Master in Medical Biotechnology at University of Eastern Piedmont
Two-year English-taught master (LM-9, 120 ECTS) at UPO's School of Medicine in Novara, with four curricula from molecular disease and systems biomedicine to regenerative medicine and clinical trials.
Master
2 years
Vercelli
English
University of Eastern Piedmont
Medical Biotechnology is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-9) taught in English by the University of Eastern Piedmont's School of Medicine in Novara. Entry needs a degree in biotechnology, biology, pharmaceutical sciences or a technical health profession, or a recognised foreign equivalent, plus English at B2. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UPO's Medical Biotechnology master asks for a bachelor's degree in biotechnology, biological sciences, pharmaceutical sciences or a technical health profession, or a foreign degree recognised as suitable, plus English at B2, a positive pre-evaluation and a level test in core biology subjects. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
These rules come from the 2022/23 course regulations. You need a first-level degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable, of a biological, biotechnological or medical and health type. [1]
- Admitted: graduates in class L-2 Biotechnology (or the older class 1).
- Also admitted: graduates in class L-13 Biological Sciences (or class 12), L-29 Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (or class 24) and L/SNT3 Technical Health Professions (or SNT/3).
- Core knowledge: you must show adequate preparation in anatomy, biochemistry, biology, molecular biology and genetics.
What this means for your transcript
The rule names Italian degree classes, so a foreign degree is judged on its subjects and type. 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, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Genetics.
- Check carefully: a B.Pharm, a B.Sc. in Zoology or Botany, or an allied health degree such as Medical Laboratory Technology. These match listed fields but need enough anatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.
- Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in engineering, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which are not of a biological or health type.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. [1] UPO asks international applicants for a B2 English certificate, and students who hold an Italian residence permit valid for at least one year at enrolment do not need it. The official pages do not list specific tests or minimum scores. [4]
Selection and level test
The course is open access, with no entrance selection. [2] International applicants are first pre-evaluated by the didactic committee, and only a positive evaluation leads to an acceptance letter. [3]
A level test then checks biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology and anatomy. In 2025/26 it was held on 21 October and 16 December 2025. [2] In the 2022/23 regulations, the test had 30 multiple-choice questions, one point for each correct answer. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, international applicants living outside Italy applied between 25 February and 4 June 2026 through UPO's online application form. UPO set this closing date because of the high number of applications, and postal applications were not accepted. Acceptance letters are sent only after the ministry publishes its annual circular. [3]
UPO's Universitaly pre-enrolment deadline for 2026/27 is 30 November 2026. [4] The next call sets the 2027/28 dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
For Universitaly, the School of Medicine asks for: [3]
- Your first-cycle degree (EQF level 6), or a substitute certificate, with a CIMEA statement or a declaration of value
- A legalised translation of the degree, if available
- Your transcript of records listing the exams taken
UPO also asks for certified translations of the diploma and transcript, legalisation or an apostille depending on your country, and the B2 English certificate. [4] After a positive pre-evaluation and an acceptance letter, you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, and UPO finalises enrolment only after verifying your qualification and documents, even once the visa is issued. [3]
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 Eastern Piedmont, School of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences. Course regulations, Master's degree in Medical Biotechnology (LM-9), academic year 2022/23. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Eastern Piedmont, School of Medicine. Medical Biotechnology (course held in English) programme page, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Eastern Piedmont, School of Medicine. Medical Biotechnology: how to apply, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Eastern Piedmont, International Office. Degree-seeking students: admission of international students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Eastern Piedmont, Student information. Fees and taxes: first instalment, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Medical Biotechnology is a two-year laurea magistrale in class LM-9, offered by the School of Medicine and the Department of Health Sciences (DISS) of the University of Eastern Piedmont. The course is taught entirely in English at the Perrone campus in Novara and carries 120 ECTS. [2]
It is aimed at graduates in biology, biotechnology or health sciences who want to work on the molecular side of medicine: diagnosis, new therapies, regenerative medicine and the management of clinical research. Attendance is compulsory: the 2022/23 regulations require at least 70% of classroom hours and 75% of laboratory activities. [1]
What you will study
The 2026/27 programme page lists four curricula, with the choice between them introduced from 2025/26: [2]
- The Molecular Basis of Disease: molecular virology, molecular therapy and molecular diagnostics
- System Biomedicine: big data analysis, structural genomics, clinical omics and synthetic biology with proteomics
- Cell Therapy, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: biomaterials and nanotechnologies, stem cells, tissue engineering and preclinical models
- Project Managing, Clinical Trials and Technology Transfer
In the 2022/23 plan, every curriculum shared Functional Genomics, Molecular Basis of Neoplastic and Proliferative Disorders, Molecular Basis of Regenerative Medicine and English Scientific Writing. [1]
How the programme is taught
The internship is a required part of the degree and leads to the master's thesis. [2] In the 2022/23 plan, internship credits ran across both years and the experimental thesis was worth 11 CFU. The thesis comes from research in UPO laboratories or in qualified companies and institutions that have an agreement with the university, and you write and present it in English. [1] Erasmus destinations include Nice, Marburg, Lisbon, Valladolid, Tarragona, La Laguna, Patras and Wroclaw. [2]
Career paths
The School of Medicine lists these outlets for graduates: [2]
- PhD and postdoctoral research
- Medical biotechnologist in research institutions
- Biologist in the health system, after the state examination
- Researcher in biotech and pharmaceutical companies
- Data manager, study coordinator or clinical trial assistant in clinical trials and contract research organisations
Fees and scholarships
UPO links its fee bands to family income (ISEE), and students without an ISEE pay the highest band. Programmes can be tuition-free for eligible students. [5]
The regional scholarship body is EDISU Piemonte. First-year students who are found eligible for an EDISU grant can ask for the first instalment to be refunded, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The region decides scholarship awards. [5]
How to apply from outside the EU
The course is open access, so there is no entrance selection, but applicants need to meet the degree and English B2 requirements and sit the level test. [1][2] International applicants living outside Italy apply through UPO's online application form. The didactic committee pre-evaluates each file, and applicants who pass receive an acceptance letter, then complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for the type D study visa. [3]
For 2026/27, the application window ran from 25 February to 4 June 2026, and UPO's Universitaly pre-enrolment deadline is 30 November 2026. Your degree needs a CIMEA statement or a declaration of value, and enrolment is finalised only after UPO has verified your documents. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [3][4]
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 UPO's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, pre-evaluation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your EDISU Piemonte 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 UPO's Medical Biotechnology master?
A degree of a biological, biotechnological or medical and health type. Italian classes in Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technical Health Professions qualify, and foreign degrees recognised as suitable are considered, with core knowledge of anatomy, biochemistry, biology, molecular biology and genetics. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
There is no entrance selection, as the course is open access. International files are pre-evaluated by the didactic committee, and a level test then checks biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology and anatomy. In 2025/26 it was held on 21 October and 16 December 2025. [2][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher. The official pages ask for a B2 certificate but do not list specific tests or scores, so we check which proof your file can use. Holders of an Italian residence permit valid for at least one year do not need it. [1][4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, international applicants living outside Italy applied between 25 February and 4 June 2026 through UPO's online form, and UPO's Universitaly deadline is 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [3][4]
I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Microbiology. Can I apply?
Possibly. Pharmaceutical sciences is one of the listed Italian degree classes, and microbiology is a biological degree, but a foreign degree is judged on its subjects. The committee looks for solid anatomy, biochemistry, biology, molecular biology and genetics. [1][3]
Which curricula can I choose?
The 2026/27 programme page lists four: The Molecular Basis of Disease; System Biomedicine; Cell Therapy, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine; and Project Managing, Clinical Trials and Technology Transfer. [2]
Where are classes held?
In Novara, at the School of Medicine's Perrone campus on Via Perrone. The 2022/23 regulations require attendance at 70% of classroom hours and 75% of laboratory activities. [1][2]
What careers does it lead to?
The School of Medicine lists PhD and postdoctoral research, medical biotechnologist roles in research institutions, biologist in the health system after the state exam, researcher in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and data manager, study coordinator or clinical trial assistant roles. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Medical Biotechnology at UPO?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UPO's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the EDISU Piemonte 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 Medical Biotechnology?
A three-year Indian B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, a B.Sc. in Biology or Life Sciences, or a B.Pharm can fit the degree rule, and you also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, the committee pre-evaluation and acceptance letter, then Universitaly pre-enrolment. A level test in core biology subjects follows. [1][3] 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 Medical Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, pre-evaluation, acceptance letter 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 Medical Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, pre-evaluation, acceptance letter 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 Medical Biotechnology 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, pre-evaluation, acceptance letter 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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