Master in Molecular Biotechnology at University of Turin
Two-year English-taught master's at the University of Turin with pathways in Biomedical Imaging and Drug Discovery or Molecular Computational and Translational Biotechnology, two internships and a two-part thesis. Entry needs 50 biology and chemistry credits, a high grade, a test and B2 English.
Master
2 years
Turin
English
University of Turin
Molecular Biotechnology is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-9 R) taught in English at the University of Turin. Entry needs a three-year bachelor's with 50 credits in biology and chemistry and 10 in quantitative subjects, a final grade of at least 9.3/10, a written test and English at B2. Fees for students living abroad depend on their country of residence, and it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Turin's Molecular Biotechnology master asks for a three-year bachelor's degree with at least 50 credits in biology and chemistry and 10 in quantitative subjects, a final grade of at least 9.3/10 of the maximum, a pass in a written test and English at B2. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree, credits and grade
You need a first-cycle (bachelor's) degree earned after at least three years of university study, or a recognised foreign equivalent. The programme committee decides whether a foreign degree is suitable. [1][2]
- Biology and chemistry: at least 50 CFU in sectors BIO/01, 05, 06, 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19, and CHIM/01, 02, 03, 06 and 08. [2]
- Quantitative subjects: at least 10 CFU in physics (FIS/01 to FIS/08), mathematics (MAT/01 to MAT/09), statistics (SECS-S/01, SECS-S/02 and MED/01) or computer science (INF/01). [2]
- Tolerance: the 2024/25 course regulations allow up to 5%, or 3 CFU. [3]
- Core exams: for 2026/27, Apply@UniTo asked for at least eight passed exams in mathematics, statistics, physics, general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology and genetics. [1]
- Final grade: for 2026/27, Apply@UniTo also asked for a final grade of at least 9.3/10 of the highest possible grade (102/110 for an Italian degree). [1]
If you miss a requirement, the programme committee may let you take single courses and pass their exams before you enrol, because enrolment with gaps is not allowed. [3]
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 of your exams as well as your grade. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, Microbiology or Life Sciences with chemistry and maths or statistics papers, if your final grade meets the 9.3/10 rule.
- Check carefully: a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Chemistry often has the chemistry credits but less cell and molecular biology, and a B.Sc. in Zoology or Botany covers biology but may be light on chemistry or maths.
- Often short: a B.Tech in Computer Science or Electronics, a BCA, B.Com or BBA rarely includes 50 credits in biology and chemistry.
The grade rule is demanding: 9.3/10 of the maximum means, for example, a CGPA of at least 9.3 on a 10-point scale. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by an international certificate no more than three years old. Accepted certificates and minimum scores for 2026/27: [1]
- IELTS: 5.5 overall, with no component below 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: 69 out of 120, with no component below 17
- PTE Academic: 65
- Cambridge First (FCE): 173
- Cambridge Advanced (CAE), Cambridge Proficiency (CPE) or Trinity ISE II
Because the whole degree is taught in English, the programme also asks you to declare at least B2 English when you enrol. [2]
Written test
Your preparation is checked with a written test before the academic year starts. [3]
- Subjects: general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology and molecular biology. [3]
- Format: held via the web, and candidates residing abroad can sit it online during the assessment windows. [1][3] In the 2024 session it had two parts of 30 multiple-choice questions, each with 30 minutes: biology (cell biology, molecular biology and genetics) and chemistry (inorganic, organic and biochemistry). [4]
- Exemption: under the 2024/25 regulations, graduates of Italian classes L-2 (biotechnology) or L-13 (biological sciences) with at least 102/110 skip the test. [3]
For 2026/27 the degree had 50 places for non-European applicants residing abroad. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
- Apply@UniTo for non-EU applicants living abroad: 25 November 2025 to 29 January 2026. [5]
- Universitaly pre-enrolment for the study visa: by 15 July 2026. [5]
You can apply before graduating by uploading an official certificate of enrolment in your final year and your score report so far, but you must hold the degree to enrol. [6] The next call sets the 2027/28 dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
Non-EU applicants living abroad apply on Apply@UniTo, where one €60 fee covers up to two programmes. [5]
- Your bachelor's degree certificate, obtained after at least 15 years of schooling in total, and a full transcript listing all exams, marks and hours or credits, both with proof of authenticity. A Diploma Supplement in the international format, with the full transcript, can replace both. [6]
- A CV and a motivation letter in English or Italian. [1][6]
- Proof of authenticity: legalisation, an apostille, an ENIC-NARIC statement of verification or an official digital verification service. [6]
- A CIMEA declaration of value or statement of comparability is optional but useful. [6]
- Documents in languages other than English, French, Italian or Spanish need a certified translation. [1][6]
After admission you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for one programme and choose the Italian embassy or consulate for your country of residence. Admission does not by itself secure the visa or enrolment. [5]
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 Turin. Apply@UniTo course page, Master's degree in Molecular Biotechnology, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences. Molecular Biotechnology programme page: access requirements and study plan, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin, Master's degree in Molecular Biotechnology. Teaching regulations, academic year 2024/25. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin, Master's degree in Molecular Biotechnology. Instructions for the admission test, 2024 session. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin. Application for international students (non-EU citizens residing abroad), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin. Required documents for international students, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin. Tuition fees for international students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin. Tuition fee exemptions, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin. Talents 4 UniTo: call for 40 scholarships for international students enrolling in English-taught master's degrees without restricted places, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Turin, School of Medicine. Study guide with access rules for the School's degree programmes, academic year 2023/24. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Molecular Biotechnology is a two-year master's degree in class LM-9-R, medical, veterinary and pharmaceutical biotechnology. It is worth 120 ECTS, taught in English and in person in Turin by the Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences. Access is open, and enrolment follows a check of your curriculum and a written test of your preparation by the course board. For 2026/27 it had 50 places for non-European applicants residing abroad. [1][2][10]
The degree aims to train graduates with a high level of competence in planning and developing biotechnology for human and animal health, both in science and in production. It suits graduates in biotechnology, biology, chemistry or related life sciences who want to work on diagnostics, drug discovery or genomics.
What you will study
You choose one of two pathways: Biomedical Imaging and Drug Discovery, or Molecular Computational and Translational Biotechnology. Both include biotech company management in the second year and a long list of electives, from CAR-T therapies to the hallmarks of ageing. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [2]
- Biomedical Imaging (11 ECTS, imaging and drug discovery pathway)
- Computational Genomics and Gene Networks (10 ECTS, imaging and drug discovery pathway)
- Principles of Drug Discovery and Advanced Drug Discovery (5 ECTS each)
- Genomics and Epigenomics (10 ECTS, computational and translational pathway)
- Functional Genomics (8 ECTS) and Programming Approaches for Bioinformatics (5 ECTS)
- Therapeutic Biotechnology (8 ECTS) and Pharmacology and Drug Therapies (8 ECTS)
- Biotech Company Management (4 ECTS)
- Electives such as Computational Drug Discovery, Genetic Models of Human Pathology and Image Analysis for Biotechnologists
How the programme is taught
Practical training runs through both years. Each year includes a 6 ECTS internship stage, and the thesis is split into two parts: 5 ECTS in the first year and 14 ECTS in the second, so you build your research project over time. International students can take a 2 ECTS Italian course at beginner or pre-intermediate level. [2]
Career paths
The degree prepares specialists in biotechnology applied to human and animal health, able to take part in both its scientific development and its production. The professional profiles listed on the Italian course page are:
- Biotechnologist
- Biochemist
- Biologist specialising in molecular biology
- Microbiologist
- Chemist and pharmaceutical technologist
The Biotech Company Management course adds a business view to the scientific training, and the two internship stages give practical experience before graduation.
Fees and scholarships
No programme-specific contribution applies on UniTo's list. If you reside abroad, the 2026/27 yearly contribution depends on the GDP per capita of your country of residence: €500 to €1,500 a year up to the second year beyond the standard length of the degree, plus a €156 first instalment for regional tax and stamp duty. [7] Students from the particularly poor countries on the ministry's list pay only the €156. EDISU Piemonte scholarship winners and eligible applicants have the regional tax refunded and do not pay the later instalments, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [8] For 2026/27, UniTo also funded 40 two-year Talents 4 UniTo scholarships of €10,000 a year for international students starting open-access master's taught in English, two of them for this degree. That call is closed. [9]
How to apply from outside the EU
We check your transcript against the credit and grade requirements first: the course board looks for at least 50 credits in biology and chemistry and 10 in quantitative subjects, and for 2026/27 Apply@UniTo asked for a final grade of at least 9.3/10 of the maximum. You then sit a written test, which applicants abroad can take online. [1][2][3] Non-EU applicants residing abroad apply on Apply@UniTo, with a €60 fee covering up to two programmes. For 2026/27 the master's call ran from 25 November 2025 to 29 January 2026. [5] You need your degree and transcript with proof of authenticity, a CV, a motivation letter and an English certificate. [1][6]
Once you are admitted, we complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment (by 15 July 2026 for 2026/27), and you apply for a study visa; the consulate decides. [5] The next call sets the 2027/28 dates.
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 Turin's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Apply@UniTo application 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 Turin's Molecular Biotechnology master?
A three-year bachelor's or recognised foreign equivalent with at least 50 credits in biology and chemistry subjects and 10 in maths, physics, statistics or computing. For 2026/27, Apply@UniTo also asked for at least eight passed exams across these core subjects. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes, a written test of your preparation in general, inorganic and organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology and molecular biology. Applicants living abroad can take it online. Under the 2024/25 regulations, only graduates of Italian classes L-2 or L-13 with at least 102/110 skip it. [1][3]
What minimum grade do I need?
For 2026/27, Apply@UniTo asked for a final grade of at least 9.3/10 of the highest possible grade, which is 102/110 for an Italian degree. On a 10-point CGPA scale that means 9.3 or above. We check how your marks compare before you apply. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2, shown by an international certificate no more than three years old. For 2026/27, accepted scores included IELTS 5.5 with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 69 with no section below 17, PTE Academic 65 and Cambridge First 173. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied on Apply@UniTo from 25 November 2025 to 29 January 2026, then completed Universitaly pre-enrolment by 15 July 2026. The next call sets the 2027/28 dates. [5]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. If you have not graduated when you apply, we upload an official certificate of enrolment in your final year and your score report so far. You must hold the degree to enrol, and the regulations do not allow enrolment with missing requirements. [3][6]
I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Chemistry. Can I apply?
Possibly. These degrees often have strong chemistry, and the rule counts biology and chemistry together towards the 50 credits, with 10 more in maths, physics or statistics and only 3 credits of tolerance. The 9.3/10 grade rule and the written test on biology and chemistry still apply. [1][3]
Which pathways can I choose?
Two: Biomedical Imaging and Drug Discovery, which covers imaging, computational genomics and drug discovery, and Molecular Computational and Translational Biotechnology, which covers genomics, epigenomics, bioinformatics and therapeutic biotechnology. Both include two internships and a two-part thesis. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Molecular Biotechnology at Turin?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Turin'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 Molecular Biotechnology?
A recognised Indian bachelor's of at least three years, such as a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology or a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, can fit if it has 50 credits in biology and chemistry, 10 in quantitative subjects and a final grade of at least 9.3/10. You also need English at B2 and the written test. The steps are an Apply@UniTo application, the written test 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 Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: an Apply@UniTo application, the written 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 Molecular Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: an Apply@UniTo application, the written test 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: an Apply@UniTo application, the written test 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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