Biology of Human and Environmental Health

The Biology of Human and Environmental Health is a 3‑year, fully English‑taught Laurea (Bachelor’s) jointly offered by the Universities of Padua and Bologna, designed to train biologists who understand the biological bases of disease and how environmental factors influence human health.

Programme focus

• Years 1–2 (mostly in Padua): Core biology and quantitative skills – cellular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, physiology, and related subjects.

• Year 3 (Bologna focus): Specialised tracks on:

  • Biological bases of diseases, or

  • Environmental influences on human health.

The programme emphasises multidisciplinary training, combining lab science, data analysis, and health‑oriented applications.

What you learn to do

Graduates are trained to:

• Understand and explain the biological mechanisms of diseases.

• Analyse how environmental exposures (pollution, climate, lifestyle, etc.) affect human health.

• Use methods to identify biomarkers and perform data analysis for human and environmental health problems.

• Work in research, public health, environmental agencies, biotech, and related sectors, or continue to Master’s/PhD programmes abroad.

After passing the relevant State examination, graduates can register as junior biologists in Italy.

if you:

• Hold (or will obtain by the deadline, typically 31 July) an upper secondary school diploma (or equivalent) that:

  • Represents at least 12 years of schooling, and

  • Gives access to university in the country where it was issued.

• Have B2‑level English (CEFR) by the deadline (usually 31 July of the enrolment year),.

• Sit the required entrance test and meet the minimum score

From 2026/27 intake: the new CEnT‑S entry test (by CISIA) is used.

• Minimum normalised score ≥ 29
  

Recent non‑EU intakes (e.g. 2025/26): English TOLC‑I was used.

• Minimum score ≥ 18/50 to be ranked.

• Only the test score counts for ranking; documents are for eligibility, not extra points.

• Valid passport.

• Proof of test registration and results:

  • CEnT‑S or TOLC‑I registration + provisional/normalised scores.

• Transcript of records and, if already obtained, secondary school diploma (showing ≥ 12 years).

• Official translations (Italian or English) if your documents are in another language.

• English B2 certificate (if already obtained).

• CV, motivation letter