Master in Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught master (LM-7 R) at the University of Milan's Città Studi campus in microbial and plant biotechnology for the bioeconomy, from fermentation and waste recycling to bioremediation, with a 36 ECTS research thesis.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-7 R) taught in English at the University of Milan. Entry needs a bachelor's with maths, physics, chemistry and biology plus exams in organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics and plant biology, and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy master asks for a bachelor's degree with the basics of maths, physics, chemistry and biology plus exams in organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, plant biology and biotechnology, a review of your preparation and grades, and English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
With a foreign degree, you need a bachelor's from an accredited college or university that includes exams in the basics of mathematics, physics, general chemistry and biology, plus an adequate number of exams in all of these: organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, plant biology or plant physiology, and biotechnology subjects. [1]
With an Italian degree, you need a bachelor's in biotechnology (class L-2, or the older class 1), or any bachelor's with at least 35 CFU in basic subjects (mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology) and at least 25 CFU in the core subjects of the L-2 biotechnology class, in the sectors listed in the programme description. [1]
The programme description sets 180 credits for admission. [1]
What this means for your transcript
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Microbiology, Biochemistry or Genetics, that includes organic chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and some plant biology, plus maths and physics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Botany, Zoology, Agriculture or Life Sciences, or a B.Pharm, may cover several areas but can miss one of the required subjects, such as microbiology, molecular biology, genetics or plant biology.
- Often short: a B.Tech in Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which lack the required science exams.
Preparation in the required subjects can also come from single courses taken outside your degree. [1]
Personal preparation and interview
All applicants are also assessed on overall preparation. The admission committee looks at your credits and grades in mathematics and statistics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, plant biology and microbiology, and takes your final degree grade into account. [1]
There is no written entrance test. If it sees fit, the committee may add an interview, which can be held online. If you are called, the interview is required for admission. [1]
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher, checked by the University Language Centre on admission in one of these ways: [1]
- A valid B2 or higher certificate from the university's recognised list, issued no more than three years before you apply and uploaded with the application.
- An English level certified by the University Language Centre during a University of Milan degree in the last four years.
- The University Language Centre entry test.
If you have no valid certificate or your level is too low, you are directed to the entry test. If you do not take or pass it, you must submit a recognised certificate by the programme's deadline, or you are not admitted. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, applications for admission opened on 22 January 2026. Non-EU citizens applying for a visa had until 30 April 2026, and enrolment for admitted students opened on 5 May 2026. [1][3]
Classes started on 21 September 2026, and the programme has no spring intake. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Applying before you graduate
If you apply before finishing your bachelor's and meet the other requirements with a valid English certificate, you can attend first-term classes. For 2026/27 you had to present your degree by 31 December 2026 to be formally admitted, and you can enrol and sit exams only after admission. [1]
Places and non-EU steps
For 2026/27, 15 places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. [1]
- You apply online through the university's master's admissions portal. Applying to more than one programme needs separate applications.
- After the committee approves you, you obtain an Italian tax code and enrol online with a passport photo, a scanned ID and your previous qualification details.
- With a foreign qualification, you upload the required documents during online enrolment.
These steps come from the 2026/27 admission page. [3]
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 Milan. Programme description, Master's degree in Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy (class LM-7 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy programme page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Admission to open-access master's programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Fees, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy is a two-year master's degree in class LM-7-R (agricultural biotechnology), taught entirely in English in Milan. It is run by the Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences together with the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The degree builds advanced knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of microbe and plant systems and applies it to the bioeconomy: developing biotechnological processes, producing biomass sustainably, cleaning up polluted environments and creating bio-based products for agriculture, food, chemicals and energy.
It suits biotechnology graduates who want to work on sustainable production rather than medicine.
What you will study
The first year is almost entirely compulsory and moves between microbial, plant and protein biotechnology. The second year, first run in 2027/28, adds a course on management and intellectual property and a research thesis of at least six months; the two electives can be taken in either year. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [1]
- Biomass and Waste Recycling Promoting the Circular Economy
- Fermentation Biotechnology
- Methods in Biotechnology
- Structure and Functions of Biomolecules
- Environmental Microbial Biotechnology and Environmental Plant Biotechnology
- Plants as Biofactories
- Protein Engineering and Proteomics
- Bioeconomy: Management, Assessment and Intellectual Property
How the programme is taught
Electives (12 ECTS, two from a list of six) include Applied Biocatalysis, Bio-Based Innovation in the Food Industry, Biostatistics and Design of Experiments, and Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. A further 8 ECTS are free choice, for example Molecular Biobased Approaches for Plant Protection, and a 3 ECTS slot can go to Italian, seminars or a genome editing workshop. [1]
The internship and master's thesis together are worth 36 ECTS. You can write the thesis abroad, or use Erasmus+ for a traineeship or a study period at a partner university.
Career paths
According to the university, graduates coordinate, manage and develop research and development laboratories in public and private bodies and in the chemical, agri-food and biotechnology industries.
The university also notes that graduates can qualify for the Italian professional registers of agronomists, biologists and agrotechnicians. Outlets include:
- R&D laboratories in chemical, agri-food and biotechnology companies
- Public and private research institutions
- Pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries
- Doctoral research
Fees and scholarships
Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy is charged at the Area B rate.
When family income and assets are abroad, the second instalment in fee area B is fixed by country group, following the university's 2026/27 list of country groups. [4]
The university also administers the Lombardy regional DSU scholarship; full winners are exempt from the second instalment, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
The admission committee reviews your transcript for the required science and biotechnology exams, your grades and your final degree mark, and may ask for an online interview. [1]
Applications go through the university's online master's admissions portal, with a separate application for each programme. [3]
For 2026/27, non-EU citizens applying for a visa could apply from 22 January to 30 April 2026, and 15 places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [1]
Once you are admitted, we file the Universitaly pre-enrolment and you then request a type D study visa. You enrol online after obtaining an Italian tax code, and you upload your foreign qualification documents during online enrolment. [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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online admission application, enrolment and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Milan 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 the Bioeconomy at Milan?
A bachelor's with the basics of maths, physics, general chemistry and biology, plus enough exams in organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, plant biology and biotechnology subjects. Italian applicants need class L-2 or 35 basic and 25 core credits. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. The admission committee reviews your credits and grades in the core subjects and your final degree grade, and may add an online interview, which is required if you are called. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher, shown with a certificate from the university's recognised list issued no more than three years before you apply, or through the language centre's entry test. The programme description does not list scores, so we check which certificate your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU citizens applying for a visa could apply from 22 January to 30 April 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published, and we track the next call. [1][3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. If you meet the other requirements and hold a valid English certificate, you can attend first-term classes. For 2026/27 you had to present your bachelor's degree by 31 December 2026 to be formally admitted. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Microbiology or a B.Pharm. Can I apply?
Possibly. A B.Sc. in Microbiology often covers microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology but can miss plant biology or genetics, and a B.Pharm can lack plant biology and genetics. The committee needs exams in all the listed subjects, so we check your transcript first. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the programme reserved 15 places for non-EU students living abroad. We check the 2027/28 programme description for next year's number. [1]
How are the fees set?
Students with income and assets abroad pay a second instalment set by country group in fee area B, plus a first instalment. Regional scholarship winners are exempt from the second instalment. [4]
Can someone handle my whole application to Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy at Milan?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Milan's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Milan 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 the Bioeconomy?
An Indian B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a related science degree, can fit if it includes maths, physics, chemistry and biology plus organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics and plant biology, and you need English at B2. The steps are the online admission application, enrolment once approved 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 Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online admission application, enrolment after approval 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 the Bioeconomy are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online admission application, enrolment after approval 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 Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy 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 admission application, enrolment after approval 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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