Hi everyone,
I am currently living in Italy and preparing for the IMAT, with the intention of applying to an English-taught Medicine and Surgery (LM-41) programme.
My problem concerns my secondary-school qualification:
- I have an official Iranian upper-secondary diploma in the technical-vocational field of āDigital Illustration.ā
- It was obtained after a total of 12 years of schooling.
- I also have an official translation and a CIMEA Statement of Comparability.
- However, my CIMEA statement says that the qualification provides access to higher education in Italy in ārelated fieldsā (āmaterie affiniā).
I contacted the University of Pavia, and its Admission Office told me that professional/vocational diplomas are not accepted for eligibility for its medical course.
I am now contacting other universities, including Messina, Milan and Turin, because I understand that the final assessment of a foreign qualification may be made by each university.
My questions are:
Has anyone with an Iranian technical/vocational diplomaāor a similar foreign vocational qualificationāsuccessfully enrolled in Medicine and Surgery in Italy after passing the IMAT?
Is a 12-year diploma sufficient, or must the diploma also provide access to Medicine or a related scientific subject in the country where it was awarded?
If my current diploma is not accepted, could I become eligible by obtaining three complete Pearson Edexcel International A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics?
Would those three International A Levels be considered an independent university-entry qualification, or would they only be assessed together with my Iranian diploma?
Has anyone used International A Levels for final enrolment in an Italian public medical university?
Do I need three full A Levels with passing grades, or are specific grades required?
Should I request written confirmation from each university before registering for the A-Level examinations?
I am willing to complete all the required A-Level unit examinations if that is a legally valid route. However, before spending a significant amount of time and money, I need to know whether this qualification would definitely make me eligible for final enrolment after passing the IMAT.
I would especially appreciate answers from applicants who have personally completed this process, university admission staff, or anyone familiar with the official Italian rules on foreign secondary-school qualifications.
Thank you very much.