Master in Neuroscience at University of Pisa
Two-year English-taught LM-6 master's in Pisa covering the nervous system from molecules and cells to circuits and cognition, with a large research thesis and a lab work placement. Entry needs 60 science credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Pisa
English
University of Pisa
Neuroscience is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-6) taught in English at the University of Pisa. Entry needs a biology bachelor's, or a degree with 60 credits in core sciences including 18 in physics, maths or chemistry and 24 in biology, plus English at B2. You pass an online pre-selection test and an interview. DSU Toscana winners are exempt from tuition, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Pisa's Neuroscience master asks for a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, or another degree with at least 60 ECTS in fundamental sciences, including 18 in physics, maths or chemistry and 24 in biology subjects, plus English at B2. Applicants with foreign qualifications pass an online pre-selection test and an interview in English. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 60-credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree in biological sciences (Italian class L-13) or a qualification obtained abroad and recognised as suitable. With a degree in another field, you need at least 60 ECTS in fundamental disciplines: physics, mathematics, chemistry, physiology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology or developmental biology. [3][4]
- At least 18 ECTS in physics, mathematics or chemistry.
- At least 24 ECTS in cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, molecular biology or developmental biology, spread over three different subject fields.
The programme regulations also count statistics and computer science towards the 18-credit group, and psychology, some medical sectors such as neurology, and bioengineering towards the biology group. [4]
If your transcript does not use ECTS, it must show the workload of each course. You must already hold your bachelor's degree when you apply. [2][3]
What this means for your transcript
The committee checks the subjects and credits on your transcript, not just your degree title. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Biology, Zoology, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Genetics or Biotechnology that also includes chemistry, maths or physics papers.
- Check carefully: a B.Pharm, a B.Tech in Biotechnology or Biomedical Engineering, a B.Sc. in Psychology, Physics or Chemistry, or a BPT. These often cover one block but can be short on the other: a physics or chemistry degree may lack 24 biology credits, and a psychology degree may lack 18 in physics, maths or chemistry.
- Often short: a B.Com, BBA, BA, or a B.Tech in Computer Science without biology courses.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. The admission committee assesses it during the interview, which is held in English, and English is the official language for all teaching and exams. [3] The department notes that non-EU students may be asked for an international English certificate, such as IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge, when they apply for their visa. [2]
Pre-selection test and interview
For 2026/27, every applicant had to pass a written pre-selection test held online on 6 February 2026. It could be taken once, at any time between 8:00 and 14:00, with a maximum time of six minutes. [2]
The admission committee then checks the curricular requirements of those who pass. Candidates who pass and meet the requirements are interviewed remotely on Microsoft Teams, with questions on the fundamentals in the admission syllabus. [2] The outcome is admission, non-admission or admission with conditions, in which case you take set teaching activities, up to 40 CFU, to fill gaps in specific disciplines. [2][4]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27 there was a single call for applicants with qualifications obtained abroad, open from 28 November 2025 to 5 February 2026. [1][2] Admission is valid only for the academic year of the call, so a student who cannot enrol in time must apply again the following year. The 2027/28 dates are set by the next call. [2]
Application and visa steps
You apply on the University of Pisa's portal for English-taught degree programmes. Each applicant can submit up to two applications, and each costs €30, paid on the portal before the application reaches the committee. The fee applies only to applicants with a foreign qualification. [1]
Admitted non-EU students complete enrolment following the department's procedure and submit their pre-enrolment request on Universitaly before applying for the visa. [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 Pisa, Department of Biology. Call for applications, Master's degree course in Neuroscience, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, Department of Biology. Neuroscience admission procedure for candidates with qualifications obtained abroad, with the 2026/27 call calendar. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, Department of Biology. Admission to the course: academic curriculum and admission test, Master's degree in Neuroscience, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, Neuroscience (class LM-6) programme page: admission requirements, 2026/27 study plan and career opportunities. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa. Tuition fees for degree courses, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Pisa, Department of Biology. Master's Degree Programme in Neuroscience home page, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Neuroscience is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-6, Biology) worth 120 ECTS, run by the Department of Biology of the University of Pisa and taught entirely in English. It has run since 2016/17 as a collaboration between the University of Pisa and the Scuola Normale Superiore, with the contribution of the Neuroscience Institute of Italy's National Research Council (CNR), and builds on a long tradition of brain research in Pisa. [6]
The course trains graduates to understand and investigate the nervous system experimentally, from molecules and cells to integrated circuits, in healthy conditions and in genetic or disease states. It is open to students from different backgrounds, not only biology, provided they can show solid preparation in the natural sciences.
What you will study
The first year builds a multidisciplinary base in neurobiology, quantitative reasoning and experimental methods, with three short electives. The second year is dominated by research. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include:
- Neurobiology I, II and III
- Development and differentiation of the nervous system, and Neurogenomics
- Neuropharmacology and biochemistry of signalling
- Mathematics for neurosciences
- Transgenic models and molecular methods for neurosciences, and Biotechnology for neurosciences
- Sensory and cognitive neuroscience
- Electives such as Human functional imaging, Neural stem cells, Environmental experience and brain plasticity, and Analysis of temporal series
How the programme is taught
Teaching combines lectures, tutorials and laboratory work, and a health and safety in the laboratory module is part of the plan. In the second year you complete a work placement and an experimental thesis, carried out in university laboratories, at the Scuola Normale Superiore or in partner research centres. The thesis is an original piece of work based on your own lab research.
Career paths
The department points graduates towards academic and industrial research, especially in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, and towards national and international PhD programmes in the neurosciences. Other routes include:
- Medical device companies working on diagnostics, rehabilitation and neuroprosthetics
- Clinical and research laboratories studying nervous system function
- Science communication and institutional communication
- The regulated profession of biologist in Italy, after passing the state exam
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27 international students admitted to Neuroscience could not receive a merit-based fee exemption, but every admitted student can compete for a DSU Toscana scholarship, whose winners are exempt from tuition. For 2026/27, the University of Pisa set a maximum of €2,900 a year for students with income abroad, with a flat rate by your country's income group (€290, €580, €1,160 or €2,900) or an individual amount based on an ISEEU parificato, plus a €140 regional tax. [5] With a DSU award, the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students. [1][2]
How to apply from outside the EU
Holders of foreign degrees apply on the University of Pisa's portal for English-taught degrees, paying €30 per application, and must already have their bachelor's degree. For 2026/27 the call ran from 28 November 2025 to 5 February 2026, followed by an online written pre-selection test on 6 February 2026 and a remote interview on Microsoft Teams. [1][2] The committee admits you, rejects you or admits you with extra credits to complete.
Once admitted, non-EU students pre-enrol on Universitaly and then apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 call has not been published yet.
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 Pisa's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application on Pisa's English-taught degree portal and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DSU Toscana 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 Pisa's Neuroscience master?
A biology bachelor's, or another degree with at least 60 ECTS in fundamental sciences: at least 18 in physics, maths or chemistry and at least 24 in cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, molecular or developmental biology. Non-ECTS transcripts must show each course's workload. [3][4]
Is there an entrance test?
Yes. For 2026/27 every applicant took a short online written pre-selection test on 6 February 2026, with six minutes to finish. Those who passed and met the credit rule were interviewed in English on Microsoft Teams. [2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. The committee assesses it during the English-language interview rather than by a set test score. The department notes that non-EU students may be asked for an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge certificate when applying for the visa, so we plan for one. [2][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, the single call for applicants with foreign qualifications ran from 28 November 2025 to 5 February 2026, with the pre-selection test on 6 February 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
No. You must already hold your bachelor's degree when you submit the application on the portal, and the department makes no exceptions. Admission is valid only for the academic year of the call. [2]
I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Psychology. Can I apply?
Possibly. A B.Pharm often has chemistry, physiology and biochemistry, but needs 24 ECTS across the listed biology subjects. A psychology degree may count some credits but is often short on the 18 in physics, maths or chemistry. We check your transcript subject by subject. [3][4]
How much are the fees?
For 2026/27 the maximum was €2,900 a year. Students with income abroad paid a flat rate by their country's income group, from €290 to €2,900, or an ISEEU parificato amount, plus a €140 regional tax. DSU Toscana winners are exempt from tuition. [1][5]
What careers does it lead to?
Graduates work in academic and industrial research, especially pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, in medical devices, diagnostics, neuroprosthetics and neuropsychology, in science communication, or continue to a PhD in the neurosciences. [4][6]
Can someone handle my whole application to Neuroscience at Pisa?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Pisa's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DSU Toscana 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?
An Indian B.Sc. in Zoology, Life Sciences, Biochemistry or Biotechnology often fits if it has at least 24 ECTS in core biology subjects and 18 in physics, maths or chemistry. You must already have graduated, then pass an online pre-selection test and an English interview at B2. The steps are the portal application, the admission letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [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: portal application, pre-selection test and interview, admission 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 Neuroscience are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: portal application, pre-selection test and interview, admission letter 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: portal application, pre-selection test and interview, admission letter 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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