Overview

The University of Bologna opens two English-taught, single-cycle degree programmes to candidates who sit the Bologna IMAT 2026 admission test, governed by Ministerial Decree No. 1005 of 6 August 2026:

• Medicine and Surgery (Classe LM-41), in lingua inglese — a single-cycle Master's degree
• Veterinary Medicine (Classe LM-42), in lingua inglese — a single-cycle Master's degree

Both programmes sit the same national admission test, with identical content at every location. Two separate national ranking lists are drawn up — one for Medicine and Surgery, one for Veterinary Medicine — for the quota reserved for Italian citizens, EU citizens, and non-EU citizens treated as equivalent under Article 26 of Law No. 189/2002. Rankings of non-EU candidates residing abroad are drawn and published separately by Bologna itself, for each programme.

Medical graduates who obtained their degree in Italy are not allowed to sit the admission test for Medicine and Surgery; the same rule applies to Italian veterinary medicine graduates for the Veterinary Medicine test. Candidates who have already studied at university level and want direct entry to a later year should skip ahead to the Admission to Years 2–6 section rather than sitting the standard test as a Year 1 applicant.

This guide walks through what the call actually says: 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 an official document that is itself described as a summary of a longer Italian-language bando — the official call is written in Italian, and the Italian version prevails in the event of any conflict. Cross-check anything decision-critical against Bologna's Medicine and Surgery admissions page or the Veterinary Medicine admissions page before you act on it. For how this fits the national picture, see the IMAT 2026 hub.

Seats available

The Bologna IMAT 2026 admission call runs under Italy's numero programmato (capped-place) system. 210 places are available across the two programmes for 2026/2027:

Non-EU citizens are treated as EU-equivalent if they meet the criteria on Bologna's "Who are international students" webpage (for example, holding a long-term EU residence permit, refugee status, or a parent legally resident and working in Italy); students enrolled in single learning activities (corsi singoli) must have the relevant exam credits recorded by the deadline of this call. Non-EU citizens who hold dual citizenship meeting the relevant criteria compete in the Italian/EU/EU-equivalent quota instead.

For how Bologna's seat count compares elsewhere, see Locomotive's full list of IMAT universities in Italy.

Who's eligible

Candidates may take part if they hold a secondary school diploma (five-year secondary school programme) or an equivalent qualification granting access to university studies. Candidates holding a foreign qualification should check Bologna's dedicated page on enrolling with a foreign qualification before applying.

Italian citizens, EU citizens, and non-EU citizens with EU-equivalent status

Admission takes place within the national merit ranking list for the chosen programme, shared across every participating Italian university.

Non-EU candidates residing abroad

Candidates who don't meet any of the EU-equivalence requirements above must follow Bologna's procedures for enrolling from a non-EU country to apply for an entry visa at the Italian Representation in their country of residence, and compete exclusively within Bologna's own local ranking list for the chosen programme. For further information, non-EU candidates can contact Bologna's International Desk (internationaldesk@unibo.it).

Regularly checking the inbox of the same email address used to register on Universitaly is the candidate's own responsibility — both Universitaly and Bologna send competition-related notifications there.

The full Bologna IMAT 2026 deadline calendar

This is the single most important table on this page. Bologna's own call states plainly: candidates who miss one or more of these deadlines will be excluded from the selection procedure and will not be allowed to enrol, regardless of the reasons that caused them to miss the deadline.

All deadlines run on Italian time unless noted. The source document also contains an internal inconsistency worth flagging: Section 4.B.2 states the non-EU-abroad local ranking "will be published on 13 October 2025", while Section 9 and the Section 1.B deadlines table both clearly state 26 October 2026 for the same ranking — this page uses 26 October 2026 as the reliable, internally-consistent date.

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). Bologna's call adds category-specific steps on its own platform, Studenti Online (www.studenti.unibo.it) — not the Esse3 system some other Italian universities use.

All candidates, at Universitaly registration

1. Register on Universitaly between 26 August 2026 and 9 September 2026, 15:00, providing an email address.
2. Choose whether to apply to Medicine and Surgery or to Veterinary Medicine — irrevocable once registration closes.
3. Rank the universities to which the candidate wishes to apply in order of preference — cannot be changed or completed after the deadline; the last version saved before the deadline is final.
4. Declare a recognised language certificate, if held (Annex 2 to the call); candidates who studied for at least one school year with English-medium instruction are automatically considered to hold one.
5. Pay the admission test fee; candidates must bring their payment receipt to the test venue, since payment alone without registration does not entitle a candidate to sit the test.

Non-EU citizens with EU-equivalent status

From 10 September 2026, 13:00 to 5 October 2026, 13:00, in addition to Universitaly registration:

1. Access Studenti Online and register (or log in with Unibo credentials); candidates without a codice fiscale use the 'International Student Registration' section to create UNIBO credentials.
2. From the homepage: Admission application > Take part in the selection > Single cycle degree program > select 'IMAT - non-EU citizens'.
3. Select 'NON-EU CITIZEN WITH EU EQUIVALENT STATUS' from the drop-down menu and upload documents proving EU-equivalent status.

Non-EU citizens residing abroad

Same Studenti Online window (10 September – 5 October 2026) and same navigation path, but selecting 'NON-EU CITIZEN RESIDING ABROAD' instead. These candidates will see the local ranking list on Studenti Online (Requests in progress → Medicine and Surgery/Veterinary Medicine Non-EU citizens). Candidates who fail to register on Studenti Online will not be able to see the local ranking list and, in case of admission, will lose their place — this step is not optional even for candidates who already registered on Universitaly.

Test venues

Candidates sitting the test in Italy must sit it at the University they listed as their first choice — it is not possible to sit the test at a different university, and the ranked list of preferences cannot be changed after the registration deadline. Candidates sitting outside Italy must choose one of the accredited foreign venues listed in Annex 3 to the call; addresses are published on the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) website and on the degree programme website.

Test day & format

A single test of identical content for every candidate at every location: 60 multiple-choice questions (five options each, one correct answer), completed in a maximum of 100 minutes:

• General knowledge and logical reasoning — 4 questions on general knowledge, 5 on logical reasoning
• Biology — 23 questions
• Chemistry — 15 questions
• Physics and mathematics — 13 questions

The Bologna test venue is Bologna Fiere (Bologna Trade Fair District) — Bologna Fiere SPA, Piazza della Costituzione, Area Biglietterie Ingresso Bologna Fiere. Directions are published on www.bolognafiere.it. Candidates must arrive at 10:30 a.m. for identification and will be distributed into designated test areas by date of birth (except twins). The test starts at 1:30 p.m. Candidates need a valid, original form of ID (ID card, passport or driving licence — no copies, photocopies or scans) and proof of payment of the test fee to be admitted; failure to present these means the candidate cannot be identified and will not be allowed to sit the test.

Only the black pen supplied by the University may be used to complete the answer sheet. Candidates are forbidden from keeping or using bags, backpacks, papers, calculators, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earphones, earpieces, webcams or similar devices, as well as pens, pencils, stationery, manuals, textbooks, photocopies, handwritten notes, blank sheets or any other reference material at their desk. Candidates who need medical devices should refer to the disability/SLD section of the call.

Before the test starts, invigilators distribute a candidate instructions sheet and a sealed envelope containing: a candidate data sheet (no identification code, filled in by the candidate), a question paper booklet with an identification barcode and two blank sheets for drafts/calculations, an answer sheet with the same barcode, and a cover sheet with the same barcode showing the university and degree programme. At the end of the test, candidates go to a designated desk, choose a pair of matching barcode stickers, apply one to the answer sheet and one to the candidate data sheet, sign the data sheet to confirm their details and the barcode match, and place each sheet in its own sealed box.

Grounds for disqualification include: sitting the test in a different designated area than assigned, without official authorisation; keeping or using any of the prohibited items listed above; signing or marking the answer sheet in any way; interacting with, copying from, or exchanging materials with other candidates, including the candidate data sheet; using a pen, pencil or any writing device to change, add or correct the answer sheet while handing in the data sheet and answer sheet; and failing to stop writing and return the black pen immediately at the end of the test. The score of a disqualified test is not calculated.

The test takes place regardless of whether the number of applications, or the number of candidates who actually show up, is fewer than or equal to the number of available places. Full conduct rules are set out in Section 6 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

Italian citizens, EU citizens and non-EU citizens with EU-equivalent status must score a minimum of 20 points to be included in the national ranking; 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 above zero is required, and candidates who answer no questions at all are excluded from the local ranking list.

CINECA draws the national ranking for EU citizens and non-EU citizens with EU-equivalent status, separately for each programme; each University draws up its own local ranking for non-EU candidates residing abroad.

In case of a tie, the following criteria decide, in order:

1. Subject scores, ranked in descending order: Biology, then Chemistry, then Physics and Mathematics, then Logical Reasoning, then General Knowledge.
2. Possession of a recognised language certificate (Annex 2), declared by the registration deadline — treated as a self-certification under Art. 46 of Italian DPR 445/2000, subject to verification at any time; false declarations lead to cancellation of enrolment, revoked benefits, non-refunded fees, and potential legal penalties.
3. An invalidity certificate of 66% or more, or disability certification under Law No. 104/1992 Art. 3(3) — candidates relying on this must have already applied for arrangements by the relevant deadline, and must submit the supporting certificate to their assigned University within 15 days of being assigned a place, or lose the right to invoke it.
4. The younger candidate prevails if the tie still stands.

"Assegnato" vs "Prenotato" vs "In Attesa": 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 Italian/EU/EU-equivalent candidate holds one of these live statuses:

Starting within 5 days of the ranking published on 16 October 2026 (and after every subsequent update), candidates who haven't already enrolled or withdrawn, and who don't show POSTI ESAURITI (places exhausted) as their status, must confirm they wish to remain on the ranking via the 'conferma di interesse' procedure on Universitaly, by noon on the fifth day following publication (including the publication day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays). Failing to confirm results in exclusion from further updates and loss of any right to enrol, regardless of the reason.

The next ranking update is published by CINECA on 3 November 2026, with subsequent updates following the same conditions and deadlines until a Ministerial Decree sets a closing date. Non-EU candidates residing abroad instead follow Bologna's separate local-ranking timeline, enrolling by 29 October 2026.

Enrolment & fees

First-time enrollees log into Studenti Online with the personal credentials created at test registration, or with SPID, and:

1. Click 'Registration', then select 'Single Cycle Degree Programs' and either 'Medicine and Surgery' or 'Veterinary Medicine'.
2. Complete the registration form and upload a passport-size photo — submitting false or misleading information is sanctioned under Art. 496 of the Italian Penal Code, and results in cancelled enrolment, revoked benefits, and no refund of fees already paid.
3. Pay the first instalment of the annual tuition fee per the instructions on Studenti Online — failure to pay cancels the enrolment procedure.

Candidates with SPID credentials have their academic career activated immediately after payment; candidates without SPID must complete an identification procedure on Studenti Online first; candidates with a previous academic record at Bologna have their career reactivated immediately. Once activated, students can access study plan submission, exam bookings, WiFi, online library resources, and requests to change programme, transfer, or withdraw, and receive instructions to collect their student badge.

Special provisions named in the call:

• Students with disabilities certified at 66% or more, or under Italian Law 104/1992, must email a copy of their certificate to the Student Administration Office of their chosen programme.
• Credit recognition from previous academic studies requires the online procedure on Studenti Online, by the deadline stated in the source as 27 November 2025 — flagged above as likely outdated for the 2026/2027 cycle; candidates who register after 26 November 2026 upon a ranking update should contact the Student Administration Office directly via Virtual Help Desk.
• Non-EU citizens with EU-equivalent status must send a copy of their residence permit and/or EU-equivalence documents via Virtual Help Desk to the relevant Student Administration Office.
• Non-EU students residing abroad, and students with secondary qualifications obtained outside Italy, must upload required enrolment documents by 26 February 2027 (Studenti Online > Bandi > "Immatricolazioni a.a. 26_27 – caricamento dei documenti degli studenti internazionali e con titolo estero").

Transfers into Bologna

Bologna's call also addresses two situations for candidates already enrolled elsewhere:

Currently enrolled at another Italian university (Trasferimento)

Candidates must apply for transfer at their current university, enrol at Bologna following the standard enrolment steps above (including details of their previous university and programme), and pay the first tuition instalment. On top of that, transferring candidates must pay a separate transfer fee, required by the Student Administration Office once it receives the student file from the previous university.

Already enrolled at Bologna in a different programme (Passaggi)

The call names this specifically for candidates already enrolled at Bologna in a programme other than Medicine and Surgery (internal programme code 6734). These candidates must pay the first instalment of tuition for the new academic year in their current programme, confirm previous years' payments are in order, and complete the online internal transfer application on Studenti Online (click 'Programme transfer', fill in the required information, pay the internal transfer fee).

The source document doesn't give an equivalent internal programme code or process for switching into Veterinary Medicine from another Bologna programme — if that applies to you, confirm directly with the relevant Student Administration Office.

For both routes, candidates who previously studied in degree programmes at a different Italian university, or at a non-Italian university, must submit official documentation of course contents and completed exams via Virtual Help Desk to have any credits recognised. Failing to submit this means no credit recognition, and enrolment starts in Year 1 with no credits carried over. Only credits earned in degree programmes taught in English can be recognised.

Support for candidates with disabilities or SLDs

Candidates with disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), or special needs that may interfere with the admission test can apply for arrangements and aids. The deadline is 9 September 2026, 15:00 — the same as the general registration deadline.

Available access arrangements:

• Extra time: up to 30% for candidates with SLD, Special Educational Needs, or a diagnosed pathology; up to 50% for candidates with a legally recognised disability.
• Aids: human reader, scribe, non-scientific calculator, video magnifier, and others listed on the application form.
• If a specific arrangement or aid can't be provided for organisational or legal reasons, an equivalent alternative will be offered instead.

Documentation requirements:

• SLD diagnoses must be no older than three years from issue, or issued after the candidate's 18th birthday (with a stated COVID-era exception allowing older or non-compliant certificates if candidates declare they're awaiting renewal; private-institution certificates must meet the 2011 Consensus Conference standards).
• Special Educational Needs certification issued by a health services specialist.
• Legal certification of recognised disability.
• Specialist medical documentation of a health condition (physical or psychological) that may cause temporary or lasting difficulty and specific needs during the test.
• Candidates holding both a Law 104/92 certificate and other medical documentation must submit both.

Candidates residing outside Italy must provide legalised certification from the relevant body in their country of residence, with a sworn translation into Italian or English. Bologna checks whether the certified condition is recognised under Italian law. Granted arrangements are confirmed on 15 September 2026 in the same Studenti Online section.

Contact for further information: ases.adattamentiammissione@unibo.it.

What the test covers (in brief)

The full syllabus is set out in Annex 1 to Bologna's call, in line with the national ministerial programme used across every IMAT venue. In outline, the test covers:

• General knowledge and logical reasoning: general historical, institutional, legal, economic and civic knowledge, plus completing a line of reasoning consistent with given premises.
• Biology: chemistry of living organisms, cell structure and cycle, genetics, mutation and evolution, biotechnology, human anatomy/physiology, and bioenergetics.
• Chemistry: states/structure of matter, atomic structure and the periodic table, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, solutions and equilibria, kinetics, redox, acid-base chemistry, and the fundamentals of organic chemistry.
• Physics and Mathematics: number sets and algebra, functions, geometry, probability and statistics; physical quantities and measurement, kinematics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and electricity/electromagnetism.

See Annex 1 of the official call for the complete, itemised syllabus, and Locomotive's IMAT 2026 hub for general syllabus resources.

Admission to Years 2–6 (direct entry beyond Year 1)

Medicine and Surgery

Candidates who have already studied at university level and want admission to Years 2–6 do not sit the IMAT for this route. Instead, they apply through a separate 'Call for transfer to Years 2-6, Medicine and Surgery Degree Programme', published on the degree programme website.

Candidates in this position may also choose to sit the standard IMAT as a Year 1 applicant; however, they'll only be admitted to a year other than Year 1 if one or more places in Years 2–6 remain vacant after the dedicated transfer selection procedure concludes. If more candidates in this situation compete for the same vacant places and year, ranking is by test score (descending), with the youngest candidate prevailing in case of a tie.

Veterinary Medicine

Bologna's English-taught Veterinary Medicine programme currently offers only Years 1 and 2. Since no places are ever available in Year 2, no call for admission to years beyond the first is published for Veterinary Medicine at all.

Contacts & who's in charge

Candidates are responsible for regularly checking their Universitaly and Studenti Online personal areas, and the email address given at registration — publication on these channels constitutes official notification.

Offices are closed 10–14 August 2026 (summer holidays), 7 December 2026, and 24 December 2026. Any additional closures are published on www.unibo.it.

Frequently asked questions