Master in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-9 R master at UniTrento's CIBIO department in Povo, Trento, applying biotechnology to biomedicine with tracks in cancer biology, microbes and infection, and neurobiology. Entry needs biology, chemistry and maths credits plus English at B2, with 2 places for non-EU applicants living abroad.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-9 R) taught in English by the CIBIO department of the University of Trento. Entry needs a biotechnology degree, or one with 9 credits in chemistry, 12 in maths, physics or computing and 40 in biology, plus English at B2. Non-EU applicants living abroad pay fees set by their admission score, from a full waiver to €6,500.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Trento's Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology master asks for a bachelor's in biotechnology, or a degree with set credits in chemistry, maths or computing and biology, plus English at B2 in all four skills. A committee then scores your academic record, statement of purpose and video, and you need 50 out of 100 to be eligible. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
The degree and credit rule
You need one of the following. [1]
- A bachelor's in Biotechnologies (Italian class L-2).
- Another Italian degree whose study plan includes at least 9 CFU in chemistry (CHIM/01, CHIM/03, CHIM/06), at least 12 CFU in mathematics, physics, computer science or statistics (MAT/01 to 09, FIS/01 to 08, INF/01, SECS-S/01 and 02), and at least 40 CFU in biology (BIO/06, 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18 and 19).
- A degree from abroad, or from a system without CFU, that is recognised as suitable. The committee checks how closely the content and aims of your courses match the subject areas above.
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and Trento looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics or Microbiology that includes chemistry and some maths or statistics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Life Sciences, Zoology or Botany with little maths or chemistry, or a B.Pharm, which is strong in chemistry but may not reach the 40 biology credits.
- Often short: a B.Tech in Computer Science, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, or an engineering degree without a biology block.
English
English at CEFR B2 in all four skills, proven by the application deadline. The 2026/27 call accepts any one of: [1]
- an internationally recognised certificate
- a B2 or higher English exam passed during your degree, if all four skills were tested
- a statement from your university that your degree was taught entirely in English
- citizenship of a country whose official language is English
The call does not list specific test scores. [1]
Selection and scoring
There is no written test. A committee of at least three teachers from the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology scores each application out of 100: [1]
- Up to 20 points: how well your degree fits the aims of the master's.
- Up to 60 points: your academic record, including your credit-weighted average, thesis topic, results, any postgraduate titles and other training.
- Up to 20 points: your statement of purpose (up to 500 words), video presentation, further language skills and other certificates.
The video is scored only if your first two scores reach a minimum set by the committee. You need at least 50 out of 100 to be eligible, and ties go to the younger candidate. The committee may ask for an interview or further documents. [1]
Places
For 2026/27 there were 60 places, including 2 reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. Places not filled in that first session were offered to EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
- 4 March 2026 (12:00 CET): the only application session for non-EU applicants living abroad, with a €30 fee paid by the same deadline.
- By 25 May 2026: ranking list published.
- 30 June 2026: latest date for non-EU applicants to complete their bachelor's (31 October 2026 for those graduating in Italy with a study permit).
- 30 September 2026: if visa delays held you back, you had to hold the Italian visa by this date or lose the place.
EU and equivalent applicants applied from 21 April to 30 June 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][2]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application asks for: [1]
- passport pages with your personal details
- your degree certificate, or an enrolment certificate if you are still studying
- a transcript with all exams, marks, your weighted average and the grading scale, including exams not yet passed
- a CV in English, preferably in the Europass format
- proof of English at B2
- a statement of purpose in English
- a link to a self-presentation video of up to three minutes
- an abstract of your bachelor's thesis, saying whether it is a review or experimental
Documents not in Italian or English need an official translation. Admitted students confirm with a non-refundable €100 fee, then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which UniTrento needs before it issues the admission letter used for the visa. Foreign degrees are verified only after admission and pre-enrolment, and UniTrento may ask for a statement of verification or comparability. [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 Trento. Call for admission to the Master's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnologies (class LM-9 R), academic year 2026/27, annex 18 to Rector's Decree 1530 of 17 December 2025 (Italian binding version and English courtesy translation). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology programme pages: home page and admission for non-Europeans, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-9 R Biotecnologie mediche, veterinarie e farmaceutiche) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English. It is run by the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO) of the University of Trento, at PovoZero, Via Sommarive 14, in Povo on the edge of Trento.
The degree applies biotechnology to biomedicine: the genetic and molecular basis of disease, biotechnology-based diagnosis and therapy, cell and molecular therapies and biomarkers. It also trains the statistics and informatics needed to design preclinical studies. It suits biotechnology graduates aiming at research or industry roles in biomedicine. Access is limited, with 60 places in total for 2026/27.
What you will study
A common core covers the tools of modern biomedical biotechnology, and you then choose one of three tracks: Cancer Biology, Microbes and Infection or Neurobiology. Track courses run in both years, and 15 ECTS of electives let you add further topics. Units in the official study plan include:
- Biostatistics and Data Rich Biotechnologies
- Molecular Pathology and Precision Medicine
- Gene Therapy and Cell Therapy
- Drug Discovery
- Legal Principles in Biomedical Research
- Electives such as Cancer Genomics, Advanced Infection Immunology, Neurogenesis and Brain Regeneration, and Entrepreneurship in Biotech
- A compulsory internship and a 24 ECTS thesis
How the programme is taught
Teaching combines standard and interactive lectures with laboratory sessions, flipped classrooms built on reading and discussing scientific articles, and team-based problem solving. The course joins biological knowledge with mathematics, physics and chemistry to develop new technologies. Every student completes an internship and research-based thesis work.
Career paths
Graduates work as biologists, biochemists, biotechnologists, pharmacologists and microbiologists. The university names research institutions, the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, regulatory agencies and start-ups as employers. The degree also leads to PhD study, including UniTrento's doctorate in Biomolecular Sciences.
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, non-EU students living abroad paid at most €10,000 a year, reduced by admission score: 90 or more out of 100 brought a full waiver, 70 to 89.99 paid €1,000, 60 to 69.99 paid €3,000 and 50 to 59.99 paid €6,500. In the second year, students with at least 42 credits by 10 August pay nothing, and fewer credits mean a higher fee. Top-ranked non-EU applicants with at least 70/100 may also receive a UniTrento scholarship, which waives tuition and is paid after arrival in Italy. EU and equivalent students pay according to family income (ISEE). [1] Eligible students can also apply to Opera Universitaria di Trento.
How to apply from outside the EU
CMB has its own call with only 2 places for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2026/27. Non-EU applicants applied on the UniTrento portal by 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, paid a €30 fee and uploaded their CV, transcripts, a statement of purpose, a thesis abstract and a video presentation. Rankings were due by 25 May 2026, and admitted students paid a non-refundable €100 confirmation fee. [1][2]
After you confirm, you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment within two weeks. UniTrento issues the admission letter only after this step, and you then apply for a type D study visa. In 2026/27, students delayed by the visa could still be admitted only if they held it by 30 September 2026. The 2027/28 call has not been published yet. [1][2]
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 Trento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, place confirmation 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 Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at Trento?
A bachelor's in Biotechnologies, or another degree whose study plan includes at least 9 credits in chemistry, 12 in maths, physics, computer science or statistics, and 40 in biology. Degrees from abroad are judged on how closely their courses match those areas. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores you out of 100: up to 20 for how well your degree fits, up to 60 for your academic record and up to 20 for your statement of purpose, video and further languages. You need 50 to be eligible, and an interview may be requested. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 in all four skills, proven by the application deadline. The 2026/27 call accepts an international certificate, a B2 university exam, a degree taught entirely in English or citizenship of an English-speaking country. It does not name IELTS or set test scores. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad had one session, closing on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with a €30 fee. Rankings were due by 25 May 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants could apply while still studying if they completed their bachelor's by 30 June 2026. The date moved to 31 October 2026 for those graduating in Italy with a study permit. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Microbiology or a B.Pharm. Can I apply?
Possibly. The committee compares your courses with 9 chemistry credits, 12 in maths, physics, computing or statistics, and 40 in biology. Microbiology graduates often meet the biology block, so we check the maths and statistics, while B.Pharm graduates may fall short on biology. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
Very few. The 2026/27 call offered 60 places, of which 2 were reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. Places left after that session went to EU citizens and non-EU citizens living in Italy. [1]
How much are tuition fees for non-EU students?
Fees follow your admission score. In 2026/27 the maximum was €10,000 a year, with a full waiver at 90/100 or more and €1,000, €3,000 or €6,500 in the lower bands. Second-year fees depend on the credits you earn by 10 August. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at Trento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Trento'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 Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology?
An Indian B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a related life-science degree, can fit if its courses cover chemistry, maths or statistics and a large biology block, matching the call's 9, 12 and 40 credit areas. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application by the early March deadline, place confirmation 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 Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application by the March deadline, place confirmation 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 Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application by the March deadline, place confirmation 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: online application by the March deadline, place confirmation 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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