Study Pharmacy at the University of Insubria: a five-year programme in Como leading to qualification as a pharmacist

This morning, the University of Insubria officially presented its new five-year single-cycle Master's Degree in Pharmacy, which will be launched in the 2026/2027 academic year. The press conference, held in Como, featured speeches by Rector Maria Pierro, Lombardy Regional Minister for Universities, Research and Innovation Alessandro Fermi, Deputy Rector Umberto Piarulli, and the programme coordinator Simona Galli.

"I am very pleased with the activation of this new single-cycle Master's Degree in Pharmacy," said Rector Maria Pierro. "This is a project we began at the very start of my term of office, seizing the opportunity to respond to a clear educational need in North-West Italy, where no programme of this kind was available. The University of Insubria has highly specialised expertise in both teaching and research, and we could not miss the opportunity to launch this degree. Looking ahead, the Pharmacy programme could also pave the way for a future single-cycle Master's Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, further strengthening our academic offering in a strategic field for both the region and the healthcare and industrial sectors."

"The launch of this new Pharmacy programme represents a strategic investment for the region and for the future of healthcare," added Regional Minister Alessandro Fermi. "As someone from Como, I am especially proud that it will be offered by the University of Insubria. The pharmaceutical sector has long been reporting increasing difficulties in recruiting qualified professionals, a challenge that will become even more significant with generational turnover and the evolving role of pharmacists. This new degree provides a concrete response to these needs, offering students a solid education closely aligned with the demands of the profession. The Como campus will become a centre of excellence for training pharmacists who combine scientific expertise, innovation and patient-centred care, helping to strengthen both the healthcare system and the local economy."

"The Pharmacy degree further enhances our University's educational offering," said Deputy Rector Umberto Piarulli. "It is a multidisciplinary programme that combines STEM expertise—particularly in chemistry—with biological and pharmacological sciences, areas in which the University of Insubria excels through internationally recognised research projects and scientific publications. It also provides young people with an additional opportunity to pursue careers in one of today's most dynamic and innovative sectors, ranging from community pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry."

The programme belongs to the LM-13 degree class (Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy). It is open admission, lasts five years, and qualifies graduates to practise as pharmacists under Interministerial Decree No. 635/2022. It has been jointly designed by the Department of Science and High Technology, directed by Michela Prest, and the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, directed by Flavia Marinelli.

The programme will be based at the Como campus, where lectures and practical laboratory activities in chemistry and pharmacology will take place. Biological laboratory activities will also be organised at the Busto Arsizio campus, under the coordination of Professor Tiziana Rubino.

The programme is currently awaiting its formal establishment decree from Anvur, having already received a favourable opinion from the National University Council (Cun).

Through lectures and hands-on laboratory training, students will develop scientific and technological expertise in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmaceutical legislation and professional ethics. The programme equips graduates with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for a profession that is constantly evolving. Today, pharmacists play an increasingly central role within healthcare systems, serving as trusted points of reference for both patients and physicians while providing expert guidance on medicines.

Graduates will also be prepared for careers in the pharmaceutical industry, public institutions, research organisations and regulatory agencies, with competencies spanning research and development, manufacturing, quality control, pharmaceutical dispensing and pharmacovigilance. The curriculum also places particular emphasis on artificial intelligence applications in areas such as clinical project management, resource allocation, pharmacovigilance and drug discovery, supporting faster, data-driven decision-making in healthcare and pharmaceutical research.

• In the photograph, from left: Simona Galli, Umberto Piarulli, Maria Pierro and Alessandro Fermi.