Study in Italy process — step by step

Bachelor · Engineering · Economics · Sciences

CEnT-S (CISIA English Test – Sciences)

CEnT-S is the unified CISIA English admission test for many English-taught bachelor (and some single-cycle scientific) programmes in Italy. From November 2025 it replaces the old English TOLC types (English TOLC-I, English TOLC-E, English TOLC-F) for Engineering, Economics, Pharmacy, and other scientific fields taught mainly in English.

Students applying to English-taught first-cycle degrees in Engineering, Economics / Business / Management, Pharmacy, Biotechnology / Biology, and many other science programmes where the university call requires CEnT-S. It is NOT the Medicine test — Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary use IMAT. Politecnico di Torino engineering programmes use TIL-I instead of CEnT-S.

Book CEnT-S on the CISIA portal (you can sit at any participating venue, not only your target university). Apply separately on each university portal / call. Some universities use only selected sections (for example Mathematics + Reasoning). Always read the programme admission notice.

Fee €55 · 55 questions · 110 minutes · formats: CEnT@UNI — in a university classroom; CEnT@HOME — remotely (online proctored).

Test sections

• · Mathematics (30 min) — Algebra, functions, geometry, probability and statistics
• · Reasoning on Texts and Data (30 min) — Analytical reading, data interpretation, logical reasoning
• · Biology (20 min) — Cell biology, genetics, human physiology, ecology
• · Chemistry (20 min) — Atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, acids/bases, organic basics
• · Physics (10 min) — Mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, waves

Macro-periods

• · November – January (1st macro-period)
• · February – March (2nd macro-period)
• · April – June (3rd macro-period)
• · September – October (4th macro-period)

You see raw correct / incorrect / blank counts immediately. The final normalised score appears in the CISIA Student Area only at the end of the macro-period (by 30 Jan / 31 Mar / 30 Jun / 30 Oct depending on period). One attempt per macro-period; you may sit again in later periods.

Exceptions

• · Politecnico di Torino English engineering bachelor programmes → TIL-I (not CEnT-S)
• · Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary English single-cycle → IMAT via Universitaly
• · Some humanities / law / psychology English tracks may use different selection rules — confirm the call

Extra notes

• · English TOLC-I / TOLC-E / TOLC-F names on older pages are outdated for A.Y. 2026/27 — expect CEnT-S in new calls.
• · Fee is €55 per attempt (credit card or Italian MAV).
• · Score validity and which sections count are set by each university call — confirm deadlines before booking.
• · Pharmacy English at Bologna–Rimini and Tor Vergata typically use CEnT-S (or university selection based on it), not IMAT.

Medicine · Dentistry · Veterinary · Single-cycle

International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT)

National paper-based admission test (English) for English-taught single-cycle degrees in Medicine and Surgery (LM-41), Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics (LM-46), and Veterinary Medicine (LM-42) at Italian universities. For A.Y. 2026/2027 the test is regulated by MUR DM n. 1005 of 6 August 2026; questions are prepared by CINECA (not Cambridge Assessment).

Anyone applying to English-taught public (and participating private) Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary single-cycle programmes covered by the national call. Italian-taught Medicine uses a different access model (semestre filtro) and does not use IMAT. English Pharmacy (e.g. Bologna–Rimini) does not use IMAT.

Timeline: Registration on Universitaly: 26 August 2026 – 9 September 2026 at 15:00 (GMT+2) — confirm annually · Test day: 29 September 2026 (Italian venues start 13:30 local; foreign venues adjust for time zone) — confirm annually · Anonymous scores by barcode: 8 October 2026 — confirm annually · Personal paper/score/anagraphic sheet on Universitaly: 19 October 2026 — confirm annually · Named national rankings and first assignments (EU/EU-equivalent): 26 October 2026 — confirm annually · First subsequent scrolling round: 3 November 2026 — confirm annually

IMAT registration is on Universitaly only. Non-EU residents abroad must ALSO complete Universitaly international pre-enrolment (https://www.universitaly.it/studenti-stranieri) for the university whose non-EU seats they want; without validated pre-enrolment an IMAT score cannot convert into a non-EU seat. Confirm annual deadlines on Universitaly and each university call.

Test sections

• · Reading skills and knowledge acquired in studies — 4 questions
• · Logical reasoning and problems — 5 questions
• · Biology — 23 questions
• · Chemistry — 15 questions
• · Physics and mathematics — 13 questions

Documents to prepare early

• · Valid passport / identity document for Universitaly registration and the test day
• · Upper secondary diploma (or equivalent) meeting Italian university entry rules for foreign qualifications — confirm Pakistan HSSC / A-Level pathway with the university and CIMEA guidance
• · Universitaly IMAT registration (and payment of the participation fee shown on the portal)
• · Universitaly international pre-enrolment dossier for non-EU residents abroad (https://www.universitaly.it/studenti-stranieri)
• · Optional English language certificate (Annex 3 of the decree) — not required to sit IMAT; may help in tie-breaks / enrolment
• · Study visa documents after assignment (financial means, accommodation, insurance) — follow the Italian Embassy/Consulate checklist for Pakistan

Key notes

• · 60 multiple-choice questions, 5 options each, 100 minutes; max score 90 (+1.5 correct, −0.4 wrong, 0 omitted).
• · At registration choose irrevocably Medicine+Dentistry track OR Veterinary track (separate national rankings for EU/EU-equivalent).
• · Non-EU residents abroad compete on each university’s local ranking for reserved non-EU seats; they must also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for the chosen university (see https://www.universitaly.it/studenti-stranieri).
• · EU/EU-equivalent minimum eligibility score: 20/90. Non-EU abroad: score > 0 (candidates with all answers blank are not ranked).
• · English language certificates are not required to sit IMAT; they may be used only for tie-breaking (Annex 3 of the decree).
• · Some 2026/27 courses are marked *in fase di accreditamento* in Tabella B (Florence Medicine; Padua MedTech; Naples Federico II Veterinary)—final seat delivery depends on accreditation.
• · IMAT is distinct from the Italian-taught ‘semestre filtro’ reform.