Master in Cosmetic Industrial Science at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-71 R master at the University of Milan covering the research, development, production, quality control, regulation and marketing of cosmetic products, ending with a 34 ECTS internship and thesis project. Entry needs set science credits, B2 English and an admission test.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Cosmetic Industrial Science (CosmIS) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-71 R) taught in English at the University of Milan's Città Studi campus. Entry needs a chemistry or pharmaceutical sciences degree, or at least 35 ECTS in maths, physics, chemistry and biology, plus English at B2 and a pass in the admission test. Scholarship winners get a waiver on the second instalment, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Cosmetic Industrial Science master asks for a degree in chemical or pharmaceutical sciences, or another degree with at least 35 ECTS in maths, physics, chemistry and biology (25 in chemistry and biology, at least 15 of them in chemistry). You also need English at B2 and a pass in a compulsory admission test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
You need a bachelor's degree: the programme description sets 180 credits for admission. Graduates of the Italian bachelor's classes L-27 (Chemical Sciences and Technologies) and L-29 (Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies) meet the degree rule directly. Graduates of other classes, and of master's, specialist or four-year degrees, can be admitted if they have at least: [1]
- 35 ECTS in science subjects: mathematics (MAT/01 to MAT/06), physics (FIS/01 to FIS/03 and FIS/07), chemistry (CHIM/01 to CHIM/10) and biology (BIO/09 to BIO/19).
- 25 of those ECTS in chemistry and biology.
- At least 15 of those ECTS in chemistry.
A degree obtained abroad is eligible if it is recognised as corresponding to an Italian degree. For a foreign degree, the admission committee checks your requirements from the Diploma Supplement and may ask for an interview to clarify them. You must meet all requirements by 31 December 2026. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as Italian ECTS, and the committee looks at the subjects behind them. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Pharm, or a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry, where chemistry makes up a large part of the degree.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology or Life Sciences, or a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology, which often reach 35 science credits but must show at least 15 in chemistry and 25 in chemistry and biology.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Physics or Mathematics with little chemistry or biology, a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is required for admission. The University Language Centre checks it in one of three ways: an accepted certificate at B2 or higher issued no more than three years before the application date, uploaded with the application; a level certified by the University of Milan language centre within the last four years; or the language centre's entry test. [1]
On the university's list, B2 corresponds to IELTS 5.5 to 6.5, TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, PTE Academic 59 to 75 or Cambridge B2 First. Certificates must cover reading, writing, listening and speaking, and TOEFL results are valid for two years. [4]
If you do not take or pass the entry test, you must submit an accepted certificate by the programme's deadline, or you are not admitted. [1]
Admission test
All applicants must take a compulsory admission test, including upcoming graduates and applicants who have not yet proved their English. It covers the principles of biology, human physiology and biochemistry, and of general, analytical, inorganic and organic chemistry. [1]
The test has 36 multiple-choice questions with four options each, 24 on chemistry and 12 on biology, answered online over Zoom within 90 minutes. Each correct answer earns 1 point, and wrong or blank answers may cost up to 1 point, at the committee's discretion. [3]
You need at least 50% correct answers. With 45% to 49%, the committee may consider your CV and call you for a remote interview. The test can be taken only once. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, applicants with a foreign qualification from a non-EU country applied online between 22 January and 30 April 2026, and visa applicants could sit only the first test session, on 12 May 2026. Other applicants had until 25 August 2026 and a second test session on 9 September 2026. [1][2]
Visa applicants also had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026, or they were excluded from the selection and from enrolment. Where an interview was needed, non-EU applicants could be interviewed in May 2026. [1][2]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they met all requirements by 31 December 2026. Admitted students enrol between 5 May 2026 and 15 January 2027. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applicants with a foreign degree apply online by the deadline. You upload: [2]
- your degree certificate, in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish;
- a Diploma Supplement or a transcript with courses, marks, ECTS, subject areas and the grading system;
- your passport or another valid ID.
To finalise enrolment you provide your bachelor's degree legalised or apostilled, your high school diploma, an official Italian translation unless the documents are in English, French, German or Spanish, a Statement of Comparability from an ENIC-NARIC centre such as CIMEA or a declaration of value from the Italian embassy, an Italian tax code and, for non-EU citizens, your residence permit or the receipt of its application. For 2026/27 these were due by 30 November 2026, or the enrolment is cancelled. [2]
For 2026/27, 15 places were reserved for non-EU students 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 Milan. Programme description (manifesto), Master's degree in Cosmetic Industrial Science (LM-71 R), students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Admission notice for the Master's degree programme in Cosmetic Industrial Science (LM-71 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan, Cosmetic Industrial Science degree programme. Enrolment and admission test page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Accepted English language certificates, list updated June 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Fees for academic year 2026/27, with the annex of country groups. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Regulations on tuition and fees, academic year 2025/26, annex listing programmes by tuition area. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Cosmetic Industrial Science (CosmIS) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-71-R (industrial chemistry), taught in English by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences on the Città Studi campus in Milan. It aims to train graduates with advanced skills in the research, development, industrial production, quality control and marketing of cosmetic products.
The degree suits graduates in chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences or related sciences who want to work in the cosmetics industry, from formulation labs to regulatory and market roles. Admission is open, subject to the entry requirements, with a compulsory entrance test. [1]
What you will study
The first year covers the skin and the chemistry of cosmetic ingredients and products; the second year turns to analysis, manufacturing and the business side. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [1]
- Physiology and Biochemistry of Skin and Skin Annexes, with Microbiological Contamination and Controls (9 ECTS)
- Inorganic Ingredients (6 ECTS), Organic Ingredients (8 ECTS) and Polymeric Ingredients (6 ECTS)
- Functional Ingredients (7 ECTS)
- Decorative Cosmetics Development (6 ECTS)
- Skincare and Personal Hygiene Products Development and Regulation (6 ECTS)
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment (6 ECTS)
- Analysis of Cosmetic Ingredients and Products (7 ECTS)
- Technologies for Manufacturing and Packaging (6 ECTS)
- Marketing, Business Planning, Project Evaluation and Regulatory Affairs (5 ECTS)
You also choose 8 ECTS of electives, such as Cosmetology in Prototypic Skin Conditions, Nutricosmetics and Plants in Cosmetics, or the Experimental Laboratory linked to your thesis project. [1]
How the programme is taught
Much of the teaching is linked to individual laboratory work, which is compulsory; attendance at other courses is strongly recommended. The course is blended: the first weeks of each first-semester course run online, and 19 ECTS of second-year and elective courses are taught online, while labs take place at Città Studi. The last semester centres on a compulsory internship of at least 34 ECTS in a university lab or a company, in Italy or abroad, where you develop the individual project for your thesis, written in English, presented as a poster and defended in public. Erasmus stays can add up to 2 points to the degree mark. [1]
Students without an Italian school diploma or degree also earn 3 ECTS in Italian, reaching level A2 before they graduate. [1]
Career paths
The official profiles describe four roles in the cosmetics industry, and graduates can also go on to a doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences with a cosmetic focus: [1]
- Research and development or production specialist, designing new products
- Quality specialist, supervising quality assurance systems and protocols
- Regulatory specialist, managing safety documentation and authorisation procedures
- Market relations specialist, passing technical knowledge to sales teams
Fees and scholarships
CosmIS is in tuition Area B. [6] For 2026/27, students whose family income and assets are abroad pay a first instalment and a fixed second instalment set by country group, with the lowest rate in Group A, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nigeria. [5]
Students who win a regional or University of Milan scholarship get a waiver on the second instalment, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]
How to apply from outside the EU
Every applicant sits the entrance test, 36 multiple-choice questions on chemistry and biology taken online. You need at least 50% correct answers; with 45% to 49% the committee may review your CV and call you for a remote interview. [1][3]
For 2026/27, visa applicants applied on apply.unimi.it from 22 January to 30 April 2026 and could sit only the first test session, on 12 May 2026. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Visa applicants must also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which we submit for you, by 31 July (for 2026/27), or they are excluded from the selection and from enrolment. After admission you apply for a study visa. Your degree then needs a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, due by 30 November for 2026/27. [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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your transcript and English certificate, 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 Cosmetic Industrial Science at Milan?
A degree in chemical or pharmaceutical sciences (Italian classes L-27 or L-29), or another degree with at least 35 ECTS in maths, physics, chemistry and biology, including 25 in chemistry and biology and at least 15 in chemistry. Foreign degrees must be recognised as equivalent. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes. Every applicant takes a compulsory online test of 36 multiple-choice questions, 24 on chemistry and 12 on biology. You need at least 50% correct; with 45% to 49% the committee may review your CV and interview you remotely. The test can be taken only once. [1][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher. You can upload an accepted certificate issued within three years, such as IELTS 5.5 or above, or take the university language centre's entry test. Without a pass or a certificate by the programme's deadline, you are not admitted. [1][4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026, could sit only the 12 May 2026 test and had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, you could apply if you met all admission requirements, including your degree, by 31 December 2026. The admission test is also open to upcoming graduates. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from India. Can I apply?
Possibly. Your transcript needs at least 35 ECTS in maths, physics, chemistry and biology, with 25 in chemistry and biology and at least 15 in chemistry. Biotechnology degrees usually cover biology well, so chemistry is the block to check. We check your transcript against each rule. [1]
Is the course taught in person?
Mostly. Individual lab work is compulsory and held at Città Studi in Milan, but the course is blended: the first weeks of each first-semester course and 19 ECTS of second-year and elective courses are taught online. [1]
Is there an internship?
Yes. The last semester includes a compulsory internship of at least 34 ECTS in a university lab or, preferably, a cosmetics company, in Italy or abroad, where you develop the individual project that becomes your thesis. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Cosmetic Industrial Science 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 Cosmetic Industrial Science?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Chemistry can fit if your transcript shows at least 35 ECTS in maths, physics, chemistry and biology, with 25 in chemistry and biology and at least 15 in chemistry. You also need English at B2 and a pass in the admission test. The steps are the online application, the online admission test 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 Cosmetic Industrial Science are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the online admission test 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 Cosmetic Industrial Science are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the online admission test 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 Cosmetic Industrial Science 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 application, the online admission test 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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