Master in Quantitative and Computational Biology at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-8 master's at UniTrento's CIBIO department joining biotechnology, multi-omics data analysis, AI and modelling, with computational and quantitative curricula and a year-two internship and thesis.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Quantitative and Computational Biology is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-8) taught in English at the University of Trento's CIBIO department in Povo. It joins biotechnology with data science, AI and modelling. Non-EU fees follow the admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
- A bachelor's degree of at least three years. Italian L-2 (biotechnology) graduates qualify directly.
- Other graduates need at least 12 ECTS in biology subjects (physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, experimental biology or genetics), 6 in chemistry, 6 in maths or statistics and 6 in physics; foreign degrees are checked for equivalent content.
- English at B2 level in all four skills by the application deadline.
- A statement of purpose in English (one page) with your CV, degree or enrolment certificate, transcript and passport.
- No entrance test: the committee scores your file out of 100, may view a short video presentation and may hold an interview; 50 is the minimum.
About the programme
Quantitative and Computational Biology is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-8) worth 120 ECTS and fully taught in English. It is run by the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO) at via Sommarive 9 in Povo, on the hill campus of the University of Trento. Entry is limited: 45 places in 2026/27, 4 of them for non-EU applicants living abroad.
The degree integrates biotechnology, data science, artificial intelligence and quantitative modelling to tackle complex biological problems. It suits biotechnology, biology or life science graduates with some maths and physics who want to work with large-scale biological data.
What you will study
You follow a Computational or a Quantitative curriculum. The first year is mostly compulsory; the second is built around electives, an internship and the thesis. Units in the current plan include:
- Genomic Data Science in Health and Disease (12 ECTS)
- Multiscale RNA and Protein Omics (12 ECTS)
- AI Techniques for Data Analysis (12 ECTS, Computational) or Biostatistics (12 ECTS, Quantitative)
- Genetic and Metabolic Engineering, and Computational Structural Biology
- Network-based Data Analysis, Regression and Classification Models or Quantum Mechanics
- Technology Innovation for the Production of Biotechnological Products
- Electives such as Biomolecular Simulations, Modeling and Simulation of Biological Systems, and Cancer Genomics
- An internship (6 ECTS) and a final thesis (21 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Teaching combines lectures, computational laboratories, project-based learning, journal clubs and seminars, with emphasis on reproducible research and team work across biology, medicine and data science. The second year is largely given to the internship and thesis, in research laboratories or companies in Italy or abroad. Lessons are in person only.
Career paths
The department lists biotech and pharmaceutical industries, computational drug discovery, clinical genomics and precision medicine, AI-driven healthcare, bioinformatics and omics technology companies, and research institutes. Typical profiles are computational biotechnologist, bioinformatician, computational biologist, biological data scientist and computational biophysicist. Graduates can also apply for PhD programmes in areas such as bioinformatics, systems biology and biophysics.
Fees and scholarships
This degree is in UniTrento's fee group B for non-EU students living abroad. Under the 2026/27 rules the first-year fee depends on your admission score, from a full exemption at 90 or more to €6,500 at 50 to 59, and the second year depends on credits. Top-ranked applicants may receive a UniTrento scholarship with a fee waiver, and Opera Universitaria di Trento offers grants on family income, so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
QCB runs its own call. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants applied by 23 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, paying €30, with a statement of purpose. Scoring gave up to 40 points for coherence, 40 for your academic record and 20 for the statement, languages and a video presentation; rankings came by 25 May 2026.
If admitted, you pay a €100 confirmation fee, pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks and apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 call is not published yet.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Is Quantitative and Computational Biology taught in English?
Yes. The official language of the course is English, and applicants need English at B2 level in all four skills by the application deadline.
What background do I need?
A three-year bachelor's. Italian biotechnology (L-2) graduates qualify directly; others need at least 12 ECTS in biology, 6 in chemistry, 6 in maths or statistics and 6 in physics, or equivalent content.
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the degree had 45 places, 4 of them reserved for non-EU citizens living abroad. Places left after the first round went to other applicants.
Is there an entrance test?
No written test. The committee scores your file, statement of purpose and a possible video presentation out of 100, and may hold an interview. You need at least 50 points.
When is the application deadline?
The 2027/28 call is not out yet. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants had to apply by 23 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, paying a €30 fee.
What careers does the degree lead to?
Roles such as bioinformatician, computational biologist and biological data scientist in biotech and pharma, clinical genomics, AI-driven healthcare and research institutes, or a PhD.
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