IMAT costs and universities in Italy explained

When someone starts looking into the International Medical Admission Test, the first questions are always the same. How much does the test cost. Who organizes it. How much does it really cost to study Medicine in English in Italy. And what changes between public and private universities.

In this guide we go through those questions one by one, in a simple and concrete way, focusing only on costs and universities, so it is immediately clear what to expect and where attention is needed while preparing for the exam.

We write this as a team that works every day with students facing this test, using official information and translating it into something understandable for anyone who is approaching IMAT for the first time.

What IMAT is and who organizes it

The International Medical Admission Test is the national admission test required to access Medicine and Surgery in English at Italian universities. The test is regulated by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and follows the same national logic of other limited access medical programs.

The organizational side of the test, including the technical management of registration, scoring and ranking, is handled by the interuniversity consortium that supports the Ministry for national admission tests. For students, this means that rules, timing and procedures are centralized and do not change from one university to another.

From a practical point of view, this also means that there is a single registration process, a single test date, and a national ranking that determines access to all participating universities.

IMAT test cost and registration rules

For the 2026 intake, at the time of writing, the official test fee has not yet been published in a dedicated ministerial document. When this happens, the amount is made public during the opening of registrations on the official platform.

What is known, based on the most recent official session, is how the process works. Registration and payment must be completed within a fixed window, published every year with exact opening and closing dates. If the payment is not completed within that timeframe, the registration is automatically invalid and the candidate is excluded from the test.

The accepted payment methods are communicated during registration. Without a valid payment receipt linked to the personal account, access to the exam is not allowed. For this reason, verifying that the payment has gone through correctly is a fundamental step.

Inside the personal area, a confirmed registration status must appear, together with the selected test location and preferences. Email notifications are also used to confirm key steps, but the personal area remains the main reference.

This is exactly where structured preparation matters. Knowing that registration details are fixed and unforgiving, many students choose to focus early on simulations and progress tracking to avoid last minute stress. Platforms like TestBuddy are designed for this exact phase, allowing candidates to train with realistic simulations while the administrative side is being handled.

Public versus private universities: real differences in costs

One of the most important aspects of IMAT is that it allows access to both public and private universities offering Medicine in English. The difference between them is significant, especially in terms of tuition fees and financial structure.

Public universities

In public universities, tuition fees are progressive and depend on the student’s economic situation. The annual cost is not fixed nationally, but regulated by each university within a general framework.

Based on official university data from the most recent academic year, the annual cost for Medicine in English in public institutions typically ranges from about 156 euros to around 2,800 euros per year, depending on income brackets and eligibility for reductions.

This system makes public universities particularly attractive for students who qualify for lower contribution levels, but it also requires careful attention to deadlines and documentation.

Private universities

Private universities participating in IMAT follow a different model. Tuition fees are fixed and significantly higher, with annual costs that generally range between 18,000 and over 20,000 euros per year.

These fees are set directly by the institution and are usually the same for all students, regardless of income, except for internal scholarships or merit based reductions.

The choice between public and private therefore becomes a financial decision as much as an academic one, and it is something students should consider early, while preparing for the test.

Annual tuition fees and additional university costs

Beyond the test itself, the largest long term cost is the annual tuition fee.

For public universities, the final amount depends on income assessment and local regulations. Some universities also apply small administrative fees, regional taxes and stamp duties, which are standard across Italian higher education.

Private universities usually include most services within the main tuition fee, but the overall cost remains substantially higher. Housing, living expenses and study materials are not included and vary by city.

Understanding these numbers early helps students plan realistically and decide where they want to compete in the national ranking.

Scholarships and financial aid opportunities

Financial support exists across the system, but it follows different paths.

In public universities, national and regional scholarships based on economic criteria can reduce or fully cover tuition fees. These are part of the Italian right to study framework and are applied through regional calls each year.

Some universities also offer merit based exemptions, often linked to academic performance after enrollment.

Private universities may offer internal scholarships, usually limited in number and based on merit, income or a combination of both. These opportunities are published directly by each institution and are not automatic.

Because these mechanisms operate independently from the admission test, it is essential to focus first on passing IMAT, and then on accessing financial benefits after admission.

Where you can study Medicine in English in Italy

Through IMAT, Medicine and Surgery in English is offered in multiple Italian cities, both in public and private institutions.

Public universities include major academic centers such as Milan, Bologna, Turin, Rome, Naples, Padua, Pavia, Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Messina, Parma, Ancona and Bergamo.

Private options include institutions located in Milan, Rome, Pieve Emanuele and Bolzano.

All these universities participate in the same national admission process, meaning that one test gives access to all available seats, based on ranking position and preferences.

Why preparation impacts costs indirectly

While costs are fixed by institutions, preparation influences where you get in. A higher score gives access to more choices, including lower cost public universities in competitive cities.

This is why structured preparation matters. Training with realistic simulations, tracking weak areas and improving step by step is not only about passing, but about maximizing options.

Tools like TestBuddy are built to support this approach, helping students understand their performance with data, reduce uncertainty and arrive on test day with clarity instead of anxiety.

Sources

The information in this guide is based on official documentation and institutional pages, including the IMAT admission framework published by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, the national access regulations, and official university tuition pages such as University of Bologna fees and University of Turin Medicine and Surgery.