Master in Molecular Biology and Genetics at University of Pavia
Two-year English-taught LM-6-R master's at the University of Pavia in molecular biology, genetics and omics data, with a lab-based and a digital biology curriculum and a 30 to 36 ECTS thesis internship. Entry needs a life science degree and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Pavia
English
University of Pavia
Molecular Biology and Genetics is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-6-R) taught in English at the University of Pavia. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years in biology, biotechnology or a related field, a committee review and an online oral exam, plus English at B2. Fees can follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Pavia's Molecular Biology and Genetics master asks for a bachelor's of at least three years in biology, biotechnology or a related field, with credits in biology, chemistry and maths or physics, English at B2, a committee review of your degree and an online oral exam in English. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree of at least three years in biology, biotechnology or a related programme, or an equivalent foreign qualification that the evaluation committee judges suitable. You also need good knowledge of biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology and molecular biology. [1][2]
Degrees outside the Italian biology and biotechnology classes must include at least: [1]
- 9 CFU in maths, physics or bioinformatics (sectors MATH-03/A, MATH-05/A, PHYS-01/A and IBIO-01/A).
- 12 CFU in biology: cytology and anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, applied biology, pharmacology, genetics and microbiology (sectors BIOS-04/A, 06/A, 07/A, 08/A, 10/A, 11/A, 14/A and 15/A).
- 9 CFU in chemistry: general and inorganic, organic and pharmaceutical chemistry (sectors CHEM-03/A, 05/A and 07/A).
For the Molecular Life Sciences curriculum, these applicants must also show 12 CFU in maths, physics and computer science, 15 in chemistry, 18 in biomolecular sciences and 12 in other biological subjects. A committee reviews every foreign curriculum, and for non-EU degrees it can count equivalent hours of study instead of ECTS. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit: one CFU stands for about 25 hours of student work, and the committee looks at your subjects and how they fit together, not just your total. [1] As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a three-year B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Genetics that includes chemistry and some maths, physics or bioinformatics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. with a Chemistry, Botany and Zoology combination, or a B.Tech in Biotechnology. The university lists zoology, botany, chemistry and engineering degrees as usually not suitable, so these depend on how much molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics your transcript shows.
- Often short: a B.Pharm, MBBS, BDS, B.Sc. Nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory or nutrition degree. The university lists pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, laboratory sciences and nutrition degrees as usually not suitable.
If your preparation is judged not fully adequate, the committee can ask you to pass bachelor's-level examinations before the enrolment deadline. [1][2]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, checked during the oral admission exam. A certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL is not required to apply, and you can attach one if you have it. [1][2]
Some Italian embassies ask for an English certificate before they accept pre-enrolment and visa applications. As a reference, the university still quotes minimum grades from 2019/20: IELTS 6, TOEFL 78, TOLIMO 600 and FCE 169. [2]
Committee review and oral exam
An appointed committee reviews your qualification and selects candidates on their bachelor's degree and academic career, and may consider your CGPA. Candidates with a suitable background then sit an oral exam in English, held online, on basic biology: biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology and molecular biology. [1][2]
Two reference letters form part of the file. Referees score you from 0 to 5 on theoretical knowledge, motivation, communication, technical ability and flexibility. [2]
2027/28 application windows
For 2027/28, the university's admissions portal lists these windows for applicants with a foreign degree, with studies starting on 14 September 2027: [2]
- 12 to 18 November 2026, open to EU and non-EU applicants
- 12 to 20 January 2027, open to EU and non-EU applicants
- 12 to 22 March 2027, open to non-EU applicants living abroad only if places remain
A June 2027 window is listed but marked as not applicable, and the September 2027 window is only for EU citizens and non-EU applicants living in Italy. Each deadline closes at 23:59:59 Central European Time, and reference letters must arrive by the deadline of the window you apply in. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs: [2]
- A valid passport, preferably with at least two years left, or an ID card
- A CV in English in Europass format
- Your transcript in English or Italian (Spanish and French are also accepted) with exams, marks, credits, final mark and an explanation of the grading system, plus your degree certificate if available
- A list of your relevant exams in biology, maths, physics or bioinformatics, and chemistry, on the university's form
- Two reference letters, requested through the form from referees with an official university or institute email
- A short motivation letter, written in the form
- Your choice of curriculum: Molecular Life Sciences or Molecular and Digital Biology
Non-EU applicants also need official recognition of their qualification by an Italian authority in their home country, then Universitaly pre-enrolment and a student visa, which takes time. [2] Students with a foreign qualification take a 3 CFU Italian course in the first year 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 Biology and Biotechnology Lazzaro Spallanzani. Course regulations, Master's degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics (LM-6), entering class 2026/2027, with study plans. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia, international admissions portal. Master's degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics: entry requirements, documents and application calls, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia, Molecular Biology and Genetics programme page (degree class, language, access, curricula and department), 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia. Fees regulation, academic year 2026/2027, including flat-rate brackets for non-EU students. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pavia, Molecular Biology and Genetics annual degree programme report, 2026/27 (professional profile and career outlets). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Molecular Biology and Genetics is a two-year master's degree in the biology class, LM-6-R, run by the Department of Biology and Biotechnology Lazzaro Spallanzani at the University of Pavia. [1][3]
It is full time, taught entirely in English on campus in Pavia and worth 120 ECTS, with open access and a set number of seats for non-EU applicants living abroad. [2][3]
The degree gives advanced training in biology at the molecular level, with theory and methods for both basic and applied research.
It covers biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and microbiology, the links between molecular structures and biological functions, and genomics and proteomics. It suits biology and biotechnology graduates who want a research career in the life sciences.
What you will study
Two curricula share core units in advanced molecular biology, bioinformatics and molecular pharmacology. Molecular Life Sciences is laboratory based and studies biological systems through genetic, biomolecular, biochemical and cellular methods.
Molecular and Digital Biology focuses on omics data and the analysis of large datasets. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include:
- Advanced Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
- Human Molecular Genetics (Molecular Life Sciences)
- Methods in Biochemistry (Molecular Life Sciences)
- Developmental Biology (Molecular Life Sciences)
- Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Molecular Life Sciences)
- Statistics and Big Data Analysis (Molecular and Digital Biology)
- Genomics and Evolution in Emerging Infectious Diseases (Molecular and Digital Biology)
How the programme is taught
Research work sits at the centre of both curricula. In Molecular Life Sciences the internship for the experimental thesis runs across both years, 14 ECTS in the first and 22 in the second.
In Molecular and Digital Biology it is a 30 ECTS second-year project in computational analysis of omics data. Both are supervised by a University of Pavia teacher, and the thesis is written and defended in English. [1]
Pavia students can spend 3 to 10 months abroad, extendable to 12, through Erasmus or other exchange schemes. The degree has no double-degree agreements. [1]
Students with a foreign degree take a 3 ECTS Italian Language for Foreign Students course, unless they show Italian at B1 or above. [1]
Career paths
The university names academia and research organisations, the health sector, biotech companies, agribusiness research, the media and teaching as destinations. [2] Its official list of outlets for 2026/27 is: [5]
- Molecular biologist in basic and applied research, in public or private laboratories
- Big data analysis for business and the public sector
- Scientific innovation and technology development in molecular biology
- Teaching and science communication
- Biopharmaceutical and international regulatory work
- PhD programmes and second-level professional masters
Fees and scholarships
For fee purposes this is a science degree.
If you do not provide family income documents, the 2026/27 flat rate for non-EU students depends on citizenship, across three brackets. Bracket 1 includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. [4]
With documents, the fee is based on an equivalent ISEE, and up to €32,000 students are exempt from the all-inclusive fee for the normal length of the degree plus one year, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The regional tax and stamp duty are still due. [4]
The EDiSU Pavia scholarship requires this income-based route.
How to apply from outside the EU
Besides your passport and transcript, this degree asks for a CV in Europass format, a list of your exams in biology, mathematics, physics, bioinformatics and chemistry, two reference letters sent by referees from institutional email addresses, and a short motivation letter. [2]
We apply on apply.unipv.eu. If the committee finds your degree suitable, you sit an online oral exam in English. [2]
For 2027/28, non-EU applicants living abroad can apply from 12 to 18 November 2026 or 12 to 20 January 2027, and from 12 to 22 March 2027 only if places remain. Studies start on 14 September 2027. [2]
Admitted non-EU students complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment and request a type D study visa, which the consulate decides and which can take time, so we start early.
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 two reference letters, the committee review and oral exam, 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 Pavia's Molecular Biology and Genetics master?
A bachelor's of at least three years in biology, biotechnology or a related programme that the committee judges suitable. Other degrees need at least 9 credits in maths, physics or bioinformatics, 12 in biology and 9 in chemistry, and the Molecular Life Sciences curriculum asks for more. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes. A committee first reviews your degree and academic career, and may consider your CGPA. If your background is suitable, you sit an online oral exam in English on biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology and molecular biology. [2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, checked during the oral admission exam. IELTS or TOEFL is not required to apply, but some embassies ask for a certificate for pre-enrolment and the visa, so we check whether your file needs one. [2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2027/28, non-EU applicants living abroad can apply from 12 to 18 November 2026 or from 12 to 20 January 2027. A third window, 12 to 22 March 2027, opens to them only if places remain. Studies start on 14 September 2027. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. The application asks for your degree certificate only if available, so you can apply with your transcript so far. Admission needs a completed bachelor's, and you submit your original documents to finalise enrolment. [1][2]
I have a B.Sc. in Zoology, a B.Pharm or a B.Tech. Can I apply?
Usually not. The university lists zoology, botany, chemistry, pharmacy, engineering, medicine, nursing and nutrition degrees as usually not suitable, though other degrees are judged one by one. A B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Life Sciences is closer to the biology or biotechnology degree the programme asks for. [2]
What is the difference between the two curricula?
Molecular Life Sciences is laboratory based, with a 36 ECTS thesis internship across both years. Molecular and Digital Biology focuses on omics data, bioinformatics and statistics, with a 30 ECTS thesis internship in the second year. [1]
How do fees work for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU students could pay a flat rate set by citizenship, or an income-based fee, where the all-inclusive fee is zero up to an equivalent ISEE of €32,000. Regional tax and stamp duty are still due. [4]
Can someone handle my whole application to Molecular Biology and Genetics 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 Molecular Biology and Genetics?
A recognised three-year Indian bachelor's in biology, biotechnology or a related life science, such as a B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Microbiology or Biochemistry, can meet the rule if it covers the biology, chemistry and maths or physics credits. You also need English at B2, checked in an online oral exam. The steps are the online application with two reference letters, the committee review and oral exam, 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 Molecular Biology and Genetics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the committee's review and online oral exam, 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 Molecular Biology and Genetics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the committee's review and online oral exam, 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 Molecular Biology and Genetics 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 committee's review and online oral exam, 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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