Overview

The Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca opens one English-taught, single-cycle Master's degree programme — Italy's equivalent of an integrated MD — to candidates who sit the Bicocca IMAT 2026 admission test, governed by Ministerial Decree No. 1005 of 6 August 2026. The programme itself is legally a University of Milano-Bicocca degree, but it's taught at the Bergamo campus, so you'll see both names used for it. The call for applications for A.Y. 2026/2027, digitally signed by the Rettore, Prof. Marco Emilio Orlandi, covers:

• Medicina e Chirurgia in lingua inglese (Classe LM-41) — a five-year, 360 CFU/ECTS single-cycle Master's degree, taught at the Bergamo teaching location

The test is the same one used for the single-cycle degree programmes in Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, and Veterinary Medicine taught in English across Italy, with identical content at every test location. Worth noting: the decree's own preamble records that the test date was moved earlier, from an originally scheduled 30 September 2026 to 29 September 2026, per a Ministry notice dated 29 July 2026.

This guide walks through what the call actually says about the Bicocca IMAT 2026 process: who can apply, exactly what's due and when, how the test and rankings work, and what happens after a candidate wins a seat. It's a summary of a long, dense legal document — read the official PDF in full, or cross-check anything decision-critical against Bicocca's own programme webpage before you act on it. For how this fits the national picture, see the IMAT 2026 hub.

Seats available

The Bicocca IMAT 2026 admission call runs under Italy's numero programmato (capped-place) system, taught entirely in English at the Bergamo campus. 60 places are available for 2026/2027, split across two candidate categories, per Art. 1 of the bando and Table B annexed to Ministerial Decree No. 1005/2026:

For 2026/2027, D.M. 6 August 2026 n. 1005 provides for a single ranking list for EU candidates and non-EU candidates covered by Art. 39(5); the ranking for non-EU candidates residing abroad is instead defined by each University individually. Equated to EU citizens for this purpose: citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and San Marino; refugees and holders of subsidiary protection; and staff of foreign diplomatic missions and international bodies based in Italy (accredited to the Italian State or the Holy See) and their dependent spouses/children.

Choosing Bicocca/Bergamo as a first preference locks in the test location for candidates sitting the test in Italy — candidates must sit the test wherever their first choice is, with no exceptions. The test can also be sat at a foreign venue listed in Table A of the ministerial decree. For how Bicocca's seat count compares elsewhere, see Locomotive's full list of IMAT universities in Italy.

Who's eligible

Candidates need a diploma (including four-year diplomas) issued by an Italian upper-secondary school. Foreign qualifications, obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, are valid for access to Italian Laurea and single-cycle Laurea Magistrale courses, provided they grant access to an analogous course in the awarding country.

English B2+ certificate required for non-native English speakers. Candidates who are not native English speakers must hold an English-language certificate at CEFR level B2 or above, issued by a body accredited by the University. Candidates who are native English speakers, or who completed an entire course of study in English, are exempt from this requirement.

No Italian-language level is required at entry to the first year; however, Italian will need to be acquired in order to carry out clinical placement activities and interact appropriately with patients, partly for patients' own protection.

The full Bicocca IMAT 2026 deadline calendar

This is the single most important table on this page. Missing the 9 September 2026, 15:00 (GMT+2) deadline for Universitaly registration and payment results in exclusion from the test, with no exceptions.

All deadlines run on Italian time (GMT+2) unless noted. The 4-day enrolment window and the 5-day confirmation-of-interest window both exclude Saturdays and public holidays, per the bando. The bando does not state a specific enrolment-procedure publication date beyond referring readers to Bicocca's own programme webpage — check unimib.it directly for the exact administrative timeline once published.

How to apply, by candidate category

Registration for the ministerial admission test runs entirely through Universitaly, the same mechanics used for every Italian university offering the IMAT (see the IMAT 2026 hub for the general national process). Bicocca's call adds the following category-specific steps.

All candidates, at registration

1. Register on Universitaly between 26 August 2026 and 9 September 2026, 15:00 (GMT+2), paying the test participation fee per the procedures published on Universitaly.
2. Declare, at registration, any recognised language certificate you hold (relevant for tie-breaks).
3. Indicate, in order of preference, the university locations where you want your result considered — irrevocable once the deadline passes; the last confirmation made before the deadline is the valid one.
4. If sitting the test in Italy, your first-choice university automatically becomes your test location, with no exceptions. Testing abroad requires selecting one of the foreign centres in Table A of the ministerial decree (including Albania, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE Dubai, UK and USA, among others).
5. Payment without a matching online registration receipt doesn't entitle a candidate to sit the test.

Candidates with a foreign secondary qualification

1. Submit the admission application exclusively online via Universitaly, within the same window as everyone else.
2. Separately complete the Apply@unimib procedure with the documentation described in the eligibility section above, by 9 September 2026, on pain of exclusion.

Non-EU candidates residing abroad (visa applicants)

1. In addition to the two procedures above, submit a visa pre-enrolment application via Universitaly (International Students > Pre-enrol Now) by 9 September 2026, on pain of exclusion.
2. The University validates these pre-enrolment applications on a staggered timeline: for candidates testing in Italy, after the IMAT registration window closes; for candidates testing abroad, only after Bicocca publishes its own ranking of non-EU candidates residing abroad, and only for eligible candidates.
3. Once validated, candidates can contact the competent Italian Diplomatic Representation to complete the visa procedure.
4. Hold a recognised English-language certificate at B2 level or above by the admission-procedure deadline, unless exempt (see Languages section below).

Test day & format

A single test of identical content at every location: 60 multiple-choice questions (five options each, one correct answer), completed in a maximum of 100 minutes, prepared by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) per D.M. 6 August 2026 n. 1005:

• Reading skills and knowledge acquired during previous studies — 4 questions
• Logical reasoning and problem solving — 5 questions
• Biology — 23 questions
• Chemistry — 15 questions
• Physics and mathematics — 13 questions

At Bicocca, the test is held at a venue in Bergamo. The bando does not fix a street address in advance: the exact venue, its address, access arrangements and how candidates are split across rooms (by age, except twins) are published on unimib.it from 25 September 2026. Candidates are convened at 11:00 a.m. and must bring a valid ID matching their registration, their Universitaly registration receipt (to be shown only on request), and — for non-EU candidates only — a photocopy of their residence permit or entry visa. Candidates without these documents, with invalid documents, or arriving after identification closes are not admitted. The test itself starts at 1:30 p.m.

Only the black pen supplied by the Commission may be used to complete the answer sheet. Candidates are prohibited from bringing or using mobile phones, PDAs, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earphones, webcams or similar equipment, as well as calculators, manuals, textbooks, handwritten notes, blank paper or other reference material.

To answer, candidates mark an X in the chosen box; only one previously given answer may be corrected, by fully blacking out the old box and marking a new one. To explicitly leave a question unanswered, candidates mark the dedicated circular symbol — once marked, that choice can't be changed; leaving all marks blank (no X, no circle) is also treated as unanswered. At the end of the test, candidates apply matching adhesive barcode labels to their personal data form and answer sheet themselves, verify the codes match, sign a declaration of accuracy, and place each document in its own sealed container at separate stations, with the answer sheet inserted answer-side down.

Grounds for annulment include: sitting the test in an unauthorised room (unless authorised by the Commission and minuted); bringing in or using prohibited electronic devices or reference material; placing an identifying signature or mark anywhere on the answer sheet; interacting with, copying from, or exchanging materials with other candidates (including swapping personal data forms or answer sheets); and using any pen, pencil or writing implement during the final submission procedure to modify, add to or correct the answer sheet.

Full conduct rules and marking instructions are set out in Art. 10 of the official call — see also Locomotive's IMAT 2026 hub for the general national format.

Scoring, minimum eligibility & tie-breaks

Out of a maximum 90 points:

• +1.5 points per correct answer
• −0.4 points per incorrect answer
• 0 points for a question left unanswered

EU candidates and non-EU candidates resident in Italy (Art. 39(5)) must achieve a minimum of 20 points to be included in the national ranking list; candidates below that threshold aren't ranked at all. The 20-point threshold does not apply to non-EU candidates residing abroad — only a score greater than zero is required, and candidates who leave every question blank are excluded from the ranking list altogether.

In the event of a tie, subject scores decide first, in descending order: Biology, then Chemistry, then Physics and Mathematics, then Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving, then Reading Skills and Knowledge Acquired During Previous Studies. If still tied, priority goes to candidates who, by the registration deadline, held and self-declared a recognised language certificate (Annex 3, D.M. 1005/2026); then to candidates with a certified invalidity of 66% or more, or a Law 104/1992 Art. 3(3) disability certification; and finally to the younger candidate. Candidates relying on the invalidity/disability tie-break must exhibit supporting documentation at the university where they're assigned within a peremptory 15 days of assignment, on pain of exclusion from the national ranking list.

"Assigned" vs "Reserved" vs "Waiting": securing your place

This is the part of the process that catches people out. Once the national ranking is published — and updated as places free up — every eligible EU/Italy-resident candidate holds one of three live statuses:

Every candidate required to do so must confirm, via the Universitaly reserved area, that they wish to remain on the ranking list within five days of each update — specifically, by 12:00 noon on the fifth day following publication, including the publication day and excluding Saturdays/holidays. Failing to confirm results in exclusion from subsequent updates and loss of any right to enrol; no justification for a missed confirmation is accepted, since the online procedure is quick and can be delegated to a trusted third party within the five days available. Candidates are solely responsible for checking their own reserved area and the Bicocca admissions webpages — no individual notifications are sent. Automatic decadence notices appear in the reserved area; appeals can be lodged with the TAR Lazio within 60 days, or with the President of the Republic within 120 days, of publication. The first ranking update is published by CINECA on 3 November 2026, and further scrolls repeat until the Ministry issues a provision closing the rankings.

Enrolment & visas

Enrolment procedures and their exact administrative deadlines are published on Bicocca's own programme webpage (unimib.it/single-cycle/medicine-and-surgery) — the bando itself doesn't set out a specific tuition figure or fee-reduction deadline (unlike some other ateneo bandi), so check that page directly for current fee amounts and payment mechanics.

• Missing the enrolment deadline for any given phase is treated as a renunciation of the place.
• Enrolment is only considered complete once the first instalment/deposit is paid within the same deadline set for enrolment.
• Non-EU candidates residing abroad face an additional condition: enrolment is finalised only once the entry visa for study in Italy is issued by the competent Italian Diplomatic Representation abroad, independently of the candidate's ranking eligibility. Denial or non-issuance of the visa by 28 February 2027 closes the candidate's academic career.
• The enrolment application is treated in all respects as a self-certification under Art. 46 of D.P.R. 445/2000; candidates are solely responsible for the accuracy of the data they submit, and the University reserves the right to verify declarations (including by sampling) at any time and to annul enrolment if a declaration proves false.

Support for candidates with disabilities or DSA

Candidates with an invalidity, disability, or Specific Learning Disorder (DSA) may request supports for the test. Requests must be sent by 9 September 2026 to supporti.ammissioni@unimib.it, with the subject line "TEST MEDICINE AND SURGERY - RICHIESTA SUPPORTI", indicating the aids requested and attaching the relevant PDF documentation. Failure to send documentation within the deadline forfeits the right to any support, and no aid or extra time can be granted on the day itself to a candidate who did not request it in advance.

• Disability certification must be issued either by INPS under Law 118/1971 (civil invalidity) or by the relevant public health authority under Law 104/1992.
• DSA diagnosis must meet Consensus Conference (2011) criteria, report the relevant nosographic codes and an explicit DSA designation, describe the candidate's individual strengths and weaknesses, and have been issued by the national health service or an accredited body — no more than 3 years old if issued before the candidate turned 18, with no time limit if issued afterward (Art. 3, Law 170/2010, and the 24 July 2012 State-Regions Agreement).
• Candidates may sit the test with existing, even non-updated, medical certification (due to public health service delays), but must update it before enrolment or risk being unable to formulate an Individualised University Project once enrolled.
• Available aids: up to 30% additional time for DSA candidates; up to 50% additional time for disability candidates; accompaniment to and from the exam room by Spazio B.Inclusion staff; for severe, certified DSA cases, a non-scientific calculator (only where dyscalculia or documented calculation difficulties apply), a magnifier, or a reader assigned with expert support; and any other aid specified in the request.
• EU and non-EU candidates residing abroad must submit certification issued in their country of residence, accompanied by a sworn or diplomatically certified translation into Italian or English; Bicocca's offices verify that foreign documentation attests to a condition recognised as disability or DSA under Italian law.
• Candidates receive a confirmation email from Spazio B.Inclusion the day before the test with logistical details; any cancellation of accompaniment/support services must be communicated in writing to supporti.ammissioni@unimib.it.

Full requirements are set out in Art. 7 of the official call.

Recognised language certificates (tie-break advantage & access requirement)

Declaring one of the certificates below at registration gives a tie-break advantage, and non-native English speakers need proof of at least B2 to satisfy Bicocca's access requirement (unless exempt). These are set nationally in Annex 3 to D.M. 1005/2026, so the same list applies at every Italian university sitting the IMAT, Bicocca included.

Certificates must be declared when registering on Universitaly to count for the registration-time tie-break. Candidates who attended at least one full school year taught in English are automatically recognised as meeting the certification requirement.

Foreign qualification holders

Candidates with a qualification obtained abroad must, in addition to the standard Universitaly test registration, complete the Apply@unimib documentation procedure described above by 9 September 2026, on pain of exclusion. Foreign qualifications are generally valid if obtained after at least 12 years of schooling and if they allow admission to university in the country where they were awarded; some qualifications may require further access conditions, and candidates are encouraged to check studiare-in-italia.it and Bicocca's own international-student pages for details. Suitability of a foreign qualification is in any case assessed by the University in line with applicable regulations and bilateral agreements.

What the test covers (Annex A syllabus, in brief)

The full syllabus (Annex A to the ministerial decree) is extensive; the University of Milano-Bicocca's call reproduces it in full. In outline, the five sections test:

• Reading skills & knowledge from previous studies: understanding English texts of different types (scientific essays, classic and contemporary narrative, current-affairs pieces), plus general historical, institutional, legal, economic and civic knowledge, including orientation in space and time and awareness of national/international institutions.
• Logical reasoning & problem solving: completing a line of reasoning consistent with given premises, expressed in symbolic or verbal form, including abstract cases requiring different modes of logical reasoning.
• Biology: the chemistry of living organisms, cell theory and structure (prokaryotic/eukaryotic, viruses), the cell membrane and transport, cell cycle and reproduction (mitosis/meiosis), heredity (Mendelian, classical, molecular and human genetics), mutation, natural/artificial selection and evolutionary theory, biotechnology, human/animal anatomy and physiology, homeostasis, and bioenergetics (ATP, photosynthesis, glycolysis, respiration, fermentation).
• Chemistry: states and structure of matter, gas laws, atomic structure and the periodic table, chemical bonding, inorganic nomenclature, stoichiometry, solutions, aqueous equilibria, kinetics and catalysis, redox reactions, acid-base chemistry, and the fundamentals of organic chemistry (functional groups, isomerism, aliphatic/aromatic hydrocarbons).
• Mathematics & Physics: number sets and algebra, functions and their graphs, geometry (plane and coordinate), trigonometry, probability and statistics; and physical quantities and measurement, kinematics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and electricity/electromagnetism.

The preparation level expected corresponds to the National Guidelines for upper secondary schools and technical/vocational institutes, in line with State Examination preparation. See Annex A of the official call for the complete, itemised syllabus.

Contacts & who's in charge

Candidates are responsible for regularly checking their Universitaly reserved area, the UniMiB webpages dedicated to the procedure, and the email address given at registration — publication on these channels constitutes official notification. The administrative procedure sits with the Area Didattica, Servizi agli Studenti e Sviluppo Internazionale (Dirigente: Dora Maria Cornelia Longoni; Responsabile del procedimento: Simona Visconti).

Frequently asked questions