Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology
Information on the Degree Course
Single degree - 3 years
Degree programme Drector:
Academic Didactic Council Director:
Prof.ssa Antonietta Rosella Farina
Educational Objectives of the Course
The Bachelor's Degree Course in Biotechnology aims to train professionals with cognitive, technical, and behavioural skills relevant for a modern approach to study and research. This approach focuses on utilising biological functions and systems for the production of goods and services, including knowledge of the economic and ethical aspects related to the use of biotechnological products.
The course aims to provide students with a solid foundation in fundamental activities, with in-depth study of common biotechnological disciplines, as well as disciplines related to economic regulation and bioethics. At the same time, it equips students with knowledge and tools for practical and applied experimental work in biotechnological disciplines with specific purposes in the biological and medical/therapeutic fields.
To this end, the new Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology aims to offer a curriculum more oriented towards pharmaceutical-medical biotechnology, providing the cultural and methodological foundations necessary to understand technological innovations in the field of Red Biotechnology. This course aims to train graduates capable of working in various biotechnological sectors at different levels within the medical-pharmaceutical field. The specific objectives of the course are designed with a view to further university-level education, while also considering the skills required for potential employment in professional activities at the end of the three-year programme.
The Study Programme
The study programme is organised into educational modules (exams) and practical activities, distributed over three years for a total of 180 ECTS credits, and does not include differentiated curricula. The courses are progressively scheduled to ensure optimal learning, with increasing complexity and coherence among the various disciplinary fields. The programme provides a solid foundational education in biology, enabling an interpretation of biological phenomena primarily from a molecular and cellular perspective, while also addressing systemic aspects under both physiological and pathological conditions.
The curriculum also includes significant practical and experimental activities through which students are provided with the tools to apply theoretical knowledge, facilitating the design and implementation of research activities aimed at solving problems using biotechnological approaches. This is done while taking into account regulations and issues related to ethics and bioethics.
In the first year, fundamental courses in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry (both organic and inorganic), biology, and histology are offered.
In the second year, students undertake courses in biochemistry, general microbiology, genetics, human anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology, along with elements of bioethics and economics to better understand the business world oriented towards the use of biotechnologies.
In the third year, the programme includes courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, applied pharmacological and toxicological methodologies, laboratory medicine, computational biology, immunology and general pathology, as well as biochemical and biomolecular methodologies.
The programme allocates ample time for practical exercises and laboratory activities for most subjects, enabling students to acquire methodological skills through hands-on laboratory experiences and an internship aimed at preparing them for the job market.
Practical Activities
To integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills, the educational programme includes 6 ECTS credits dedicated to training and orientation internships. These activities can be carried out in university laboratories, hospital facilities, or other institutions affiliated with the Department of Clinical and Applied Biotechnology Sciences, as well as abroad (in accordance with international agreements within the Erasmus programme and/or partnerships established by the university). The internship, with a total duration of 150 hours, will be certified by the internship supervisor/tutor through an attendance register. Further details can be found on the dedicated internships page.
https://discab.univaq.it/index.php?id=areadellebiotecnologie&no_cache=1
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the Bachelor's Degree Course, candidates must possess a secondary school diploma. Admission to the course is limited to 100 places. Enrolment requires the completion of a non-selective test conducted in collaboration with the CISIA Consortium, specifically the TOLC-B. Applications for enrolment are accepted until the maximum sustainable number is reached, following the chronological order of submission. Any remaining places will be made available according to the methods and timelines outlined in the admission notice. For further details regarding enrolment, transfers, exemptions, and opportunities for dual registration, please refer to the course's academic regulations on the DISCAB website at the provided link https://discab.univaq.it/index.php?id=2315&no_cache=1
What is the TOLC-B?
The TOLC-B is an entry test for Bachelor's Degree courses in Biotechnology. The test, conducted in collaboration with the CISIA Consortium, is designed to assess basic knowledge in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Fundamental Mathematics. The test can be taken either in person or in the TOLC@HOME mode.
Information on how to register for the test, an online guide and video tutorials, practice exercises, and simulations to prepare for the TOLC, as well as test dates, are available on the CISIA – Inter-University Consortium for Integrated Access Systems website (https://www.cisiaonline.it) and on the relevant pages of the Univaq website.
Find the Dates and Information for Upcoming TOLC-B Tests
https://www.univaq.it/section.php?id=2052
https://www.cisiaonline.it/area-tematica-tolc-cisia/cose-il-tolc/
Studying Abroad
Agreements established with other European universities provide students with the opportunity to complete part of their education in the field of Biotechnology during the three-year programme, with full recognition of the credits earned abroad.
Currently, the following partnerships with foreign universities are active.
Postgraduate Education (Continuing After Graduation)
Obtaining the degree allows access to higher levels of university and specialised education, such as:
• Master's Degree (LM)
• First-level Master's courses
Employment and Professional Opportunities
The course prepares graduates for the profession of Biotechnologist. Graduates from this degree class engage in technical and applicative support activities within the scientific field:
- in research laboratories and companies that develop and apply biological technologies in the food, environmental, medical, pharmaceutical, and biomedical sectors.
- in public and private institutions/laboratories focused on biological and microbiological analyses and quality control of biologically sourced products, as well as assisted reproduction procedures.
- in consultancy firms, institutions, and companies involved in patent registration and intellectual property processes.
- in scientific communication and dissemination agencies.
- Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, according to the current Presidential Decree No. 328/01, may:
- gain access, upon passing the state examination, to the profession of Junior Biologist, Section B of the register.
- practise as Patent Consultants, as permitted by current regulations.
