Master in Advanced Cosmetic Sciences at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught chemistry master (LM-54-R) at the University of Bologna's Rimini campus on formulating and producing safe, innovative and sustainable cosmetics. Open access: entry needs chemistry or pharmacy credits, English at B2 and a 100/110 grade or CV review.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Advanced Cosmetic Sciences is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-54-R) taught in English at the University of Bologna's Rimini campus. Entry needs a degree in chemical or pharmaceutical sciences, or at least 25 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry, plus English at B2 and a final grade of 100/110 or a positive CV review. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Advanced Cosmetic Sciences master asks for a first cycle degree in chemical or pharmaceutical sciences, or any degree with at least 25 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry, English at B2 and a final grade of at least 100/110 or a positive CV review by the committee. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
You need a three-year first cycle degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable under Italian rules that gives access to a similar programme in the country where it was issued. You must also meet one of these curricular routes: [1]
- A degree in a listed class: Chemical Sciences and Technologies (L-27) or Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (L-29), their older equivalents (classes 21 and 24), or an old five-year degree in Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology.
- A degree in another class with at least 25 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry (sectors CHIM/01 to CHIM/12 and BIO/10).
- A foreign qualification assessed as eligible by the Degree Programme Board, as long as it includes the same minimum credits in these chemistry and biochemistry fields.
If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot register for the programme. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The board looks at the credits your transcript shows in chemistry and biochemistry, not just the name of your degree. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry, or a B.Pharm, which sit close to the chemical and pharmaceutical classes listed.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology or Life Sciences, or a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, where the question is whether at least 25 ECTS fall in chemistry or biochemistry.
- Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in non-chemical branches, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely include 25 ECTS of chemistry or biochemistry.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, proven at the application stage. The 2026/27 notice accepts any of these: [1]
- a language certificate at B2 or above, including certificates issued by universities if the level is clearly stated
- an international certification of equal level, as listed in the University of Bologna Language Centre's table of equivalent certificates, which is not exhaustive
- a degree taught in English, with English clearly shown as the language of instruction
- a degree in English language and literature, or equivalent
- a degree with at least 30 ECTS from teaching in English, shown on the transcript
- being a native English speaker
Certificates must be dated no more than five calendar years before the application. The notice does not list specific test scores. [1]
Personal competencies check
There is no entrance test. If you meet the curricular and English requirements, the Intake Commission checks your personal competencies and skills from your grades: [1]
- Graduates: a final degree grade of 100/110 or higher.
- Applicants not yet graduated: a weighted average of exam scores of 90/100 or higher.
- Foreign qualifications: where possible, your grade is recalibrated on a 110-point scale, and a proportionally equivalent grade of 100/110 or higher meets the check.
With lower scores, admission depends on the commission's review of your CV. If that review is not positive, you cannot enrol. Applicants who are not admitted may take part in later intakes. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
- Intake 1 (EU and non-EU): applications from 2 February to 1 PM on 2 April 2026, results from 17 April 2026.
- Intake 2 (EU and non-EU): applications from 20 April to 1 PM on 18 June 2026, results from 3 July 2026.
- Intake 3 (EU applicants and non-EU applicants with EU-equivalent status only): applications from 6 July to 1 PM on 14 September 2026, results from 25 September 2026.
Matriculation for all intakes closes on 19 November 2026. You can apply before graduating if you have at least 120 ECTS, or have completed at least two thirds of your first cycle programme at a foreign university, but the degree must be obtained by 31 December 2026 or the registration is cancelled. The next notice sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applications are made on Studenti Online and must include: [1]
- a valid identity document, or a passport if your ID has no English translation
- your foreign qualification translated into Italian or English, with the transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available, or your list of exams if you have not yet graduated
- proof of English at B2 or higher
- your CV
You can add other documents that show your academic career, such as work, internship or study abroad records, but not letters of recommendation. Mandatory documents that are missing or only partly uploaded by the intake deadline mean the application is not considered. [1]
Non-EU citizens living abroad must also pre-enrol on Universitaly and request a study visa. At matriculation, foreign documents must be translated and their authenticity and value verified where required, and you show the originals at the International Desk of the Rimini Campus. For 2026/27, careers had to be activated by 26 February 2027. [1]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Bologna, Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician". Admission notice for the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Advanced Cosmetic Sciences, academic year 2026/27, courtesy translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Advanced Cosmetic Sciences programme page (teaching language, campus, degree class and access). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna. Tuition fees and exemptions, with the table of maximum contributions and the reduced fixed fee for non-OECD citizens, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Advanced Cosmetic Sciences is a two-year second cycle degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-54-R, Chemistry, taught entirely in English on the University of Bologna's Rimini campus. It is run by the Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician" (CHIM), is worth 120 ECTS and has open access, so there is no fixed number of places. [1][2]
The degree invites students to apply advanced chemistry and technologies to the formulation and production of safe, innovative and sustainable cosmetic products. It suits graduates in chemical or pharmaceutical sciences, or in another field with at least 25 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry, who want to specialise in cosmetics. [1]
What you will study
As a degree in the chemistry class, the programme builds on a chemical foundation and applies it to cosmetic products along the whole chain named by the university: formulation, production, safety, innovation and sustainability. The home page also stresses that the knowledge gained in the classroom is not enough on its own to enter the world of work, and points students to the university's career services. The course units, with credits and teaching periods, are published in the course structure diagram on the degree website; we check the 2027/28 version before you apply.
Career paths
The degree prepares chemists for the cosmetic sector, in the formulation and production of safe, innovative and sustainable products, the aim the university gives for the degree. A laurea magistrale also gives access to PhD programmes, and the job placement service lists job offers and career events.
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27 the annual contribution for Advanced Cosmetic Sciences follows family income. With a family ISEE of €27,000 or less, this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [3]
Students whose family income and assets are only abroad cannot submit an ISEE and follow the university's separate procedure for foreign income documentation. For 2026/27, non-OECD citizens in that position starting a second cycle degree could choose a reduced fixed fee instead. ER.GO, the Emilia-Romagna right-to-study body, publishes its own yearly scholarship call, separate from the admission process. [1][3]
How to apply from outside the EU
Applications are made on Studenti Online in yearly intakes. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply in intake 1, which closed at 1 PM on 2 April 2026, or intake 2, which closed at 1 PM on 18 June 2026. Intake 3 was open only to EU applicants and non-EU applicants with EU-equivalent status. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
Alongside the application, we file your Universitaly pre-enrolment and you apply for a study visa. Once admitted, you matriculate on Studenti Online, pay the first instalment and upload your translated qualification and entry visa. On arrival, the International Desk of the Rimini Campus checks your original documents before your career is activated. For 2026/27, careers had to be activated by 26 February 2027. [1]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against Bologna's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Studenti Online application with your degree, transcript, CV and English certificate, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ER.GO Emilia-Romagna scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What bachelor's degree do I need for Bologna's Advanced Cosmetic Sciences master?
A three-year degree in chemical or pharmaceutical sciences, or a degree in another field with at least 25 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry (sectors CHIM/01 to CHIM/12 and BIO/10). Foreign qualifications are assessed by the Degree Programme Board against the same credits. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. The committee checks your grades: a final grade of 100/110 or higher, or a weighted average of 90/100 if you have not graduated yet, with foreign grades converted proportionally. Below that, admission depends on a review of your CV. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher. The 2026/27 notice accepts certificates on the Bologna Language Centre's list, an English-taught degree, 30 ECTS taught in English or native speaker status, so IELTS is not always needed. Certificates must be under five years old. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply in intake 1, which closed at 1 PM on 2 April 2026, or intake 2, which closed at 1 PM on 18 June 2026. Intake 3 was only for EU and EU-equivalent applicants. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you have completed at least two thirds of your first cycle programme at a foreign university, or have at least 120 ECTS. For 2026/27, the degree had to be obtained by 31 December 2026, otherwise the registration is cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Biotechnology or a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees are not in the listed classes, so you need at least 25 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry sectors. We check how many of your transcript credits fall in those areas before you apply. [1]
Where is the degree taught?
On the University of Bologna's Rimini campus, run by the Department of Chemistry Giacomo Ciamician. It is not taught in the city of Bologna. Teaching is entirely in English and access is open, with no fixed number of places. [1][2]
How are the fees set?
For 2026/27 fees for this degree follow family income (ISEE). With a family ISEE of €27,000 or less, this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Advanced Cosmetic Sciences at Bologna?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Advanced Cosmetic Sciences?
An Indian B.Sc. in Chemistry or a B.Pharm sits close to the chemical and pharmaceutical classes Bologna lists, and other degrees need at least 25 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry. You also need English at B2 and a strong final grade or a positive CV review. The steps are the Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Advanced Cosmetic Sciences are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Advanced Cosmetic Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Advanced Cosmetic Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: Studenti Online application in intake 1 or 2, committee assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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