Master in Neuroscience at University of Palermo
Two-year English-taught LM-6 R master's at the University of Palermo in neuroscience and neurobiology, with a 14 CFU internship and a nine-month laboratory thesis. Entry needs a biology, biotechnology, pharmacy or medicine degree, B2 English, a biology quiz and an interview.
Master
2 years
Palermo
English
University of Palermo
Neuroscience is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-6 R) taught in English at the University of Palermo in Palermo. Entry needs a degree in biological sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy or medicine with at least 60 credits in set areas, English at B2, and, for 2026/27, an online biology quiz and an interview. For 2026/27, non-EU students paid a fixed fee by country list or an income-based fee.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Palermo's Neuroscience master asks for a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy or medicine with at least 60 credits in set subject areas, English at B2, and, for 2026/27, a pass in an online biology quiz followed by an interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 60-credit rule
These rules come from the 2025/26 course regulations, which the programme still applies. [1] Italian bachelor's degrees in class L-2 (Biotechnology) or L-13 (Biological Sciences) meet the curricular requirements. A foreign degree is assessed by converting its credits, and it, like any other three-year degree, must include at least 60 CFU across two groups: [1]
- At least 24 CFU in biology and medical subjects: sectors BIO/01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19, and MED/01, 03, 04, 07, 08, 26, 36, 37, 39 and 48.
- At least 18 CFU in physics, computing, maths, chemistry or statistics: sectors FIS/01 to 08, INF/01, ING-INF/05, MAT/01 to 09 and CHIM/01 to 12, plus the statistics and other sectors listed in the regulations.
For 2026/27, the programme adds that applicants with degrees outside biological sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy or medicine are not admitted and their applications are rejected automatically. [2]
You must meet the requirements by 30 September, or by the last date set for the requirements check. If your credits fall short, the committee evaluates your record individually, and you can make up missing credits before enrolment by passing single course exams. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Biology, Life Sciences, Zoology, Microbiology or Biochemistry that also covers chemistry and some maths, physics or statistics.
- Check carefully: a B.Pharm or an MBBS. Pharmacy and medicine are accepted fields, but check that your transcript shows 18 credits in physics, maths, chemistry, computing or statistics alongside the 24 in biology and medicine.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Physics, Psychology or Computer Science, a BCA, a B.Tech outside biotechnology, or a B.Com or BBA, since the 2026/27 notice rejects degrees outside the four accepted fields.
English
English at B2, written and spoken. The regulations allow it to be shown by your academic record, an internationally recognised certificate such as IELTS, or a UniPa English test before the interview, and native speakers are exempt. [1] For non-EU applications, UniPa asks for an official certificate at B2 or higher, or a Medium of Instruction certificate from your previous institution. [3]
For 2026/27, the programme approves only IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, Pearson or Medium of Instruction certificates. EF tests and Duolingo are not accepted, and the office checks each certificate is genuine. The programme does not state minimum scores. [2]
To graduate you need English at C1 and basic Italian. [1]
Biology quiz and interview
For 2026/27, the programme added an online multiple-choice quiz on UniPa's Moodle platform: 30 general biology questions, a pass mark of 18 out of 30 and two attempts. The notice gives a time limit of five minutes. The quiz does not replace the interview. [2]
If you pass, you are invited to an interview that assesses your English, the quiz topics, your academic qualifications and your CV. [2] The regulations require every candidate with a foreign degree to pass this interview with the teaching committee, and UniPa's procedure makes passing it a condition for completing enrolment. [1][3]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants who need a visa had to create their UniPa portal application by 20 July 2026 and their Universitaly application by 4 August 2026, and complete visa procedures by 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [3]
Documents and non-EU steps
- An enrolment application on the UniPa student portal with your passport, a passport photo, your bachelor's degree, your transcript of records, your English certificate and your CV. The office checks the documents, then the course coordinator evaluates your academic record. [3]
- An admission letter from the course coordinator, then the quiz and the personal knowledge interview. The admission letter alone does not secure enrolment or a visa. [2][3]
- Universitaly pre-enrolment with the same documents. The International Office forwards only applications with an admission letter to the embassy. [3]
- At enrolment, the originals of your degree and transcript with a legalised Italian or English translation, plus a declaration of value, a CIMEA statement of comparability, or a Diploma Supplement or ARDI verified by CIMEA, and proof that you applied for a residence permit. [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 Palermo, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.). Teaching regulations of the Master's degree in Neuroscience (LM-6), 2025/26 cohort. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Neuroscience degree programme. Admission requirements and enrolment notice for academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, International Students Office. Enrolment procedure for non-EU students, master's degree courses, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, Neuroscience degree programme. Course units, first year 2026/27 and second year 2025/26 study plans. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Palermo, International Students Office. Tuition fees, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Neuroscience is a two-year master's degree in class LM-6 R (biology), worth 120 ECTS. It sits with the Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.) in the School of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Palermo, and UniPa lists it among its English-taught international master's degrees for 2026/27, with open access and in-person teaching in Palermo.
The degree trains experts in neuroscience and neurobiology. It suits graduates who want a research career on the nervous system, including roles in research divisions that develop new drugs and technologies.
What you will study
The programme prepares specialists who can work on new drugs and new bioengineering technologies for managing, diagnosing and treating diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. Basic disciplines account for 48 credits: biochemistry, anatomy and physiology of the nervous system lead into neuropathology, neuropharmacology and advanced clinical diagnostics, with a computational strand on information processing in neuroscience. [1]
First-year units for students enrolling in 2026/27: [4]
- Biochemistry and Physiology (11 CFU)
- Cell Biology and Anatomy (12 CFU)
- Neuroanatomy, Nervous Organogenesis and Neurophysiology (10 CFU)
- Neuropathology and Neurology (9 CFU)
- Information Processing Systems in Neuroscience (6 CFU)
- Neuropharmacology (5 CFU)
In the current second-year plan (2025/26 cohort), students take Clinical Neuropsychiatry and Rehabilitation Techniques (9 CFU), Medical Advanced Diagnostics in Neuroscience (7 CFU) and Psychobiology and Clinical Biochemistry (8 CFU), then a 14 CFU internship and a 12 CFU thesis. Optional language units cover English at C1 and Italian at A1 and A2. [4]
How the programme is taught
Teaching is entirely in English and takes place in person in Palermo. Attendance at lectures and classroom exercises is compulsory, and you can miss no more than 30% of the hours. The second year includes a single 14 CFU internship of 500 hours, which you can start once you have passed at least three first-year exams. [1]
The thesis is experimental: you spend at least nine months in a university laboratory, then write and defend in English a paper structured like an original research article. To graduate you also need English at C1 and basic Italian, and UniPa runs courses for both. A partnership with the University of Rzeszow can host second-year students for laboratory placements and the thesis. [1]
Career paths
UniPa describes graduates as experts in neuroscience and neurobiology and as managers in research divisions that create new drugs and new bioengineering technologies for diseases of the nervous system. The profiles it points to are:
- Expert in neuroscience and neurobiology
- Manager in research divisions that develop new drugs
- Manager in research divisions that develop bioengineering technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system diseases
Fees and scholarships
The same fee rules apply to all UniPa degrees. For 2026/27, non-EU students residing abroad can pay a fixed amount based on their country list or an income-based fee worked out with an ISEE parificato (fees page). [5] ERSU Palermo gives regional scholarships on merit and family income; UniPa lists a tuition fee waiver among their benefits.
How to apply from outside the EU
We start on the UniPa student portal, uploading your passport, a photo, your bachelor's degree and transcript, a CV and an English B2 or Medium of Instruction certificate. After the office's check, the course coordinator carries out the academic evaluation, may issue an admission letter and then holds a personal knowledge interview on your preparation, motivation and English. [3] For 2026/27 the programme added an online quiz of 30 general biology questions before the interview, with a pass mark of 18 out of 30. [2]
Universitaly pre-enrolment and a type D study visa follow; the consulate decides the visa. For 2026/27 the deadlines were 20 July 2026 on the portal and 4 August 2026 on Universitaly, with visa procedures to be completed by 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [3] Enrolment documents are in the non-EU master's procedure.
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 Palermo's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your UniPa portal application and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your ERSU Palermo 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 Neuroscience master at Palermo?
A degree in biological sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy or medicine. Italian classes L-2 and L-13 qualify directly. A foreign degree is checked for 60 credits, with at least 24 in biology and medicine and 18 in physics, maths, chemistry, computing or statistics. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
For 2026/27, yes: an online quiz of 30 general biology questions, with a pass mark of 18 out of 30 and two attempts. If you pass, an interview assesses your English, the quiz topics, your academic record and your CV. [2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
B2. For 2026/27 the programme accepts IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, Pearson or a Medium of Instruction certificate, but not EF tests or Duolingo, and it does not set minimum scores. You need C1 English by graduation. [1][2]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants had until 20 July 2026 on the UniPa portal and 4 August 2026 on Universitaly, with visa procedures due by 30 November 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [3]
Can I apply before I graduate?
The regulations ask you to meet the entry requirements by 30 September, or by the last date set for the requirements check. The non-EU application asks for a copy of your bachelor's degree, so we check what your file can use before you apply. [1][3]
I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Psychology. Can I apply?
Pharmacy is one of the four accepted fields, so a B.Pharm can qualify if your transcript shows the 24 biology and 18 science credits. Psychology is not among them, and the 2026/27 notice says such applications are rejected automatically. [1][2]
Do I need to speak Italian?
Not to start. Teaching, the thesis and its defence are in English. You need basic Italian to graduate. The study plan includes optional Italian units at A1 and A2, and UniPa runs Italian courses for foreign students. [1][4]
What jobs does it lead to?
Graduates work in research and development in hospitals, research institutes, pharmaceutical and biotech companies and start-ups creating neurological drugs, or in firms building databases, software and apps for diagnosing nervous system diseases. Academic and industrial research are the main paths. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Neuroscience at Palermo?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Palermo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ERSU Palermo 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 Neuroscience?
A recognised three-year Indian bachelor's in biological sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy or medicine, such as a B.Sc. in Biotechnology or Life Sciences or a B.Pharm, can meet the degree rule if it has the 60 required credits, and you need English at B2. The steps are the UniPa portal application, an admission letter, the biology quiz and interview, and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2][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 Neuroscience are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: UniPa portal application, admission letter, biology quiz and 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 Neuroscience are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: UniPa portal application, admission letter, biology quiz and 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 Neuroscience 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: UniPa portal application, admission letter, biology quiz and 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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