To study medicine in Italy in English as a non-EU student, you (1) pick one university for the non-EU quota and pre-enrol on Universitaly by that university’s deadline, (2) register for the IMAT, (3) sit the test, (4) wait for scores and the ranking, (5) enrol within the windows, and (6) apply for the study visa before the visa deadline. The official 2027 dates are not announced yet, so use the 2026 cycle as a guide and confirm everything on the official call and Universitaly.
Many students first hear about English-taught medicine in Italy and then feel lost in dates, portals and rules. This guide puts the steps in order, in plain words. It is written for students aged 17 to 19 and for the parents helping them. Nothing here is a promise of admission. Always check the official sources listed at the end.
Before you start: what is the 2027 timeline?
As of 2 November 2026, the official IMAT 2027 date and registration window have not been announced. Please do not trust any site that gives you a fixed date today.
For planning, the 2026 cycle is the best guide. It ran under MUR Decree (DM) n. 1005. Treat the table below as a rough pattern, not a promise for 2027.
| Stage | 2026 cycle (already happened) |
|---|---|
| Pre-enrolment with one university (non-EU, abroad) | Set by each university. Messina, for example, needed both its own portal and Universitaly by 20 July 2026. |
| IMAT registration on Universitaly | 26 August to 9 September 2026, 15:00 Italian time |
| IMAT test | 29 September 2026 |
| Anonymous scores published | 8 October 2026 |
| Paper review | 19 October 2026 |
| Named national ranking and enrolment | From 26 October 2026 |
Planning assumption (not an announcement): 2027 may follow the same late-summer pattern, with IMAT registration in late August to early September and the test in late September. Pre-enrolment with a university may open much earlier, in spring or summer 2027, so start preparing now.
Step 1: Choose ONE university and pre-enrol on Universitaly
This is the step where most mistakes happen. Non-EU applicants living abroad apply in two steps on Universitaly: first a pre-enrolment application to one university, then the IMAT test registration. EU candidates only book the test.
Each university sets its own pre-enrolment deadline. In the 2026 cycle, Messina required students to complete both its own portal and Universitaly by 20 July. Other universities may ask for different things, so read the call of the university you choose.
Choosing well matters because the non-EU quota is separate from the EU one, and the seats are different at every university. Our guide on how to choose a university for the IMAT explains how to compare cities, seats and past scores. You can also look at IMAT cut-off scores 2026 by university, remembering that those figures come from third-party aggregators, are first-round and provisional, and should be checked on Universitaly.
Step 2: Register for the IMAT
The IMAT is registered through your Universitaly account. In 2026 the window was 26 August to 9 September, closing at 15:00 Italian time. Registration is complete only after the participation fee is paid; the fee was about EUR 130 in the previous cycle, but it is not confirmed for 2027. Your test-site (venue) preferences lock at the deadline, so choose carefully.
For the full calendar once it is published, see our IMAT 2027 dates and registration guide.
Step 3: Sit the test
The IMAT is a paper-based test in English, designed by Cambridge Assessment. It has 60 multiple-choice questions with 5 options each and one correct answer, and you have 100 minutes. Candidates can sit it in Italy or in one of about 25 other countries (according to one source), so you may not need to travel to Italy just for the exam.
Marking is +1.5 for a correct answer, -0.4 for a wrong answer and 0 for a blank. The maximum is 90. For example, 40 correct, 10 wrong and 10 blank gives 60 – 4 = 56. If those 10 wrong answers had been left blank, the score would be 60.
The topics are logical reasoning, general knowledge and reading comprehension, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Biology and chemistry carry the most weight, but sources disagree on the exact split and it changes by year, so confirm it in the official annex of the current ministerial decree. If you want structured preparation, look at our IMAT course.
Step 4: Scores and ranking
After the test, anonymous scores (shown by a label code) were published on 8 October in 2026, followed by a paper review on 19 October. The named national ranking appeared from 26 October. Seats are filled by ranking, and non-EU candidates compete for the non-EU places at the university they chose.
In 2026, one aggregator’s non-EU cut-offs ranged from 80.6 at Milan to 61.5 at Cagliari. These are aggregator figures and not official, so treat them as a rough picture of how competitive each place was. We cannot tell you what a safe score will be in 2027.
Step 5: Enrolment within the windows
If you are placed in the ranking, you must enrol within the windows set by the ministry and your university. Check the exact windows in the official call and Universitaly. Read the university’s instructions carefully the day the ranking appears, and have your documents ready so you can act quickly.
Step 6: The study visa deadline
Non-EU students usually need a study visa. One third-party summary of the ministry’s procedures gives 30 November 2026 for the 2026/27 year and 31 October 2027 for 2027/28. Universities may set earlier dates. Please confirm the exact date on the Ministry and Universitaly pages, and ask about fees, documents and visa specifics at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country.
Documents to start collecting now
Requirements differ by university and by embassy. This list is only a general starting point.
| Item | Why it matters | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Needed for identification and the visa | Check its expiry date well beyond your travel dates |
| Secondary-school certificate | Proof of your qualification | Check what your chosen university requires |
| School transcripts | Show your subjects and grades | Check what your chosen university requires |
| English-language certificate | Only if the call asks for it | Check what your chosen university requires |
Common mistakes
- Missing the pre-enrolment. The IMAT registration does not replace the university step. Check the university’s own deadline, which may be in July or earlier, well before the test.
- Choosing the wrong university. Non-EU applicants pre-enrol with one university. Compare seats, city, cost of living and past scores before you decide. See our university choice guide.
- Ignoring the visa deadline. Check the visa date early; universities may set earlier dates than the one reported.
- Relying on social media for dates. Use only Universitaly, the ministry and the university call.
- Forgetting the language. Teaching is in English, but daily life and hospital placements involve Italian. Our Italian language courses can help you begin early.
Money and support
Costs and funding depend on the university and your situation. If you want help exploring funding, read about our scholarship program and our scholarship application service. Please check the official call for each scholarship.
Key takeaways
- Non-EU applicants pre-enrol with one university on Universitaly and then register for the IMAT.
- University pre-enrolment deadlines can come months before the test (Messina: 20 July in 2026).
- The IMAT has 60 questions in 100 minutes; marking is +1.5, -0.4 and 0.
- The 2027 dates are not announced yet; 2026 is a guide, not a promise.
- The visa deadline for 2027/28 is reported as 31 October 2027; confirm it officially.
- Check the university call and the Italian embassy/consulate for fees and documents.
Frequently asked questions
Can non-EU students study medicine in Italy in English?
Yes. Italian universities offer English-taught medicine programmes with places for non-EU applicants. Admission is through the IMAT and a ranking, and nobody can guarantee a place, so check each university’s official call.
Do I apply to more than one university as a non-EU student?
For the pre-enrolment on Universitaly, non-EU applicants abroad apply to one university. Read the call carefully and choose the university before its deadline.
Can I take the IMAT outside Italy?
According to one source, candidates can sit the IMAT in Italy or in about 25 other countries. Confirm the list of countries and venues on Universitaly when registration opens.
When is the study visa deadline for 2027?
One third-party summary of the ministry’s procedures gives 31 October 2027 for the 2027/28 year, and universities may set earlier dates. Confirm it on the Ministry and Universitaly pages and with the Italian embassy or consulate.
When should I start preparing for 2027?
Now is a sensible time to collect documents, choose a university shortlist and start IMAT practice. The official 2027 dates are not announced, so keep checking Universitaly.
Not sure where to start?
Our team can walk through your situation, your shortlist and your timeline. Book a free consultation or read about our consultancy service.
Sources & official links
- Universitaly (pre-enrolment, IMAT registration, rankings)
- Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
- Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing
- The call of your chosen university and the Italian embassy/consulate in your country
