Master in Biotechnology for Industry and Health at University of Rome Tor Vergata
Two-year English-taught LM-8 R master's at Tor Vergata in Rome, with Experimental Biotechnology and Clinical Research curricula and a six to eight month internship. Entry needs a biology-based degree, an interview for foreign degrees and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
University of Rome Tor Vergata
Biotechnology for Industry and Health is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-8 R) taught in English at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Entry needs a biology or biotechnology degree, or at least 36 ECTS in core biology subjects plus chemistry and maths, an interview for foreign degrees, and English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Tor Vergata's Biotechnology for Industry and Health master asks for a degree in biology or biotechnology, or another degree with at least 36 ECTS in core biology subjects plus chemistry and maths credits, a review of your syllabi with an interview for non-EU qualifications, and English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a degree in one of these fields: [1]
- Biology (class L-13, or class 12 under the older system)
- Biotechnology (class L-2, or class 1 under the older system)
- Biological Sciences, for degrees awarded before the 1999 reform
With a different degree, you need at least: [1]
- 36 ECTS in biological sciences: biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, physiology and microbiology
- 6 ECTS in chemistry
- 6 ECTS in mathematics and computer science
The programme's undated admission requirements page asks for at least 12 ECTS in chemistry, so we check your transcript against the higher figure. Foreign degrees must be first-cycle degrees at EQF level 6 that give access to second-cycle study in the issuing country. [3]
If credits are missing, the Degree Programme Board lists them, and they can be made up through single-subject courses before your preparation is assessed. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian ECTS and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, so the committee reads your official course syllabi. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics or Molecular Biology, where biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology and microbiology all appear.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Zoology, Botany, Life Sciences or Bioinformatics, a B.Pharm, or a B.Tech in Biomedical or Chemical Engineering. These may cover chemistry and maths but can be short on physiology, genetics or microbiology.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Physics, or a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which usually lack the 36 biology credits.
On a 10-point CGPA scale, the 70% rule below means an average of 7.0 or more; with a lower average, the interview decides whether your basic knowledge of the biological sciences is adequate. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2, certified by one of: Cambridge English, IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Pearson Edexcel, Trinity College London, TOEIC, ESB, Anglia Ascentis, AIM Awards, LCCI or British Institutes. The call does not list minimum scores. [1]
You are exempt from the certificate if your degree was taught in English or you are a national of an English-speaking country. The programme's admission requirements page adds that the certificate must be valid and issued after August 2019. [1][3]
For the Clinical Research curriculum, Italian at B2 is strongly recommended. [1]
Selection and interview
There is no written test. Once your application is validated, the teaching committee assesses your curricular requirements and personal preparation. For non-EU qualifications, this means an analysis of your official course syllabi and an interview. [1][2]
Personal preparation counts as adequate if your academic average is at least 70% of the maximum grade. With a lower average, an academic committee interviews you on the foundations of the biological sciences. [1]
The outcome is either positive, which lets you enrol, or a list of missing curricular requirements to complete before you reapply. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa could apply only in the first round, from 20 January to 30 April 2026. Visa applicants had to graduate by June 2026 and pre-enrol on Universitaly by 31 July 2026. [1]
The second round (22 April to 31 December 2026) and third round (1 February to 31 March 2027) are only for Italian and EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy. Enrolment for the first two rounds runs from 15 July 2026 to 15 January 2027. The 2027/28 call will set the new dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
The Delphi application for visa applicants needs: [1]
- your passport
- an English certificate, or proof of nationality or other evidence of English proficiency
- your degree certificate with final grade, if already awarded
- your transcript of records
- any supporting documents, such as course syllabi, a CV, a motivation letter or recommendation letters
The application must be validated on Delphi within 48 hours of the PagoPA payment before the committee can see it. You can apply before graduating by declaring your expected graduation date and listing the exams still to take. [1][2]
For enrolment, you need your final qualification, a transcript or Diploma Supplement and any documents your country requires. After Universitaly pre-enrolment and the visa, you finalise enrolment in person at the International Students Office. For 2026/27, 30 places were reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. [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 Rome Tor Vergata, Directorate I, Teaching and Student Services. Call for applications, Master's degree in Biotechnology for Industry and Health (LM-8), academic year 2026/2027, courtesy English translation. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata. Procedure for submitting an application on the online services portal for international applicants residing abroad requiring a student visa, Biotechnology for Industry and Health, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Biotechnology for Industry and Health programme website: admission requirements and course structure pages, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Biotechnology for Industry and Health programme page (degree class, language, school, department, subjects and careers). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata. Tuition fees for non-EU students whose family income is abroad, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Biotechnology for Industry and Health is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-8 R) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English. It is run by the Department of Biology within the School of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, in Rome. [1][4]
The course trains biotechnologists with strong vocational skills for industry and healthcare. It suits graduates in biology or biotechnology who want to move into research, diagnostics or pharmaceutical development, and it gives weight to practical training in laboratories and companies.
What you will study
The 120 credits split into 78 from core courses, 10 from electives and a six to eight month internship project that leads to an original thesis; laboratories and internship activities carry 24 ECTS. Students choose between two curricula, Experimental Biotechnology and Clinical Research. The official page names these main subject areas: [3][4]
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Genetics and genetic modification
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Protein and food production techniques
- Ecology, economics and ethics applied to biotechnology
For the Clinical Research curriculum, Italian at B2 level is strongly recommended, so international students without Italian usually look at the Experimental Biotechnology curriculum. [1]
How the programme is taught
Practical training runs through the degree, with laboratory work and internships supported by companies and research centres. The compulsory internship usually lasts six to eight months, and its results are written up as an original thesis. [3]
Career paths
The programme page lists research and control laboratories in universities and research institutes, management and quality control in biotechnology plants and molecular diagnostics laboratories, research, production and quality control in biotech, chemical, pharmaceutical and agri-food companies, patent and biotechnology documentation work, clinical research assistant roles, and further study such as a PhD. [4]
Fees and scholarships
Tor Vergata's non-EU fee page places this degree in its general group. Non-EU students with family income abroad may pay a flat yearly rate, lower for listed developing countries, or declare income through the ISEE parificato, so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Eligible students can apply for a DiSCo Lazio scholarship; the page states that winners who pay the flat rate still pay it and are exempt only from the regional fee. [5]
For 2026/27, the first instalment (regional tax and stamp duty) is paid at enrolment, and the balance by 31 March 2027, or in two halves by 31 March and 31 May 2027. [1]
How to apply from outside the EU
The programme runs a first application round reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa: for 2026/27 it ran from 20 January to 30 April 2026, with 30 places reserved for them. We submit the evaluation request on Tor Vergata's Delphi portal, and the teaching committee assesses your curricular requirements and personal preparation, with an interview for non-EU qualifications. [1][2] The 2027/28 call will set the new dates.
Admitted students complete Universitaly pre-enrolment (by 31 July for 2026/27) and upload their qualification documents, then apply for a type D study visa. For 2026/27, visa applicants had to graduate by June 2026 to apply through Universitaly, and they finalise enrolment in person at the International Students Office. [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 Tor Vergata's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Delphi evaluation request and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DiSCo Lazio 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 at Tor Vergata?
A degree in biology (L-13) or biotechnology (L-2), or another degree with at least 36 ECTS across biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology and microbiology, plus 6 in chemistry and 6 in maths or computer science, under the 2026/27 call. [1]
Is there an entrance test or interview?
There is no written test. The teaching committee reviews your degree and course syllabi, and applicants with non-EU qualifications have an interview on their personal preparation. An average of at least 70% of the maximum grade counts as adequate preparation. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2. IELTS is one of several accepted certificates, alongside Cambridge, TOEFL iBT, Pearson, Trinity, TOEIC and others, and the call lists no minimum scores. An English-taught degree exempts you from the certificate. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who needed a visa could apply only from 20 January to 30 April 2026, for 30 reserved places, and had to pre-enrol on Universitaly by 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 call will set the new dates. [1]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You declare your expected graduation date and list the exams still to take. For 2026/27, visa applicants had to graduate by June 2026 to apply through Universitaly. [1]
I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Zoology. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees often cover chemistry and parts of biology, but may fall short of the 36 ECTS in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology and microbiology. Missing credits can be made up through single-subject courses before the assessment. [1]
Which curricula are offered?
Two: Experimental Biotechnology and Clinical Research. Italian at B2 is strongly recommended for Clinical Research. The degree includes a compulsory internship that usually lasts six to eight months and leads to an original thesis. [1][3]
What careers does it lead to?
The programme page lists research and quality control laboratories, molecular diagnostics, research and production in biotech, pharmaceutical, chemical and agri-food companies, patent and documentation work, clinical research assistant roles and doctoral study. [4]
Can someone handle my whole application to Biotechnology for Industry and Health at Tor Vergata?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Tor Vergata's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DiSCo Lazio 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 Industry and Health?
A recognised Indian B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Biology, Microbiology or Biochemistry, usually fits if it covers 36 credits across core biology subjects plus chemistry and maths, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the Delphi evaluation request, the committee's review and 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 Biotechnology for Industry and Health are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online evaluation request on Delphi, the committee's review and 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 Biotechnology for Industry and Health are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online evaluation request on Delphi, the committee's review and 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 Biotechnology for Industry and Health 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 evaluation request on Delphi, the committee's review and 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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