Master in Neuroscience at University of Trieste
Two-year English-taught LM-6 R master's at the University of Trieste with SISSA, part of the Network of European Neuroscience Schools, with molecular and cognitive tracks and a lab placement of at least eight months. Entry needs a life-science degree or 60 set credits and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Trieste
English
University of Trieste
Neuroscience is a two-year, 120 CFU master's degree (class LM-6 R) taught in English at the University of Trieste, with lecturers from SISSA. Entry needs a biology or biotechnology degree, or 60 credits in set science groups, plus English at B2. Students living abroad pay a flat annual contribution, and with an ARDiS scholarship it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Trieste's Neuroscience master asks for a degree in biological sciences (L-13) or biotechnology (L-2), or at least 60 credits in three set subject groups, plus English at B2. With a degree mark of 99/110 or higher admission is automatic; otherwise the Programme Commission reviews your record, and applicants with degrees from outside Italy also take a knowledge assessment in neuroscience. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
The programme is open to graduates in Biological sciences (L-13) or Biotechnology (L-2), or equivalent qualifications. Otherwise you need at least 60 CFU across three groups: [1]
- At least 15 CFU in chemistry, maths, physics, computing or statistics: sectors CHIM/01 to CHIM/12, MAT/01 to MAT/09, FIS/01 to FIS/08, INF/01, MED/01 and SECS/01 to SECS/02.
- At least 20 CFU in biology, physiology, anatomy, histology, pathology or physiological psychology: sectors BIO/01, BIO/04 to BIO/07, BIO/09, BIO/16, BIO/17, MED/04, MED/08, M-PSI/02, VET/01 and VET/02.
- At least 25 CFU in biochemistry, molecular and applied biology, pharmacology, genetics or microbiology: sectors BIO/10 to BIO/14, BIO/18, BIO/19, MED/03, MED/07, AGR/07 and AGR/16.
If you do not meet these requirements, you may still be admitted after an individual assessment. You may then need to complete the missing CFU before enrolment, including by sitting specific exams. [1]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and foreign credits are not the same unit, and Trieste looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Biology, Zoology, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Microbiology or Biotechnology, or a B.Tech in Biotechnology with physiology and molecular biology.
- Check carefully: an MBBS, B.V.Sc. or physiotherapy degree, which usually covers the biology groups but can be light on chemistry, maths or physics, or a B.Pharm, which can be light on physiology and anatomy.
- Often short: a degree in Psychology, Physics, Computer Science or Engineering, which usually lacks the 25 CFU in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.
Missing credits can be made up before enrolment, including through specific exams, if the Commission allows it. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher, shown by official certification or a clear statement in your academic record. You can upload a statement from your university that explicitly gives the level reached during your bachelor's, or one of the certificates on the AICLU list. The page does not set specific test scores. [1]
If your level is not certified, you may reach it after enrolment through the University Language Centre. [1] The programme's core lecturers all hold at least C1 English. [2]
Selection and knowledge assessment
The 2026/27 admission page sets these rules: [1]
- With the curricular requirements and a degree mark of 99/110 or higher, you meet the admission requirements automatically.
- With a lower mark, the Programme Commission evaluates your curriculum and can admit you, reject your application or call you for an interview, in person or online.
- Applicants with a degree from outside Italy follow the international procedure. The Commission evaluates your curriculum studiorum, and you take a knowledge assessment in neuroscience set each year by the Academic Board.
- To register for the assessment, you upload an ID document, a self-declaration of your qualification with completed exams, the self-assessment questionnaire and your language certificate.
- All admission decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
2026/27 deadlines
- Visa applicants, qualification assessment on ApplyNow: 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, or 15 February to 30 April 2026. [4]
- EU and equivalent applicants with foreign qualifications: a third round until 2 October 2026. [4]
- Programme assessment requests: 20 April 2026 to 29 January 2027, including for students still graduating. [1]
- Enrolment: 20 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, a firm deadline. [1]
- Universitaly pre-enrolment: no deadline, but submitting early starts the visa process sooner. [4]
The 2027/28 dates are not yet published, and the next rounds set them. [1][4]
Documents and non-EU steps
- Visa applicants can enrol only on courses with places for them. The university's quota page, updated January 2026, lists 30 places for Neuroscience. [5]
- The qualification assessment on ApplyNow covers up to three programmes. [4]
- For a master's you need your bachelor's degree and a transcript of records with exams and marks, plus credits or hours where possible. EU degrees also need the Diploma Supplement, and a CIMEA statement of comparability may be requested in special cases. [4]
- Documents must be legalised or carry an apostille, and documents in other languages must be translated into Italian or English. No declaration of value is needed. [4]
- After a positive assessment, you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and apply for a type D study visa. You then enrol online, upload your residence permit or application receipt and pay the first fee instalment. [1][4]
- In the assessment, the university gives priority to candidates from its target countries: Albania, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Switzerland, Israel, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Vietnam, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. [4]
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 Trieste, Department of Life Sciences. How to apply: Master's degree in Neuroscience (class LM-6 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences. Master's degree in Neuroscience: course description, educational objectives, career prospects and final examination. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Neuroscience study plan, 2026/27 cohort. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Degree seekers and international students: qualification assessment rounds for academic year 2026/27, procedure for visa applicants and required documents. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Quotas for students applying for a visa, updated January 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trieste. Fee notice for bachelor's and master's degrees, academic year 2026/27, and the programme's university fees page. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Neuroscience is a two-year, 120 CFU master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-6 R, Biology) taught entirely in English by the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste, with lecturers from SISSA, the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste. Teaching is mainly in the classroom in Trieste. [1][2]
Founded in 2003 as Italy's first master's in neuroscience, it became an international English-taught programme in 2008 and belongs to the Network of European Neuroscience Schools. It covers neurobiology, neurophysiology, neuropathology, cognitive neuroscience and computational neuroscience, and suits graduates in biology, biotechnology and related life sciences. [2]
What you will study
The degree runs over four semesters. The first covers the anatomy of the vertebrate nervous system and the cellular and molecular bases of neurobiology, neurophysiology and neuropharmacology. The second covers the development and integrated function of the nervous system in health and disease. In the third, you choose a Molecular Neuroscience track, a Cognitive Neuroscience track or a mixed path. [2]
Required first-year units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [3]
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (9 CFU)
- Molecular Neurophysiology (9 CFU) and Integrative Neurophysiology (6 CFU)
- Neuropathology (9 CFU)
- Neuropharmacology, Comparative Neuroanatomy and Developmental Neurogenetics (6 CFU each)
- Scientific Communication and Applied Neurosciences (3 CFU each)
In year 2, Translational Behavioral and Cognitive Methods is required, and the tracks add Clinical Neuroimaging, Omics in Neuroscience or Advanced Neurofunctional Techniques. Electives include Neuroimmunology, Principles of Electrophysiology, Advanced Bioimaging, Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Human-Machine Interaction. [3]
How the programme is taught
You must attend at least two-thirds of the classes in each module to sit its exam. Practical classes cover the main research methods, including programming languages for computational data analysis, and visiting professors from Italian and international universities add courses. Since 2009 a professional course has been taught by people from industry, and since 2024 a course on scientific communication and public engagement has been offered. [2]
The thesis work includes a laboratory placement of at least eight months in university or external research facilities in Italy or abroad. You write and defend an original experimental thesis in English. [2]
Career paths
The university points graduates to: [2]
- Universities and public or private research institutes
- National Health Service facilities, university hospitals and specialised laboratories
- Pharmaceutical, chemical, diagnostic and biotech companies
- Science communication, public engagement and technology transfer
After the state exam, graduates can register as biologists in Section A of the professional register. Roles coordinating research usually need a PhD. [2]
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27, students whose permanent address is abroad pay a flat annual contribution. Students living abroad who are waiting for a visa can request a temporary pre-exemption during online enrolment. [6]
Eligible students and winners of an ARDiS regional scholarship are exempt from tuition and regional tax, so the degree can be tuition-free for eligible students. Students from countries on the ministry's developing-countries list who meet the requirements are also exempt from the tuition fee. [6]
How to apply from outside the EU
Applicants with a foreign degree follow the university's international procedure. The first step is an assessment of your qualification on the ApplyNow portal, which covers up to three programmes. For 2026/27, visa applicants had two rounds: 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, and 15 February to 30 April 2026. A third round, to 2 October 2026, was for EU and equivalent applicants only. [4]
Visa applicants can enrol only on courses with places for them, and the university's quota page lists 30 places for Neuroscience. After a positive assessment, you complete Universitaly pre-enrolment as early as possible, apply for a type D study visa, then enrol and pay the first fee instalment by the programme's deadline. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [4][5]
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 Trieste's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your qualification assessment on ApplyNow, programme assessment, Universitaly pre-enrolment and 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 the Neuroscience master at Trieste?
A degree in biological sciences or biotechnology, or at least 60 CFU across three groups: 15 in chemistry, maths, physics or computing, 20 in biology, physiology, anatomy or related subjects, and 25 in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology or microbiology. Missing credits can sometimes be made up before enrolment. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
There is no competitive test. With a degree mark of 99/110 or more and the curricular requirements, admission is automatic. Otherwise the Programme Commission reviews your record and may interview you, and applicants with degrees from outside Italy also take a knowledge assessment in neuroscience. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher, shown by a certificate on the AICLU list or a statement from your university that explicitly gives the level. The admission page does not set specific test scores, so we check which proof of B2 your file can use. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, visa applicants had two qualification assessment rounds: 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, and 15 February to 30 April 2026. Enrolment runs to 31 March 2027 at the latest. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [1][4]
How many places are there for visa applicants?
The university's quota page for visa applicants, updated January 2026, lists 30 places for the Neuroscience master. Visa applicants can only enrol on courses that have places for them. [5]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can request the assessment as a graduating student if you expect to finish by the deadlines. You can start enrolment and pay the first instalment, and your enrolment is finalised once you add your degree details. [1]
I have a B.Sc. in Psychology or a B.Pharm. Can I apply?
Possibly. Psychology degrees often cover physiological psychology but can fall short on the 25 CFU in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics. A B.Pharm usually has chemistry and pharmacology but needs enough physiology or anatomy. We map your subjects against all three groups first. [1]
Is there lab work, and what is SISSA's role?
Yes. The thesis includes a laboratory placement of at least eight months in university or external research facilities in Italy or abroad. Teaching comes from the University of Trieste and from SISSA, the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Neuroscience at Trieste?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Trieste'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 Neuroscience?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Sc. in Biology, Zoology or Biotechnology, or a B.Tech in Biotechnology, can meet the rule if it covers the three credit groups, and you need English at B2. The steps are the qualification assessment on ApplyNow within the visa rounds, the knowledge assessment in neuroscience, Universitaly pre-enrolment and enrolment. [1][4] 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: qualification assessment on ApplyNow, Universitaly pre-enrolment and 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: qualification assessment on ApplyNow, Universitaly pre-enrolment and 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: qualification assessment on ApplyNow, Universitaly pre-enrolment and 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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