Permesso di soggiorno
Italy's residence permit. Non-EU students must apply at the local Post Office (Poste Italiane) within 8 working days of entering Italy. This is a legal requirement.
Every step above has been navigated by students who found Imatify before their offer arrived. The ones who started early made it look manageable. The ones who started late wished they had found this sooner.
Free: the post-admission checklist: built for your country
Every deadline and document from offer acceptance to first day of class. Separate versions for Pakistan, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
Honest assessment
Some students are well-positioned for IMAT. Others are not.
Read both sides before you register on Universitaly.
Good fit: You have a strong science background, FSc Pre Medical, A Levels Biology and Chemistry, IB with biology and chemistry at higher level, and can commit 4–8 months of focused preparation before September 2026.
Good fit: You have thought through the licensing pathway home, NLE (Pakistan), NExT (India), PLAB (UK), MDCN Assessment (Nigeria), and have planned for it. This is not a reason to avoid Italy. It is a reason to plan.
Good fit: Tuition cost is a real constraint. A six-year Italian degree at maximum fees costs less than one year at a UK medical school for an international student.
Good fit: A single high-stakes exam suits you better than the multi-factor UK admissions process. No interview, no personal statement, no predicted grades. One test. The number determines your offer.
Not a good fit: You are an Indian student who has not cleared NEET UG. NMC requires this before enrollment at any foreign institution for students enrolling from May 2018 onwards. Without it, your Italian degree will not be recognised for licensing in India.
Not a good fit: Your plan is to use Italy as a stepping stone to a UK or US medical school. IMAT medicine degrees are standalone six-year programs. There are no transfer pathways.
Think carefully: You are not prepared to live abroad for 6 years, navigate Italian bureaucracy, find housing independently, and build a life outside your home country. The students who drop out in year two rarely struggled with the science, they had not seriously considered what living in Italy would actually require.
If you are serious about 2026
The academy is the option for students who want to be prioritized more, live subject-wise IMAT classes, live application and consultation sessions weekly, and tutors at the university you are targeting. This guide stays free regardless.
Yes. There is no limit on the number of times you can take IMAT. Your score is only valid for the year you sit it, so each year is a fresh attempt. Retakers benefit from format familiarity and have a much clearer basis for choosing which university to target the second time.
Pakistan: Verify at pmc.gov.pk. After graduating, pass the NLE and complete a one-year housejob at a PMC-recognised hospital.
India: NMC recognises Italian degrees for graduates who cleared NEET UG before enrollment. Foreign graduates must pass the NExT exam. Verify at nmc.org.in.
Nigeria: MDCN processes foreign graduates through credential verification (ECFMG EPIC) and an Assessment Examination. Verify at mdcn.gov.ng.
UK: Pass PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 (aligned with UKMLA content map from 2024) and meet English proficiency requirements. See gmc-uk.org.
IELTS is not required to sit IMAT. Some universities require a B2 English certificate for the enrollment process, the University of Milano Bicocca is a confirmed example. Always check your specific target university's enrollment requirements separately.
There is no official minimum passing score. Admission is purely competitive, you need to score above the non-EU cutoff for your chosen university. In 2025, non-EU cutoffs ranged from 49.3 (Bari) to 73.0 (Pavia). A score of 60+ gives you realistic options at several universities.
Pre-enrollment is required by most Italian universities for non-EU students, separate from IMAT registration. It is completed between April and July (sometimes as late as August) through each university's own portal. Missing pre-enrollment can disqualify you from that university's non-EU ranking even if your score is competitive. Check your target university's admissions page now.
Academic instruction is fully in English for all 6 years. Clinical placements involve Italian patients and Italian-speaking staff. Most students find their Italian improves naturally by the time clinical years begin (year 3 onwards). Universities generally offer free Italian courses in year one.
Before 2023, IMAT was designed and administered by Cambridge Assessment. From 2023, MUR took over completely. Biology and Physics became more application-heavy. Students with strong science foundations who can apply knowledge to novel problems perform significantly better now. Use only 2023, 2024, and 2025 papers for primary practice.
Five factors in the right order.
First: your realistic score range. Take three full timed practice tests using only 2023, 2024, and 2025 papers. Calculate your average across all three. Subtract 3 points. That is your floor. Only consider universities whose cutoff sits at or below that floor.
Second: cutoff trend, not just cutoff number. A university with a 58 cutoff that was 54 two years ago is trending up and riskier than it looks. A university with a 63 cutoff that was 71 two years ago is trending down and more accessible.
Third: non-EU seats. 11 seats means the margin for error is razor thin. 60 seats means more room. More seats is safer at the same cutoff level.
Fourth: pre-enrollment deadline. Check this before anything else. If pre-enrollment for your target university has already closed that university is eliminated regardless of your score.
Fifth: city and life factors. You will live there for six years. Temperature. Cost of living. Whether there is a community from your country. DSU scholarship support at that university.
These are the documents most universities require at the pre-enrollment stage. Always check your specific university's international admissions page to confirm their exact requirements.
Valid passport. Must be current and not expired.
Recent photograph. White background. Passport photo standard.
Higher secondary certificate. HSSC or A Levels for Pakistani students. Class 12 certificate for Indian students. WAEC or NECO for Nigerian students.
Secondary school certificate. Matric or O Levels for Pakistani students.
English language evidence. If your schooling was in English, a Medium of Instruction letter from your school principal is usually sufficient.
Recommendation letter from your principal. Standard format. Most schools have a template.
The DSU scholarship is based on your family's financial situation calculated through a document called the ISEE. For non-EU students this is called the ISEE parificato and it requires three specific documents from your home country.
Family composition certificate, family income certificate, and family property certificate. Each must be translated into Italian by a recognised translator, then legalized either through the Italian Embassy in your country or through an apostille.
After legalization submit them through your regional DSU portal when applications open. Each region has its own body, EDISU for Pavia, DiSCo for Rome, ER.GO for Bologna and Parma, ADISU for Naples, ERSU for Catania and Messina.
DSU application windows typically open in July or August. Missing the window means waiting a full year.
The Imatify Team
Who they are and where they are now
Every tutor here either sat IMAT recently or is currently at the university you are applying to. That is the point.
