The programme
Here you can find an overview of the degree programme, including information on its organisation and regulations, as well as a number of useful information. In addition, this section includes an overview of the University’s Quality Assurance system and the Student Orientation services available to prospective students, to help them choose the right course for them.
Student orientation services
The new website of the Student Orientation Office, with new form and content, is the result of a long process aimed at providing a better and more comprehensive service to its many users. Users are mostly secondary school pupils approaching the University for the first time, and schools' University Orientation Services which organise activities to assist their pupils in post-school choices. Making a decision means choosing the best alternative to satisfy one's expectations, preferences and aspirations.
More details: www.univr.it/orientamento (italian page)
Email servizio.orientamento@ateneo.univr.it
Telephone number 0458028588 - 0458028726
Timetable
sportello telefonico: dal lunedì al venerdì, dalle ore 9:00 alle 13:00.
sportello in presenza: martedì, giovedì e venerdì, dalle 10:00 alle 13:00.
sportello online: lunedì, martedì, mercoledì e giovedì, dalle 14:00 alle 17:00.
Find out moreCourse of study in brief
Molecular and medical biotechnology has enormous potential for developing new solutions to improve human health. Through the understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of diseases, biotechnology plays an essential role in developing drugs, vaccines, therapies and diagnostic tests.
The Master’s degree in Molecular and Medical Biotechnology aims to produce skilled researchers in the field of molecular and cellular biotechnology who are capable of performing biomedical analyses, research and development using experimental and computational approaches. These skills are developed through the study of cellular and molecular biology, genomics and diagnostics, pathology and pharmacology, and computational biology.
The postgraduate programme, which includes an integrated laboratory course based on a current topic in biomedical research, provides students with a solid technical background highlighting the impact of laboratory research on human health. The degree has a single curriculum, but its flexible approach enables students to tailor the programme to their own needs and interests.
This programme - which is completely taught in English, allowing you to earn a degree that will be recognised in Italy and abroad, - welcomes international students, combining knowledge and experience from various cultural backgrounds.
Graduates will be prepared to enter the workforce in either the public or private sector, or may choose to conduct their profession in consulting and design. Areas of possible employment include research and technological development for public bodies or in the industry (biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, etc.); regulatory activities; the creation and management of biotechnology entities in the public and private sectors; performing directive, management and advisory functions in the pharmacological and biomedical fields; technical and scientific communication and information handling.
Applicants are expected to have basic knowledge and understanding of biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. A good knowledge of English (at least European B1 level) is also required.
Supervisor: Prof. Alejandro Giorgetti
Degree programme annual factsheet (SUA-CdS)
As part of the Quality Assurance system, complete, updated and easily available information on objectives, study plan, resources used and results achieved for each degree programme is made available through the SUA-CdS - Scheda Unica Annuale del Corso di Studio (Degree programme annual factsheet). This includes an Overview and three public sections (Learning Objectives, Student Experience, Learning Outcomes) which together provide a wide range of information about each degree programme. The SUA-CdS also contains an administrative section (Administration and Quality Management) that is for internal use only.
The Degree programme annual factsheet (SUA-CdS), which is currently available only in Italian, is a valuable tool that can be used by the University to design, implement and reorganise, as well as to evaluate, each degree programme. However, the SUA-CdS factsheet is also useful for students, to help them choose the right programme of study.
Gli obiettivi specifici mirano a far acquisire allo studente, anche attraverso una significativa esperienza di lavoro sperimentale, competenze e conoscenze approfondite in:
- metodologie mirate alla caratterizzazione strutturale e funzionale delle macromolecole biologiche e dei processi cellulari nei quali esse intervengono;
- processi patologici d'interesse umano, a livello molecolare e cellulare; attuali applicazioni e prospettive di applicazione delle biotecnologie in patologia umana;
- organizzazione e modalità di espressione del genoma umano e analisi mediante strumenti bioinformatici e piattaforme sperimentali 'high-throughput';
- biologia strutturale finalizzata al disegno e progettazione di molecole ad attività farmacologica;
- modellismo molecolare per la progettazione di molecole di interesse biomedico;
- metodologie bioinformatiche ai fini dell'organizzazione ed accesso a banche dati, con particolari riferimenti alla genomica e alla proteomica;
- genetica medica, farmacogenomica e farmacologia molecolare per lo sviluppo di nuovi farmaci.
Attraverso la scelta degli insegnamenti gli studenti definiscono un proprio percorso formativo che permette l’approfondimento di conoscenze negli ambiti di biologia molecolare e cellulare, genomica e diagnostica, patologia e farmacologia, o biologia molecolare computazionale.
Il Corso di Studio prevede per un semestre del primo anno un corso di laboratorio integrato che si ispira a un tema attuale della ricerca biomedica. Il formato è studiato per fornire agli studenti le abilità tecniche nella ricerca biotecnologica e nel contempo evidenziare una chiara connessione tra la ricerca di laboratorio e l'impatto sulla salute umana. Gli insegnamenti sono organizzati in modo da lasciare ampio spazio al secondo anno per sviluppare il lavoro sperimentale finalizzato alla preparazione della tesi.
PROFILI PROFESSIONALI
1) Funzione in un contesto di lavoro:
La figura professionale dei laureati si inserisce, con un ruolo autonomo, di responsabilità e propositivo, nelle attività dei laboratori di ricerca biomedica e nelle attività produttive delle aziende biotecnologiche e farmaceutiche. Le funzioni del laureato sono da inquadrare nell'ambito della ricerca, dell'innovazione, dello sviluppo, della progettazione e della gestione di sistemi e processi, con particolare riferimento al settore biomedico, mediante approcci sperimentali e computazionali. Inoltre, il biotecnologo medico molecolare progetta, sviluppa e ottimizza nuove procedure operative, procedendo al reporting e alla comunicazione scientifica.
2) Competenze associate alla funzione:
Le competenze associate alla funzione sono direttive, organizzative ed esecutive nell’ambito della ricerca, del controllo di qualità, della diagnostica, dell'analisi scientifica nei laboratori di servizi pubblici e privati. I laureati magistrali utilizzano le tecnologie del DNA ricombinante, le tecnologie ad alta processività e altre tecniche biomolecolari per fornire un'interpretazione obiettiva e critica dei dati che vengono generati dalle tecnologie di cui sopra. I laureati sono in grado di progettare ed applicare metodologie scientifiche e tecnologiche per la risoluzione di problematiche di diagnostica molecolare, terapia cellulare e per l’individuazione di bersagli molecolari utili per la salute dell'uomo; progettare e sviluppare sistemi biologici per la produzione di proteine di interesse diagnostico e terapeutico. Possiedono competenze nello studio delle basi biologiche di alcune malattie e nella individuazione di metodologie
terapeutiche innovative. I laureati acquisiscono inoltre abilità comunicative necessarie per comunicare informazioni, idee, problemi e soluzioni, sia a specialisti che ad un pubblico di non specialistico. Conoscono la lingua inglese scritta e parlata in modo da rispondere alla forte mobilità internazionale del settore biotecnologico.
3) Sbocchi occupazionali:
La Laurea Magistrale consente l'inserimento anche diretto nel mondo del lavoro, sia a livello di imprese private che di enti
pubblici. Il laureato può svolgere attività professionali in strutture pubbliche e private, connesse alla conduzione e gestione di laboratori di ricerca biomedica o di medicina applicata e di diagnostica. Il laureato può inoltre svolgere attività libero professionale di consulenza e progettazione sia in forma indipendente che associata. Principali sbocchi professionali in Italia e all’estero:
- Università ed Enti di Ricerca pubblici e privati
- Strutture del Servizio Sanitario Nazionale e Privato
- Industrie e Servizi Biotecnologici
- Industria e vigilanza del farmaco
- Presidi multizonali di prevenzione
- Strutture Medico Legali
- Industria Diagnostica e Farmaceutica
- Organismi notificati e di certificazione
- Monitoraggio sperimentazioni cliniche
- Società di trasferimento tecnologico
- Società di editoria e comunicazione scientifica
- Istituzioni (Ministero della Salute)
Governing bodies
Programme Director
Quality Assurance
The quality of a degree programme is the extent to which it achieves its educational objectives and meets the quality requirements of the educational activities offered, which are determined in line with the needs and expectations of students and representatives of the world of work.
- periodic consultations with representatives of the world of work to assess the adequacy of the cultural and professional profiles offered in their courses;
- design of educational contents and planning of resources;
- organisation of educational activities and teaching services;
- monitoring the effectiveness of teaching and planning measures to improve teaching and services;
- provision of complete and up-to-date information on its website, relating to the programme (professional roles, expected learning outcomes, learning activities).
In a Quality Assurance system, students play a fundamental role: each student can play their part by participating in the Quality Assurance groups of their degree programme and in the Faculty-Student Joint Committees or, more simply, by taking part in the Student Survey on teaching, or questionnaires. It’s in this context that specific workshops for student representatives (‘Laboratori di rappresentanza attiva’) are periodically made available to students by the University and the University’s Quality Assurance Board. To find out more, please see the relevant section.
Il sistema di valutazione universitario e il ruolo dello studente
by Prof. Graziano Pravadelli: a lecture recorded on the occasion of the January 2021 workshop for student representatives.
QA bodies
QA in degree programmes
QA activities
Degree Programme description and regulations
The Degree programme teaching regulations, published on june/july set out the organisational aspects of the degree programme, in line with the University’s teaching regulations. It includes general information about the programme, links to the relevant module web pages and specifies the administrative aspects.
Other Regulations
To view other regulations of interest refer to the section: Statute and regulations
The Italian University system
First-cycle degrees: Bachelor’s degree programme
First-cycle degrees are aimed at enabling students to achieve a command of general scientific methods and content, and to acquire specific professional knowledge.Admission requirements: secondary school diploma after completing 13 years of study in total and passing the relevant State examination, or equivalent foreign qualification; admission may be subject to further assessment.
Duration: three years.
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 180 CFU; doing an internship and preparing a dissertation/thesis may also be required. Upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree, graduates may continue their studies by enrolling in a Master’s degree or other second-cycle degree programmes and courses.
Academic title: upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree (Laurea), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore”.
Second-cycle degrees: Master’s degree
Second-cycle degrees aim to provide students with an advanced training and knowledge to take on highly-skilled roles.Admission requirements: applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree, or a foreign equivalent qualification; curricular admission requirements for each course may vary depending on each University.
Duration: two years.
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 120 CFU, as well as preparing and presenting a dissertation/thesis.
Academic title: upon completion of a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore magistrale”. Single cycle/Combined Bachelor+Master’s degrees
Some courses (Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy, Architecture and Building Engineering-Architecture, Law, Primary Education) are offered as Single cycle/Combined Bachelor+Master’s degrees (Corsi di Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico).
Admission requirements: applicants must hold a secondary school diploma or equivalent foreign qualification; admission is subject to passing an admission test.
Duration: five years (six years and 360 CFU for Medicine and Surgery, and Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics).
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 300 CFU, as well as preparing and presenting a dissertation/thesis. Upon completion of a Single-cycle degree, graduates may continue their studies by applying for a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca) or other third-cycle courses.
Academic title: upon completion of a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore magistrale”.
Third-cycle degrees
PhD programmes: these courses enable students to gain reliable methodologies for advanced scientific research through innovative methodologies and new technologies, and generally include internships abroad and lab activities at research laboratories. Graduates wishing to apply for a PhD programme must have a Master’s degree (or a foreign equivalent qualification) and pass an open competition; PhD programmes have a minimum duration of three years. In order to complete the programme, students must produce a research thesis/dissertation and present it at a final examination.Academic title: upon completion of a PhD programme, students are awarded the title of “Dottore di ricerca”, or “PhD”.
Postgraduate specialisation courses: these are third-cycle courses aimed at enabling students to develop advanced knowledge and highly-specialised skills, such as in the medical, clinical and surgical fields. To be admitted to these courses, applicants must have a Master’s degree (or a foreign equivalent qualification) and pass an open competition. Postgraduate specialisation courses may last from two (120 CFU) to 6 years (360 CFU) depending on the type. Academic title: upon completion of this programme, graduates are awarded a “Diploma di Specializzazione”.
Professional Master’s programme
1st-level Professional Master’s programmes: these courses enable students to further enhance their scientific knowledge and professional skills. In order to apply, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree, or foreign equivalent qualification. The minimum duration is one year (60 CFU). Please note that completing this course will not provide you with direct access to a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca), or other third-cycle courses, as these courses are run and managed by each University at the local level. Upon completion of this programme, students are awarded a “Master universitario di primo livello”.2nd-level Professional Master’s programmes: these courses enable students to further enhance their scientific knowledge and professional skills. In order to apply, applicants must have a Master’s degree, or foreign equivalent qualification. The minimum duration is one year (60 CFU). Please note that completing this course will not provide you with direct access to a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca), or other third-cycle courses, as these courses are run and managed by each University at the local level. Upon completion of this programme, students are awarded a “Master universitario di secondo livello”.
Other useful things
Crediti Formativi Universitari (CFU/ECTS credits): Italian university courses are based on the CFU system. 1 CFU is equal to 25 hours of study. The average annual academic workload for a full-time student is generally assumed to be 60 CFU. CFU and ECTS credits serve the same purpose and generally have the same value.Degree class: Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes that have the same learning objectives and activities are grouped into “degree classes". The educational content of each programme is set autonomously by each university; however, universities are required to include certain educational activities (and the corresponding number of CFU credits) set at the national level. These requirements are established in relation to each degree class. Degrees in the same class have the same legal value.
Double/Joint degrees: the Italian universities may establish degree programmes in partnership with other Italian or foreign universities. Upon completion of these courses, graduates are awarded a joint or double/multiple degree, one from each Partner University.
