Master in Photochemistry and Molecular Materials at University of Bologna

Detailed entry requirements

Bologna's Photochemistry and Molecular Materials master asks for a three-year degree in chemistry or pharmacy, or at least 60 science credits with 30 in chemistry, plus English at B2 and a committee's positive review of your preparation. Access is open, with no cap on places. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree and subject 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 degree programme in the country where it was awarded. [1]

Your degree must also meet one of these routes: [1][2]

• Degree class: an Italian degree in L-27 Chemical Sciences and Technologies or LM-13 Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy, their older equivalents (classes 21 and 14/S), or an older degree in Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry.
• Credits, for other degrees: at least 60 credits in basic scientific disciplines, of which at least 30 in chemistry (CHIM/01 to CHIM/12).
• Foreign degree: the committee checks whether it corresponds to one of the Italian degrees above and, if not, whether it includes the 60 credits.

If you do not meet all the curricular requirements, you cannot enrol. [1]

What this means for your transcript

Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as ECTS, and the committee looks at the content of your courses, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:

• Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry, or a B.Sc. with chemistry as a major subject.
• Check carefully: a B.Pharm, a B.Tech or B.E. in Chemical Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Physics, Materials Science, Biochemistry or Biotechnology. These often have 60 science credits, but we check that at least 30 are in chemistry subjects.
• Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, which rarely include 30 credits in chemistry.

The committee also looks at your grades in individual courses and how relevant they are to the programme, so a strong record in chemistry, maths and physics matters. [1]

English

English at CEFR B2 or higher, proven when you apply. Accepted proof: [1][2]

• An international certificate on the programme's list of accepted English certificates.
• A B2 certificate from an Italian university language centre or another recognised body, stating the body, the level and the exam date.
• A transcript showing a CEFR B2 English exam, valid only if the level is stated in the course title.
• The University of Bologna language centre's online Oxford English Test, with a result of at least B2. It is free and can be taken once only, on set dates.

Native English speakers and graduates of degrees taught in English in countries whose first official language is English are exempt. Medium of instruction (MOI) certificates are not accepted, so applicants with Indian degrees usually need one of the options above. The programme does not list minimum test scores. [1][2]

Assessment of your preparation

Access is open, with no cap on places, but you can enrol only after a committee confirms your preparation in university-level maths, physics and chemistry. There is no written test. [1]

• Automatic pass: graduates of the listed Italian chemistry classes with a final mark of at least 95/110, or, before graduating, at least 80% of credits with a credit-weighted average of at least 24/30.
• Foreign degrees and everyone else: the committee reviews your whole CV and academic record, including how relevant your degree is, your final grade or average, your grades in single courses, how relevant those courses are, and any specific knowledge or work experience.
• Interview: if your documents are not enough, the committee can invite you by email to an online interview.

If you are not admitted in one intake, you cannot apply in a later one, so the file needs to be complete the first time. [1][2]

2026/27 deadlines

For 2026/27 the notice ran two intakes (Italian time): [1]

• Intake 1, reserved for non-EU applicants: 30 December 2025 to 11:59 pm on 30 January 2026, with interviews from 5 to 10 February and results by 12 February 2026. Admitted students could enrol from 24 February to 19 November 2026.
• Intake 2: 3 February to 11:59 pm on 4 September 2026, with results in rolling rounds by application date, from 16 March to 11 September 2026.

Only complete applications are assessed. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]

Applying before you graduate

You can apply before you graduate if you already have at least 80% of the credits for your first degree. 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 list of exams if you have not graduated yet), and the details of the courses you took.
• You also upload your English B2 proof, a CV and, as an international applicant, a self-certification of your final grade or GPA showing the maximum on your scale.
• Only documents uploaded through Studenti Online are assessed. Missing mandatory documents at the deadline mean exclusion, but an incomplete file can be completed until the intake closes.
• 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 foreign qualification and visa on Studenti Online and show the originals at the international student office in Bologna. Authenticity and value are verified where required, and your career must be activated by 26 February 2027.

These steps come from the 2026/27 notice and the programme's enrolment page. [1][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.

1. University of Bologna. Admission notice for the Second Cycle Degree Programme in Photochemistry and Molecular Materials (class LM-54), academic year 2026/27, Italian text. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Bologna, Photochemistry and Molecular Materials programme website, How to enrol page: curricular requirements, English proof and admission assessment, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. University of Bologna, Photochemistry and Molecular Materials programme home page (teaching language, degree class, department, director, curricula and access type). Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for Bologna's Photochemistry and Molecular Materials master?

A three-year degree in chemistry or industrial chemistry, a pharmacy degree in the listed Italian classes, or a recognised foreign equivalent. With a degree in another field, you need at least 60 credits in basic sciences, of which at least 30 in chemistry. Without these, you cannot enrol. [1]

Is there an entrance exam?

No written test. A committee checks your degree and your preparation in maths, physics and chemistry. Italian chemistry graduates with 95/110 pass automatically, while foreign degrees get a full review of your CV and grades, and the committee can call you to an online interview. [1][2]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at CEFR B2, proven when you apply with a certificate from the programme's accepted list, a B2 exam named on your transcript, or Bologna's free online Oxford test. MOI certificates are not accepted, so most Indian applicants need a certificate or the Oxford test. No minimum scores are listed. [1][2]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

For 2026/27, intake 1, reserved for non-EU applicants, ran from 30 December 2025 to 30 January 2026, with results by 12 February. Intake 2 stayed open until 4 September 2026 with rolling results, but we aim for intake 1 to leave time for the visa. The 2027/28 notice sets the next dates. [1]

Can I apply before I graduate?

Yes, if you already have at least 80% of the credits for your first degree. For 2026/27 entry, you had to graduate by 31 December 2026, or your enrolment was cancelled. [1]

I have a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering or a B.Pharm. Can I apply?

Possibly. The committee first checks whether your degree corresponds to a listed Italian degree, such as chemistry or pharmacy. If not, you need at least 60 credits in basic sciences, with at least 30 in chemistry. Chemical engineering and pharmacy degrees often include chemistry papers, and we count the credits. [2]

If I am not admitted in intake 1, can I reapply in intake 2?

No. Under the 2026/27 notice, applicants not admitted in one intake cannot apply in a later one. Only complete applications are assessed, so we prepare the full file, including your grade self-certification and English proof, before the first submission. [1]

Which curricula can I choose?

Two: Health and Energy. Both build on photochemistry and materials chemistry, and the degree is taught in English in Bologna by the Department of Chemistry Giacomo Ciamician. [3]

Can someone handle my whole application to Photochemistry and Molecular Materials 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 Photochemistry and Molecular Materials?

A B.Sc. in Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry is usually the closest fit. Other degrees need at least 60 credits in basic sciences, with at least 30 in chemistry. MOI letters do not prove English, so you need a B2 certificate or Bologna's online Oxford test. The steps are the Studenti Online application in intake 1, the committee's review 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 Photochemistry and Molecular Materials are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Studenti Online application in intake 1, the committee's review 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 Photochemistry and Molecular Materials are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Studenti Online application in intake 1, the committee's review 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 Photochemistry and Molecular Materials 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: Studenti Online application in intake 1, the committee's review 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.