In short: The 2026 intake (academic year 2026/27) is closed to new applicants for bachelor's and single-cycle degrees: the IMAT took place on 29 September 2026, and only students whose pre-enrolment is already validated can still apply for the study visa, by 30 November 2026. The next intake is September 2027. Its rules are already published, because one ministerial circular covers both years: visa applications by 31 October 2027, at least €10,179.85 a year in funds, and a pre-enrolment on Universitaly validated by your university first. Some entrance tests for 2027, such as Bocconi's, are already running.
This guide is for international students who want an English-taught degree in Italy. It sums up what happened in the 2026 round and lists, step by step, what to do for September 2027, with the official source for every date.
The 2026 intake at a glance
The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) published the procedures for international students in April 2026. For the first time they are valid for two academic years, 2026/27 and 2027/28, so the rules for next year are already known.
| 2026 intake (2026/27) | 2027 intake (2027/28) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-enrolment on Universitaly | Dates set by each university | Dates set by each university |
| Study visa application | By 30 November 2026 | By 31 October 2027 |
| Funds to show | €10,179.85 a year | €10,179.85 a year |
| Language | B2 in the language of the course, all four skills | Same |
| Not enrolled by 31 January | Visa revoked | Visa revoked |
The funds required went up sharply: for 2025/26 they were €6,947.33 a year. Universities can set visa-related deadlines earlier than the national ones, and from 2026/27 each one can validate at most as many pre-enrolments as its places for non-EU students plus 20%, so applying early matters. A refused visa frees one of those validations for another applicant, and a university can ask for more only by a formal decision of its academic bodies.
Entrance exams: 2026 and the next round
| Exam | For | 2026 | Format | Next round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMAT | Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine in English at 17 public universities | 29 September 2026 | 60 questions, 100 minutes | 2027 date not announced yet |
| Health Professions test in English | Nursing, physiotherapy and the other health professions taught in English | 17 September 2026 | 60 questions, 100 minutes; each university sets its own paper | 2027 date not announced yet |
| Bocconi test | Bocconi bachelor's and Law programmes | Online sessions through the year | 50 questions, 75 minutes, from home | Winter Session 25 November 2026 – 26 January 2027 |
| CEnT-S | English-taught engineering, sciences, economics, psychology and more at about 19 universities | Several sessions a year (CISIA) | 65 questions, 140 minutes, six timed sections | See the CISIA calendar |
For Bocconi, international candidates can book a test until 19 January 2027. The CEnT-S is the English test of CISIA, the consortium behind the TOLC; it replaced the English TOLC, and universities such as Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza and Padova accept it.
What happened with the IMAT 2026
The IMAT 2026 (Ministerial Decree 1005 of 6 August 2026) was held on 29 September 2026: 60 questions in 100 minutes, +1.5 for a right answer, −0.4 for a wrong one, maximum 90 points, and at least 20 needed to be ranked. Seventeen public universities offered 21 English-taught courses, with 1,269 seats for EU candidates and non-EU candidates living in Italy, and 543 for non-EU candidates living abroad.
- Scores were published on 8 October and the national ranking on 26 October 2026; the second scroll followed on 3 November. How assigned and booked seats work is in IMAT 2026 ranking.
- Non-EU candidates living abroad are not in the national ranking: each university publishes its own list, with its own dates. See the non-EU rankings, university by university.
- The full list of universities and seats is in IMAT universities in Italy.
If you are aiming for 2027, you can start now with a free IMAT simulation in the official format and check where you stand with the IMAT score calculator.
How to apply for September 2027, step by step
- Choose the course and read its call. Each university publishes its own admission call, with its own rounds and deadlines, and decides which entrance test it accepts.
- Take the entrance test. Bocconi and the CEnT-S already have sessions for 2027 entry; the IMAT and the Health Professions test will have one national date each, not announced yet.
- Pre-enrol on Universitaly when your university's window opens, and wait for the university to validate your application. You can apply for the visa only after that.
- Get your diploma recognised. You need a CIMEA statement of comparability together with a CIMEA verification of authenticity, or a Dichiarazione di Valore issued by the Italian embassy, which covers comparability: if it does not state that the diploma's authenticity was verified, you still need the CIMEA verification. Your diploma must come after at least 12 years of schooling.
- Get a language certificate of at least B2 in English covering all four skills, issued by an internationally recognised body or by the university itself.
- Apply for the study visa (type D) by 31 October 2027 at the Italian embassy or consulate, with the validated pre-enrolment summary, proof of €10,179.85 a year in funds, suitable accommodation and health insurance. Fingerprints are required.
- On arrival, apply for the residence permit within 8 working days to the Questura of the city where you will live, sent through a post office with the kit available there, or through your university's desk if it has one. The Questura then gives you an appointment.
- Enrol at the university. If you have not enrolled by 31 January of the academic year, your visa is revoked.
When universities open applications
There is no national calendar: each university runs its own rounds. The 2026 intake shows the usual pattern, from late autumn to early summer:
- Bocconi: three rounds for 2026 (September 2025, November 2025 – January 2026, March – April 2026). For 2027 the Early round ran in September 2026 and the Winter round runs from 25 November 2026 to 26 January 2027.
- Sapienza: online pre-selection for non-EU visa applicants from 22 December 2025 to 15 May 2026, then Universitaly by 30 June 2026.
- Bologna: dates set course by course; for example, a bachelor's with rounds from February to April and from April to June 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano: engineering admissions in phases from May to early September 2026, with Universitaly by 31 August 2026 for non-EU applicants.
For 2027 expect similar windows, but always check the new call: dates move from year to year, and the earliest rounds are often the only ones open to students who need a visa.
Italy intake: frequently asked questions
Is it too late for the Italy 2026 intake?
For a new application to a bachelor's or single-cycle degree starting in September 2026, yes: the entrance exams took place in September. If your university has already validated your pre-enrolment, you can still apply for the study visa until 30 November 2026, or the earlier date your university set. The next intake is September 2027 (academic year 2027/28), and some of its admission rounds, such as Bocconi's, are already open.
When is the visa deadline for the 2027 intake?
Study visa applications for 2027/28 must reach the Italian embassy or consulate by 31 October 2027. Your university may set an earlier date, and you can only apply once it has validated your pre-enrolment on Universitaly.
How much money do I need to show for an Italian student visa?
€10,179.85 for each academic year, from lawful and traceable sources. The same ministerial circular applies to 2026/27 and 2027/28. A scholarship counts only once it has actually been awarded.
Do I need to speak Italian for an English-taught degree?
No Italian test is required for a course taught in English. You need a certificate of at least B2 in English covering all four skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing). Italian-taught courses require Italian at B2, checked by the university.
Is there still an IMAT after the medicine reform?
Yes. The semestre filtro replaced the entrance test only for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine taught in Italian. The English-taught courses kept the IMAT, held on 29 September 2026. The 2027 date has not been announced yet.
Is there a single national application deadline?
No. Each university sets its own pre-enrolment and admission dates, so they vary widely: in 2026, for example, Sapienza closed on 30 June, Torino on 15 July and Pisa on 30 September. Check the call of the course you want.
Source: MUR, procedures for the entry, residence and enrolment of international students, academic years 2026/27 and 2027/28 (visa, funds, language, residence permit), and the 2025/26 edition; Ministerial Decree 1005 of 6 August 2026 and the MUR IMAT calendar; Ministerial Decree 1003 of 6 August 2026; Bocconi admission timeline and 2026/27 test rules; CISIA CEnT-S rules; admission pages of Sapienza, Bologna, Politecnico di Milano, Torino and Pisa. Last checked: .