Master in Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health at University of Sassari
Two-year English-taught LM-9 master's at the University of Sassari in medical and veterinary biotechnology: molecular medicine, reproductive biotechnology, biosensors and disease control, with an internship in Italy or abroad.
Master
2 years
Sassari
English
University of Sassari
Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-9) taught in English by the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sassari. Entry needs a bachelor's in biotechnology, biological sciences or biomedical laboratory techniques, or a checked equivalent, an entry assessment and English at B2. With fee exemptions and the regional scholarship, it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sassari's Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health master asks for a bachelor's degree in biotechnology, biological sciences or biomedical laboratory techniques, or a recognised foreign equivalent checked for alignment, an assessment of academic preparation and English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
Admission is open to graduates of these Italian degree classes: [1]
- L-2 Biotechnology (and former class 1)
- L-13 Biological Sciences (and former class 12)
- SNT/3 the bachelor's degree that qualifies biomedical laboratory technicians
Graduates of other degree classes can be admitted after a check that they have the knowledge needed to follow the course. International applicants are admitted after an evaluation of their academic records, to make sure they match these entry requirements. The documents set no minimum grade and no credit count by subject. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
Sassari compares your degree with the three listed classes and checks your preparation in cell and molecular biology. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, a B.Sc. in Biological or Life Sciences, or a B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Technology, which are closest to the listed classes.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Zoology or Genetics, a B.Pharm or a veterinary degree. These go through the knowledge check, and the entry test covers cytology, biochemistry, molecular biology and cytogenetics.
- Often short: degrees in chemistry, engineering, computing, agriculture or commerce with little cell or molecular biology.
English
English at B2 is required. You can show it with an internationally recognised certificate or equivalent university coursework, or it is assessed during the evaluation of your preparation. The documents do not list specific IELTS or TOEFL scores. [1]
Entry assessment
BHAH is an open-access course with no fixed number of places, but every candidate takes an assessment of academic preparation. The 2026/27 manifesto says it consists of a multiple-choice test or an individual interview. [1]
For 2026/27, the admissions page described an online entry competency test, held on Microsoft Teams with the class code sent the day before, covering cytology, biochemistry, molecular biology and cytogenetics, plus an interview in English. [2]
2026/27 test sessions
For 2026/27, there were four sessions, each with its own registration window: [2]
- 5 March 2026: registration 5 February to 3 March 2026.
- 5 May 2026: registration 9 March to 3 May 2026.
- 1 July 2026: registration 6 May to 24 June 2026.
- 24 September 2026: registration 4 July to 22 September 2026.
The documents set no separate date for non-EU applicants. Students finishing their bachelor's by December 2026 could enrol conditionally. The 2027/28 sessions will be set in the next notice. [2]
Registration and enrolment
The steps in 2026/27 were: [2]
- Register on the UniSS SelfStudenti portal.
- Pre-enrol online for the BHAH programme within a session's registration window.
- Take the entry test on the chosen date.
- Complete online enrolment after the test.
Enrolment is final only once the university receives the first fee instalment, which is paid through the PagoPA system. No paper application is needed. [2]
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 Sassari, Department of Veterinary Medicine. Programme manifesto, Master's degree in Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health (LM-9), academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Sassari, Department of Veterinary Medicine. Prospective students page, international Master's degree in Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health (BHAH) is a two-year international master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-9, medical, veterinary and pharmaceutical biotechnology) worth 120 ECTS. [1]
The Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Sassari teaches it entirely in English at its campus in Via Vienna, Sassari, after converting the course into an international degree from 2025/26.
It trains professionals for basic and applied biomedical research, with a focus on diagnosis, therapy and prevention built on biotechnology.
Because it looks at human and animal health side by side, it suits graduates in biotechnology, biology or biomedical laboratory science who want to work across medicine and veterinary science.
What you will study
The course runs over four semesters and 12 exams. The 2026/27 study plan includes:
- Molecular Medicine (10 ECTS)
- Prevention and Control of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (15 ECTS)
- Reproductive Biotechnologies (11 ECTS)
- Advanced Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Techniques (9 ECTS)
- Nanomaterials and Biosensors for Biomedical Applications (8 ECTS)
- Immunology and Oncology, and Biotechnological Approaches in Regenerative Medicine from Animals to Humans
- Biotechnology Research and Management, from experimental models to intellectual property
- Shorter units such as In Vitro Multicellular Models and Bioprinting, and Bioinformatic Tools for Genomic Datasets
How the programme is taught
The first year and the first semester of the second year combine lectures, lab exercises and seminars.
The final semester is kept for a 15 ECTS internship and the thesis, which can be experimental or theoretical and can be carried out in the department's labs or at outside institutions in Italy or abroad.
Attendance is encouraged for all teaching, and at least 30% of practical activities are compulsory. Elective units let you shape part of the plan.
Career paths
The 2026/27 manifesto describes graduates as professionals who can manage specialised biotechnology labs and coordinate programmes that apply biotechnology in human and animal health. The main routes include: [1]
- diagnostics, bioengineering and advanced therapies
- reproductive biotechnologies
- industrial production and patent design in the health sector
- doctoral programmes, specialisation schools in the biomedical area and second-level university master's programmes
After passing the state exam, graduates can register with the Italian National Order of Biologists, Section A (Senior Biologist). [1]
Fees and scholarships
UniSS sets fees by the 2026/27 rules. Foreign students living abroad are exempt from the fee contribution in their first year and pay only €16 stamp duty and the ERSU regional tax.
From the second year they pay a flat €300 to €700, set by the income band of their country of residence.
ERSU Sassari scholarship winners and eligible students are exempt, and UniSS offered 10 Inclusive UniSS grants of €10,200 in 2026/27, so this degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
BHAH is an open-access course, but every candidate takes an assessment of academic preparation. For 2026/27 this was an online entry competency test on cytology, biochemistry, molecular biology and cytogenetics, with an English interview. International applicants are admitted after an evaluation of their academic records. [1][2]
For 2026/27 the sessions ran on 5 March, 5 May, 1 July and 24 September 2026, with registration on the UniSS SelfStudenti portal. Students finishing their bachelor's by December 2026 could enrol conditionally. [2]
Applicants who need a visa also pre-enrol on Universitaly and then apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 dates are not published yet.
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 Sassari's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your SelfStudenti registration, entry test 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 Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health at Sassari?
A degree in biotechnology (L-2), biological sciences (L-13) or biomedical laboratory techniques (SNT/3), or a foreign equivalent. Graduates of other classes are admitted after a knowledge check, and international applicants after an evaluation of their academic records. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes. Every candidate takes an assessment of academic preparation, either a multiple-choice test or an interview. For 2026/27 it was an online test on cytology, biochemistry, molecular biology and cytogenetics, with an English interview. The course is open access. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2, shown by an internationally recognised certificate, equivalent university coursework or the entry assessment. The documents do not list specific IELTS or TOEFL scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 there were four test sessions: 5 March, 5 May, 1 July and 24 September 2026, with registration closing on 3 March, 3 May, 24 June and 22 September. The documents set no separate non-EU date, and the 2027/28 sessions are not yet published. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, within limits. For 2026/27, students who would finish their bachelor's degree by December 2026 could enrol conditionally. [2]
I have a B.Sc. in Microbiology or a B.Pharm. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees are not among the listed classes, so the department checks that you have the knowledge to follow the course, and the entry test covers cytology, biochemistry, molecular biology and cytogenetics. We review your transcript against those topics first. [1][2]
How is the course structured?
Four semesters and 12 exams. The first three semesters combine lectures, lab work and seminars. The last semester covers 8 elective credits, a 15-credit internship in the department's labs or at institutions in Italy or abroad, and the thesis. [1]
What careers does it lead to?
The manifesto lists diagnostics, bioengineering, advanced therapies, reproductive biotechnologies, industrial production and patent design in health. Graduates can also go on to a PhD, and after the state exam can join the Order of Biologists, Section A. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health at Sassari?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Sassari'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 Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in biotechnology, biological or life sciences, or medical laboratory technology is closest to the listed degree classes, while other degrees go through a knowledge check, and English at B2 is required. [1] The steps are SelfStudenti registration, online pre-enrolment for an entry test session and Universitaly pre-enrolment. 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 Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: SelfStudenti registration, the entry 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 Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: SelfStudenti registration, the entry assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: SelfStudenti registration, the entry assessment and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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