Master’s degree courses
Free
2 years
Varese
English
Department of Biotechnologies and life sciences
Course description
Biotechnologies are called upon to solve many of the current challenges concerning human health, nutrition, quality of life and environment. Industrial biotechnologies represent the most advanced and applied aspect of this field.
The professional figure formed by the Degree Course possesses the know-how for the exploitation of organisms, cells or biomolecules to produce bio-goods (innovative drugs, nutraceuticals, bioplastics, novel renewable energy sources) and bio-services (sustainable industrial processes, innovative agriculture practices, bioremediation and circular economy processes) with the ultimate goal to improve the human and animal welfare and the environment quality.
The biotechnology sector shows a constant growth in terms of turnover and number of highly specialized employees and is characterized by extremely large investments in R&D.
The biotechnologist is a professional figure able to play high responsibility roles in development, management and control of research and production processes in different areas, such as, the pharmaceutical industry, the green chemistry, the agri-food and livestock sector, the environmental sector and the production of renewable energy.
The employment rate of graduates in Biotechnology for the Bio-based and Health Industry is very high, also because Lombardy is the Italian district with the highest concentration of biotechnological companies and thanks to the proximity of the biomedical cluster of the Canton Ticino (Swiss Confederation).
In addition, an international and up-to-date preparation, highly appreciated by the employment market, is reached through several collaborations with italian and foreign research groups, the Erasmus+ and the Double Degree programs (in collaboration with the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague).
Lessons are held in English.
What you need to know
Candidates must hold a first-level degree (three-year) obtained by February 28th, 2023, in the classes L-2 (Biotechnology) or L-13 (Biological Sciences), or another first-level degree obtained in Italy or abroad, that can be considered equivalent according to the current legislation.
In this latter case, the candidate’s previous career must include:
at least 36 credits in the sectors of area 05 (Biology) or in the SSD MED/03 (Medical genetics), MED/04 (General Pathology), MED/07 (Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology), MED/08 (Pathology), MED/42 (Hygiene and Public Health);
at least 12 credits in the sectors of area 01 (Mathematics and Informatics) or area 02 (Physics) or in the sector SSD MED/01 (Medical Statistics);
at least 12 credits in the sectors of area 03 (Chemistry).
Candidates satisfying the above requirements will have to take an interview (held in Italian or English, according to the candidate’s preference) with a committee of the Degree Course, aimed at verifying their preparation.
The schedule for the interviews will be published on the Course web page.
A negative outcome of the interview will preclude access to the Course for the current year.
Candidates who do not possess an internationally recognized certification for English language at level B2 (or higher), or who have not attended a first cycle course entirely held in English, will be required to attend a full-immersion course of Scientific English (offered in the second half of September 2024), and pass the corresponding exam.
Non-EU students
The access procedure consists of three steps:
- all candidates from extra EU countries shall pre-apply by filling in this form:
from December 1st 2024 to May 31st 2025
- Candidates who are considered potentially suitable based on the submitted documents will be asked to take a MS-Teams interview with a committee appointed by the Degree Program Board, aimed at verifying their preparation in the areas of basic physiology, molecular and cellular biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, and genetics and biochemistry. A negative outcome of the interview will preclude access to the Course for the current year.
- Only candidates considered eligible for admission shall start the pre-enrolment procedure through the Universitaly website within the deadline annually published at:
https://www.uninsubria.eu/programs/degree-programs/enrollment-procedures/pre-enrolment
The admission to the University program will be notified to Italian Consulates Emabassies through the Universitaly System in order to issue the Visa.
Industrial Biotechnologist
Graduates of the Master’s Degree Program in Biotechnology for the Biobased and Health Industry may pursue careers in the following areas:
- Research institutes and companies (public or private), consulting firms, or production companies operating in the fields of biotechnology, biomedicine, agri-food, pharmaceuticals (including regulatory affairs), nutraceuticals, environmental sciences and energy (particularly in the biorefinery sector), fine chemicals, cosmetics, and wellness products.
- Diagnostic centers and applied research institutes.
- Analytical laboratories.
- Organizations and agencies involved in education, technology transfer, scientific research support, and science communication.
- Quality certification companies, patent and trademark offices.
- Public and private institutions for technical-scientific training and outreach.
- Practice as a Biologist, upon passing the national licensing examination and registering with the National Biologists' Register.
- Universities and research centers, through further studies such as specialization schools, second-level Master’s programs, or PhD programs.
Graduates with a sufficient number of credits in specific academic sectors may, in accordance with current regulations, apply for admission to teacher training programs for secondary education.
This program prepares students for the following professions (according to ISTAT classification codes):
- Biologists and related professionals – (2.3.1.1.1)
- Biochemists – (2.3.1.1.2)
- Microbiologists – (2.3.1.2.2)
- Biotechnologists – (2.3.1.1.4)
- Biophysicists – (2.3.1.1.3)
Learn more at the Italian Biotechnologists Association (Associazione Biotecnologi Italiani)
If you are a EU National, you may stay in Italy for as long as you like: you only need a passport or ID card.
If you are a NON-EU National, you'll have to carry out some formalities.
At the University level, various Services are organized to complement and support your student life. To learn more, please consult the section: Infostudenti – Student Information Service.
Each Study Program appoints faculty tutors for each academic year. The tutors are responsible for liaising with students to identify any issues related to the delivery and organization of the study program. Additionally, at the beginning of the academic year, tutors, in collaboration with faculty members and administrative staff, organize a welcome meeting for first-year students to present the Study Program.
The purpose of the Tutoring service is to support students throughout their university journey, helping them overcome any difficulties encountered during their studies. The service offers guidance and assistance to newly enrolled and continuing students through various initiatives and activities promoted by the Study Program.
Faculty members, together with the administrative staff’s Academic Quality Managers (MDQ), also organize additional meetings throughout the academic course to support students’ learning path.
Tutors:
Please, write to: foreign.student.bbhi@uninsubria.it
To consult teaching courses of previous Academic Years, at the top of this page click on "Course data sheet", then choose the Academic Year of your enrollment and click on "Study plans".
Opportunities and support
This course offers the opportunity to earn a Double degree.
For information on scholarships and other benefits, consult:
Enrollment
Do you think that this course fits you? Enroll and start studying with us!
Attending classes
In the Academic Year 2025/2026, first-semester classes will begin on September 22, 2025. Second-semester classes will begin on February 23, 2026.
- All lectures will be held in person.
- Laboratory activities will also take place in person.
- To access lecture materials and promptly view announcements published by instructors, you must be enrolled in the relevant course on the university's e-learning platform.
If the course you are looking for does not appear in your personal catalog, you can find it in the general list and enroll manually.
Please note: If your enrollment process is not yet complete, you will not be able to access student services or systems.
Class schedules are available in the following ways:
- By accessing the Student Web Services or the Insubria App, if you are a student with a completed enrollment (you will be able to see the schedule for courses in your study plan).
Refer to the guide How to Find Your Class Schedule.
Alternatively, you can consult:
Once you open the link, you will see the current week. To view the upcoming weeks, use the arrows at the top right of the screen.
Please check the timetable frequently: any changes, including class cancellations or rescheduled sessions, are updated directly in the online calendar.
You may also be interested in:
Specific instructions and updates regarding university closures, holidays, and the academic calendar of the program are available at:
To attain the degree you must complete a stage or internship and produce a final report.
Find out more on DBSV Internship Office.
Studying, taking exams and graduating
To consult the teaching material:
- go to https://elearning.uninsubria.it/
- log in with your university credentials: email username and password (without typing the @studenti.uninsubria.it part)
- choose the courses of your study plan in the I miei corsi (My courses) section
- there you will find all the materials that the teacher makes available.
To consult the exam dates and times go to the Servizi Web Segreterie studenti (Student Secretariat Web Services)
https://uninsubria.esse3.cineca.it/ListaAppelliOfferta.do (in Italian)
In the Menu select one or more options:
- the day scheduled for the exam
- the teaching structure, i.e. your Department or your School
- the course of study, i.e. your degree course
- the teaching course, i.e. the title of the teaching
- the teacher.
To submit your examination entry, you must access your personal area of the Student Secretariat Web Services.
- Log in with your university credentials: email username and password (without typing the @studenti.uninsubria.it part)
- Esami > Appelli
Then, select the exam session you want to submit your entry for and proceed following the instructions.
• Consult the general University rules relating to the Degree application: Domanda di Laurea (in Italian)
• Submit the application respecting the administrative deadlines. See Conseguimento titolo on-line (in Italian)
• Register for the last internship registration session before the graduation session, respecting the instructions given in the session notes
• Check the dates of the graduation sessions and the rules for submitting the thesis on the page Graduation Exam - Biotechnology for the bio-based and health industry.
• The diploma (or parchment) is delivered during the graduation session.
Only for the possible collection of diplomas from before 2020 that are still in stock, consult Ritirare il diploma di laurea (in Italian)
Student services
For all resources, services and opportunities dedicated to registered students, see: Student.
Keep on with us!
Thinking About What’s Next After Graduation?
Take a look at the PhD Programs waiting for you at Uninsubria.