Master in Plant Science at University of Milan
Two-year English-taught double degree in plant biology from the University of Milan and Université Grenoble Alpes, with a first semester in Grenoble, a second in Milan, internships and a thesis written in English.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
University of Milan
Plant Science is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-6 R) taught in English by the University of Milan with Université Grenoble Alpes, leading to a double degree. Entry needs a bachelor's with set credits in biology, chemistry and maths or physics, English at B2 and an interview, with 60 out of 100 to pass. Scholarship winners pay no second instalment, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Milan's Plant Science double degree asks for a bachelor's degree with set credits in biology, including botany or plant physiology, chemistry and maths, physics or computer science (at least 90 for most graduates), English at B2 and an interview in English, with at least 60 points out of 100 overall. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and credit requirements
A full bachelor's degree is needed: the programme requires 180 credits for admission. Graduates in Biological Sciences (class L-13) from an Italian university that follows the CBUI guidelines meet the curricular requirements, which are: [1][2]
- 66 credits in biology: botany, plant physiology, zoology, comparative anatomy and cytology, ecology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and microbiology (BIO/01 to 07, 09 to 11, 18 and 19). At least 6 must be in botany or plant physiology (BIO/01 to 04) and at least 12 in BIO/06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 18 or 19.
- 12 credits in maths, physics or computing: physics (FIS/01 to 08), computer science (INF/01), information processing (ING-INF/05) or mathematics (MAT/01 to 09).
- 12 credits in chemistry: analytical, physical, general and inorganic, or organic chemistry (CHIM/01, 02, 03 and 06).
Other biology graduates and graduates of other classes need at least 90 credits across these subject groups. For Italian agriculture and forestry graduates (class L-25), credits in agronomy, arboriculture, agricultural genetics, plant pathology, agricultural chemistry, agricultural microbiology, animal husbandry and veterinary anatomy or physiology can also be assessed. A foreign degree is accepted if the university judges it suitable. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
Credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit as Italian credits, and the committee looks at the subjects behind them. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Sc. in Botany, Biological Sciences or Life Sciences, where botany or plant physiology sits alongside genetics, biochemistry, chemistry and some maths or physics.
- Check carefully: a B.Sc. in Agriculture, Horticulture or Forestry, a B.Sc. or B.Tech in Biotechnology, or a B.Sc. in Microbiology or Biochemistry, which may lack the 6 botany or plant physiology credits or reach 90 credits only with agricultural subjects.
- Often short: a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or another engineering field, a BCA, B.Com, BBA or BA, where biology and chemistry credits are few or missing.
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher is required. You can show it with a B2 or higher certificate from the university's accepted list, issued no more than three years earlier and uploaded with your application, or with a level reached through University of Milan language centre courses and tests in the last four years. [1][2]
Accepted certificates must cover reading, writing, listening and speaking, and TOEFL results must be no more than two years old. [6]
Without a valid certificate you can still sit the interview, but you are admitted only if your English is judged unmistakably good. [1][2]
Interview and selection
An Admission Committee interviews you in English on biology and plant science and checks your English if you have no certificate. Non-EU visa applicants living abroad are first assessed on their CV and background, and invited to an online interview if they meet the requirements. Failing the personal preparation check bars you from admission for that year. [1][2]
You are scored out of 100: [1][2]
- Up to 25 points: graduation grade, or your average grade if you have not graduated yet.
- Up to 10 points: your academic record, such as degree type, extra courses and Erasmus experience.
- Up to 65 points: the interview.
You need at least 60 out of 100, and ties go to the younger candidate. For 2026/27 there were 10 places plus 3 reserved for non-EU visa applicants living abroad. Those at the top of the ranking had to enrol by the deadline, and any free places then went to lower-ranked candidates with at least 60 points. [1][2]
2026/27 deadlines
Non-EU visa applicants applied from 24 March to 30 April 2026 (noon), had their online interview on 11 May 2026, saw the ranking on 14 May 2026 and had to enrol by 29 May 2026. If places remained, a second application window opened on 14 May 2026. [2]
EU residents who need no visa applied by 12 June 2026, were interviewed in Milan on 18 June 2026, saw the ranking on 25 June 2026 and had to enrol by 9 July 2026. [2]
Final-year students with at least 156 credits could apply. The 2026/27 call required graduation by 31 October 2026, while the programme description gave 24 October 2026. The first semester began in Grenoble on 1 September 2026. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1][2]
Documents and non-EU steps
With a foreign degree you apply on the university's international platform by the deadline. You upload: [2]
- a CV in English;
- a Diploma Supplement or a transcript, in English, Italian, French, German or Spanish;
- your B2 English certificate, if you have one;
- the personal details pages of your passport.
Admitted students enrol at both the University of Milan and UGA. Because the first semester is at UGA, non-EU visa applicants must apply for a French student visa. [1][2]
To finalise enrolment you provide your bachelor's degree legalised or apostilled, your high school diploma, an official Italian translation where needed, a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, 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. [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 Milan. Programme description (course regulations), Master's degree in Plant Science (LM-6 R), double degree with Université Grenoble Alpes, students enrolling in 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Call for applications, Double Degree Master's in Plant Science (LM-6 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. Plant Science programme page: language, places, fees and career outlets, academic year 2026/27. 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. Regulation on tuition and fees, academic year 2025/26, annex listing programmes by tuition area. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Milan. English language certificates accepted by the University Language Centre, page updated June 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Plant Science is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree in class LM-6 R (biology), taught in English and organised jointly by the University of Milan and Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) in France. [1][3] Students enrol at both universities and can earn a double degree: the Laurea Magistrale in Biology from Milan and the UGA master's degree. The Department of Biosciences in Milan hosts the Italian side, and applications go through the University of Milan. [1][2]
The degree trains plant biologists at molecular, cellular and applied levels, with a focus on plant development, environmental interactions, breeding, conservation and sustainable production under climate change. Entry is small and selective, with 10 places plus 3 for non-EU students living abroad, so it suits motivated biology graduates who want a research-led, international route. [1][2]
What you will study
Every student spends the first semester at UGA in Grenoble and the second semester in Milan. In the second year you choose where to study and add guided electives, free-choice credits, internships and the thesis. Units in the 2026/27 plan include: [1]
- Evolutionary Biology of Plants (UGA)
- Introduction to Plant Development and Signal Transduction (UGA)
- Strategies in Experimental Biology (12 ECTS, UGA)
- Plant Development (Milan)
- Plant Signal Transduction (Milan)
- Plant-Environment Interactions or Plant Ecology (guided choice)
- Molecular Plant Breeding and Genetics (guided choice)
- Patenting and Technology Transfer (guided choice)
How the programme is taught
Teaching is student-centred and blended: some second-year courses are offered by distance learning at both universities. Attendance is compulsory for courses held at UGA and for all internships, and highly recommended for courses in Milan. The plan includes a 12 ECTS internship, a short laboratory stage and a 24 ECTS final dissertation, a report written in English. Internships can take place on either campus or at partner institutions, public or private. [1]
Career paths
The university lists four profiles: biologist, biotechnologist, botanist, and researcher or technician. Graduates can sit the state exam to register in section A of the Italian National Order of Biologists. [1][3] Typical roles include:
- Biologist in university, public or private research labs and industry
- Biotechnologist in plant biotechnology, genetic improvement and phenotyping
- Botanist, including pharmaceutical botany
- Researcher or technician in plant science
- Roles in agri-food companies and environmental bodies
Fees and scholarships
Tuition is paid only to the University of Milan, though UGA may charge specific campus fees. [1] This master is in tuition Area B. [5] For 2026/27, students whose family income and assets are abroad paid a first instalment and a fixed second instalment by country group, with the lowest rate for Group A, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. [4] Students enrolled through Milan receive a contribution towards the extra costs of the Grenoble semester, set by their ISEE. [1]
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, three places were reserved for non-EU students living abroad who need a visa. They applied on apply.unimi.it from 24 March to 30 April 2026, were screened on their CV, had an online interview on 11 May, saw results on 14 May and enrolled by 29 May. Because the first semester is in Grenoble, visa applicants also need a French student visa. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [1][2]
Admitted students also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment for Italy, which we submit for you. To finalise enrolment they provide their degree legalised or apostilled, with a CIMEA statement of comparability or a declaration of value, by 30 November (for 2026/27). [2]
Compare related master's programmes
If you are exploring food and agricultural sciences, compare the curriculum and entry requirements on these programme pages before choosing your shortlist.
- Master in Sustainable Food Systems at University of Naples Federico II
- Master in Precision Livestock Farming at University of Naples Federico II
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 admission application 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
What bachelor's degree do I need for Plant Science at Milan?
A bachelor's with 66 biology credits, at least 6 of them in botany or plant physiology, plus 12 in maths, physics or computing and 12 in chemistry. Most graduates outside the Italian biology track need at least 90 credits across these groups. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. Visa applicants are first screened on their CV, then interviewed online in English on biology and plant science. Your grade counts for up to 25 points, your record for 10 and the interview for 65, and you need 60 out of 100. [1][2]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2. You can upload an accepted certificate covering all four skills, issued within three years, or two for TOEFL. Without one, you can still sit the interview, but you are admitted only if your English is judged unmistakably good. [1][2][6]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU visa applicants applied by 30 April 2026, were interviewed online on 11 May, saw results on 14 May and had to enrol by 29 May 2026. Only 3 places were reserved for them. The 2027/28 call sets the next dates. [2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes, if you have at least 156 credits. The 2026/27 call required graduation by 31 October 2026, while the programme description gave 24 October 2026, so we plan around the earlier date. Until you graduate, your average grade is scored. [1][2]
I have a B.Sc. in Agriculture. Can I apply?
Possibly. For agriculture graduates, credits in agronomy, plant pathology, agricultural genetics, agricultural chemistry and microbiology can be assessed, but you still need at least 90 credits across biology, chemistry and maths or physics groups. We check your transcript against the rule. [1][2]
Where will I study?
All students spend the first semester at Université Grenoble Alpes in France, from 1 September, and the second in Milan, from 1 March. In the second year you choose where to study. Non-EU visa applicants need a French student visa for Grenoble. [1][2]
Do I get two degrees?
You enrol at both universities and can be awarded a double degree: the Laurea Magistrale in Biology from the University of Milan and the master's degree of Université Grenoble Alpes. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Plant Science 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 Plant Science?
A B.Sc. in Botany, Life Sciences or Biological Sciences can meet the rule if it has enough biology, including botany or plant physiology, plus chemistry and maths or physics, about 90 credits in total. You also need English at B2. The steps are the online application, a CV check, an online interview where you need 60 out of 100, and a French student visa for the Grenoble semester. [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 Plant Science are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, a CV check and online interview, Universitaly pre-enrolment and a French student visa for the Grenoble semester, 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 Plant Science are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, a CV check and online interview, Universitaly pre-enrolment and a French student visa for the Grenoble semester. 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 Plant Science 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, a CV check and online interview, Universitaly pre-enrolment and a French student visa for the Grenoble semester, 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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