🇮🇹 IMAT 2025 Ultimate Guide

The International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is an entrance exam for international students who wish to study Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine in English at Italian public universities.

Why study medicine in Italy?

• World-Class Education: Italian medical schools are among the oldest and most prestigious in Europe, with a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages.
• Affordable Tuition: Tuition fees at public universities are significantly lower compared to the UK, USA, or Australia (typically €156 - €4,000 per year).
• EU Degree Recognition: Degrees are recognized throughout the European Union (EU) and in many countries worldwide.
• English Programs: You do not need to master Italian before admission (though learning it during your studies is strongly recommended).
• Cultural Experience: Live in one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in the world.
• Clinical Training: Early practical clinical training in renowned hospitals.

Italian medical programs follow a 6-year integrated curriculum leading to a degree in Medicine and Surgery (Laurea Magistrale in Medicina e Chirurgia).

• High school graduates wanting to study medicine in Italy
• International students from EU and Non-EU countries
• Students who could not get into medical school in their home country
• Those looking for affordable yet high-quality medical education in Europe
• Students wishing to practice medicine in the EU or internationally

Yes - You are treated as "Non-EU Equivalent to EU" (Non-UE Parificati).

If you hold one of the following valid Italian residence permits, you are treated exactly like an EU citizen (unlimited choices, national ranking with scrolling).

Important Notes:

• Residence permit must be valid at the time of IMAT registration.
• You must upload proof of permit during registration.
• UK Citizens are currently considered Non-EU (unless they hold a withdrawal agreement residency card issued before Dec 31, 2020).
• Swiss Citizens are treated as EU, even though Switzerland is not in the EU.

If you hold EU citizenship alongside Non-EU citizenship, under Italian administrative law, EU citizenship automatically takes precedence.

Common Scenarios:

• Italy + USA: Must apply as EU (Italy)
• Portugal + Brazil: Must apply as EU (Portugal)
• Poland + Canada: Must apply as EU (Poland)
• Greece + Australia: Must apply as EU (Greece)

Since Brexit (Jan 31, 2020), UK citizens are classified as Non-EU for IMAT purposes, with one exception:

• UK citizens with an Italian residence permit issued before Dec 31, 2020 under the withdrawal agreement are still treated as EU.
• All other UK citizens (even those living in other EU countries) are Non-EU and must choose only 1 university.
• Irish Citizens remain EU (Ireland is an EU member).
• Dual UK + Irish citizens must apply as EU (Ireland).

This has significantly shifted competition dynamics, as UK students were historically one of the largest EU applicant groups.

Who: Non-EU students residing abroad ONLY (skip if you have an Italian permit of stay).

When: Usually starts March/April and ends in July (Check university specific deadlines, they vary!).

Platform: Universitaly.it

1. Create Account: Go to Universitaly.it and create an account with a valid email. You will use this for both pre-enrollment and later IMAT registration.
2. Select "International Students": Go to the International Students section, not the Italian students section.
3. Select "Pre-enrollment Application" (Domanda di Preiscrizione): Choose English medical program.
4. Critical Decision: You must choose the ONE single university where you will take the IMAT. This decision is binding and cannot be easily changed. Choose carefully considering:
   • Past Non-EU acceptance rates and cutoff scores
   • City preference (cost of living, climate, culture)
   • University reputation and education quality
   • Clinical opportunities and hospital affiliations
   • Alumni feedback and student reviews
5. Upload Documents: You must upload:
   • Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay)
   • High School Diploma (or provisional transcript if not yet graduated)
   • Transcripts
   • Some universities may require additional docs (check specific requirements)
6. Language Requirement Check (IELTS/TOEFL):
   Important: While IMAT is the entrance exam, many universities (e.g., Milan, Sapienza, Rome Tor Vergata) also require uploading an official English proficiency certificate (usually IELTS 6.0/C1 level or TOEFL) during pre-enrollment.
   Some exempt native speakers or those educated in English, but ALWAYS check your target university's "Call for Applications" (Bando). Do not assume passing IMAT is enough!
7. Submit: Review everything carefully and submit. You cannot change university choice after submission.
8. Wait for Approval: The university reviews your documents (can take 2-6 weeks). They will approve or request more info. Once approved, a summary PDF is automatically sent to the Italian Embassy/Consulate in your country.

Italy needs official proof that your high school diploma is valid and equivalent to 12 years (13 in some countries) of education. You have two options:

Once Universitaly approves your pre-enrollment (you receive the summary PDF), you can apply for an Italian Study Visa (Type D - National Visa) at your local Italian Consulate or Embassy.

When: Usually June-August (After Universitaly approval, before the exam in September).

Processing Time: 2-6 weeks (varies greatly by consulate - apply ASAP!).

Once you receive your study visa and arrive in Italy, you must apply for a Permit of Stay (Permesso di Soggiorno) within 8 working days.

1. Go to Post Office (Poste Italiane): Ask for a "Kit per il permesso di soggiorno" (Residence Permit Kit) for study purposes.
2. Fill Forms: Complete all forms in the kit (Instructions are usually in Italian - take an Italian speaker or use Google Translate).
3. Submit at Post Office: You will receive a receipt with an appointment date at the Immigration Office (Questura).
4. Attend Questura Appointment: Bring originals of all documents. Fingerprints and photos will be taken. Processing the permit usually takes 4-12 weeks.

Key Takeaway: The bureaucracy for Non-EU students is intensive and time-sensitive. Create a detailed checklist and calendar. Missing a single deadline can mean waiting a year to re-apply.

Platform: Universitaly.it

When: Registration typically opens in July for about 3 weeks. Check official MIUR (Ministry) announcements for exact dates each year.

You do not have to take the exam in Italy. IMAT offers test centers in major cities worldwide.

Example Abroad Centers (Subject to change yearly):

• Americas: New York, Sao Paulo, Toronto
• Europe: London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Nicosia, etc.
• Asia: Dubai, New Delhi, Beijing, Tokyo (often available), Lahore
• Africa: Johannesburg

IMAT Fee: Approximately €130 (£114 / $164) - exact amount confirmed annually by MIUR.

Payment Method: Direct credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard) on Universitaly.it.

Fee Waivers: Very limited. Some universities offer waivers for students from low-income countries or with financial hardship. Check individual university policies.

MUST BRING:

• Valid Passport or National ID Card (Not expired)
• Registration Confirmation Email (Printed or on phone)
• Payment Receipt (Printed)

PROHIBITED ITEMS:

• Phones and smartwatches (Must be turned off and placed in designated area)
• Calculators (BANNED - all math must be done mentally or on provided scratch paper)
• Notes, textbooks, study materials
• Food/Drink (Water in clear bottle might be allowed)
• Bags/Backpacks (Usually placed outside exam room)

If you face technical issues during registration:

• Email Universitaly support: supporto.universitaly@cineca.it
• Call the helpline (number provided on website during registration period)
• Use a different browser (Chrome recommended)
• Clear cache/cookies
• Try registering at off-peak hours

Below are all public medical schools offering English courses for 2025, with EU and Non-EU seat quotas.

For EU and EU-equivalent students, only those with a score of 20 points or higher appear in the EU scrolling ranking. Non-EU students, on the other hand, can enter the ranking with a score of 0 points or higher. See our article on how IMAT ranking and scrolling works for more details.

In case of a tie in IMAT score, the following tie-breakers are used:

1. Score in each section (in this order): Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Math, Logical Reasoning & Problem Solving, Reading Skills & Knowledge Acquired During Studies
2. English proficiency certificate
3. Disability certificate
4. Age (younger candidate is preferred)

Below is the complete list of IMAT test centers for 2025. Exam times and check-in times are shown in local time.

Format: Paper-based, multiple-choice exam

Duration: 100 Minutes

Total Questions: 60

Language: English

Scoring Rules:

• Correct Answer: +1.5 points
• Incorrect Answer: -0.4 points
• Unanswered: 0 points

Recommended Preparation Time: 6-12 Months of consistent study

Time Management:

• Avg Time per Question: 100 mins / 60 Qs = 1 min 40 sec
• Recommended Approach: First pass answering questions you are sure of (45-50 mins). Second pass for harder questions and educated guesses (35-40 mins). Final review and bubbling the answer sheet carefully (10-15 mins).

Guessing Strategy:

• No clue? Leave blank (0 points vs expected value of -0.1 for random guess)
• Can eliminate 1 option? Still risky, expected value ~0
• Can eliminate 2 options? Guess! Expected value is positive
• Can eliminate 3 options? Definitely guess! 50/50 odds

Order of answering:

• Many students find Biology easiest - start there to build confidence
• Then Chemistry (if good at it) or Math (if fast at mental math)
• Leave Logic/Reading for last - they are the most time consuming and draining
• Don't get stuck on one hard question - mark it and move on!