Studying Medicine in Italy and the IMAT Exam

With its English-taught medicine and affordable cost, Italy is a popular destination for Turkish students who want to study medicine. In this post we look at studying medicine in Italy and the IMAT exam that is its entry gate.

Why is studying medicine in Italy appealing?

With medicine programmes in both Italian and English, an affordable cost at public universities and a storied medical tradition, Italy is an appealing destination for international students. English-taught medicine programmes open the door to students who do not speak Italian. Also, the income-based fee system and scholarships make a long education like medicine more sustainable. For Turkish students, medicine in Italy is an option combining a quality education with a reasonable cost. But entry is competitive and needs good preparation. So it is important to plan the process early.

What is the IMAT exam?

The IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) is a standard exam used for entry to English-taught medicine programmes in Italy. It consists of sections on the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics), logic and general knowledge. The exam creates a ranking for entry to quota-limited medicine programmes; that is, getting a high score is critical for acceptance. The IMAT is usually held once a year, in a certain period. Knowing the exam’s content and format well in advance sets your preparation strategy. The IMAT is the most decisive step of the English-medicine path.

How do you prepare for the IMAT?

IMAT preparation needs a solid command of high-school-level sciences and practice with logic questions. Solving past exam questions is the most effective way to get used to the exam format and time management. Regular reading is useful for the general-knowledge section. Starting preparation months in advance is needed to close topic gaps and raise your speed with mock exams. Good preparation carries you forward in a limited quota. Remember the exam language is English; commanding the terminology in English is an advantage.

Quotas and ranking

Medicine programmes in Italy are quota-limited, and the quotas are set separately for Italian/EU students and non-EU students. Turkish students are usually assessed in the non-EU quota. Your IMAT score determines your ranking at the universities you prefer; a sufficiently high score lets you be placed at your preferred institution. So it is important both to get a high score and to build your preference strategy correctly. You must follow the quota and preference rules currently from official sources.

Italian-taught medicine programmes

Alongside English-taught programmes, there are also Italian-taught medicine programmes; these usually need B2-level Italian and a separate entrance exam. Italian-taught medicine may offer a wider quota and sometimes less international competition for students who can overcome the language barrier. Which path suits you depends on your Italian level and your preparation time. Considering both options raises your chance of acceptance. Learning Italian also gives a great advantage in the clinical setting in the long run.

The application documents

A medicine application also needs the high-school diploma, transcript, degree recognition (CIMEA/DoV), the IMAT result and a language certificate. The academic documents must be apostilled and sworn-translated. For international students the Universitaly pre-enrolment is part of the process too. Preparing the documents early lets the post-exam acceptance process move smoothly. For the translation of your documents, see our university application translation page. A document gap can delay the process despite a high IMAT score.

Cost and scholarships

At Italian public universities the medicine fee is tiered by income; low-income students pay a low fee or get an exemption. DSU grants can provide housing and living support throughout the long medical education. These provisions make a costly and long education like medicine far more accessible. Researching scholarship options early makes your medical education financially sustainable. To see which scholarships suit you, see our scholarships section. Financial planning is an inseparable part of the medicine journey.

When should you start?

The medicine goal needs earlier and more intensive preparation than other departments. Ideally you should start IMAT preparation a year in advance, run the document processes in parallel and follow the application calendar closely. Gathering the exam date, the application period and document preparation into a single calendar lets you miss no step. Starting early and with a plan is the biggest advantage on a competitive path like medicine. For the whole of the processes see our guide library, and for document translation our free quote page.

Frequently asked questions