Biochemistry
Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
Tuition, per year
€2,924
Unverified. Not yet verified. A person has not opened the source for this cycle. Read off the institution own programme page on 13 September 2026 by a single research pass. It has NOT been independently re-checked: the verification stage of that run was stopped before it reached this record, so the record renders as unverified rather than claiming a receipt it does not have. The English requirement is held at unverified unless a per programme source URL was found. Figures here are a starting point for a reader, not a checked claim. Open questions: 1) The month teaching starts is not published. The timetable tab for course 33459 is empty, the university academic calendar page lists only the Christmas and Easter breaks, and the lesson schedule page says only that first semester timetables appear from September. intakeMonths is left empty rather than guessed. 2) Tuition for 2026-2027 is not published. The Sapienza tuition page states that 2026-2027 information will appear after 30 September. The 2,924 euro standard fee and the 300 euro Band A fee are the 2025-2026 amounts under Article 38 of the student regulations. 3) The 2027-2028 call for applications does not exist yet. Every deadline in this record comes from the 2026-2027 call, Rector's Decree No. 1128/2026, and all of its application windows have already closed. 4) The two documents state the English rule differently and neither says which governs at which stage. The pre-selection sheet prints IELTS 5.5 and TOEFL iBT 80 and the uncapped medium of instruction waiver. The admission call prints only CEFR B2 plus an oral assessment for applicants without a certificate, and names no test and no score. 5) The Presentation, Educational objectives and Professional opportunities sections are published in Italian on the English pages of the catalogue. Sapienza has published no English text for them. 6) Scholarship and living cost information is not on the programme page. The call points only to the university scholarships page and to studyinitaly.esteri.it. Sapienza University of Rome, course catalogue, Biochemistry (programme 33459)
Application deadline
closed on 13 July 2026
English requirement
Waived if your degree was taught in English
The university’s exact wording
“This programme's own entry in Sapienza's 2026-2027 online pre-selection sheet sets CEFR level B2 and prints the minimum scores for this degree: IELTS 5.5 or higher, TOEFL iBT 80 or higher, Cambridge English B2 First or higher, Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English ISE II or higher, and the Pearson English International Certificate (Edexcel Limited, accredited by Ofqual). Duolingo is not on the list. The same entry waives the English requirement for native speakers of English, for an English taught diploma or degree from an accredited institution in the EU, EEA, Schengen, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States, for an International Baccalaureate, GCSE or comparable certificate, and for "students holding a degree from an accredited institution where English is the main language of instruction". That last line carries no country limit, so an applicant from Pakistan with an English medium degree is covered by it. Only six entries in that 130 page sheet carry the uncapped line, and Biochemistry is one of them. The admission call adds a second route. Section 3.4 states that applicants who do not hold a B2 certificate must take an English proficiency assessment, held at the same time as the oral examination, with an online interview where sitting it in person is not possible. The call warns that failing that interview keeps you off the merit ranking. Certificates must come from a body accredited on the Italian ministry list.”
Unverified. Not yet verified. A person has not opened the source for this cycle. Read off the institution own programme page on 13 September 2026 by a single research pass. It has NOT been independently re-checked: the verification stage of that run was stopped before it reached this record, so the record renders as unverified rather than claiming a receipt it does not have. The English requirement is held at unverified unless a per programme source URL was found. Figures here are a starting point for a reader, not a checked claim. Open questions: 1) The month teaching starts is not published. The timetable tab for course 33459 is empty, the university academic calendar page lists only the Christmas and Easter breaks, and the lesson schedule page says only that first semester timetables appear from September. intakeMonths is left empty rather than guessed. 2) Tuition for 2026-2027 is not published. The Sapienza tuition page states that 2026-2027 information will appear after 30 September. The 2,924 euro standard fee and the 300 euro Band A fee are the 2025-2026 amounts under Article 38 of the student regulations. 3) The 2027-2028 call for applications does not exist yet. Every deadline in this record comes from the 2026-2027 call, Rector's Decree No. 1128/2026, and all of its application windows have already closed. 4) The two documents state the English rule differently and neither says which governs at which stage. The pre-selection sheet prints IELTS 5.5 and TOEFL iBT 80 and the uncapped medium of instruction waiver. The admission call prints only CEFR B2 plus an oral assessment for applicants without a certificate, and names no test and no score. 5) The Presentation, Educational objectives and Professional opportunities sections are published in Italian on the English pages of the catalogue. Sapienza has published no English text for them. 6) Scholarship and living cost information is not on the programme page. The call points only to the university scholarships page and to studyinitaly.esteri.it. Sapienza University of Rome, course catalogue, Biochemistry (programme 33459)
- LevelMaster's degreeLaurea Magistrale
- SubjectNatural sciences
- Taught inTaught in English
- Length2 years
- DeliveryOn campus
- StartsNot yet read
- AdmissionRestricted, entrance testThere is an entrance test
- Minimum mark78%
The money
What you pay, and what you must prove you have.
Two different things, kept apart on purpose: a bill you pay, and a balance a visa officer needs to see that never gets spent.
What you pay
Tuition, per year
€2,924
about PKR 940,000
Why this figure, and not a lower one
Italian state fees usually scale with an assessed household indicator. Where the call states one figure it appears above; where it states a scale, this page says so rather than averaging it.
Read off the institution own programme page on 13 September 2026 by a single research pass. It has NOT been independently re-checked: the verification stage of that run was stopped before it reached this record, so the record renders as unverified rather than claiming a receipt it does not have. The English requirement is held at unverified unless a per programme source URL was found. Figures here are a starting point for a reader, not a checked claim. Open questions: 1) The month teaching starts is not published. The timetable tab for course 33459 is empty, the university academic calendar page lists only the Christmas and Easter breaks, and the lesson schedule page says only that first semester timetables appear from September. intakeMonths is left empty rather than guessed. 2) Tuition for 2026-2027 is not published. The Sapienza tuition page states that 2026-2027 information will appear after 30 September. The 2,924 euro standard fee and the 300 euro Band A fee are the 2025-2026 amounts under Article 38 of the student regulations. 3) The 2027-2028 call for applications does not exist yet. Every deadline in this record comes from the 2026-2027 call, Rector's Decree No. 1128/2026, and all of its application windows have already closed. 4) The two documents state the English rule differently and neither says which governs at which stage. The pre-selection sheet prints IELTS 5.5 and TOEFL iBT 80 and the uncapped medium of instruction waiver. The admission call prints only CEFR B2 plus an oral assessment for applicants without a certificate, and names no test and no score. 5) The Presentation, Educational objectives and Professional opportunities sections are published in Italian on the English pages of the catalogue. Sapienza has published no English text for them. 6) Scholarship and living cost information is not on the programme page. The call points only to the university scholarships page and to studyinitaly.esteri.it.
Unverified. Not yet verified. A person has not opened the source for this cycle. Read off the institution own programme page on 13 September 2026 by a single research pass. It has NOT been independently re-checked: the verification stage of that run was stopped before it reached this record, so the record renders as unverified rather than claiming a receipt it does not have. The English requirement is held at unverified unless a per programme source URL was found. Figures here are a starting point for a reader, not a checked claim. Open questions: 1) The month teaching starts is not published. The timetable tab for course 33459 is empty, the university academic calendar page lists only the Christmas and Easter breaks, and the lesson schedule page says only that first semester timetables appear from September. intakeMonths is left empty rather than guessed. 2) Tuition for 2026-2027 is not published. The Sapienza tuition page states that 2026-2027 information will appear after 30 September. The 2,924 euro standard fee and the 300 euro Band A fee are the 2025-2026 amounts under Article 38 of the student regulations. 3) The 2027-2028 call for applications does not exist yet. Every deadline in this record comes from the 2026-2027 call, Rector's Decree No. 1128/2026, and all of its application windows have already closed. 4) The two documents state the English rule differently and neither says which governs at which stage. The pre-selection sheet prints IELTS 5.5 and TOEFL iBT 80 and the uncapped medium of instruction waiver. The admission call prints only CEFR B2 plus an oral assessment for applicants without a certificate, and names no test and no score. 5) The Presentation, Educational objectives and Professional opportunities sections are published in Italian on the English pages of the catalogue. Sapienza has published no English text for them. 6) Scholarship and living cost information is not on the programme page. The call points only to the university scholarships page and to studyinitaly.esteri.it. Sapienza University of Rome, course catalogue, Biochemistry (programme 33459)
To be considered, once
€35
about PKR 11,000
Paid to the university when you submit. Non-refundable, and separate from anything the visa itself costs.
Unverified. Not yet verified. A person has not opened the source for this cycle. Read off the institution own programme page on 13 September 2026 by a single research pass. It has NOT been independently re-checked: the verification stage of that run was stopped before it reached this record, so the record renders as unverified rather than claiming a receipt it does not have. The English requirement is held at unverified unless a per programme source URL was found. Figures here are a starting point for a reader, not a checked claim. Open questions: 1) The month teaching starts is not published. The timetable tab for course 33459 is empty, the university academic calendar page lists only the Christmas and Easter breaks, and the lesson schedule page says only that first semester timetables appear from September. intakeMonths is left empty rather than guessed. 2) Tuition for 2026-2027 is not published. The Sapienza tuition page states that 2026-2027 information will appear after 30 September. The 2,924 euro standard fee and the 300 euro Band A fee are the 2025-2026 amounts under Article 38 of the student regulations. 3) The 2027-2028 call for applications does not exist yet. Every deadline in this record comes from the 2026-2027 call, Rector's Decree No. 1128/2026, and all of its application windows have already closed. 4) The two documents state the English rule differently and neither says which governs at which stage. The pre-selection sheet prints IELTS 5.5 and TOEFL iBT 80 and the uncapped medium of instruction waiver. The admission call prints only CEFR B2 plus an oral assessment for applicants without a certificate, and names no test and no score. 5) The Presentation, Educational objectives and Professional opportunities sections are published in Italian on the English pages of the catalogue. Sapienza has published no English text for them. 6) Scholarship and living cost information is not on the programme page. The call points only to the university scholarships page and to studyinitaly.esteri.it. Sapienza University of Rome, course catalogue, Biochemistry (programme 33459)
What you must prove you have
Funds you must show, per year
€10,179.85
Health cover, minimum
€30,000
How these two are decided
Funds you must show: in your own account, or evidenced by a sponsor or an award. Cash is refused.
Health cover: emergency treatment and repatriation, across the Schengen area, for as long as the visa lasts.
Universitaly (MUR)checked
Who may hold the money, and the refusal of cash, are the embassy’s own rules for a study visa rather than the university’s.
Embassy of Italy, Islamabadchecked
Rent, food and travel are in none of the figures above. What a month actually costs in Italy.
Amounts are in euro, as published. €1 = PKR 321.43, 30 August 2026.
Entry requirements
What this call asks of you.
The admission model first, because it is the one that closes a degree for a year. Everything below it is quoted from the university's call for applications for this cycle, in its order.
How it admits
Restricted, entrance test
accesso programmato
The university's own wording
“The call for applications prints "Restricted access degree programme" on its cover and refers throughout to the "limited-intake Master's degree programme in Biochemistry". The Italian text of the same call prints "Corso ad accesso programmato" and "corso di laurea magistrale ad accesso programmato in Biochemistry". The call is Rector's Decree No. 1128/2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year, and it sets 43 EU places and 7 non-EU places. To gain admission you must undergo a comparative assessment of your qualifications and pass an entrance examination.”
Entrance tests
The university's own testInterview
What the call asks for
A bachelor's degree in class L-2 Biotechnology or L-13 Biological Sciences, or the corresponding classes established under Ministerial Decree No. 509 of 3 November 1999.
Or a degree in another class carrying at least 72 ECTS credits in set scientific disciplinary sectors: 18 in CHIM/01, CHIM/02, CHIM/03, CHIM/06, CHIM/08; 18 in FIS* and MAT*; 6 in BIO/10; 6 in BIO/1 to BIO/10, BIO/11, BIO/12, BIO/18, BIO/19, MED/04, MED/07; and 24 in CHIM*, FIS*, MAT*, BIO*, INF/01, MED/04, MED/07, MED/42, MED/44, MED/46, M-PSI/02.
For a foreign qualification, a first level degree of at least three years in the fields of biological sciences or biotechnology, with a basic background in mathematics and physics.
The programme is also open to holders of a three year degree in chemistry or physics, provided they have a background in biological disciplines such as cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology.
Advanced knowledge of spoken and written English, at least CEFR level B2, proved by a scanned language certificate. Without that certificate your level is assessed at the oral examination.
A minimum GPA of 78 out of 100, applied at the online pre-selection that non-EU applicants resident abroad must pass first.
For non-EU applicants who need a study visa: a pre-acceptance letter downloaded from the QS MoveIn pre-selection platform after a successful pre-selection.
For non-EU applicants who need a study visa: an online pre-enrolment application on Universitaly, which is mandatory to obtain the study visa.
Final year students may apply on a provisional basis if they already hold at least 132 ECTS credits, of which at least 42 in the listed subject areas, and graduate by 18 December 2026, or by 22 January 2027 if they study at Sapienza.
The English rule
Waived if your degree was taught in English
“This programme's own entry in Sapienza's 2026-2027 online pre-selection sheet sets CEFR level B2 and prints the minimum scores for this degree: IELTS 5.5 or higher, TOEFL iBT 80 or higher, Cambridge English B2 First or higher, Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English ISE II or higher, and the Pearson English International Certificate (Edexcel Limited, accredited by Ofqual). Duolingo is not on the list. The same entry waives the English requirement for native speakers of English, for an English taught diploma or degree from an accredited institution in the EU, EEA, Schengen, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States, for an International Baccalaureate, GCSE or comparable certificate, and for "students holding a degree from an accredited institution where English is the main language of instruction". That last line carries no country limit, so an applicant from Pakistan with an English medium degree is covered by it. Only six entries in that 130 page sheet carry the uncapped line, and Biochemistry is one of them. The admission call adds a second route. Section 3.4 states that applicants who do not hold a B2 certificate must take an English proficiency assessment, held at the same time as the oral examination, with an online interview where sitting it in person is not possible. The call warns that failing that interview keeps you off the merit ranking. Certificates must come from a body accredited on the Italian ministry list.”
The application file
- Application form completed in full, Annex A if you hold an Italian qualification or Annex A1 if you hold a foreign qualification, then printed and signed.
- Scanned copy of your identity document, in PDF, named Surname_FirstName_Documento.
- Scanned copy of the receipt for the 35 euro fee, in PDF, named Surname_FirstName_Versamento.
- Scanned copy of your English language certificate at level B2, in PDF, named Surname_FirstName_Certificazione linguistica.
- The application form, Annex A or Annex A1, saved in Microsoft Excel .xls format, named Surname_FirstName_Domanda.
- Scanned copy of the completed and signed application form, in PDF, named Surname_FirstName_Domanda.
- Only if you hold a foreign qualification, a PDF listing the main subjects covered in each course you entered in Box 2 of Annex A1. The call strongly recommends including it.
English, accepted proofs
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- PTE Academic
- Medium of Instruction letter
- The university's own test
- An interview
Only what this call names. A proof another degree at the same university accepts is not on this list unless this call says so too.
Before any of it counts
Start the legalisation chain first
A degree awarded outside Europe has to be attested and legalised before an Italian university reads it. That chain is decided by the country you apply from, and no office on it publishes a turnaround.
The study plan
What you would actually study.
An excerpt of the university's published study plan, not the whole of it. Degrees with large elective baskets list more than is useful to reproduce here, so the link below is the complete version.
1st8 modules
- Bioorganic Chemistry6 CFU
- CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY9 CFU
- Structure and Function of Macromolecules9 CFU
- Microorganism and Plant Biochemistry6 CFU
- Physiopathology and Pharmacology9 CFU
- COMPUTATIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY6 CFU
- Biochemical Methodologies9 CFU
- BIOCHEMICAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES6 CFU
2nd14 modules
- Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies6 CFU
- Ethical and Regulatory Aspects of Scientific Research6 CFU
- Elective courseChoose from a list12 CFU
- LABORATORY PLACEMENTLab or workshop15 CFU
- Communication Skills2 CFU
- Final ExaminationThesis10 CFU
- RESEARCH DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONChoose from a list3 CFU
- Laboratory RotationChoose from a list3 CFU
- Biophysical ChemistryChoose from a list6 CFU
- Enzyme KineticsChoose from a list6 CFU
- NanotechnologiesChoose from a list6 CFU
- Medicinal ChemistryChoose from a list6 CFU
- Biochemical and Molecular DiagnosticsChoose from a list6 CFU
- Nutritional BiochemistryChoose from a list6 CFU
0 CFU for the whole degree, as the plan states it. 22 modules are listed here.
CFU is the Italian name for an ECTS credit. One is the same as the other, so 120 CFU is 120 ECTS.
The degree
About this degree.
A two year master's degree in biochemistry, taught entirely in English at Sapienza University of Rome, built around laboratory work and a compulsory experimental thesis. It suits graduates of biology or biotechnology, and graduates of chemistry or physics who already have cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology behind them.
Biochemistry is a two year master's degree at Sapienza University of Rome. It sits in degree class LM-9. The catalogue programme code is 33459 and the admission test code is 14228. All teaching is in English. Lessons are given in person in Rome. Two faculties run it together, Farmacia e Medicina and Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. The home department is SCIENZE BIOCHIMICHE "ALESSANDRO ROSSI FANELLI".
The university's full description
The first year is the core of the subject. The first semester is Bioorganic Chemistry, CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Structure and Function of Macromolecules, and Microorganism and Plant Biochemistry. The second semester is Physiopathology and Pharmacology, COMPUTATIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY, Biochemical Methodologies, and BIOCHEMICAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES. Most of these split into two modules. Biochemical Methodologies, for example, is taught as Protein Purification and Characterization plus Molecular Biology Techniques. Structure and Function of Macromolecules is taught as Macromolecules plus Biophysical Methods.
The second year has fewer lectures and more laboratory time. Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies and Ethical and Regulatory Aspects of Scientific Research are compulsory. There is a 12 CFU elective block. You then choose 3 CFU from RESEARCH DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION or Laboratory Rotation. You also choose 6 CFU from Biophysical Chemistry, Enzyme Kinetics, Nanotechnologies, Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemical and Molecular Diagnostics, and Nutritional Biochemistry.
The last semester is almost entirely practical. It holds a 15 CFU LABORATORY PLACEMENT, a 2 CFU Communication Skills course and the 10 CFU Final Examination. The final examination is an original dissertation written in English. The thesis must be experimental. The laboratory work behind it can be done at the university, at a public or private research body, or abroad.
Entry is restricted. For 2026-2027 Sapienza set 43 places for EU applicants and for applicants holding an Italian residence permit, and 7 places for non-EU applicants applying for a study visa. Admission is a comparative assessment of your past qualifications followed by an oral examination. The oral examination covers your previous studies, the topic of your bachelor thesis, and your reasons for wanting this degree.
Where it leads
As the university states it on its own page. Not a placement rate and not a promise.
- Roles of responsibility in the research and development area of pharmaceutical and biotech companies
- Research, production and commercial roles in pharmaceutical, biomedical and food industries, with emphasis on sustainable biotechnology processes
- Posts in public and private health service organisations
- Consultancy work, and bodies that regulate medicines and agricultural chemicals
- Clinical trial monitoring, in the role of Clinical Monitor, after the training the law requires
- Intellectual property and technology transfer work
- Scientific research in universities and public research institutes
- Further study, including specialisation courses and PhD programmes in biochemistry and in biological and biotechnological subjects
- The state examination to practise as a Biologo, then registration with the Ordine Nazionale dei Biologi
- Public competitions in the medical and health sector
Asked about this programme
The questions this one gets.
Do I need IELTS to get in?
Not always. This programme accepts IELTS 5.5 or higher, or TOEFL iBT 80 or higher. It also waives the English requirement for a student holding a degree from an accredited institution where English is the main language of instruction, with no list of countries attached. That line is on this programme's own entry in Sapienza's 2026-2027 pre-selection sheet. Most Sapienza programmes limit that waiver to six countries, which excludes Pakistan. This one does not. Duolingo is not accepted.
What if I have no English certificate at all?
The admission call lets you apply anyway. Your English is then assessed at the same sitting as the oral examination, or by online interview if you cannot attend in person. If you fail that assessment you are not placed on the merit ranking.
What mark do I need in my bachelor's degree?
The pre-selection sets a minimum GPA of 78 out of 100 for this programme. That is higher than the 75 out of 100 most Sapienza programmes ask for. After pre-selection your degree mark is scored again on a table in the admission call, from 2 points for a mark up to 90 out of 110, to 30 points for 110 with distinction.
What does a year cost?
Sapienza's standard annual fee for this faculty bracket was 2,924 euro in 2025-2026. If you declare your income abroad you pay a fixed amount set by country band instead. Pakistan is in Band A, which was 300 euro for the year, paid in three instalments of 90, 105 and 105 euro. A regional tax of 140 euro and a 16 euro stamp duty are added on top. Sapienza states that 2026-2027 figures will be published after 30 September.
What do I pay to apply?
The call charges 35 euro to enter the comparative assessment and the admission test, paid through Infostud using course access code 14228. It is not refunded under any circumstances. If you are a non-EU applicant living abroad you also pay 30 euro for the QS MoveIn pre-selection, which the call states is a separate payment.
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes, an oral examination. It covers your previous studies, the topic of your bachelor thesis, and your reasons for choosing this degree. It is worth up to 30 points, 25 for describing your academic experience clearly and 5 for motivation. Your final ranking score is the oral mark added to the score for your qualifications.
When were the 2026-2027 deadlines?
Non-EU applicants living abroad had to register and pay by 13 July 2026 and sat the oral examination on 20 July 2026, with results by 28 July 2026. EU applicants and non-EU applicants holding an Italian residence permit had until 3 September 2026, sat the examination on 10 September 2026, and had results by 18 September 2026. Both windows are closed. The 2027-2028 call is not published yet.
Where do I send the application?
The signed form and the supporting files go by email to Enrollment.dsb@uniroma1.it, with 'Biochemistry Master's Programme Application - 14228' in the subject line. Non-EU applicants who need a visa must first complete the QS MoveIn pre-selection at uniroma1.it/en/admissions and pre-enrol on Universitaly.
One programme, one university, once a year.
That is what Universitaly allows. Three questions tell you where you stand before you spend that choice: the degree level, what the visa wants in the bank, and how much calendar is left.
Universitaly (MUR)checked
The shortlist is a conversation
An advisor reads your documents against what this call asks for and tells you whether the file will clear, and if it will not, what to fix.
Tuition a year€2,924
Check Pakistan eligibility