How the IMAT Ranking Algorithm Actually Works

We get variations of this question constantly, usually phrased as some version of "does putting my dream university first hurt my chances?" It doesn't work the way most candidates assume, so it's worth walking through the actual mechanics.

The short answer: no. The system ranks every candidate nationally by score, then works down that ranking trying to place each person into their highest-preference university that still has an open seat. Listing your real first choice first never costs you a lower-ranked option.

Step one: everyone gets ranked nationally by score

After results are published, every candidate is placed into a single national ranking based on their IMAT score. This ranking is the backbone of the entire placement process, not a rough guideline.

Step two: your preference list matters, but not the way people fear

You submit an ordered list of universities before results come out. The system then works down the national ranking, and for each candidate, it tries to place them into their highest-preference university that still has an available seat given their position in the ranking. Listing your genuine top choice first does not lower your odds elsewhere - it just means the system tries that one first before moving down your list.

The mistake candidates actually make

The real risk isn't listing an ambitious first choice. It's listing too few universities, or ordering the list based on guesswork about "safe" options rather than genuine preference plus realistic ranking research. If your list is short and your score doesn't clear your listed options, you can end up without a seat despite scoring well enough for a university you simply didn't include.

What this means practically

Rank your genuine preferences in genuine order, from most to least wanted, and make the list long enough to include realistic options across a range of competitiveness, not just your top two or three dream schools - see which Italian university you should actually apply to for how to actually build that list. The mechanism rewards an honest, complete list far more than it rewards trying to strategically game the order.

The system is more forgiving of an honest, well-researched list than most candidates assume, and less forgiving of a short, guesswork one. If your list doesn't come through the way you hoped, what happens if you don't get your first-choice university covers what your actual options look like next.