University Of Salento

Master's Degree in EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED BIOLOGY

Degree course in italian: BIOLOGIA SPERIMENTALE ED APPLICATA
Degree course: EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED BIOLOGY
Title: Master's Degree
MIUR Class: Biologia - LM-6 R (DM270)
Length: 2 years
Credits: 120
Department: BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Website: https://www.unisalento.it/didattica/cosa-studiare/percorsi/-/dettaglio/corso/LM68R/biologia-sperimentale-ed-applicata
Language: ITALIAN
Location: Lecce-
Academic year: 2025/2026
Type of access/Available places: Free access course
Career opportunities: 2.3.1.1.1 - Biologi e professioni assimilate
2.3.1.1.2 - Biochimici
2.3.1.2.2 - Microbiologi
2.6.2.2.1 - Ricercatori e tecnici laureati nelle scienze biologiche

Course description
Course modules

Course description

The Master's Degree in Experimental and Applied Biology represents the natural choice for the in-depth study of specific skills related to qualified professional profiles in various sectors of the Life Sciences. Activated pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/04, the course lasts two years and does not provide for restricted access.
Enrollment in the Course requires the possession of specific curricular requirements and is subject to passing a test to verify the adequacy of personal preparation that will take place within the times and terms that are communicated annually in the relevant admission notice. The Master's Degree in Experimental and Applied Biology at the University of Salento includes a common path (first and second semester, first year) and a subsequent division (third and fourth semester, second year) into the following four curricula:

- Agri-food;
- Bio-health;
- Cellular and Molecular
- Human nutrition

The choice of curriculum must be made by the student upon enrollment in the second year of the course through the Student Web Portal. To obtain the final academic qualification, it is necessary to acquire at least 120 CFU (University Training Credits) of which 24 are reserved for the final exam (consisting of the presentation and public discussion of a written paper on a topic, agreed with a supervisor, which results from experimental activity carried out at university facilities and laboratories, public or private research institutions in Italy or abroad, public or private companies).

Location: Ecotekne Campus (via Monteroni - Lecce), buildings A, B, D

Towards internationalisation: International student mobility is supported through ERASMUS+ scholarships and agreements with numerous European universities for courses and internships abroad.

Towards work: graduates in Experimental and Applied Biology can carry out activities to promote and develop basic and applied research in the agri-food, bio-health, cellular/molecular and human nutrition sectors, also by carrying out investigations genetic, biochemical, molecular, cytological, morphological and microbiological on biological samples of various nature and origin. Graduates can take the state exam for registration in the professional register and practice the profession in public and private laboratories or provide consultancy as freelancers. Graduates can access specialization schools, doctoral schools and second level master's degrees in biological disciplines. They can also access training courses and, by acquiring specific additional requirements provided for by Ministerial Decree 616/2017 and subsequent additions, competitions for teaching Science in secondary schools of I and II degree.

Peculiarities: The profession of biologist is regulated by Italian law (L. 396/67), and to practice it, registration with the National Order of Biologists is mandatory.

To be admitted to the Master's Degree in Experimental and Applied Biology, the student must have a degree (including that obtained according to the system prior to Ministerial Decree 509/1999 and subsequent amendments and additions) or a three-year university diploma, or another qualification obtained abroad recognized as suitable by the competent University bodies.

Admission also requires possession of curricular requirements and the adequacy of the student's initial knowledge. Such knowledge is that which can be acquired with a first level degree in Biological Sciences (Class L-13 Biological Sciences/formerly Class 12- Biological Sciences) or in Biotechnology (Class L-02) at any Italian University.

For candidates who have obtained a three-year degree in other Classes, or who are in possession of other equivalent qualifications obtained abroad and with at least partially similar training contents, the skills and knowledge acquired in the previous path must guarantee the possession of a minimum number of CFU in the following groupings of Disciplinary Sectors, as indicated below:

for training activities in the basic SSD:
FIS (FIS/01-08) 6 CFU
INF/01 - ING-INF/05 3 CFU
MAT (MAT/01-09) 6 CFU
CHIM (CHIM/01-03, CHIM/06) 12 CFU

As regards the CFU of the SSD BIO/ and MED/, the candidate for admission must possess - in line with the recommendations expressed by the College of Italian University Biologists - at least 60 CFU divided into 9 of the 10 groupings/SSD, with a minimum number of 6 CFU for each SSD, listed below:

Scientific-disciplinary sectors
1)BIO/01-BIO/02-BIO/03
2) BIO/04
3) BIO/05-BIO/07
4) BIO/06-BIO/13
5) BIO/09
6) BIO/10
7) BIO/11
8) BIO/18
9) BIO/19
10) MED/04-MED/42

Any deficiencies in the previous path may be filled before admission to the Master's Degree course by enrolling in individual courses and acquiring CFU in the missing sectors.

For admission to the Master's Degree Course in Experimental and Applied Biology, the student must take an admission test consisting of an interview with a special Commission, made up of professors of the Master's Degree Course in Experimental and Applied Biology, aimed at verifying the possession of the requirements and the adequacy of personal preparation. Candidates must also have a good knowledge of the English language (equivalent to the minimum level B1), the adequacy of which will be assessed by the Commission during the interview.

Profile

Expert biologist

Functions

The graduate in Experimental and Applied Biology can perform highly responsible roles in all professional fields related to the applications of the knowledge acquired in the sectors of health biology and nutrition, agri-food, cellular and molecular biology and genetics. He/she will be able to perform researcher, trainer and manager roles in various work contexts, taking on responsibility for projects and structures. After passing the State Exam, he/she will also be able to independently work as a freelance biologist.

In particular, the graduate in Experimental and Applied Biology can conduct:
- basic and applied research activities in the life sciences;
- biological, microbiological, genetic and biomolecular analyses also in the context of research programmes in the sectors of cellular and molecular therapy of rare diseases and neurodegenerative diseases and in any other research area where specialist skills in genetics, advanced cellular and molecular biology are applicable, also within research laboratories of companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector;
- study and analysis of chemical-biochemical, cellular, genetic, immunological, microbiological and nutritional parameters relevant to human health also in the forensic field;
- promotion, development and management of scientific innovation;
- promotion and development of typical local food products;
- quality control and certification of agro-food products;
- biological, biochemical and biotechnological investigations in the food and nutrition fields.

Skills

The graduate in Experimental and Applied Biology has:
- a modern and in-depth theoretical-practical knowledge of biological processes, investigation methodologies and their multiple applications in all sectors of life sciences, which, depending on the chosen curricular path, will be more oriented towards a distinctive and updated preparation on the problems and biological aspects related to agro-food production, biomedical and health sciences, human nutrition and transversal applications of a cellular and molecular approach. In particular, to carry out his/her functions, the biologist with molecular and cellular skills has acquired specific skills:
- in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge in one of the following sectors:
agro-food; biohealth; molecular and cellular; nutritional and nutraceutical;
- ability to design and conduct experimental work;
- ability to use scientific tools for advanced analysis;
- ability to critically analyze results;
- ability to communicate effectively and work in a group;
- aptitude for continuous updating;
- ability to interact with colleagues with different skills;
- ability to use fluently in written and oral form, in addition to Italian, also the English language, with reference also to disciplinary lexicons.

The graduate in Experimental and Applied Biology is able to apply these skills in a flexible manner in different work contexts.

Sporto

The Master's Degree in Experimental and Applied Biology allows you to acquire a professional profile at the managerial level typical of Specialists in life sciences and Specialists in research training and similar, with roles of responsibility in the following sectors: basic and applied research in biology, in the agri-food, health, cellular-molecular and nutritional fields; professional and/or consultancy activities at public and private bodies involved in research and diagnostics in the genetic, microbiological, biochemical, cellular, biomolecular and nutritional fields. The expected employment opportunities concern access to public and private bodies and other research and training institutions, companies operating in the field of development and enhancement of products of biological, biotechnological, agricultural and pharmaceutical interest, universities, laboratories and Public Health and Hygiene Operating Units, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation bodies; in the pharmaceutical industry; in medically assisted reproduction laboratories; in specialized scientific communication and in the dissemination of scientific and technological innovation, with skills associated with the roles of Biologist, Nutrition Biologist, Health Biologist, Cell Biologist, Molecular Biologist, Biochemist, Geneticist, Microbiologist, responsible for the biological and quality control of agri-food products, scientific information representative, and similar professions.

The graduate in Experimental and Applied Biology will be able to access the profession of Biologist after passing the exam to qualify for the profession and registration in the Professional Register or in the Special List of Biologists (National Order of Biologists, ONB).
Master's degree graduates in possession of the requirements set by current legislation will also be able to participate in the entrance tests for the training courses for teaching staff for secondary schools of first and second level.

The graduate in Master's degree will also be able to:
- access specialization schools (subject to competition) and second level university master's degrees;
- access research doctorate courses (subject to competition).

The final exam for the Master of Science in Experimental and Applied Biology consists of the presentation and discussion in public, before a designated commission, of a written paper (thesis). The topic, agreed with one of the teachers of the Master of Science Course (Supervisor), must be the result of the experimental activity carried out during the period dedicated to the preparation of the final exam.

The thesis work must be carried out under the guidance of the Supervisor and can be carried out either at university facilities and laboratories, or at public or private research institutions, in Italy or abroad; where necessary, the thesis can also be carried out at public or private companies. In the case of theses carried out in facilities external to the University of Salento, the appointment of a Co-Supervisor is necessary, in addition to the Supervisor. The cultural maturity and the ability of the graduate to personally and autonomously elaborate the topic, and his ability to effectively communicate the topic addressed, must emerge from it.