Master in Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals at University of Pavia
Two-year English-taught LM-8-R master's at the University of Pavia on nanotechnology in pharmaceutical biotechnology, with a 12 ECTS traineeship, a 30 ECTS experimental thesis and two tracks: Nanomedicines and Medicinal Tissue Engineering. Entry needs lab experience and B2 English.
Master
2 years
Pavia
English
University of Pavia
Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-8-R) taught in English at the University of Pavia in Pavia. Entry needs a degree in biotechnology, biology, pharmacy or chemistry, or set credits in maths, chemistry and biology, plus documented lab experience and a B2 English certificate. With income-based fees, it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Pavia's Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals master asks for a three-year degree in biotechnology, biology, pharmacy or chemistry, or set credits in maths, chemistry and biology, plus documented wet-lab experience, a B2 English certificate and an admission interview in English. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a three-year university degree or a foreign qualification the university recognises as suitable. The curricular requirements are met automatically by degrees in these Italian classes, or their older equivalents: [1]
- L-2 Biotechnology;
- L-13 Biological Sciences;
- LM-13 Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy;
- L-27 Chemical Sciences and Technologies.
Degrees in other classes qualify if they include at least: [1]
- 10 CFU in mathematics, physics, computer science or statistics;
- 6 CFU in chemistry;
- 6 CFU in biology.
Laboratory experience
You must document wet-lab experience: postgraduate laboratory work, or experimental laboratory work done for your thesis. [1]
The application portal adds that this must be different from the practical courses on your transcript. Accepted evidence includes the lab component of an experimental thesis or documented practical work after your degree, for example in a pharmaceutical company or as a pharmacist. The committee judges whether it is suitable. [2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, so the committee looks at the subjects you studied as well as your lab record. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, a B.Pharm, or a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Biochemistry or Microbiology, which normally cover chemistry and biology and often include statistics or maths.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Zoology, Botany or Life Sciences, which covers biology and some chemistry but may fall short of 10 credits in maths, physics, computing or statistics.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech in Chemical or Biomedical Engineering, which covers maths, physics and chemistry but may lack 6 credits in biology.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA, BA or BCA, which rarely include chemistry and biology.
Whatever your degree, practical classes on your transcript are not enough on their own: you also need documented laboratory experience such as an experimental thesis project or post-degree lab work. [1][2]
English
You need fluent English at CEFR level B2 or higher, written and oral, shown by one of these certificates: [1]
- BEC Vantage, B2 First or ILEC Pass;
- IELTS Academic 5.5 to 6.5;
- TOEFL iBT 72 to 94;
- Trinity College ISE II or GESE 7, 8 or 9;
- Oxford Test of English at B2, TrackTest English Test B2 or LCCI EfB Level 3.
Other B2 certificates are assessed case by case by the admission committee. Statements from universities about the language of instruction are not accepted. Applicants who completed higher education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA are exempt. [1]
The certificate must be uploaded with the application, and late submissions are not accepted. [2]
Selection and interview
There is no written test. A committee of three teaching staff checks whether you meet the curricular requirements and emails you the outcome of this pre-evaluation. It then verifies your suitability in an interview. [1]
For international applicants, the interview is an oral admission exam held online and in English, on basic knowledge of the key disciplines needed for the course. [2]
Only graduates of Italian universities with a final mark of at least 100/110 can skip the interview. [1]
2027/28 calls and deadlines
Pavia's application portal lists these calls for this degree in 2027/28, with classes starting on 14 September 2027. Each application has a non-refundable €35 fee: [2]
- First call: 12 to 18 November 2026, 23:59 CET, for EU and non-EU applicants.
- Second call: 12 to 20 January 2027, 23:59 CET, for EU and non-EU applicants.
- Third call: 12 to 22 March 2027, opened to non-EU applicants living abroad only if seats remain.
- Later calls: from 6 June 2027 and from 1 September 2027; the last is for EU applicants and non-EU applicants living in Italy.
For comparison, in 2026/27 non-EU applicants living abroad could apply from 12 to 20 November 2025 and 12 to 20 January 2026, and in the March and June 2026 windows only if places remained. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs: [2]
- your passport, preferably valid for at least two more years, or an ID card;
- a CV in English in Europass format;
- your transcript in English or Italian, with exams, marks, credits or hours and an explanation of the grading system;
- your diploma, if already awarded, and a Diploma Supplement if you have one;
- a form listing your exams in mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics, biology and chemistry;
- evidence of your laboratory experience;
- your English certificate;
- a motivation letter of 200 to 500 characters, written in the application form;
- the non-refundable €35 application fee.
You can apply before graduating if you hold at least 150 CFU by the application deadline, under conditional enrolment. On the portal, students expecting to graduate before September submit their transcript and expected graduation date. [1][2]
After admission, you submit Universitaly pre-enrolment, without which enrolment cannot be confirmed, and apply for a type D study visa. For enrolment, your degree must be legalised by the Italian embassy or consulate, apostilled, or accompanied by a CIMEA statement of verification. Degrees from countries outside the Lisbon Recognition Convention also need a declaration of value, a CIMEA statement of comparability or a Diploma Supplement. [3]
Students with a foreign qualification include a 3 CFU Italian Language for Foreign Students course in their study plan, unless they show Italian at B1 or above. [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 Pavia, Department of Drug Sciences. Course regulations, Master's degree in Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals (LM-8), 2026/2027 cohort, with study plan. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia, international application portal. Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals course page: entry requirements, documents and intakes, academic year 2027/2028. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia. How to apply to master's degree programmes, and information for non-EU students after admission, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia. Fees for non-EU prospective students, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia, Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals programme page (degree class, language, access, department and curricula). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals (INBP) is a two-year master's degree in class LM-8-R, industrial biotechnology, run by the Department of Drug Sciences at the University of Pavia. [1][5]
It is a full-time degree taught entirely in English on campus in Pavia, worth 120 ECTS, with non-restricted access and a limited quota of seats for non-EU applicants who need a visa. [3][5]
The degree aims to train specialists for research, manufacture and quality control where nanotechnology meets industrial pharmaceutical biotechnology.
Graduates learn to design nanostructured systems for diagnosis and therapy, formulate nanobiotechnological medicines and medical devices, develop biopharmaceuticals at industrial scale and apply the regulations that govern these products.
It suits graduates in biotechnology, biology, chemistry or pharmacy who already have hands-on laboratory experience.
What you will study
The first year is shared by all students and builds the pharmaceutical and biological base, with a short refresher in analytical chemistry, biology or organic chemistry chosen to fill gaps in your background. [1]
In the second year you follow one of two tracks: Nanomedicines or Medicinal Tissue Engineering. Units in the 2026/27 regulations include:
- Preformulation and Pharmaceutical Technology
- Traditional and Innovative Dosage Forms
- Immunology, Biotechnological Drugs and Vaccines
- Statistics Applied to Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Nanotechnology-Based Medicines (Nanomedicines track)
- Industrialization Processes and Methodologies (Nanomedicines track)
- Biomaterials and Bioconjugates for Tissue Repair and Regeneration (Medicinal Tissue Engineering track)
- Pharmacological and Biomechanical Aspects (Medicinal Tissue Engineering track)
How the programme is taught
A 12 ECTS traineeship in the first year introduces you to research work. It can take place in the laboratories of the Department of Drug Sciences, and voluntary internships elsewhere can be recognised with the approval of the degree council. [1]
The traineeship must be completed before the thesis, which is worth 30 ECTS: an original experimental project developed with a supervisor and defended in public. [1]
Students with a foreign degree also take a 3 ECTS course in Italian for foreign students, unless they show Italian at B1 or above. [1]
Study periods abroad of 3 to 10 months, extendable to 12, are possible through Erasmus or other exchange agreements. [1]
The degree is also linked to NANOMED, the joint programme Nanomedicine for Drug Delivery with the universities of Angers, Patras and Paris Cité: students selected for NANOMED spend part of their studies in Pavia and can also obtain the INBP degree. [1]
Career paths
The university describes graduates as pharmaceutical nanotechnologists able to work across research, production and regulation. The roles it lists include:
- Researcher in pharmaceutical and biomedical companies
- Project manager or executive in biotechnology firms
- Research and development consultant
- Regulatory affairs specialist
- Industrial production of nanoparticle systems and tissue engineering products
- Trainer in the public and private sectors
Fees and scholarships
INBP counts as a science-area degree for fees.
Non-EU students who do not submit family financial documents pay a flat rate by citizenship and subject area: for 2026/27 it ranges from €390 to €4,550 a year across three brackets, and it stays fixed for the normal length of the degree plus one year. [4] For this degree it is €390 a year in bracket 1 (countries like India, Nepal and Pakistan), €1,520 in bracket 2 and €4,550 in bracket 3.
The alternative is an income-based fee from an equivalent ISEE: up to €32,000 students are exempt from the all-inclusive fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students; regional tax and €16 stamp duty remain.
This route is also needed for the EDiSU Pavia scholarship. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
For this degree your English certificate must be uploaded with the application on apply.unipv.eu, together with your passport, a Europass CV in English, your transcript, your diploma if already awarded, a form listing your exams in maths, physics, computer science, statistics, biology and chemistry, proof of laboratory experience and a short motivation letter; late certificates are not accepted. [2]
The fee is €35 per programme and is not refundable. A committee checks your background, and candidates with a suitable degree take an oral admission interview in English, held online. [1][2]
For 2027/28, the first call runs from 12 to 18 November 2026 and the second from 12 to 20 January 2027, both open to EU and non-EU applicants. A third call, from 12 to 22 March 2027, opens to non-EU applicants living abroad only if seats remain, so we apply in the first two calls. Classes start on 14 September 2027. [2]
After admission we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you request a type D study visa, which the consulate decides. At enrolment your degree must be legalised, apostilled or verified by CIMEA, and degrees from countries outside the Lisbon Recognition Convention also need a declaration of value, a CIMEA statement of comparability or a Diploma Supplement. [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 Pavia'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 English certificate and laboratory evidence, 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 the Industrial Nanobiotechnologies master at Pavia?
A three-year degree in biotechnology, biological sciences, pharmacy or chemical sciences meets the curricular rule directly. Other degrees need at least 10 credits in maths, physics, computer science or statistics, 6 in chemistry and 6 in biology. You also need documented wet-lab experience. [1]
Do I need laboratory experience?
Yes. You must document wet-lab experience beyond the practical classes on your transcript, such as lab work for an experimental thesis or practical work after your degree, for example in a pharmaceutical company or as a pharmacist. The committee judges whether it is suitable. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee of three teaching staff checks your credits, then candidates with a suitable degree take an oral interview in English, held online, on basic knowledge of the key disciplines for the course. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2, shown by a listed certificate such as IELTS Academic 5.5 to 6.5, TOEFL iBT 72 to 94 or B2 First, uploaded with your application. A statement that your degree was taught in English is not accepted, but graduates of universities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA are exempt. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2027/28, the first call runs from 12 to 18 November 2026 and the second from 12 to 20 January 2027, both open to non-EU applicants. A March 2027 call opens to non-EU applicants abroad only if seats remain, so we aim for the first call. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, under conditional enrolment, if you hold at least 150 credits by the application deadline. On the portal, students expecting to graduate before September submit their transcript and expected graduation date. [1][2]
I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Microbiology. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees usually cover the chemistry and biology credits, but check that you have 10 credits in maths, physics, computer science or statistics. You also need documented lab experience beyond your practical classes, such as an experimental thesis project. [1][2]
Which tracks can I choose?
After a shared first year you choose Nanomedicines, with units such as Nanotechnology-Based Medicines and Industrialization Processes and Methodologies, or Medicinal Tissue Engineering, with Biomaterials and Bioconjugates for Tissue Repair and Regeneration and Pharmacological and Biomechanical Aspects. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals at Pavia?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Pavia'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 Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals?
A recognised Indian bachelor's in Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Microbiology or Chemistry can meet the subject rule if it covers 10 credits in maths, physics, computing or statistics, 6 in chemistry and 6 in biology. You also need documented wet-lab experience and a B2 English certificate. The steps are the online application, an online interview in English and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2] 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 Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, an online interview in English 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 Industrial Nanobiotechnologies for Pharmaceuticals are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, an online interview in English 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, an online interview in English 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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