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University of Cagliari (Università degli Studi di Cagliari)
Welcome to a Mediterranean centre of learning
Many applicants search for English‑taught programs in Italy that blend research quality, personal support, and modest fees. The University of Cagliari answers that call. As one of the long‑standing public Italian universities, it offers chances to study in Italy in English while keeping costs close to those at many tuition‑free universities Italy. Established in 1626 and rebuilt after the Second World War, the institution stands today among global rankings for its scientific output, student satisfaction, and regional impact.
A brief history with modern reach
The university began as a Spanish crown college, teaching law, medicine, and philosophy to serve Sardinia. Centuries later, it has evolved into a full research hub with 15 departments and more than 25,000 students. Times Higher Education places it in the 501‑600 band worldwide, noting strong citation scores in physics, computer science, and medicine. Local companies partner with university labs to refine drug discovery, marine engineering, and renewable‑energy storage, building the school’s reputation far beyond the island.
Key academic areas
- Engineering and Architecture: civil, environmental, chemical, and computer engineering.
- Life Sciences: biotechnology, bioinformatics, and marine biology.
- Medicine and Surgery: clinical practice, neuroscience, and sports science.
- Economics, Law, and Political Science: international management, data analytics, and EU policy studies.
- Humanities and Education: archaeology, linguistics, and digital communication.
Many of these departments host English‑taught postgraduate tracks, joint doctorates, and Erasmus mobility exchange, reinforcing the university’s role within the circle of English‑taught programs in Italy.
English‑taught programs in Italy: degree map at Cagliari
The university offers more than a dozen full degrees and numerous single modules in English.
- Master of Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity stream
- Master of Electronic Engineering
- Master of International Management and Sustainability
- Master of Biosciences and Biotechnology
- Joint Doctorate in Sustainable Tourism Management (shared with Spanish and French partners)
Short specialist tracks include Deep Learning for Robotics and Big‑Data Mining for Finance. These options let you study in Italy in English while linking classroom theory to Mediterranean case studies.
Students who prefer Italian instruction can still select up to 40 ECTS in English modules, keeping language skills fresh. Tandem‑learning clubs pair locals and internationals, so everyone benefits.
Scholarships, fees, and the DSU grant
Like all public Italian universities, the University of Cagliari uses income‑based tuition. Annual fees rarely exceed €3,000 and may shrink below €500 when family income meets low‑band thresholds.
DSU grant overview
- Tuition waiver: 100 % of fees removed for eligible income brackets.
- Living stipend: up to €5,600 each academic year.
- Meal plan: two free meals per day in campus cafeterias.
- Accommodation: discounted rooms at university halls.
Regional bodies such as ERSU Sardegna handle DSU applications, yet ApplyAZ guides you through each form, translation, and deadline.
Other support
- Excellence awards: €2,000‑€4,000 for students in the top 10 %.
- Research assistantships: part‑time roles in labs for €600‑€800 per month.
- Industry fellowships: Port Authority and Tiscali sponsor final‑semester projects.
These scholarships for international students in Italy can combine with the DSU grant, lowering net costs to near zero.
Campus architecture and learning resources
Cagliari’s main hub sits on a hill overlooking the lagoon. Buildings mix Baroque façades with high‑glass labs and open makerspaces. Facilities include:
- Digital Innovation Centre: home to Sardegna Ricerche supercomputers.
- Marine Station: vessels, scuba gear, and ocean sensors for field courses.
- Biomedical Complex: simulation wards, MRI scanners, and tissue‑culture suites.
- Language Centre: free IELTS preparation, Italian A1‑C1 classes, and subtitling labs.
Each faculty offers evening help sessions led by doctoral tutors—ideal for non‑native English speakers adjusting to technical vocabulary.
The city: life, cost, and daily rhythm
Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, hugs a gulf framed by limestone cliffs and pink‑salt lagoons. Its population of 150,000 blends island heritage with student energy.
Affordability
- Rent: €250‑€350 per month for a shared flat.
- Groceries: €150 on average, lower if you use open markets.
- Transport: €25 monthly pass covers buses, trams, and suburban trains.
Compared with mainland metros, you save 20 %‑30 % on living costs, stretching scholarship funds further.
Climate
- Winter: mild, 12 °C average, plenty of sunshine.
- Spring and autumn: perfect for hiking coastal trails.
- Summer: hot but breezy; classes mostly end by July, letting you enjoy beaches.
Public transport
Orange CTM buses run day and night, linking dorms, labs, and entertainment areas. Bike‑sharing stations and e‑scooters serve the flat lowlands. The airport sits 10 minutes by train, connecting you to Rome and Milan in one hour.
Culture and leisure
- Roman amphitheatre concerts and open‑air cinema nights.
- Sardinian folk festivals with masks, horses, and pipe music.
- Street‑art routes and indie‑music bars in the Marina district.
- Mediterranean diet celebrated in student canteens: fregola, sea urchin pasta, and pecorino cheese.
Erasmus Student Network organises wind‑surf weekends and language‑exchange aperitivos, making it easy to build friendships.
Industry scene: jobs and internships
Sardinia’s economy blends traditional and high‑tech domains.
Key sectors
- ICT: Tiscali, CRS4 research park, and start‑ups in cybersecurity and cloud computing.
- Energy transition: Enel Green Power solar projects and Wave Power pilot plants.
- Marine and aerospace: Fincantieri ship repair, Dassault Systems flight‑test outpost.
- Tourism and culture: luxury resorts, archaeological consulting, and event management.
- Agri‑food: organic wine, botanical extracts, and nutraceutical labs.
Internship offices connect students with these employers through career days and project challenges. For example, data‑science students may analyse sailing‑race telemetry, while automation engineers program robots that pack pecorino rounds. Humanities students curate VR tours of Nuragic ruins, merging culture with tech.
Innovation hubs
- Parco Tecnologico di Pula: houses biotech and AI ventures; offers summer traineeships.
- INAF‑Sardinia Radio Telescope: physics students assist in pulsar data crunching.
- Port of Cagliari Smart Logistics Cluster: engineers model container‑flow algorithms.
Local authorities run “Voucher Tirocinio” schemes giving stipends to companies that host international interns. These keep costs down for small firms and open many positions.
Relevant industries for every faculty
- Economic analysis: fintech for small islands and blue economy forecasting.
- Engineering: aerospace composites, renewable micro‑grids, and hydrogen storage.
- Life sciences: marine pharmaceutics, coral eco‑genomics, and anti‑aging compounds.
- Law and policy: EU maritime law, migration studies, and smart city governance.
- Humanities: digital archives of Phoenician artefacts and endangered dialect preservation.
This variety ensures that whatever field you choose, Cagliari provides specialised avenues for research, internships, or entrepreneurial trials.
Support services and student welfare
- Buddy programme: older internationals help new arrivals with housing and healthcare forms.
- Counselling centre: free sessions in English and Italian.
- Sports association: discounted sailing, climbing, and five‑a‑side leagues.
- Career mentoring: LinkedIn clinics, mock interviews, and start‑up incubator workshops.
These services ensure you can focus on learning rather than paperwork or stress.
Why Cagliari stands out
- Historic campus plus modern labs in one setting.
- Lower living costs than mainland capitals.
- Strong funding through DSU grant and additional aid.
- Fast air links to Europe and rich Sardinian culture at your doorstep.
- Job market that values English‑speaking graduates with technical or creative skills.
Picture your next step
Imagine coding a hydro‑meter predictor by day, watching flamingos at sunset, and enjoying pasta alla bottarga with classmates after study. Picture printing your thesis on algae‑derived paper, knowing the research fed directly into a start‑up trial. This is the rhythm that awaits at the University of Cagliari.
In two minutes we’ll confirm whether you meet the basic entry rules for tuition-free, English-taught degrees in Italy. We’ll then quickly see if we still have space for you this month. If so, you’ll get a personalised offer. Accept it, and our experts hand-craft a shortlist of majors that fit your grades, goals, and career plans. Upload your documents once; we submit every university and scholarship application, line up multiple admission letters, and guide you through the visa process—backed by our admission-and-scholarship guarantee.
Cellular and Molecular Biology LM‑6 at University of Cagliari
Cell biology now drives vaccine roll‑outs, cancer immunotherapies, and CRISPR breakthroughs. If you want to join that wave, English‑taught programs in Italy offer rigorous science without sky‑high tuition. This LM‑6 master lets you study in Italy in English and still benefit from the income‑linked fees that make public Italian universities so affordable. Add the DSU grant plus other scholarships for international students in Italy, and your net cost can rival that of tuition‑free universities Italy—all while you work with cutting‑edge microscopes, omics sequencers, and gene‑editing platforms.
Why choose an English‑taught biology master in a public Italian university
Italy’s life‑science legacy spans from Golgi’s neuron staining to modern stem‑cell therapy. The University of Cagliari brings that tradition into the 2020s with labs focused on genome editing, single‑cell transcriptomics, and synthetic biology. Every lecture, lab manual, and thesis defence happens in English, giving you direct access to global literature and conferences. At the same time, fees stay low because they scale with verified family income. Many students pay less than €1,000 per year, and the DSU grant can erase that entirely while adding a living stipend.
Quick benefits
- Fully English curriculum yet European academic standards.
- Low fees thanks to income‑linked bands.
- Merit‑ and need‑based scholarships, including the DSU grant.
- Access to EU‑funded research projects on CRISPR, microbiomes, and immunology.
- Portable qualification at European Qualifications Framework Level 7.
Learning outcomes—skill sets you will master
- Analyse and manipulate DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites using advanced molecular techniques.
- Design experiments with proper controls and statistical power.
- Use bioinformatics pipelines for next‑generation sequencing data.
- Apply cell‑culture and imaging methods to investigate signalling pathways.
- Evaluate bioethical frameworks for gene editing and animal models.
- Communicate findings through peer‑reviewed writing and conference presentations.
Upon graduation you will be ready for doctoral studies, biotech R&D, clinical research, or regulatory positions.
Curriculum overview—120 ECTS across two years
Year 1: building molecular depth
- Advanced Cell Biology (9 ECTS)
Explore organelle dynamics, cytoskeleton regulation, and cell‑cycle checkpoints. Microscopy labs teach live‑cell imaging and immunofluorescence quantification. - Molecular Genetics and Genomics (9 ECTS)
Cover gene regulation, epigenetics, and comparative genomics. Practical sessions include CRISPR‑Cas9 guide design and gene‑knockout validation. - Biochemistry of Macromolecules (6 ECTS)
Study protein folding, enzyme kinetics, and metabolic integration. Labs feature enzyme assays and spectroscopic analysis. - Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (6 ECTS)
Use Python, R, and Galaxy workflows to process FASTQ data, align sequences, and create differential‑expression heat maps. - Techniques in Cell Culture (6 ECTS)
Learn aseptic manipulation, primary‑cell isolation, and stem‑cell differentiation protocols. - Project Lab 1 (6 ECTS)
Teams test how oxidative stress alters mitochondrial morphology, reporting data in Jupyter notebooks and a short preprint. - Research Ethics and Data Integrity (6 ECTS)
Discuss reproducibility, FAIR data, and dual‑use issues in gene editing.
Year 2: specialisation and thesis
- Advanced Immunology and Infection Biology (6 ECTS)
Study innate sensing, adaptive repertoires, and pathogen evasion strategies. Flow‑cytometry workshops profile T‑cell subsets. - Structural Biology and Drug Design (6 ECTS)
Dive into X‑ray crystallography, cryo‑EM, and molecular docking. Students run an in‑silico screen against viral proteases. - Systems Biology and Multi‑omics Integration (6 ECTS)
Merge transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome layers using network analysis. - Elective pool—choose two, 6 ECTS each
- Cancer Molecular Pathology
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering
- Neuroscience at the Cellular Level
- Marine Biotechnology and Bioproducts
- Industry Internship or Research Residency (12 ECTS)
Work in a biotech firm, hospital lab, or EU research consortium, gaining real‑world data. - Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)
Conduct original research. Previous topics: “CRISPRa activation of foetal haemoglobin genes,” “Single‑cell RNA‑seq of tumour‑infiltrating lymphocytes,” and “Metabolic rewiring in salt‑tolerant algae.”
All module descriptions remain under 80 words so readers grasp each quickly.
Teaching style—flipped, lab‑intensive, data‑rich
- Flipped lectures: Read review papers and watch 15‑minute primers before class; in‑person time goes to experiment planning and troubleshooting.
- Wet‑lab weeks: Three extended blocks each year where you spend full days in the lab running multi‑step protocols—no other classes interrupt these immersions.
- Data hackathons: Teams tackle real omics datasets, producing visualisations and reproducible RMarkdown reports within 48 hours.
- Peer critique: Weekly journal clubs and project pitches refine your scientific reasoning and public‑speaking skills.
Research infrastructure—world‑class equipment at student fingertips
- Genomics Core: Illumina NextSeq, Oxford Nanopore MinION, and automated library prep.
- Confocal Imaging Suite: live‑cell incubator stage, FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching), and super‑resolution modules.
- Proteomics Facility: Orbitrap LC‑MS/MS with isobaric tags for multiplexed quantification.
- Flow Cytometry Centre: five‑laser analyser and single‑cell sorter.
- High‑Performance Computing Cluster: 1,200 CPU cores and GPU nodes for deep‑learning on biological data.
Faculty spearhead EU Horizon grants on microbiome‑gut‑brain signalling, antiviral CRISPR diagnostics, and biosynthetic‑pathway engineering. Students join as research assistants, earning stipends and co‑author spots in journals like Nature Communications.
Funding your studies—DSU grant and more
DSU grant essentials
- Full tuition waiver for eligible income levels
- Up to €6,000 yearly stipend for rent, food, and transport
- Meal vouchers for two subsidised cafeteria meals daily
- Housing support—dormitory priority or private‑rent subsidy
Additional scholarships for international students in Italy
- Merit scholarships (€2,500–€5,000) for high entry grades or distinguished lab projects.
- Women in STEM Bursary (€2,000) to boost gender equity.
- Green Biotech Grant (€1,500) funding eco‑applications like plastic‑eating enzymes.
- Erasmus+ Mobility funds for a semester abroad in Germany, Sweden, or Spain.
Career paths—where LM‑6 graduates go
- PhD programmes in molecular medicine, genomics, or synthetic biology across Europe, North America, and Asia.
- Biotech and pharma R&D—assay development, drug‑target validation, or CRISPR platform engineering.
- Clinical research coordinating trials for personalised therapies.
- Diagnostic labs running next‑generation sequencing and qPCR panels.
- Regulatory affairs advising on biosafety and compliance.
Internal surveys report 87 % employment or doctoral enrolment within six months. Employers include Novartis, Illumina, Charité Berlin, and emerging European start‑ups.
H2: Admission requirements and timeline
- Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) in biology, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, or related field.
- Transcript showing at least 18 ECTS in molecular/cellular courses and 12 ECTS in chemistry or biochemistry.
- English level B2—IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, or proof of an English‑medium bachelor.
- Motivation letter (700 words) describing lab experience, coding fluency, and research goals.
- CV listing techniques (PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry) and software (R, Python, GraphPad).
- Passport scan and portrait photo.
Soft‑skill modules—because scientists lead teams too
- Scientific Writing Bootcamp: craft abstracts, structure IMRaD papers, and respond to reviewer feedback.
- Data Visualisation Workshop: use ggplot2, seaborn, and Illustrator to present results clearly.
- Project Management: Gantt charts, risk matrices, and grant budgeting.
- Ethics and Public Outreach: communicate CRISPR advances to non‑scientists, manage misinformation.
Continuous improvement—student feedback shapes the syllabus
A joint board of staff and elected students meets each term. Recent upgrades include:
- New elective on single‑cell technologies.
- Extended evening access to the genomics core during thesis crunch.
- Mandatory reproducible‑research workflows using Git and Docker.
A typical week—text snapshot
On Monday, you begin with Advanced Cell Biology lectures at 9 a.m. followed by a microscopy lab capturing lysosome trafficking. Tuesday features a bioinformatics tutorial scripting RNA‑seq pipelines in RStudio. Wednesday’s Research Ethics seminar debates gene‑drive mosquitoes. Thursday dedicates six uninterrupted hours to Project Lab work, troubleshooting CRISPR PCR bands. Friday rounds off with journal club on organoid cancer models. Evenings allow Italian language practice or yoga sessions, while weekends can mean volcano hikes or extra data crunching.
Key takeaways—why this LM‑6 is worth your focus
- Comprehensive science: from gene editing to systems biology, all taught in English.
- Affordable education: income‑linked fees plus DSU grant reduce financial strain.
- High‑tech labs: confocal, flow cytometry, next‑gen sequencing, and HPC within reach.
- Research immersion: EU‑funded projects, conference travel, and publication chances.
- Career power: strong pipeline to PhDs, biotech R&D, and clinical innovation.
Ready for this programme?
If you qualify and we still have a spot this month, we’ll reserve your place with ApplyAZ. Our team will tailor a set of best-fit majors—including this course—and handle every form and deadline for you. One upload, many applications, guaranteed offers, DSU grant support, and visa coaching: that’s the ApplyAZ promise. Start now and secure your spot before this month’s intake fills up.
They Began right where you are
