Master in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMB)
Trento, Italy
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 6,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* *for non-EU citizens living abroad: 4 March 2026. For EU citizens and non-EU citizens regularly living in Italy: from 21 April 2026 to 30 June 2026
** *EU 340€-3400€ (fee range based on personal income and merit); Non-EU: 1000€-6500€ (fee range based on merit only, i.e. score in the application evaluation)
Key Summary
About: The Master in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) at the University of Trento is a two-year full-time English-taught programme that trains biotechnologists in genomics, genetic engineering, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, computational biology. It focuses on cancer biology and neurobiology, imaging, next-generation sequencing, high-throughput screening, and gene and cell therapy. You’ll get hands-on practical experience in state-of-the-art labs and a final research project at CIBIO, partner European universities or biotech/pharma companies, benefiting from international collaborations.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter research and development in biotech and pharma, technical-scientific communication, diagnostics, biomedical management, or pursue international PhD programmes in molecular biology and biotechnology.
Over the last decade, significant methodological and conceptual advances in the life sciences area have enabled the development of the so-called “new biology.”
This new biology is mainly based on the ability to study cells at a molecular level thanks to the increasing availability of genomic sequences of many species and the possibility to determine, in a comprehensive way, gene expression profiles as well as the interactions between biological macromolecules. In addition, technological advances in genetic engineering and synthetic biology have led to an increased capacity for designing and building new biological systems with applications in biomedicine.
Finally, the strong development of bioinformatics and computational biology is providing new tools for the management, interpretation and modeling of a constantly increasing amount of biological data.
The Master's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) is therefore aimed at the training of experts in cellular and molecular biotechnology with an in-depth focus on genomic approaches in the fields of cancer biology and neurobiology including experimental, technological and computational aspects.
Program Overview
The Master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) is a two-year full-time program taught in English which aims to train modern biotechnologists.
The courses in the CMB program are structured to focus on the latest advances in genomics and genetic engineering in the biomedicine field with specific reference to technological aspects, including advanced imaging, next-generation sequencing, high-throughput screening and gene and cell therapy. Along with high quality and dynamic teaching, the CMB Master’s degree provides practical experience in state-of-the-art biotech laboratories. During the last semester, practical training is followed by a research project to be carried out within research groups at CIBIO (Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento), or in one of the collaborating laboratories in other European universities, or in companies operating in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical sector. The CMB program takes advantage of the long-term international relationships which globally connect the University of Trento, fostering a stimulating learning process.
Teaching activities include lectures, laboratory activities, and seminars. The program includes common core courses to be attended during the first year and three specialization tracks in cancer biology, neurobiology, and microbes & infection during the first half of the second year.
Credits required to complete the MCMB program: 120 ECTS
Notes: according to the Sorbonne (1988) and Bologna (1999) declarations university-level study programs in the European Higher Education Area are structured in university credits (ECTS). One university credit corresponds to 25 hours of student workload, time for personal preparation included. The annual average workload for a full-time student is conventionally fixed at 60 credits.
The Master’s degree program in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) is designed to offer learning opportunities that enhance the skills and the competencies of professional biotechnologists, including:
- Detailed knowledge of the functioning and regulation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells;
- Methods for the structural and functional characterization of biological macromolecules and the cellular processes in which they are involved;
- Detailed understanding of the pathological processes at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels;
- Technological skills for the design and manufacturing of biotechnology products and processes, such as biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and vaccines.
Scholarships and tuition fees for non-EU citizens living abroad
Top-scored candidates will be entitled to receive a UniTrento scholarship assigned by the Evaluation Committee based on the application score. Tuition fees are waived for students who receive a UniTrento scholarship.
The amount of tuition fees for Non-EU applicants living abroad is related to the application score obtained during the selection. For more information check the UniTrento scholarships web page and Tuition fees for Master’s degree in English.
Scholarships and tuition fees for EU Citizens and Non-EU citizens regularly living in Italy
DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) Scholarships are available for EU citizens and Non-EU citizens living in Italy who meet the ISEE requirements based on the family income. Further information is available on Scholarships starting from June/July.
Details about tuition fees and ISEE are available on the Opera Universitaria web page.
The Master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) aims at shaping competitive biotechnologists, which are increasingly demanded in the medical, environmental, and industrial sectors. More specifically, career opportunities for students who graduated with a Master's in CMB are to be found in a wide range of sectors, including:
- Research and development in the biotechnology industry;
- Technical-scientific information and communication;
- Management of public and private institutions in biomedicine, diagnostics,and cosmetics.
Alternatively, the Master in CMB allows students to apply for international PhD programs in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, which is typically the choice for those thinking of pursuing an academic or research career.