The IMAT is the official entrance examination for students seeking admission to English-taught Medicine and Surgery or Dentistry degrees at Italian public universities, including the University of Messina.
The test is developed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) to evaluate whether candidates possess the necessary academic background and critical thinking skills required for a demanding medical curriculum.
📊 Test Format & Structure
The IMAT is a paper-based exam lasting 100 minutes. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions (with five options each) divided into four main sections:
- 🧠 Reading Skills and General Knowledge: Evaluates literacy, social-humanities knowledge, and critical thinking. (4 questions)
- 🧩 Logical Reasoning: Focuses on problem-solving, pattern recognition, and data analysis. (5 questions)
- 🧬 Scientific Knowledge (Biology & Chemistry): The core of the exam, covering fundamental scientific principles. (23 questions of Biology and 15 questions of chemistry)
- 📐 Scientific Knowledge (Physics & Mathematics): Assesses competence in foundational mathematical and physical concepts. (13 questions)
📝 Scoring System
The final ranking is determined by the following criteria:
- ✅ +1.5 points for every correct answer.
- ❌ -0.4 points for every incorrect answer (to discourage random guessing).
- ⚪ 0 points for answers left blank.
🌐 Registration & Participation
- Portal: Registration must be completed exclusively through the Universitaly portal, typically between July and August.
- Venues: Candidates can take the exam at authorized test centers worldwide or directly in Italy at the University of Messina.
- 🌍 Pre-Enrolment: Non-EU candidates residing abroad must also complete the pre-enrolment procedures at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their home country within the ministerial deadlines.
📥 Resources & Applications
- 📄 Download the IMAT FAQs: For detailed information on test-day procedures, ID requirements, and prohibited items, you can download our IMAT FAQ Guide.
- 🔗 Ready to join us? Check the section below and the 'Application and Admission' section for international students.
The Call for Applications for admission to the English-taught Single-Cycle Degree Programme in Medicine and Surgery for the Academic Year 2026/2027 has been officially published.
Admission to the programme is subject to successfully passing the entrance examination, which will be held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
To register for the admission test, candidates must complete the procedure through the Universitaly portal between 26 August 2026 and 9 September 2026 (3:00 p.m. CEST).
The registration is finalised only upon payment of the test participation fee, in accordance with the procedures detailed on the Universitaly portal once registration opens.
The procedures for registration, accessing results, and ranking list updates (scorrimenti) are detailed in Annex 2 of the Call for Applications.
Please note that only candidates who have submitted an application on both the UniME Application Portal and the Universitaly portal by 20 July 2026 are eligible to register for the IMAT test.
Applicants are strongly advised to regularly monitor this page for updates.
Test venue: UniME Papardo Campus- Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 98158 Messina ME
Access point to the competition area: Cerisi Entrance. If you use Google Maps, we advise you to take this point as a reference from which you can easily make a U-turn until you reach the entrance.
Candidates must provide at the entrance the documents listed below:
- original and valid ID document (the same used in the registration procedure for the test)
- for non-EU candidates residing abroad: passport and entry visa
- payment receipt of the registration fee
- payment receipt of the online application for the competition.
Important notice: To access the competition area, all candidates must also present the mandatory QR code for check-in received by email.
Please notify us at the following email address if you use insulin measurement devices: comunicazionistudenti@unime.it
We strongly recommend that you:
• limit the personal items you bring with you to the competition area to the bare essentials. It is strictly forbidden to bring the following items into the test area: bags, backpacks, books, pens, pencils, stationery, manuals, textbooks and even partial reproductions of textbooks, handwritten notes, blank sheets of paper and teaching and/or reference material, mobile phones, PDAs, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earphones or other similar devices.
• use the restrooms before entering the exam room
• turn off and silence mobile phones and wake-up calls/notifications before entering the exam area. It is strictly forbidden to use mobile phones in the exam area under any circumstances;
• Eating is prohibited inside the test area with the exception of drinks. Candidates may bring a small bottle of water and any necessary medication, taking into account the duration of the exam.
• In order to ensure the proper conduct of the exam, candidates must remain in the test area until the end of the time allocated for the exam.
Access to the UNIME test venue will be exclusively from the designated point. Candidates will be transported by bus/shuttle service to the test area. Candidates are prohibited from using any other access points.
To access the competition area, all candidates must present the mandatory QR code for check-in received by email.
Transport in the Strait of Messina
- Aliscafi Liberty Lines(link is external) (Messina <-> Reggio Calabria)
- BLU JET hydrofoils - Ferrovie Group (Messina <-> Reggio Calabria/Villa S. Giovanni)
- Bluferries Ferries (Messina <-> Villa S.Giovanni)
- Caronte & Tourist Ferries (Messina <-> Villa S. Giovanni)
Railway transport
Public transport in Messina
Useful transport services
Admission to the programme is subject to successfully passing the entrance examination, which will be held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
|
Test date 29 Sept. 2026 |
Test type IMAT |
Access to the competition area TBD |
Test start 1:30 p.m. |
Test duration 100 min. |
This section is currently being updated. Applicants are strongly advised to regularly monitor this page for updates.