Master in Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology at University of Bologna

Detailed entry requirements

Bologna's Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology master asks for a three-year degree in biotechnology, biological sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy or chemistry, or a recognised foreign equivalent, plus English at B2 and a pass in an oral interview in English. Access is open, with no cap on places. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree and degree-class requirement

You need a three-year first-cycle degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable under Italian rules that gives access to a similar master's degree in the country where it was awarded. [1]

Your degree must also be in one of these areas: [1]

• Italian degree classes: L-2 Biotechnology, L-13 Biological Sciences, L-29 Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, L-27 Chemical Sciences and Technologies, or LM-13 Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy.
• Older five-year Italian degrees: Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies, or Chemistry.
• Foreign degree: a qualification recognised as suitable compared with the Italian degrees above.

If you do not meet these curricular requirements, you cannot enrol. The notice does not set credit blocks or a minimum grade. [1]

What this means for your transcript

The committee compares your degree with the listed Italian classes, and the interview tests science topics in depth. As a guide, based on the rule above:

• Usually a fit: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Microbiology or Biochemistry, a B.Pharm, or a B.Sc. in Chemistry.
• Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Zoology, Botany, Agriculture or Food Technology, or a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering. These sit near the listed classes but may not match any of them closely.
• Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which are far from the listed classes.

Your transcript should also show the subjects the interview covers: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics and microbiology. [1]

English

English at CEFR B2 or higher, proven when you apply. Accepted proof: [1]

• A certificate accepted by the University of Bologna, on its Language Centre's list.
• An English pass at B2 or higher from your previous university career, valid only if the level is clearly stated in the course title.
• A qualifying degree taught in English, with documents that formally state English as the language of instruction.
• Native English speaker status.

If you have taken a B2 or higher test with a recognised body but do not yet have the certificate, you can upload the official Statement of Results and hand in the certificate by the enrolment deadline. [1]

Oral interview

Access is open, with no cap on places, but you can enrol only if a committee confirms your personal preparation. It does this through an oral interview in English, held on Microsoft Teams, with three questions on: [1]

• Mathematics, physics and chemistry
• Biochemistry and cell biology
• Molecular biology
• Genetics
• Microbiology

The interview is marked out of 30 and the pass mark is 18. Below 18, you cannot enrol. You must attend a mandatory roll call before the interview and keep your camera on throughout. The notice publishes a detailed syllabus for each area. [1]

2026/27 deadlines

For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply only in intake A (Italian time): [1]

• Applications: 9:00 am on 26 March to 1:00 pm on 27 April 2026.
• Interview list: published on 5 May 2026, with the oral interview on 6 May 2026 at 11:00 am.
• Results: by 15 May 2026.
• Enrolment: 19 May to 29 October 2026, or with a late fee until 19 November 2026.

Intakes B and C, closing on 29 June and 2 September 2026, were reserved for Italian, EU and equivalent non-EU applicants. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]

Applying before you graduate

You can apply before you graduate if you have completed at least 80% of a foreign first-cycle degree (150 CFU for an Italian degree) and already meet the English requirement. If you are admitted and enrol, you must graduate by 31 December 2026, or your enrolment is cancelled. [1]

Documents and non-EU steps

• The application is made on Bologna's Studenti Online portal with your passport, your foreign degree certificate translated into Italian or English with your transcript of records and Diploma Supplement where available (or your transcript if you have not graduated yet), and your English B2 proof.
• Only documents uploaded by the intake deadline are assessed. A missing or partial upload means exclusion.
• Non-EU applicants living abroad also pre-enrol on Universitaly and apply for a study visa.
• After admission you enrol, pay the first instalment, upload your translated qualification with proof of its authenticity and value where required, plus your visa, and show the originals at the international student office in Bologna. Your career must be activated by 26 February 2027.

These steps come from the 2026/27 notice. [1]

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.

1. University of Bologna, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology. Admission notice for the second-cycle degree programme in Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology (interclass LM-8/LM-9, code 6249), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Bologna, Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology programme website (teaching language, degree classes, department and access type). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. University of Bologna, Reduced fixed fee for citizens of particularly poor and developing countries or non-OECD countries, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology at Bologna?

A three-year degree in biotechnology, biological sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy or chemistry (Italian classes L-2, L-13, L-29, L-27 or LM-13), or a foreign degree recognised as suitable compared with these. Without these curricular requirements you cannot enrol. [1]

Is there an entrance exam?

There is no written test, but there is an oral interview in English on Microsoft Teams: three questions on maths, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics and microbiology. You need at least 18 out of 30 to enrol. [1]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at CEFR B2. A certificate on the University of Bologna Language Centre's list works, and so does a degree taught in English if your documents formally state English as the language of instruction. We check which proof your file can use. [1]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad could apply only in intake A, from 26 March to 1:00 pm on 27 April 2026, with the oral interview on 6 May 2026. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes, if you have completed at least 80% of your foreign bachelor's and already meet the English requirement. For 2026/27, admitted students had to graduate by 31 December 2026 or their enrolment was cancelled. [1]

I have a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Zoology. Can I apply?

A B.Pharm sits close to the listed pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences classes, so it is usually a fit. A B.Sc. in Zoology needs a careful check against the biological sciences class, and the interview also tests chemistry, molecular biology and microbiology. We check your transcript first. [1]

Which degree classes does it belong to?

It is interclass: LM-8-R, Industrial Biotechnologies, and LM-9-R, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary and Medical Biotechnologies. It runs for two years in Bologna, taught in English by the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology. [2]

How are the fees set?

Fees depend on family income (ISEE), up to a maximum set for each degree, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. Non-OECD citizens whose family income is only abroad can choose a reduced flat fee instead. [1][3]

Can someone handle my whole application to Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology at Bologna?

Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Bologna's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ER.GO Emilia-Romagna 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 Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology?

A B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, a B.Sc. in a biological science, a B.Pharm or a B.Sc. in Chemistry is usually the closest fit. An English-medium degree can prove B2 if your documents formally state English as the language of instruction. The steps are the online application in the non-EU intake, an oral interview in English and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] 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 Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in the non-EU intake, an oral interview in English 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 Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the non-EU intake, an oral interview in English 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 Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology 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 in the non-EU intake, an oral interview in English 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.