Quick Read
- The IMAT 2026 cutoff will only be known after results are declared post-29 September 2026.
- Indian applicants use the non-EU cutoff, not the lower EU/national ranking figure.
- Milan’s 2025 non-EU cutoff was 72.9; Bologna’s was 71.1; Pavia’s was 71.9.
- Non-EU cutoffs can swing sharply year to year: Bari moved from roughly 31 in 2023 to 65.8 in 2024.
- Non-EU candidates residing abroad get one ranking round, with no scrolling like EU candidates.
- Lower-ranked universities like Messina and Bari had 2025 non-EU cutoffs in the mid-50s.
There is no IMAT 2026 cutoff yet, and anyone showing you one right now is guessing. The exam itself is scheduled for 29 September 2026, and cutoffs are only calculated after every candidate’s paper is scored and each university closes its ranking. What you can use right now is real historical data, and more importantly, an understanding of which cutoff number actually applies to you as an Indian applicant, since most guides get this wrong.
What Is the IMAT Cutoff? EU vs Non-EU Rankings Explained
The IMAT cutoff is not a single number. It is two separate numbers running in parallel, and confusing them is the most common mistake Indian applicants make when researching universities.
The EU and equivalent national ranking covers EU citizens and non-EU candidates who are legally resident in Italy. This ranking has significantly more seats, includes multiple scrolling rounds where the cutoff drops as places free up, and consequently produces a lower published cutoff. Milan’s 2025 EU-track cutoff, for example, settled around 66.2.
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The non-EU residing-abroad ranking is a separate, university-specific list that almost every Indian applicant competes in. This is the ranking category for candidates applying from India who do not have Italian residency. It has far fewer seats per university, it does not scroll the way the EU ranking does, and it consistently produces a higher cutoff. Milan's 2025 non-EU cutoff was 72.9, not 66.2.
If you are researching universities from India, the non-EU cutoff is the number that matters. Comparing your target score against the EU figure will give you a false sense of security.
Counselor insight: We regularly see students who found a "Milan cutoff" of around 66 online and assumed that was their target. That number describes a different competition entirely. If you are applying as a non-EU candidate residing outside Italy, benchmark yourself against the non-EU figure every time, even when a source doesn't clearly label which ranking it is quoting.
IMAT Non-EU Cutoff by University: 2025 Data
Based on official non-EU ranking lists published by individual universities and compiled by IMAT tracking platforms, here is where the 2025 non-EU cutoff landed at several major destinations. University names link to each institution's official admissions page.
| University | QS World Ranking 2026 | 2025 non-EU cutoff (approx.) | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Milan | #272 | 72.9 | Very high |
| University of Pavia | #401 to #500 band | 71.9 | Very high |
| University of Bologna | #138 | 71.1 | Very high |
| Sapienza University of Rome (Dentistry) | #128 | 71.8 | Very high |
| University of Messina | #741 to #750 band | Mid 50s | Moderate |
| Polytechnic University of Marche | #801 to #850 band | Mid 50s | Moderate |
| University of Bari | #801 band | 56.5 | Moderate |
Notice that world ranking and IMAT cutoff do not move in lockstep. Pavia sits well behind Bologna and Sapienza on the QS World Ranking, yet its non-EU IMAT cutoff is close to Milan's. This is a seat-scarcity effect, not a prestige signal: Pavia's medical program is a long-standing, high-demand choice among IMAT applicants specifically, regardless of where the university lands in a general institutional ranking. Do not assume a university's overall QS position tells you how competitive its IMAT non-EU cutoff will be.
These figures come from published non-EU ranking documents that each university releases separately, typically in October, and different tracking sources sometimes report slightly different final numbers due to the timing of updates. Treat this table as a directional guide to relative competitiveness across universities, not a guaranteed figure, and always verify against the specific university's own published ranking list before making application decisions.
Counselor insight: Notice the gap between the top cluster (Milan, Pavia, Bologna, all above 71) and the mid-tier cluster (mid-50s). There is very little middle ground. This is why we always ask students to build a shortlist with at least one university from each tier rather than applying only to the most recognisable names.
Is the IMAT 2026 Cutoff Available Yet?
No. The IMAT 2026 exam takes place on 29 September 2026. CINECA calculates scores centrally after the exam, and each university then publishes its own non-EU ranking list, typically several weeks later. Until that process completes, any number you see labeled as the "2026 cutoff" is either historical data mislabeled or a guess. If you want to track when results are officially published, our IMAT exam date 2026 guide covers the registration and exam timeline in detail, and we will update this article once 2026 rankings are confirmed.
How Much Does the IMAT Cutoff Change Year to Year?
Non-EU cutoffs are genuinely volatile, far more than most applicants expect. The clearest example is the University of Bari, whose non-EU cutoff was approximately 31 points in 2023, then jumped to 65.8 in 2024, a swing of roughly 34 points in a single year.
| University | 2023 (approx.) | 2024 (approx.) | 2025 (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan | 60.2 | 73.4 to 73.8 | 72.9 |
| Bari | ~31 | 65.8 | 56.5 |
| Messina | Data limited | 61.4 to 61.8 | Mid 50s |
This volatility arises from fluctuating applicant numbers and scores for specific universities, not from a fixed passing standard. A university that looked accessible last year can become highly competitive the next, particularly at the mid-tier and lower-tier institutions where applicant numbers per seat fluctuate more than at the handful of universities everyone already knows.
Counselor insight: Do not choose your first-choice university based purely on last year's cutoff being low. We have seen students target a university specifically because it looked "easy" the previous year, only to find the applicant pool doubled the following cycle. Build in a buffer above last year's number rather than treating it as your target.
What Is a Good or Safe IMAT Score for Indian Students?
Based on recent non-EU cutoff patterns, here is a rough way to think about score bands, while remembering every number here is retrospective, not a promise about 2026.
| Score range (out of 90) | What it has historically covered |
|---|---|
| 75 and above | Competitive at almost every Italian university offering IMAT, including Milan and Pavia in most years |
| 65 to 74 | Competitive at Bologna and several other well-regarded universities, with Milan and Pavia becoming risk-dependent on the specific year |
| 55 to 64 | Realistic for mid-tier universities such as Bari, Messina, and similar institutions, though this band has shown the most year-to-year movement |
| Below 55 | Historically excluded from most non-EU seats, though extremely low-demand years at specific universities have occasionally admitted scores in this range |
The maximum recorded score in the 2025 cycle was 87 out of 90, achieved by an international candidate. Very few candidates score above 80, so treat that ceiling as context rather than a realistic personal target.
Does Scrolling Change the Non-EU Cutoff?
No, and this is a critical difference from the EU process. EU and equated candidates go through multiple scrolling rounds over several months, during which cutoffs typically drop as higher-ranked candidates enroll elsewhere and seats free up.
Non-EU candidates residing outside Italy do not get this benefit. Each university publishes one local ranking for its non-EU seats, and that published score is generally final. If you fall below your first-choice university's non-EU cutoff, you are not automatically reconsidered for a lower cutoff at a different university, since non-EU applicants are locked into the single first-choice university they registered for. This is precisely why choosing your first-choice university strategically, rather than aspirationally, matters more for non-EU applicants than it does for EU applicants.
IMAT Cutoff vs NEET Cutoff: A Decision Framework for Indian Students
If you are consistently scoring in the top percentile on NEET mock tests, you are likely well-positioned for the top tier of IMAT non-EU cutoffs (Milan, Pavia, Bologna), provided you have also built dedicated Logical Reasoning preparation, since that section has no NEET equivalent.
Our IMAT preparation guide breaks down exactly how to bridge that specific gap.
If your NEET mock scores place you in a solid but not exceptional range, target mid-tier universities with historically lower non-EU cutoffs, while still preparing as if you need a buffer above last year's published figure, given how much these numbers move.
If you are earlier in your preparation and want to keep options open, apply your first choice strategically to a university with historically wider score bands rather than only the most recognisable names, since non-EU applicants get exactly one ranking chance at their chosen university with no fallback.
Unlike NEET, where a single national cutoff applies uniformly, IMAT's non-EU cutoff is genuinely different at every single university, which means your realistic target changes entirely based on which one you choose as your first preference.
University Shortlist Checklist Before You Apply
| Factor to check | Why it matters for non-EU applicants |
|---|---|
| Historical non-EU cutoff, last 2 to 3 years | Shows the range you're competing within, not a fixed target |
| Number of non-EU seats available | Fewer seats generally means higher, more volatile cutoffs |
| Whether the university is your realistic first choice | You get exactly one shot, since there is no fallback to a second-choice university |
| Recent trend direction (rising or falling cutoff) | A university trending upward needs a bigger buffer than one holding steady |
| Official university ranking page, not just aggregator summaries | Confirms the specific year's data directly from the source |
Month-by-Month Timeline From Exam to Cutoff Result
| Month (2026 cycle) | What happens |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | IMAT exam held on 29 September |
| October 2026 | CINECA processes scores; universities begin publishing non-EU ranking lists over subsequent weeks |
| November 2026 | Most non-EU rankings finalised; pre-enrolment and visa processes begin for admitted candidates |
| December 2026 onward | Enrolment completion; first semester classes typically begin in late October or early November of the admission year |
What to Do If Your Score Falls Below Your Target Cutoff
If your score comes in below your first-choice university's non-EU cutoff, you do not get reconsidered elsewhere automatically, since the choice you made at registration is final for that cycle. Realistic options at that point include applying to a different, typically less competitive university in the next IMAT cycle, or exploring other MBBS-equivalent destinations that don't rely on the same single-shot ranking structure.
Many students who fall short in one cycle use the gap year productively: reviewing exactly which sections cost them points, rebuilding their preparation plan around that data, and reapplying the following year with a stronger, more targeted score. Given how much cutoffs move year to year, particularly at mid-tier universities, a stronger score next cycle can open doors that looked closed this time.
Key Takeaways on IMAT Cutoff
- Indian applicants should benchmark against the non-EU residing-abroad cutoff, not the lower EU/national ranking figure, since these are two entirely separate competitions with different seat counts and rules.
- Non-EU cutoffs vary widely by university and can swing dramatically year to year, so treat last year's number as a reference point with a buffer, not a fixed target.
- No IMAT 2026 cutoff exists yet; it will only be confirmed after the 29 September 2026 exam and each university's subsequent non-EU ranking publication.
Verified by: LeapScholar's Italy counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through IMAT university selection and Italian admissions.
Have questions about IMAT cutoffs or studying medicine in Italy? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About IMAT Cutoff
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What is the IMAT cutoff for Indian students?
Indian applicants almost always compete in the non-EU residing-abroad ranking, which is university-specific and generally higher than the EU cutoff for the same institution. In 2025, this ranged from roughly the mid-50s at universities like Bari and Messina to above 70 at Milan, Pavia, and Bologna. There is no single "IMAT cutoff" figure; it varies by university and by year.
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What was the IMAT cutoff for Milan, Bologna, and Pavia in 2025?
Based on published non-EU ranking data, Milan's 2025 non-EU cutoff was approximately 72.9, Pavia's was approximately 71.9, and Bologna's was approximately 71.1. These are among the highest non-EU cutoffs in the country, reflecting both their popularity and their limited non-EU seat allocation.
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What is the difference between the EU cutoff and the non-EU cutoff?
The EU cutoff applies to EU citizens and non-EU candidates legally resident in Italy, and it is generally lower because that ranking has more seats and multiple scrolling rounds where the score requirement drops over time. The non-EU cutoff applies to candidates residing outside Italy, has far fewer seats, does not scroll, and is typically higher. Applicants from India should reference the non-EU figure specifically.
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Is the IMAT 2026 cutoff available yet?
There is no confirmed 2026 cutoff yet. The 2026 exam is scheduled for 29 September 2026, and cutoffs are calculated only after scoring is complete and each university closes its non-EU ranking, typically in October or November. Any figure presented as a confirmed 2026 cutoff before then is not accurate.
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How much can the IMAT cutoff change from year to year?
Significantly, particularly at mid-tier and lower-tier universities. The University of Bari's non-EU cutoff moved from approximately 31 in 2023 to 65.8 in 2024, a swing of roughly 34 points driven purely by changes in that year's applicant pool and competition, not by any change in exam difficulty.
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Is the IMAT cutoff harder to clear than NEET?
They are not directly comparable, since NEET uses a single national cutoff across a vastly larger applicant pool, while IMAT's non-EU cutoff varies by university and by year. A student with a strong NEET-equivalent Biology and Chemistry foundation is well-positioned for IMAT's top-tier cutoffs, provided they also prepare specifically for IMAT's Logical Reasoning section, which NEET does not test at all.
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What happens if my score is below the cutoff for my chosen university?
Since non-EU applicants are locked into their single first-choice university at registration, falling below that university's cutoff means you are not automatically considered elsewhere in the same cycle. Your realistic options are applying to a different university in the next IMAT cycle or considering other international medical study destinations.
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Do non-EU candidates get multiple rounds like EU candidates?
Non-EU candidates residing abroad do not get the scrolling process that EU and equated candidates benefit from, where the cutoff can drop over several months as seats become available. They instead receive a single, generally final ranking result at their chosen first-preference university, with no equivalent multi-round process.
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What is a good IMAT score for a non-EU applicant?
A score of 75 or above has historically been competitive at nearly every Italian university offering IMAT. Scores in the mid-60s to low 70s have historically worked at universities like Bologna, while scores in the mid-50s to low 60s have historically been realistic for mid-tier institutions. These bands shift each year, so treat them as reference points rather than guarantees.
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