The programme
This section provides a comprehensive overview of the degree programme, including details on its structure, regulations, and additional resources. It also introduces the University’s Quality Assurance system and outlines the Student Orientation services available to prospective students, aimed at guiding them in selecting the most suitable course.
The newly updated Student Orientation Office website is designed to provide a more comprehensive and user-friendly service. The primary users are secondary school students exploring the University for the first time, along wiht0 high schools’ University Orientation Services which organise activities to assist graduating students in their post-diploma decisions. The orientation process helps prospective students plan and select the best options that align with their expectations, preferences, and aspirations.
More details: www.univr.it/orientamento (italian page)
Email servizio.orientamento@ateneo.univr.it
Telephone number 0458028000 (tasto 1)
Timetable
Sportello telefonico 0458028000 (tasto 1) : dal lunedì al venerdì, dalle ore 9:00 alle 13:00.
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.
- Degree type Corsi di laurea Magistrale
- Duration 2 years
- Part-time Study option available Yes
- Admissions Subject to entry requirements
- Degree class LM-9
- S.T.E.M. course Yes
- Administrative headquarters verona
- Locations for lessons and exams Map of the Locations
- Language English
The specific objectives aim at enabling the student to acquire, also through significant experimental work experience, in-depth skills and knowledge in
- methodologies aimed at the structural and functional characterisation of biological macromolecules and the cellular processes in which they intervene
- pathological processes of human interest, at the molecular and cellular level; current applications and prospects for the application of biotechnology in human pathology;
- organisation and expression modes of the human genome and analysis using bioinformatic tools and high-throughput experimental platforms;
- structural biology for the design of molecules with pharmacological activity;
- molecular modelling for the design of molecules of biomedical interest;
- bioinformatic methodologies for the organisation and access to databases, with particular reference to genomics and proteomics;
- medical genetics, pharmacogenomics and molecular pharmacology for the development of new drugs.
Through their choice of subjects, students define their own course of study that allows them to deepen their knowledge in the fields of molecular and cellular biology, genomics and diagnostics, pathology and pharmacology, or computational molecular biology.
For one semester of the first year, the course of study includes an integrated laboratory course inspired by a current topic in biomedical research. The format is designed to provide students with technical skills in biotechnology research while emphasising a clear connection between laboratory research and the impact on human health. The teaching is organised in such a way as to leave ample time in the second year to develop experimental work for the preparation of the thesis.
Professional roles and employment opportunities
• MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGIST AND PHYSICIAN
Professional role in the work context
Graduates will be able to find employment opportunities requiring an autonomous, responsible and proactive attitude, in biomedical research laboratories and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The graduate's tasks are to be framed in the field of research, innovation, development, design and management of systems and processes, with particular reference to the biomedical sector, by means of experimental and computational approaches. In addition, the molecular medical biotechnologist will design, develop and optimise new operational procedures, and carry out scientific reporting and communication.
Skills associated with the role
The skills associated with the role are: management, organisation and execution in research, quality control, diagnostics and scientific analysis in public and private laboratories. Master's graduates are expected to be able to use recombinant DNA technologies, high-processing technologies and other biomolecular techniques to provide an objective and critical interpretation of the data generated by the above technologies. Moreover, they should be able to: design and apply scientific and technological methodologies to solve problems in molecular diagnostics, cell therapy and for the identification of molecular targets useful for human health; design and develop biological systems for the production of proteins of diagnostic and therapeutic interest. In addition, graduates are expected to possess skills in the study of the biological bases of certain diseases and in the identification of innovative therapeutic methods. Graduates shall also acquire communication skills necessary to convey information, ideas, problems and solutions, both to specialists and the general public. They shall be proficient in written and spoken English in order to respond to the strong international mobility of the biotechnology sector.
Career prospects
This Master's degree will enable graduates to enter the world of work straight after their studies, either in private companies or in public bodies. Graduates will be able to carry out professional activities in public and private facilities related to the management of biomedical research or applied medicine and diagnostics laboratories. Graduates may also carry out consultancy and design activities as a self-employed professional, either independently or in association. The main career opportunities for graduates, in Italy and abroad, are to be found in the following contexts:
- Universities and public and private research organisations;
- National Health Service and private structures;
- biotechnology industries and services;
- pharmaceutical industry and supervision;
- multi-zonal prevention centres;
- medical and legal facilities;
- diagnostic and pharmaceutical industry;
- notified and certifying bodies;
- clinical trial monitoring;
- technology transfer companies;
- publishing and scientific communication companies;
- institutions (Ministry of Health).
Governing bodies
Student representatives Find out more
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 Rules
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.
