Master in Biomedical Sciences at University of Insubria
English-taught two-year master's in biomedical sciences at the University of Insubria, covering genetics, pharmacology, immunopathology and biochemistry, with a nine-month lab internship and a double degree option with Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University.
Master
2 years
Como
English
University of Insubria
Biomedical Sciences is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-6) taught in English at the University of Insubria. Entry needs a biology or biotechnology bachelor's, or another degree with at least 40 credits in biomedical subjects, a positive interview and English at B2. Non-EU applicants also need an average of at least 80%. Fees follow family income or a country flat rate, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Insubria's Biomedical Sciences master asks for a bachelor's in biology or biotechnology, or another first-level degree with at least 40 credits in set biomedical areas, a positive admission interview and English at CEFR B2. Non-EU applicants abroad also need an average of at least 80% in the online application. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 40-credit rule
You need a bachelor's in Biological Sciences (L-13) or Biotechnology (L-2), or another first-level degree from Italy or abroad recognised as suitable. For other degrees, the curricular requirement is at least 40 CFU in total across these subject areas: [1][2]
- Biological sciences: comparative anatomy and cytology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology, applied biology, pharmacology, human anatomy, genetics and microbiology (sectors BIO/06, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 and 19).
- Medical sciences: medical genetics, general pathology, medical oncology, and microbiology and clinical microbiology (sectors MED/03, 04, 06 and 07).
For 2026/27, you had to hold your first-level degree by 31 December 2026. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and foreign credits are not the same unit, and the check looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Life Sciences or Zoology with solid biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and physiology.
- Check carefully: a B.Pharm, B.Sc. Nursing or B.Tech in Biotechnology. These often cover pharmacology, physiology or molecular biology, but the credits in the listed areas need counting.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Botany, Chemistry, Agriculture or Environmental Science, which usually lacks physiology, pharmacology and human genetics credits.
For non-EU applicants, the online form also asks for an average of at least 80%. If one or two of the four interview subjects were not part of your degree, you must fill the gap before the interview. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by an internationally recognised certificate obtained in the previous three years, or by a first-level or master's degree taught entirely in English. The regulation does not list specific tests or scores. Students without either can attend the university's English course in September. Non-EU applicants upload an English certificate with the online form. [1]
Admission interview
There is no cap on places and no written test. [2] After a positive check of your credits, you have an individual interview with a committee on the basic principles of physiology, pharmacology, molecular and cellular biology, and biochemistry. Interviews are held in September; non-EU applicants abroad have theirs by video conference after the online form. A negative outcome means no access to the master's for that year. [1]
Non-EU applicants and 2026/27 deadlines
Non-EU applicants living abroad follow two phases. [1]
- Online application form: for 2026/27, open from 1 December 2025 to 31 May 2026. You upload a certificate of a degree obtained in the previous two years with an average of at least 80% and a list of exams, an English certificate, a copy of your passport, a CV and a motivation letter. Candidates found potentially eligible are invited to a video interview.
- Universitaly and Esse3 pre-enrolment: only candidates found admissible pre-enrol on Universitaly and on the university's Esse3 system. The university's validation goes directly to the Italian mission, which starts the visa checks.
For 2026/27, Universitaly applications received by 30 June 2026 were considered, lessons began on 21 September 2026 and complete qualification documents were due by 1 February 2027. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1][3]
Documents
- Your original foreign qualification with an Italian translation.
- A CIMEA Statement of Verification, or legalisation or an Apostille where it applies.
- A CIMEA Statement of Comparability or a declaration of value from the Italian mission.
- A transcript of your degree and exams, translated and legalised.
- Course syllabi, where required, translated into Italian.
Students missing only legalisation or the authenticity check could enrol conditionally until 1 February 2027. [3]
Double Degree curriculum
The Double Degree with Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences normally has 4 places and needs a separate application. You need an internationally recognised B2 English certificate from the previous two years, and foreign students need a grade of at least 2.5 on the German grading system. Admission is confirmed after the first-semester exams, on a ranking based on exams passed (at least 19 CFU) and grades, and you must pass all first-year exams before leaving for Germany. [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 Insubria, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Teaching regulations of the Master's degree course in Biomedical Sciences (LM-6), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Insubria, Biomedical Sciences programme page (language, campus, access and admission interview). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Insubria, Enrolment of non-EU students living abroad, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Biomedical Sciences is a two-year master's degree in the reformed biology class LM-6, run by the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV) at the University of Insubria.
Every course is taught in English. Attendance is compulsory only for laboratory work, where you need at least 75%, and for the job orientation activity. [1]
The 2026/27 course page lists the Busto Arsizio site (Molini Marzoli), while the 2026/27 regulation places lessons in the Varese classrooms, so we check the campus when you enrol. [1][2]
The programme combines molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, physiology and pathology, and ties teaching closely to the department's research groups. It suits graduates in biology or biotechnology who want a research-based route into biomedical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry or a PhD.
What you will study
There are two curricula: Basic and Applied Biomedical Sciences, with a wide choice of electives, and a Double Degree curriculum with a clinical and immunology focus. Units in the 2026/27 plan include:
- Advances in Biomedicine
- Cellular Biochemistry
- Human Genetics and Epigenetics
- Immunopathology and Pathology, continued in the second year
- Pharmacology modules
- Biostatistics in the second year
- 12 ECTS of first-year electives, plus free and curricular electives in the second year
How the programme is taught
The second year centres on a research internship of at least nine months (750 hours, 30 ECTS) in a university lab or an outside institution, in Italy or abroad, followed by a 5 ECTS final exam and a short job orientation activity.
In the Double Degree curriculum, students take the first year in Italy and the second at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, with units in advanced clinical immunology and clinical applications and a five-month internship.
Erasmus+ exchanges are also available.
Career paths
The 2026/27 regulation describes these professional profiles:
- Clinical laboratory biologist running analyses
- Medical Science Liaison or Medical Advisor in pharmaceutical and biotech companies
- Scientific communicator and medical writer
- Biomedical researcher in academic or industrial labs
- Quality control specialist
After the state exam, graduates can register in section A of the Italian National Order of Biologists.
Fees and scholarships
Fees at Insubria follow the 2026/27 contribution rules.
Students whose income and assets are abroad pay a flat rate set by country group and subject area, and students from countries like India fall in the lowest group.
With an ISEE up to €28,000 no contribution is due. The university manages the DSU scholarship directly, and winners are exempt from the contribution and the regional tax, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Admission is open, but your credits are checked and you have an interview on the core biomedical subjects before you can enrol. Non-EU applicants living abroad first complete the course's online application form with a degree certificate showing an average of at least 80%, an English certificate, passport, CV and motivation letter. Shortlisted candidates have a video interview, and only those found admissible go on to Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1]
For 2026/27, the online form was open from 1 December 2025 to 31 May 2026, and Universitaly applications received by 30 June 2026 were considered. The 2027/28 dates are not out yet. Once your pre-enrolment is validated, you apply for a type D study visa. [1][3]
The university asks for a CIMEA Statement of Verification or a legalised degree, a CIMEA Statement of Comparability or Declaration of Value, and transcripts and syllabi translated into Italian and legalised. For 2026/27, complete documents were due by 1 February 2027. [3]
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 Insubria's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application form, Esse3 pre-enrolment and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU 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 Sciences at Insubria?
A bachelor's in Biological Sciences (L-13) or Biotechnology (L-2), or another first-level degree recognised as suitable. Other degrees, including foreign ones, need at least 40 credits in listed areas such as physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, genetics, microbiology and pathology. [1]
Is there an entrance test?
No written test and no cap on places. [2] After a positive check of your credits, you have an individual interview on physiology, pharmacology, molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry. A negative outcome means no admission that year. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, shown by an internationally recognised certificate from the last three years or a degree taught entirely in English. The regulation does not name specific tests or scores, so we check which certificate your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the online application form ran from 1 December 2025 to 31 May 2026, followed by a video interview, and Universitaly applications received by 30 June 2026 were considered. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1][3]
What average do non-EU applicants need?
The non-EU online form asks for a certificate of a degree obtained in the previous two years with an average of at least 80%, listing the exams you took. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
For 2026/27, candidates had to hold their first-level degree by 31 December 2026. The non-EU online form asks for a degree certificate with your exams and average, so we plan the timing with you. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Microbiology or a B.Pharm. Can I apply?
Possibly. A Microbiology B.Sc. often covers microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and a B.Pharm often covers pharmacology and physiology. Either needs at least 40 credits across the listed areas and a positive interview on all four core subjects. [1]
Can I study part of the degree in Germany?
Yes. The Double Degree curriculum, normally with 4 places, takes you to Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences for the second year. It needs a B2 English certificate from the last two years and, for foreign students, a grade of at least 2.5 on the German scale. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Biomedical Sciences at Insubria?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Insubria's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU 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 Sciences?
An Indian B.Sc. in a life science such as Biotechnology, Microbiology or Biochemistry can meet the rule if it includes at least 40 credits in the listed biomedical areas. The non-EU form also asks for an average of at least 80% and an English certificate at B2. The steps are the online application, a video interview 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 Biomedical Sciences are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application form, video interview 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 Sciences are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application form, video interview 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 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: online application form, video interview 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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