Master in Biomedical Engineering at University of Bologna
Two-year English-taught LM-21-R master on the University of Bologna's Cesena campus with curricula in human movement, diagnostics and therapy, and neuroscience. Entry needs set maths, information and industrial engineering credits, a grade check and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Bologna
English
University of Bologna
Biomedical Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-21-R) taught in English at the University of Bologna's Cesena campus. Entry needs a three-year degree with set credits in maths and science, information engineering and industrial engineering, a grade check and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Bologna's Biomedical Engineering master asks for a three-year degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 66 credits across three subject blocks, a grade check by a committee and English at B2 shown by a certificate. Access is open, with no cap on places. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the three credit blocks
You need a three-year university degree, or a qualification obtained abroad that is recognised as suitable under Italian law and gives access to a similar master's in the country where it was issued. [1]
Your degree must also include credits in three subject blocks: [1]
- At least 36 credits in maths, physics, chemistry and computing: sectors INF/01, ING-INF/05, MAT/02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 09, SECS-S/01 and 02, CHIM/03, 06 and 07, and FIS/01 to 08.
- At least 24 credits in information engineering: electronics, electromagnetic fields, telecommunications, automation, information processing systems and electronic and computer bioengineering (ING-INF/01 to 06).
- At least 6 credits in industrial or structural engineering: construction science, fluid dynamics, technical physics, mechanical and thermal measurements, applied mechanics, machine design, materials science, electrical engineering and industrial bioengineering (ICAR/08, ING-IND/06, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22, 31 and 34).
If you do not meet all of these curricular requirements, you cannot enrol. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Biomedical, Electronics, Electrical, Instrumentation or Computer Engineering with solid maths and physics, as long as it also has at least one materials, mechanics or electrical engineering unit.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering, which usually covers the maths and industrial blocks but may fall short of the 24 information engineering credits.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Biology, Biotechnology or Physics, a B.Pharm or a BCA, which usually lack the information engineering block or the industrial engineering credits.
The notice gives no way to make up missing credits after admission. If a block is short, you can apply again in a later intake once you have the missing credits. [1]
Grade check by the committee
There is no test or interview in the notice. A committee checks your personal competencies from your grades: [1]
- Italian degree holders: a final grade of at least 95/110, or at least 85/110 with at least 24 credits in bioengineering (ING-INF/06 and ING-IND/34).
- Students not yet graduated: at least 162 credits passed with a weighted average of at least 26/30, or at least 23/30 with 24 credits in bioengineering.
- Foreign qualifications: the same criteria apply if your final grade can be converted to the Italian system and your subject groups and credits can be identified. If not, the committee assesses your career from the documents you upload.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by a certificate uploaded with your application. [1] The programme's list of accepted certificates includes IELTS Academic or General Training 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, Cambridge English Scale 160 and PTE Academic 50. [2]
Only a degree taught fully in English, lasting at least two years (120 ECTS) and awarded in the EU or EEA, the UK, Switzerland, the US, Australia, New Zealand or another country on the university's list, replaces the certificate, with English as the medium of instruction stated on the transcript. [1] An English-medium degree from India or elsewhere in South Asia is not on that list, so you need a certificate.
Students without a suitable Italian certificate take a 0-credit Italian course for international students before graduating. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
The 2026/27 notice set eight intakes on Studenti Online. Intake 1, reserved for non-EU citizens, ran from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026, with results on 10 February 2026. Non-EU applicants living abroad could apply only until 2 July 2026, the end of intake 5. [1]
For other applicants, the later intakes closed on 25 February, 9 April, 28 May, 27 August and 30 September 2026, and the last one closes on 28 October 2026. Enrolment without a late fee closes on 29 October 2026. Applicants who are not admitted can apply again in a later intake. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]
Applying before you graduate
You can apply before graduating if you have at least 162 credits with a numerical mark. Degrees from outside Europe are assessed case by case to decide whether they can be evaluated. If admitted for 2026/27, you must graduate by 31 December 2026 or your enrolment is cancelled. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
- Your degree certificate translated into Italian or English, with your transcript and Diploma Supplement where available. The transcript must show your final grade, the grading system and the credits for each exam. [1]
- Your B2 English certificate and passport. [1]
- Non-EU applicants living abroad also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa. [1]
- At enrolment, foreign qualifications must be translated and their authenticity and value verified where required, and originals are shown on arrival at the Cesena campus student office. 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 Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering Guglielmo Marconi. Admission notice for the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Biomedical Engineering (class LM-21, code 6705), academic year 2026/27, courtesy translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Biomedical Engineering programme website, How to enrol page with the list of accepted English certificates, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Bologna, Biomedical Engineering programme home page (degree class, campus, language and curricula). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Biomedical Engineering is a two-year master's degree in class LM-21-R, taught entirely in English on the Cesena campus of the University of Bologna by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi" (DEI). It is worth 120 ECTS and has open access.
The programme combines advanced engineering skills with clinical applications, preparing graduates for technical and technical-organisational roles in biomedical technology.
It builds on the methods of the basic sciences and applies them to the particular problems of the biomedical field, so it suits graduates in biomedical, electronic, information or related engineering.
What you will study
Students choose one of three curricula: Bioengineering of Human Movement, Innovative Technologies in Diagnostics and Therapy, or Biomedical Engineering for Neuroscience. The first year shares units such as biostatistics, signal processing and system modelling. Units in the 2026/27 study plans include:
- Biomedical Signal Processing and Machine Learning for Bioengineering
- Biological System Modeling
- Laboratory of Wearables and Mobile Health
- Computational Cardiology and Smart Medical Imaging (Diagnostics and Therapy)
- Artificial Organs and Synthetic Biology
- Neural Systems and Neurorobotics and Neurorehabilitation (Neuroscience)
- Sport Biomechanics and Musculo-Skeletal Modeling and Control (Human Movement)
- Ageing and Rehabilitation Engineering
How the programme is taught
The final examination is worth 15 ECTS and can take three forms: a standard thesis, a thesis with an internship abroad, or a thesis combined with a longer internship.
Students can also spend three to twelve months in Europe through Erasmus+ or join the Overseas programme.
Career paths
The official profiles describe three roles, and graduates can also continue to a PhD:
- Clinical engineer, managing medical equipment, safety and software in public and private hospitals, telemedicine companies and clinical laboratories
- Biomedical engineering researcher, in universities, research and development centres, research hospitals (IRCCS) and biomedical multinationals
- Biomedical equipment designer, developing devices, prostheses and biomaterials for medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers
Fees and scholarships
There is no separate fee for the Cesena campus: the university-wide income rule applies.
With a family ISEE of €27,000 or less you are in the lowest band, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
We help you submit family income documents from abroad through ER.GO, which also manages the regional scholarship. Non-OECD citizens can pick a flat fee instead.
How to apply from outside the EU
The Biomedical Engineering admission notice sets eight intakes on Studenti Online. [1]
For 2026/27 the first intake, reserved to non-EU applicants, ran from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026 with results on 10 February 2026, and non-EU applicants living abroad could apply until 2 July 2026, the end of intake 5. [1]
The 2027/28 notice is not yet published.
After admission we pre-enrol you on Universitaly, and you apply for a type D study visa. Students without an Italian certificate take a 0 ECTS Italian course for international students before graduating. [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 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 Biomedical Engineering at Bologna?
A three-year degree or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 36 credits in maths, physics, chemistry or computing, 24 in information engineering and 6 in industrial engineering subjects. If any block is short, you cannot enrol. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No. Access is open, with no cap on places. A committee checks your credits and grades: for Italian degrees, 95/110, or 85/110 with 24 bioengineering credits. Foreign grades are converted where possible, otherwise the committee assesses your record. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, shown by a certificate when you apply. Accepted options include IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 and PTE Academic 50. Only two-year English-taught degrees from the EU, UK, Switzerland, US, Australia, New Zealand and other countries on the university's list are exempt. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply until 2 July 2026, the end of intake 5. Intake 1, reserved for non-EU citizens, ran from 27 November 2025 to 14 January 2026. The 2027/28 notice is not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you have at least 162 credits with a numerical mark. Degrees from outside Europe are assessed case by case. If admitted for 2026/27, you must graduate by 31 December 2026 or your enrolment is cancelled. [1]
I have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a B.Sc. in Biotechnology. Can I apply?
Possibly. A Mechanical B.Tech usually covers maths and the industrial block but may lack the 24 information engineering credits. A Biotechnology B.Sc. usually lacks both engineering blocks. We map your transcript against all three blocks before you apply. [1]
Which curricula are offered?
Three: Bioengineering of Human Movement, Innovative Technologies in Diagnostics and Therapy, and Biomedical Engineering for Neuroscience. All are taught in English on the Cesena campus. [3]
What careers does it lead to?
The university lists clinical engineer, biomedical engineering researcher and biomedical equipment designer, in hospitals, research centres, IRCCS research hospitals, medical device companies and biomedical multinationals.
Can someone handle my whole application to Biomedical Engineering 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 Biomedical Engineering?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Biomedical, Electronics or Electrical Engineering can meet the rule if it covers all three credit blocks and your grades pass the committee check. You also need an English certificate at B2. The steps are the Studenti Online application, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the study visa. [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 Biomedical Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application, admission result 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 Biomedical Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application, admission result 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 Biomedical Engineering 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, admission result 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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