Exam Guide ·
By Yunus Emre · Rome Consultancy
Italian University Entrance Exams: Which Test Do You Need?
There is no single national university entrance exam in Italy: the test depends on the programme and its language. IMAT for English-taught medicine, ARCHED for architecture, CEnT-S for English-taught engineering and economics, TOLC for Italian-taught programmes, and the SAT at some universities. Here they are in one table.
Short answer: Italy has no single national university entrance exam. The test depends on the programme and the language it is taught in:
- English-taught medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine: the IMAT
- Architecture: ARCHED
- English-taught engineering, economics, sciences, psychology and similar programmes: the CEnT-S
- Italian-taught programmes: the TOLC
- Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano and several Sapienza programmes: the SAT is also accepted.
We have a detailed guide for each of these exams; the table below shows which one you need.
Which exam for which programme?
| Programme and language | Exam | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine (English) | IMAT | Once a year in September, on paper at test centres in Italy and 25 other countries |
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine (Italian) | No entrance test: the "filter semester" | Selection through exams at the end of the first semester |
| Architecture and building engineering-architecture | ARCHED | Each university sets its own date; many run it online from home |
| Engineering, economics, sciences, psychology, biology, pharmacy (English) | CEnT-S | Several periods a year; from home if the university accepts it |
| Italian-taught bachelor's programmes | TOLC (TOLC-I, TOLC-E and others) | February to November, once a month; from home or at a university |
| Bocconi (all bachelor's programmes) | Bocconi test, SAT or ACT | The Bocconi test is online; the SAT at College Board test centres |
| Politecnico di Milano engineering | Its own test (TOL) or the SAT | SAT score requirements vary by admission phase |
4 rules to know before you book
- The university decides. Each university states which test and score it requires in its call for applications (bando). Two universities can ask for different tests for the same subject.
- Validity differs by test. TOLC and CEnT-S results count at every university that accepts that test. An ARCHED result counts only at the university where you took it. With the IMAT, one exam lets you rank several universities.
- The language requirement is separate. Applicants who need a visa must show B2 Italian for Italian-taught programmes and B2 English for English-taught ones.
- National entrance exams in your country may also count. If your country has a national university entrance exam, Italian consulates may ask for its result with your visa application; for Turkish students, this is the YKS certificate.
Which exams can you take from home?
- From home: the CEnT-S, TOLC and ARCHED, if the university accepts results taken from home. You need a computer and a phone with a camera, and you take the test from the country you declared when booking.
- At a test centre: the IMAT and the SAT.
When should you take the exam?
If you need a visa, plan your exams around the visa calendar: your result, admission, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the visa application all depend on each other. Taking tests you can repeat (CEnT-S, TOLC) in the early periods leaves time for a second attempt. See every date in our 2027/28 application calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Can you study in Italy without an entrance exam?
Some Italian-taught programmes have open access; there the TOLC is a placement check rather than a ranking. But most programmes with limited places and most English-taught programmes require an entrance test.
Which exam do I need to study medicine in Italy?
The IMAT for English-taught medicine. Italian-taught medicine uses a filter semester instead of an entrance test.
Can I use one exam for several universities?
Yes. TOLC and CEnT-S results count at every university that accepts that test, and an SAT score at every university that accepts the SAT. An ARCHED result counts only at the university where you took it.
Which language are the exams in?
The IMAT, CEnT-S and SAT are in English; the TOLC and the Italian ARCHED are in Italian. Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Bari also run ARCHED in English.
Bottom line
In Italy, the right exam starts with the right programme and university. We can plan which test to take, when, and with which target score for your programme. Fill in the free assessment form to get started.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Based on the official sources used in our individual exam guides: CISIA, the Italian Ministry of University and Research, Bocconi, Sapienza, Politecnico di Milano, the University of Bologna and the Consulate General of Italy in Istanbul.