IMAT 2026 is approaching and we are here to convey to all the IMAT candidates what we predict for the exam.
IMAT 2026 EXAM DAY
IMAT usually takes place in mid-September, typically on the third Thursday of September. As of now, the official decree for IMAT 2026 has not yet been published by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). However, following the traditional schedule of previous years, the IMAT 2026 exam is expected to be held in mid-September 2026.
The exam will take place simultaneously in all Italian public universities offering Medicine and Surgery in English, as well as in selected international test centers abroad.
The official exam date will be confirmed once the Ministerial Decree (“Bando”) is published by MUR, usually between late June and July..
IMAT 2026 DEADLINES
In recent years, IMAT deadlines have been adjusted slightly due to administrative changes introduced by the Ministry. We expect the official IMAT 2026 decree to be released in late June or July 2026, which will confirm all registration procedures and key dates.
Based on previous years, these are the expected milestones:
Mid-September 2026 – Exam Day
Late September 2026 – Anonymous Results
Early October 2026 – Personal Results
Mid October 2026 – National Ranking
Please note that these dates are projections based on previous admission cycles. Final and official dates will only be confirmed after the publication of the 2026 Ministerial Decree.
We will update this page immediately once official information becomes available.
IMAT 2025 Syllabus, Structure and Difficulty
At the moment, no changes to the IMAT syllabus have been announced for 2026. The structure is expected to remain consistent with the current format introduced after the transition of exam management to the Italian Ministry.
The IMAT exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 100 minutes. Each correct answer awards +1.5 points, each incorrect answer deducts −0.4 points, and unanswered questions receive 0 points. The maximum achievable score is 90 points.
The expected distribution of questions is:
Reading Skills & General Knowledge – 4 questions
Logical Reasoning – 5 questions
Biology – 23 questions
Chemistry – 15 questions
Physics & Mathematics – 13 questions
Biology continues to represent the largest portion of the exam, followed by Chemistry. A solid preparation across all scientific subjects remains essential.
Regarding difficulty, the IMAT can vary significantly from year to year. Some years emphasize reasoning and applied science questions, while others test more detailed theoretical knowledge. Candidates should therefore be fully prepared for any variation introduced by the Ministry.
Medicine and Surgery Seats
The official number of seats available for IMAT 2026 will be announced by the Ministry of University and Research with the publication of the 2026 decree.
Seat allocation is divided between EU and non-EU candidates and varies by university. Once the official numbers are released, we will provide a complete breakdown of available seats for each university offering Medicine and Surgery in English.
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IMAT 2025 Attendance
We expect the number of candidates sitting the IMAT 2026 exam to remain high, with a possible slight increase compared to recent years. Interest in English-taught Medicine and Surgery programs in Italy continues to grow, both among EU and non-EU applicants.
Following the recent reforms affecting Italian-language medical programs, more students may consider taking the IMAT as a strategic alternative pathway. The reorganization of admission procedures in Italy has increased uncertainty for domestic applicants, which could push additional candidates to secure a place through the English track.
In recent years, total IMAT candidates have ranged between approximately 10,000 and 13,000 applicants worldwide, competing for a limited number of seats (usually around 1,000–1,500 combined EU and non-EU places across all universities). For IMAT 2026, we anticipate a similar or slightly higher number of participants.
EU candidates traditionally represent the largest group of applicants, and competition within the EU ranking list remains particularly strong. Non-EU applicants compete within separate quotas assigned to each university, meaning competition levels vary depending on nationality and chosen institution.
Score thresholds fluctuate each year depending on:
- Overall exam difficulty
- Total number of candidates
- Distribution of preferences among universities
- Available seats announced by the Ministry
If attendance increases in 2026 while seat numbers remain stable, minimum admission scores may rise slightly, particularly for high-demand universities such as Milan, Bologna, Pavia, and Rome.
We will update this section as soon as the Ministry of University and Research publishes official statistics regarding the number of candidates and seat allocation for IMAT 2026.