Master in Molecular Biology of the Cell at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-6 R master at the University of Milan in molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, structural and cell biology and bioinformatics, with a year-long lab thesis. Entry needs biology credits, English at B2 and an interview.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Molecular Biology of the Cell is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-6 R) taught in English at the University of Milan. Entry needs a bachelor's with enough credits in biology, chemistry and maths, physics or computer science, English at B2 and an interview scored with your grades, with 60 out of 100 to pass. Scholarship winners pay no second instalment, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Molecular Biology of the Cell master asks for a bachelor's degree with enough credits in biology, chemistry and maths, physics or computer science (usually at least 90 for other degrees and foreign qualifications), English at B2 and an admission interview, with at least 60 points out of 100 overall. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
A full bachelor's degree is needed: the programme requires 180 credits for admission. Graduates in Biological Sciences (class L-13) from an Italian university that follows the CBUI guidelines meet the curricular requirements in full. [1]
Other graduates, including holders of a foreign qualification recognised as suitable, must hold an adequate number of credits, usually no less than 90, across these areas: [1]
- Non-biological basics: chemistry (CHIM/01 to 03 and CHIM/06), mathematics (MAT/01 to 09), physics (FIS/01 to 08) and computer science (INF/01).
- Biological basics and core subjects: botany, plant physiology, zoology, comparative anatomy and ecology (BIO/01, 02 and 04 to 07), physiology and biochemistry (BIO/09 and 10), and molecular biology, genetics and microbiology (BIO/11, 18 and 19).
As a reference, the CBUI guidelines recommend 66 to 96 credits in biology (18 to 27 in botany, zoology or ecology, 18 to 24 in physiology or biochemistry and 30 to 45 in molecular biology, genetics or microbiology), 12 to 15 in chemistry and 15 to 18 in maths, physics or computer science. Italian Biotechnology graduates (class L-2) need at least 57 credits in the biological areas. [1]
Missing credits can be earned by passing the relevant exams at the University of Milan or another university before the application deadline. Only applicants who meet the requirements are invited to the interview. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as Italian credits, and the committee looks at the subjects behind them. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Life Sciences, Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Genetics, where biology courses are joined by chemistry and some maths, physics or statistics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Chemistry, where the biology credits in physiology, genetics, molecular biology and microbiology may not be enough on their own.
- Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or another engineering field, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, where biology credits are few or missing.
English
English at CEFR level B2 (upper-intermediate) or equivalent certification is required for all students. The committee checks your scientific English during the interview. The programme documents do not list specific test scores. [1]
All teaching, the thesis and its oral presentation are in English. [1]
Interview and selection
Admission is open, subject to entry requirements. An Evaluation Committee reviews your bachelor's study programme and interviews you on molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry and physiology. The interview can be held online, and a syllabus is shared beforehand for self-assessment. [1]
You are scored out of 100: [1]
- 25 points: graduation grade, or the average of your exams if you have not graduated yet.
- 10 points: your academic record, with more points for more biology credits, extra electives or Erasmus experience.
- 65 points: the interview.
You need at least 60 out of 100 and English at B2. For 2026/27, 25 places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
Applications opened on 22 January 2026. Non-EU citizens applying for a visa, not resident in Italy and holding a foreign bachelor's degree, had to apply by 30 April 2026 and were interviewed online on 27 February, 20 March, 8 April, 22 April, 6 May or 27 May 2026. [1][2]
EU applicants, and foreign students living in Italy, applied by 25 August 2026 for an interview on 7 September 2026. Visa applicants also had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. Enrolment ran from 5 May 2026 to 15 January 2027. [1][2]
Students still finishing a degree could apply if they graduated by 31 December 2026. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Documents and non-EU steps
With a foreign degree you apply online by the deadline. You upload: [2]
- your degree certificate, in Italian, English, French, German or Spanish;
- a Diploma Supplement or a transcript showing courses, marks, credits and the grading system;
- your passport or a valid ID.
To finalise enrolment you provide your bachelor's degree legalised or apostilled, your high school diploma, an official Italian translation where needed, a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, 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. [2]
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 (course regulations), Master's degree in Molecular Biology of the Cell (LM-6 R), students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Admission notice, Master's degree in Molecular Biology of the Cell (LM-6 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Molecular Biology of the Cell programme page: language, location, admission dates and career outlets, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Fees for the current academic year 2026/27, with the annex of country groups. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Regulation on tuition and fees, academic year 2025/26, annex listing programmes by tuition area. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Molecular Biology of the Cell is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree in class LM-6 R (biology), taught in English by the Department of Biosciences of the University of Milan. [1][3] Classes are held in person on the Città Studi campus, in the biology buildings at Via Celoria 26, the teaching centre at Via Celoria 20 and Via Golgi 19. [1]
The degree trains biologists for advanced biomolecular research. It covers genome analysis, gene regulation, macromolecular structures, cell signalling, metabolic regulation, biomolecular engineering, bioinformatics and biostatistics, with applications in the pharmaceutical and agri-food sectors. It suits graduates in biology or biotechnology who plan a research career in a lab. [1]
What you will study
The first year pairs six compulsory units with three guided-choice units, one from each of three lists, with options such as Synthetic Biology, Functional Genomics, Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Biostatistics, Signal Transduction or Stem Cells and Genetic Diseases. You also take 6 ECTS of soft skills, and international students can cover 3 of them with Italian at A2. Compulsory units include: [1]
- Advanced Molecular Biology
- Molecular Bioinformatics
- Organic Chemistry Applied to Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Protein Biochemistry
- Structural Biology of the Cell
- Biomolecular Methods Laboratory (9 ECTS, second year)
How the programme is taught
Attendance is strongly recommended. The second year is mostly research: after a 9 ECTS laboratory training period you carry out an original project in a lab for about nine to ten months, which leads to a 30 ECTS dissertation. The thesis and its oral presentation are both in English. You also choose 12 ECTS of electives from across the university. Erasmus+ exchanges are possible, and through the 4EU+ alliance you can earn up to 12 ECTS by following courses online at partner universities such as Charles University Prague, Sorbonne Université and Heidelberg University. [1]
Career paths
The university describes three profiles: biologist, molecular biologist, and researcher or technician in the biological sciences. Graduates can sit the Italian state exam to practise as a biologist, or continue to a PhD or a specialisation school. Employers include: [1][3]
- Universities and public or private research institutes
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agri-food industries
- Quality control laboratories
- Environmental protection bodies
- Scientific publishing
Fees and scholarships
This master is in tuition Area B. [5] For 2026/27, students who could not obtain an ISEE because their family income and assets are abroad paid a fixed second instalment by country group, with the lowest rate for Group A, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Every student also pays a first instalment. [4]
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. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
Your graduation grade, CV and an interview decide admission, and you need at least 60 points out of 100. [1] For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants applied online from 22 January to 30 April 2026 and were interviewed online on set dates between February and May. 25 places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Visa applicants also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which we submit for you, by 31 July (for 2026/27). Admitted students then apply for a type D study visa. To finalise enrolment you provide your bachelor's degree legalised or apostilled, with a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, 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 admission application 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 Molecular Biology of the Cell at Milan?
A bachelor's in Biological Sciences, or another degree with enough credits, usually at least 90, across biology, chemistry and maths, physics or computer science. Missing credits can be earned through single exams before the application deadline. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. An Evaluation Committee interviews you on molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry and physiology, online for visa applicants. Your grade counts for 25 points, your record for 10 and the interview for 65, and you need 60 out of 100. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or an equivalent certificate. The programme documents do not list specific test scores, and the committee checks your scientific English at the interview. All teaching and the thesis are in English. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants living abroad applied by 30 April 2026, were interviewed online between February and May, and had 25 reserved places. Universitaly pre-enrolment closed on 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, students could apply if they graduated by 31 December 2026. Until then, your average exam grade replaces the graduation grade in the 25-point score. [1][2]
I have a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology. Can I apply?
Possibly. What counts is your credits in botany, zoology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and microbiology, plus chemistry and maths or physics, usually at least 90 in total. Engineering-heavy biotechnology degrees can fall short. We check your transcript against the list. [1]
How do the fees work?
For 2026/27, students with family income abroad paid a first instalment and a second instalment fixed by country group, with the lowest rate in Group A, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Scholarship winners get a waiver on the second instalment, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [4][5]
What can I do after graduating?
Graduates work as biologists, molecular biologists or researchers in universities, research institutes, pharmaceutical, biotech and agri-food companies and quality control labs. They can sit the Italian state exam for biologists or continue to a PhD. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Molecular Biology of the Cell 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 Molecular Biology of the Cell?
A B.Sc. in Life Sciences, Zoology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Genetics, or a Biotechnology degree, can meet the rule if your courses add up to about 90 credits across biology, chemistry and maths, physics or computer science. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, an online interview where you need 60 out of 100, 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 of the Cell are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, an online interview 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 of the Cell are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, an online interview 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 of the Cell 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, an online interview 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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