Biotechnology in personalized medicine

For the academic year 2026/2027, a public competition is announced for admission to the first year of the graduate degree programme in Biotechnology for Personalized Medicine (class LM-9).

There are 30 places available. 

Consult the competition notice to find out the deadlines and contents of the admission tests.

EU citizens and equivalent citizens may participate in the admission test if they hold a degree in class L-2 Biotechnology, L-13 Biological Sciences, L-29 Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies or an integrated degree in class LM-13 Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy or another qualification obtained abroad, recognized as suitable according to current legislation, equated to the previous ones.

Access is also allowed to graduates of degree classes other than those indicated above if they meet the following curricular requirements:

minimum 40 C.F.U. in the following scientific-disciplinary fields (S.S.D.): BIO/09 (Physiology), BIO/10 (Biochemistry), BIO/11 (Molecular Biology), BIO/12 (Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology), BIO/13 (Applied Biology), BIO/14 (Pharmacology), BIO/15 (Pharmaceutical Biology), BIO/16 (Human Anatomy), BIO/17 (Histology), BIO/18 (Genetics), BIO/19 (General Microbiology), MED/03 (Medical Genetics), MED/04 (General Pathology), MED/07 (Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology).

Participation is also allowed, subject to conditions, to students who obtain the access qualification by 31 December 2026.

At the time of enrolment , candidates must demonstrate knowledge of the English language by producing appropriate certification at a level not lower than B2 (upper intermediate level C.E.F.R.) valid among those listed below:

• TOEFL/IBT (with a score of at least 84);
• Academic IELTS (with a score of at least 6);
• IELTS UKVI Academic with score from 6 (B2):
• IELTS one skill retake with score from 6 (B2);
• Cambridge English: First - FCE (with a score of at least 173);
• Cambridge English: Advanced – CAE;
• Cambridge English: Proficiency – CPE;
• Cambridge English: Business English Certificate (BEC Vantage and BEC Higher);
• Trinity College London: ISE II (B2);
• Trinity College London: ISE III (C1);
• Trinity College London: ISE IV (C2);
• Pearson: PTE Academic with a score of 46;
• Oxford Test of English Advanced – B2;
• Oxford Test of English Advanced – C1.

Alternatively, students can take the UC English test with B2 level provided by the University Language Service (Selda). In any case, the B2 language test must be passed by 31 December 2026, under penalty of non-completion of enrolment.

Students who have obtained their final degree at the end of a degree programme entirely taught in English are exempt from producing the language certificate.

To register for the entrance exam from 24 June and until 23:59 on 16 September 2026 it is necessary to:

• Carry out the online enrolment procedure;
• It is mandatory to upload the certificate (or declaration in lieu of certification pursuant to Article 46 of Presidential Decree 445/2000) of the examinations taken in the academic course that constitutes a qualification for access to the LM-9 in question. If the qualification is to be obtained by 31 December 2026, the corresponding item must be filled in and the examination certificate (or declaration in lieu of certification) with legal duration of the degree programme or single-cycle degree programme (L-2, L-13, L-29 or LM-13) in which you are enrolled in the current academic year 2025/2026 must be uploaded. This is necessary to progress in registering for the test: therefore, make sure you have it before starting the registration procedure for the test (the language certification, on the other hand, must be uploaded at the time of enrolment);
• Proceed with the payment of the participation fee of € 130.00 (form downloadable at the end of the registration procedure).

The payment of the participation fee constitutes the completion of the application form and must be executed, peremptorily, by 16 September 2026.

In the event of withdrawal, or impediments of any kind, the participation fee for the competition is non-refundable for any reason.

The exam consists of a written test (in home-based mode) and an oral-interview test (dual-mode):

a)   Written test (maximum 60 points) consists of 60 multiple-choice questions distributed as follows:

• 10 questions of logical and logical-mathematical reasoning;
• 35 questions on scientific skills in the following topics: Physiology (3), Biochemistry (4), Molecular Biology (3), Applied Biology (4), Pharmacology (3), Human Anatomy (3), Histology (3), General Pathology (3), Microbiology (3), General Chemistry (3), Organic Chemistry (3);
• 10 English language proficiency questions;
• 5 questions of ethical-religious culture.

A maximum time of 60 minutes is allocated for the written test.

A maximum score of 60 points is awarded for the evaluation of the test according to the following criteria:

• 1 point for each correct answer;
• minus 0.25 points for each wrong answer;
• 0 points for each answer not given (omitted).

b)   Oral test-interview (max. 60 points): it is aimed at ascertaining the possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities useful for the training of a biotechnologist specialized in personalized medicine through the evaluation of the type of previous course of study, with specific reference to the programs of the courses followed and the type of final exam.

The final score (maximum 120 points) is calculated by adding the score obtained in the written test (maximum 60 points) to the score obtained in the oral test (maximum 60 points).

The entrance examination consists of a written test and an oral test.

The written test will take place remotely on 23 September 2026 at 2 p.m. via a web testing platform with a remote control system.

The oral test will take place on 29 September 2026 in person (at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery "A. Gemelli" in Rome - L.go F. Vito, 1) or remotely, at the candidate's request, which must be received by 16 September 2026 via form (https://www.unicatt.it/richiesta-informazioni-lauree-magistrali ).

To carry out the written test (in home-based mode) it is essential to be in possession of:

• A PC (Windows 8 or later, or LINUX) or Mac (MAC-OS 10.14 or later) with a webcam and microphone. The use of a company computer is strongly discouraged;
• GOOGLE CHROME browser (min. version 81.0) to be used as the only browser provided;
• Internet connectivity with minimum upload and download speed of 1.5 Mbps;
• A smartphone or tablet (Android min 4.1 – IOs min v.8) equipped with a webcam. We also recommend the use of wifi, during the procedure you will be asked to download an APP on your smartphone/tablet (34MB) from Google Play or AppStore (depending on whether you use a smartphone with Android or IoS operating system).

The tablet can ONLY be used as a replacement for the Smartphone, not the PC/Mac.

In the days before the written test, you will receive instructions by e-mail for verifying the technical requirements (check requirement) to be carried out within 24 hours of the test. At the end of the check requirement , you will receive a second e-mail containing the link to access the exam with confirmation of the date and time of the call.

Once the participation fee has been paid , you can access the online simulator of the written test for unlimited and free of charge.

Access your profile, under List of competitions in which you are registered , click on the link: "Admission to the graduate degree programme in Biotechnology for Personalized Medicine a.y. 2026/2027".

On the Competition Registration Summary page you will find the link to access the simulation platform (bottom left).

• Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• New Charter for Health Care Workers - Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (for Health Pastoral Care)
• Instruction Dignitas Personae on certain issues of Bioethics (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith)
• Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate (Benedict XVI)
• Encyclical Letter Laudato Si' (Francis)

Per informazioni o supporto all'iscrizione è possibile rivolgersi al numero verde 800.954.459 (dal lunedì al venerdì dalle ore 8.00 alle ore 19.00, il sabato dalle 9.00 alle 13.00) oppure è possibile compilare il form  https://www.unicatt.it/richiesta-informazioni-lauree-magistrali.