IMAT 2026/27 Rules & Ministerial Decree No. 1005 Master Handbook
Official legal breakdown & comprehensive candidate guide for Decree No. 1005 (Issued 6 August 2026 by Minister Sen. Annamaria Bernini). Covers Medicine (LM-41), Dentistry (LM-46), and Veterinary Medicine (LM-42) in English across Italy.
1. Legislative Context & Scope of DM No. 1005
1.1 Enactment & Exemption from Filter-Semester Reform
On 6 August 2026, the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), signed by Minister Sen. Annamaria Bernini, issued Ministerial Decree No. 1005. This decree officially establishes the admission regulations for the 2026/2027 academic year for all English-taught single-cycle master's degrees in:
- Medicine and Surgery (Degree Class LM-41)
- Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics (Degree Class LM-46)
- Veterinary Medicine (Degree Class LM-42)
Legislative Decree No. 71 of 15 May 2025 introduced the open-access filter semester (semestre filtro) reform for Italian-taught medical courses. Article 8(3) of that Decree expressly excludes courses delivered in English at State and non-State universities.
➔ Result: English-taught degrees continue under the classical entrance system: One Single Examination, One National Ranking, and One Attempt per Year.
2. Peremptory Calendar Timeline
The calendar established by DM 1005 is short, strict, and peremptory. All deadlines are enforced automatically through the Universitaly portal (www.universitaly.it). Missing a deadline for any reason results in permanent exclusion.
| Date / Deadline | Event & Stage | Legal Significance & Particulars |
|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2026 | Online Registration Opens | Applications open exclusively via Universitaly portal. |
| 9 September 2026 at 15:00 CEST (GMT+2) | Registration Closes Peremptory | Absolute Deadline. Track election (Medicine vs Vet), university preference ordering, and declared language certificates become irrevocable. |
| 29 September 2026 Start: 13:30 Italian Time | Examination Day (IMAT 2026) | Conducted simultaneously across 17 Italian university centers and 26 foreign test countries. Duration: 100 minutes. |
| 8 October 2026 | Anonymous Marks Published | CINECA publishes scores on Universitaly in candidates' reserved areas, identified by barcode label code only. |
| 19 October 2026 | Answer Sheets Inspection | Candidates view and download scanned images of their answer sheet, score card, and personal details card. |
| 26 October 2026 | National Merit Lists Published | Nominal national merit ranking lists published showing individual score, national position, and assigned status. |
| 3 November 2026 | First Ranking Movement | First allocation assignment round opens. Subsequent movements recur on a strict 5-day cycle. |
At each ranking movement, candidates who are neither enrolled nor declared withdrawals MUST confirm continued interest (Conferma di Interesse) online within five (5) days (by 12:00 noon on the 5th day). Saturdays and holidays are excluded from computation.
Failure to confirm interest within the 5 days results in AUTOMATIC PERMANENT EXCLUSION from all subsequent ranking rounds.
3. Paper Structure & Subject Breakdown
The examination consists of 60 multiple-choice questions with 5 options per question (1 correct answer). Total time allowed is 100 minutes.
| Subject Area | Questions | Share | Max Marks | Strategic Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 23 | 38.3% | 34.5 pts | MAXIMUM (Critical core) |
| Chemistry | 15 | 25.0% | 22.5 pts | VERY HIGH (Core foundation) |
| Physics and Mathematics | 13 | 21.7% | 19.5 pts | HIGH (High differentiation) |
| Logical Reasoning | 5 | 8.3% | 7.5 pts | MODERATE (Skill based) |
| Reading Comprehension & General Knowledge | 4 | 6.7% | 6.0 pts | MODERATE (Broad context) |
| TOTAL PAPER | 60 | 100.0% | 90.0 pts | Biology + Chemistry = 57 / 90 Marks (63.3%) |
Marking Formula & Mathematical Guessing Strategy
Expected Value Analysis: On a 5-option question, random guessing gives an expected value of -0.02 marks. However, if you can eliminate even ONE incorrect option (leaving 4 choices), expected value becomes +0.075 marks.
➔ Takeaway: Eliminating just one distractor turns guessing into a mathematically positive expected outcome! Blank answers should generally be avoided unless you cannot narrow down any option.
4. Three Irreversible Registration Decisions
Track Selection
Choose between Medicine/Dentistry (LM-41/LM-46) OR Veterinary Medicine (LM-42). You cannot compete for both. Marks cannot be transferred between tracks.
First Preference Venue
If sitting the test in Italy, the university placed #1 on your preference list automatically becomes your mandatory exam center. No location transfers are allowed.
Language Certificate
Language certificates (e.g. IELTS, CAE) must be held by 9 September 2026 and declared at registration. Used as crucial tie-breakers when candidates share identical scores.
5. National Ranking Statuses: Assigned, Booked & Waiting
Upon publication of the national merit list on 26 October 2026, every candidate in the EU pool receives one of three official statuses based on their score and preference list:
Meaning: You have achieved a score sufficient to secure a seat at your highest possible available university preference.
➔ Mandatory Action: You MUST enroll at the assigned university within four (4) working days. Failure to enroll results in complete forfeiture of your seat and permanent removal from the rankings!
Meaning: You qualify for a seat at a lower choice on your preference list, but seats at your higher choices are currently full.
- Option A (Enroll Now): Enroll at the booked university within 4 days. This permanently cancels all higher preferences.
- Option B (Wait for Next Round): Do NOT enroll, but confirm interest within 5 days. Keep all higher choices alive in the hope a seat opens up in subsequent rounds.
Meaning: Your score does not currently reach the cutoff for any expressed preferences.
➔ Mandatory Action: You MUST log into Universitaly and click "Conferma di Interesse" within 5 days of each round to stay in the waiting list.
6. Two Competitions: EU Pool vs. Non-EU Resident Abroad Pool
Ministerial Decree No. 1005 establishes two entirely separate quotas and candidate pools. Candidates in Pool 1 do not compete against candidates in Pool 2.
| Parameter | Pool 1: EU & Resident Non-EU | Pool 2: Non-EU Resident Abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Candidates | EU citizens + Non-EU citizens legally residing in Italy with valid stay permit (permesso di soggiorno). | Non-EU citizens residing permanently outside Italy. |
| Ranking Mechanism | Single National Merit List covering all Italian state universities. | Local University Merit Lists compiled individually by each university. |
| Preference Choice | Multiple preferences across all Italian universities. | Single choice (only the university where pre-enrolment was filed). |
| Minimum Score Threshold | Minimum 20.0 Marks | More than 0.0 Marks (> 0.0) |
| Mandatory Pre-Enrolment | Not required (standard Universitaly registration). | Mandatory Universitaly Pre-enrolment Circular before exam registration. |
| Total Seat Allocation | 2,542 Seats | 1,380 Seats |
7. Complete Seat Distribution (Table B Summary)
Official seat breakdown by university, campus, and degree class as approved in Table B of DM 1005. Asterisks (*) indicate campuses undergoing initial accreditation (seat numbers conditional).
| Degree Class & University | Campus | EU & Resident Seats | Non-EU Abroad Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (LM-41) | |||
| Università degli Studi di Bari | Bari | 89 | 11 |
| Università di Bologna | Bologna | 140 | 20 |
| Università degli Studi di Cagliari | Cagliari | 80 | 18 |
| Università della Campania "L. Vanvitelli" | Naples | 70 | 50 |
| Università degli Studi di Catania | Catania | 40 | 40 |
| Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore | Bolzano | 50 | 10 |
| Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore | Rome | 40 | 70 |
| Università degli Studi di Firenze * | Florence * | 50 | 0 |
| Humanitas University | Pieve Emanuele | 90 | 40 |
| Humanitas University (MEDTEC) | Pieve Emanuele | 150 | 50 |
| Università degli Studi di Messina | Messina | 55 | 61 |
| Università degli Studi di Milano | Milan | 60 | 15 |
| Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca | Bergamo | 40 | 20 |
| Università di Napoli Federico II | Naples | 35 | 45 |
| Neuromed * | Pozzilli * | 230 | 10 |
| Università degli Studi di Padova * | Padua MedTech * | 70 | 15 |
| Università degli Studi di Padova | Venice | 75 | 25 |
| Università degli Studi di Parma | Piacenza | 80 | 50 |
| Università degli Studi di Pavia | Pavia | 103 | 40 |
| Università Politecnica delle Marche | Ancona | 30 | 50 |
| Università "La Sapienza" | Rome 'F' | 52 | 13 |
| Università "Tor Vergata" | Rome | 65 | 20 |
| Università "Tor Vergata" (Tirana) | Tirana (Albania) | 0 | 320 |
| Università degli Studi di Torino | Orbassano | 73 | 32 |
| UniCamillus | Rome | 425 | 225 |
| UniSR San Raffaele | Milan | 86 | 64 |
| Campus Bio-Medico di Roma | Rome | 84 | 36 |
| Campus Bio-Medico di Roma | Rome MedTech | 68 | 12 |
| Veterinary Medicine (LM-42) | |||
| Università di Bologna | Ozzano dell'Emilia | 45 | 5 |
| Università di Napoli Federico II * | Naples * | 18 | 2 |
| Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics (LM-46) | |||
| Università "La Sapienza" | Rome | 19 | 6 |
| Università degli Studi di Siena | Siena | 30 | 5 |
| GRAND TOTAL SEATS (3,922) | 2,542 | 1,380 | |
8. Recognized English Language Certificates (Annexure 3)
8.1 Function as Score Tie-Breakers
English language certificates carry no direct marks, but serve as the second criterion for resolving equal scores between candidates (after subject score comparison). The certificate must be held by 9 September 2026 and declared at registration.
| Certifying Body | CEFR Level | Recognized Certificates / Bands |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge English | C2 | CPE (Proficiency) |
| C1 | CAE (Advanced) / BEC Higher | |
| B2 | FCE (First) / BEC Vantage | |
| IELTS | C2 | Band 8.5 to 9.0 |
| C1 | Band 7.0 to 8.0 | |
| B2 | Band 5.5 to 6.5 | |
| TOEFL (ETS) | C1 | Score 110 to 120 |
| B2 | Score 87 to 109 | |
| Trinity College London | C2 | ISE IV |
| C1 | ISE III | |
| B2 | ISE II |
9. Complete Official Examination Syllabus (Annexure A)
9.1 Reading Comprehension & General Knowledge (4 Qs)
Abstract/specialist vocabulary, textual cohesion, inferences from scientific press. General knowledge covers historical, geographical, legal, civic, and international institutional phenomena.
9.2 Logical Reasoning and Problems (5 Qs)
Completing logical arguments consistently from premises stated in verbal or symbolic form; solving abstract and practical problem-solving cases.
9.3 Biology (23 Qs)
- Chemistry of Living Organisms: Macromolecules, enzymes, weak interactions.
- Cellular Biology: Prokaryotes vs eukaryotes, organelle transport (passive/active).
- Bioenergetics: ATP, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis.
- Genetics & Reproduction: Mitosis, meiosis, Mendelian inheritance, DNA replication, genetic code, translation.
- Anatomy & Physiology: Tissues, circulation, nervous, endocrine, immune, and musculoskeletal systems.
9.4 Chemistry (15 Qs)
- Matter & Periodicity: Ideal gas laws ($PV=nRT$), atomic structure, periodic trends.
- Inorganic Chemistry & Stoichiometry: Nomenclature, mole concept, redox balancing.
- Equilibria & Organic Chemistry: Molarity, pH, buffers, functional groups (alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, amines).
9.5 Mathematics & Physics (13 Qs shared)
- Mathematics: Number sets, radicals, logarithms, Vieta's formulas, trigonometry, Cartesian geometry, probability & statistics.
- Physics: SUVAT kinematics, Newton's laws, Stevin's/Pascal's/Archimedes' fluid laws, calorimetry, Ohm's law, Lorentz force.
Embedded Official PDF Documents & Master Compendium
Read the official Italian Ministry Decree No. 1005 (Allegato B) and the 5-Page Meditaliano Master Compendium directly below. Formatted for A4 printing and offline study.
💡 Tip: Click any document to view, scroll, or print directly in A4 format.
Interactive Campus Map
Explore medical excellence across the Italian peninsula.
