Master in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at University of Milan
Two-year LM-9 R master at the University of Milan whose Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics curriculum is taught in English, covering omics, bioinformatics, biomarkers, cell and gene therapies and nanomedicines, with a lab training internship. Entry needs set science credits and B2 English.
Master
2 years
Milan
Multiple
University of Milan
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-9 R) at the University of Milan, where the Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics curriculum is taught in English. Entry needs a biotechnology degree or set credits in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology and physiology, plus English at B2. Regional scholarship winners pay no second instalment, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Pharmaceutical Biotechnology master, whose Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics curriculum is taught in English, asks for a biotechnology degree or set credits in chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, pharmacology, and physiology, anatomy or pathology. You also need English at B2 and a positive review of your record by the admissions board, which may add an interview or a written test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
Graduates of the Italian bachelor's class L-2 (Biotechnology) meet the degree rule directly. Graduates of other classes need at least: [2]
- 9 credits in chemistry: analytical, general and inorganic, or organic chemistry (CHIM/01, CHIM/03, CHIM/06).
- 12 credits in biochemistry, molecular biology and biology (BIO/10, BIO/11, BIO/13).
- 6 credits in pharmacology (BIO/14).
- 6 credits in physiology, human anatomy or general pathology (BIO/09, BIO/16, MED/04).
With a foreign degree recognised as suitable, you must show the same level of knowledge in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, anatomy, pathology and physiology. Knowledge gained through single courses also counts. [2]
What this means for your transcript
Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as Italian credits, and the board looks at the subjects and grades behind them. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Pharm, where chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology and anatomy are usually part of the degree.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, Microbiology or Life Sciences, which usually cover chemistry and biochemistry but may lack the 6 pharmacology credits or the physiology, anatomy or pathology block.
- Often short: a B.Sc. in Chemistry without biology or pharmacology courses, a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or another engineering field, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is required for admission. You can show it with an accepted certificate issued no more than three years before the application date, uploaded with the application, a level certified by the University of Milan language centre within the last four years, or the language centre's entry test. [2]
On the university's list, B2 corresponds to IELTS 5.5 to 6.5, TOEFL iBT 72 to 94, PTE Academic 59 to 75 or Cambridge B2 First, and certificates must cover reading, writing, listening and speaking. [3]
If you do not take or pass the entry test, you must submit an accepted certificate by the programme's deadline, or you are not admitted. [2]
Admission assessment
There is no set entrance exam for everyone. An admissions board of at least three faculty members reviews your academic record, checking the credits earned and grades achieved in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, biology, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology and pathology. [2]
The board may also ask for an interview and/or a written test, in person or online. In-person interviews take place at the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences in Milan, interview dates are agreed by email, and applicants who have not yet graduated can also be interviewed. [1][2]
For 2026/27, 35 places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad. [2]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants needing a visa applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026, while other applicants had until 25 August 2026. Admitted students enrol between 5 May and 30 November 2026. [1]
Applicants still finishing a degree could apply if they graduated and met the entry requirements by 31 October 2026. [1]
Visa applicants also had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026, or they were excluded from the selection and from enrolment. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1]
Documents and non-EU steps
Applicants with a foreign degree apply on the university's international platform and pay a €30 fee by the deadline. You upload: [1]
- your bachelor's degree or degree-awarding certificate;
- a Diploma Supplement or a transcript with courses, marks, credits, subject areas and the grading system, in English, Italian, French, German or Spanish;
- your passport or another valid ID.
The application cannot be changed once submitted. [1]
To finalise enrolment you provide your bachelor's degree legalised or apostilled, your high school diploma, a Statement of Comparability from an ENIC-NARIC centre such as CIMEA or a declaration of value from the Italian embassy, an Italian tax code and, for non-EU citizens, your residence permit or the receipt of its application. For 2026/27 these were due by 30 November 2026, and admission stays provisional until they are checked. [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.
- University of Milan. Admission notice for the Master's degree programme in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (LM-9 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Programme description (manifesto), Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (LM-9 R), students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Accepted English language certificates, list updated June 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Fees for the current academic year 2026/27, with the annex of country groups. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Regulations on tuition, fees and waivers, academic year 2025/26, annex listing programmes by tuition area. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is a two-year master's degree in class LM-9-R (medical, veterinary and pharmaceutical biotechnology) at the University of Milan, run by the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences at Città Studi in Milan. [2]
The degree has four curricula: three are taught in Italian, and the fourth, Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics, is taught entirely in English. You choose the curriculum at admission, and later changes are possible only among the three Italian curricula. This page covers the English curriculum. [2]
It prepares graduates for the development and use of the newest biotechnological drugs, with in-depth scientific and technical-production skills in biotechnology applied to human health. [2]
It suits biotechnology graduates, and graduates of other life science degrees who meet the credit requirements in chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology. Admission is open, after a check of your requirements. [2]
What you will study
The Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics curriculum moves from physiology, biochemistry and disease biology to omics, bioinformatics and advanced therapies. Units in the 2026/27 study plan include: [2]
- Molecular Biochemistry and Functional Biology (10 ECTS)
- Protein Engineering, Drug Delivery and Regulatory Aspects (11 ECTS)
- Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (8 ECTS)
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Modeling (8 ECTS)
- Omics: from Bench to Bedside (6 ECTS)
- Pharmacogenomics, Clinical Pharmacology, and Orphan Drugs (7 ECTS)
- Biomarkers: from Identification to Exploitation (10 ECTS, second year)
- Cell Therapy and Gene Silencing (7 ECTS, second year)
- Nanotechnology Based Medicinal Products (7 ECTS, second year)
How the programme is taught
Teaching is blended: the first month of the first year is online, and after that online and in-person lessons are combined with active-learning tools and virtual laboratories. Lab attendance is compulsory and course attendance is recommended. [2]
The second semester of the second year is the lab training internship (10 ECTS) at university facilities or other public or private institutions or companies, which needs 56 credits already earned, followed by a 21 ECTS final exam: the public defence of an experimental thesis. You also choose 9 ECTS of electives, or the 9 ECTS Experimental Laboratory of Biotechnology. [2]
Erasmus stays of three to nine months are recognised for 20 to 45 credits. [2]
Career paths
The degree gives access to the qualification for the profession of biologist. The official profiles cover research and industry roles such as: [2]
- Researcher in universities, CNR and international research institutes
- Industry researcher in pharmaceutical and biotech research and development
- Production, quality control and formulation operator
- Clinical monitor and pharmacovigilance specialist in companies and CROs
- Regulatory affairs operator for industry or national and international agencies
- Marketing professional or science communicator
Fees and scholarships
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology falls in the university's tuition Area B. [5]
With family income and assets abroad, you pay a fixed second instalment by country group, which for 2026/27 is €256 a year in Group A (countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), €1,164 in Group B and €4,101.12 in Group C. [4]
The first instalment is €146. Students who win a regional or University of Milan scholarship get a waiver on the second instalment, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
For 2026/27 the degree reserved 35 places for non-EU students living abroad; the programme description does not split them by curriculum. [2]
We apply on apply.unimi.it with a €30 fee; the admission board reviews your record and may ask for an interview and/or a written test, in person or online. [1]
For 2026/27, visa applicants applied from 22 January to 30 April 2026, and applicants still finishing a degree had to graduate by 31 October 2026. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1]
Visa applicants must also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which we submit for you, by 31 July (for 2026/27), or they are excluded from the selection and from enrolment. After admission you apply for a type D study visa. Your degree then needs a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, due by 30 November for 2026/27. [1]
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 Milan's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your transcript, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your University of Milan 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
Is Pharmaceutical Biotechnology taught in English?
One of its four curricula, Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics, is taught in English; the other three are in Italian. You choose the curriculum at admission, and later changes are possible only among the three Italian curricula. [2]
What bachelor's degree do I need for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Milan?
A biotechnology degree (Italian class L-2) or another degree with at least 9 credits in chemistry, 12 in biochemistry, molecular biology and biology, 6 in pharmacology and 6 in physiology, anatomy or pathology. Foreign degrees must show the same knowledge. [2]
Is there an entrance exam?
There is no set exam for everyone. The admissions board reviews your credits and grades in the core subjects and may ask for an interview and/or a written test, held in person or online. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 or higher. You can upload an accepted certificate issued within three years, such as IELTS 5.5 or above, or take the university language centre's entry test. Without a pass or a certificate by the programme's deadline, you are not admitted. [2][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants applied between 22 January and 30 April 2026 and had to complete Universitaly pre-enrolment by 31 July 2026. The degree reserved 35 places for non-EU students living abroad. The 2027/28 admission notice sets the next dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. For 2026/27, applicants could apply if they graduated and met the entry requirements by 31 October 2026. The board can also interview applicants who have not graduated yet. [1][2]
I have a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from India. Can I apply?
Possibly. Your transcript must show the set knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, pharmacology, and physiology, anatomy or pathology. Many biotechnology degrees cover chemistry and biochemistry, but pharmacology can be the gap. We check your transcript against each block. [2]
Is the course taught in person?
Partly. Teaching is blended: the first month of the first year is online, then online and in-person lessons are combined. Lab attendance is compulsory, and teaching takes place in the Città Studi facilities in Milan. [2]
Can someone handle my whole application to Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Milan?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Milan's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the University of Milan 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 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology?
A recognised Indian bachelor's such as a B.Pharm, or a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, can fit if your transcript shows the set knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, pharmacology, and physiology, anatomy or pathology. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, the board's review with a possible interview, 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 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, the board's review with a possible 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 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, the board's review with a possible interview, 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: online application, the board's review with a possible interview, 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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