Biotechnologies

The training objectives of the course derive from the need to have a graduate figure with basic theoretical-practical knowledge and highly specific skills applied to the various sectors of biotechnology.

In particular, at the end of the course, the student will know how to move into those fields where molecules, cells, tissues, organisms and microorganisms are most exploited for research / development and productive purposes, with greater attention to the use of enzymes and cells in biotransformations, genetic and functional manipulation techniques, molecular diagnostics and physiological-pathological processes, analytical methodologies as well as the use of bioreactors.

The course provides:

• Basic knowlegde of maths, chemistry, physics and biology;
• Theoretical-practical knowledge of various biotechnological fields, such as genetics, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, fermentation biotechnologies, plant and animal biotechnologies also applied to agro-food production and industrial biotechnology;
• Multidisciplinary training that allows you to face the modern and complex problems of the sector

Among the teaching activities are included 12 credits of elective exams (AFS).

Students are free to choose, according to the number of credits needed and their specific interest, among all courses offered in other degrees of the university as long as they maintain a certain affinity with the degree in Biotechnologies and they are not a duplication of curricular exams (taken already or to be taken).

In this sense, students should contact their Tutor which will advise them on the choice and will later need to approve it. The relevant form, to be completed together with the Tutor, is attached and should be submitted to the DIBAF main office.

Form for choosing the AFS(pdf)

Internships (refer to DM142/98 and DL138/2011) are teaching activities aimed at making professional choices easier, through the direct knowledge of the job environment which the degree can give access to. The internships are carried out at firms, public administrations, public or private institutions including those of the third sector, professional associations, on the basis of relevant agreements. The list of firms which have an agreement with the university and are of interest to Biotechnology students can be downloaded at the following link: LIST OF FIRMS.
This list shows agreement established by the DIBAF, but also university agreements and those of other departments that are relevant for the biotechnology sector.

The students who want to access all the university agreements can find them at the following Link

Those who are interested also have the possibility to propose the firm/institution in which to complete the internship, given the approval of the Coordinator, or of a Professor from the degree, upon the suitability of the firm/institution with respect to the specific teaching objectives of the degree.

The agreement and the training project need to be completed before the internship starts.

The DIBAF-Tuscia University, as promoter, grants insurance coverage during the whole internship, including civil liability, on-the-job injuries and professional illnesses.
On the DIBAF wepage (LINK), are described all the procedures to follow and all the relevant documents can be downloaded: the agreements, training project, internship diary and final questionnaires facsimiles; it is also necessary to prepare a brief report related to the internship activities.

The degree in Biotechnology envisages a training activity which corresponds to 8 credits (200 hours). The training period should be carried out during the degree and should not last more than 12 months.

There is an academic tutor and a firm tutor for each intern, both of which, together with the student and the degree coordinator, will sign the training project and the internship book. The academic tutor shall: evaluate the training project (objectives and modes of implementation), requesting, if necessary, possible corrections; liaise with the firm tutor, so to follow a common and organic course of action; advise the general course of action and the approach to problems, suggest research material, favour the liaison with other professors and/or experts whose knowledge could be useful for the intern; assist the student in the drafting of the final report.

At the end of the internship, students will be required to present a final report to the academic tutor who, once confirmed the successful completion of the report and verified the attendance from the internship book, will submit the documentation to the main office, which will go on to register the internship credits. The main office will also need to receive the evaluation questionnaires, drafted and signed by the student and the firm tutor.
The intern is obliged to follow the indications of the academic and firm tutors and to refer to them for any organizational or other requests, as well as to respect the disciplinary regulations and the safety and hygiene rules of the firm where they work.

Out of the 8 CFU of the internship, not more than 2 can be acquired at the university laboratories, subject to having made a request to the Degree Council (CCS) and having provided a letter from the professor who declares his/her willingness to host the student at his/her laboratories.

Click here to download the brochure.

The enrolment in the Degree in Biotechnology is possible for those who have a secondary school diploma or other obtained abroad and recognised as valid by the current regulations. The number of places available is not restricted.

To assess the preparation level at entry all students shall take a test to verify foundation competences in mathematics acquired at high school. It is not a selection test, and does not limit or stop enrolment in a degree, but it helps students to remedy possible weaknesses in their preparation, so that they can fruitfully attend classes and complete more easily the exams during their first year.

The tests can be taken free of charge during the “OPEN DAYS”, usually in mid-September.
A further test session takes usually place in October.
The test will be held at the Informatics Laboratory of the Rectorate Via Santa Maria in Gradi 4, Viterbo), subject to on-line registration at: https://moodle.unitus.it

For further details see “Entry test”

The day of the test, students will need to show:

• receipt of payment (or booking for the Open Day)

• a valid identity document

• username and password with which they have booked the test

The outcome of the exam will be communicated to the student by the Office for Students at the end of the test.

Students who have not completed successfully the entry test (despite it not being an entry test aimed at selection), thereby showing weaknesses in their mathematics preparation, are to attend the Mathematics brush-up course at the Department ,(Aula Magna, ex-agriculture block), starting from the third week of September, according to the timetable which will be published:

The assessment of the initial weaknesses occurs at the first Mathematics mid-term or in the following written exams. Student who did not pass the entry test shall practice, therefore, with exercises and questions specifically pertaining to the topics of the brush-up course (the programme is available here).

With the aim to help all students in preparing the Mathematics exam and in overcoming the initial weaknesses, the Department has activated, as every year, a weekly course to support the Mathematics course during the whole first semester.

English Language Test

To access the test, it is necessary to carry along the university booklet or another identification document. During the exam, which lasts around 20 minutes and is in electronic format, the use of a dictionary or grammar book is not permitted.

For further information you can write to: distulab@unitus.it

The possession of an international certification of at least B1 level (e.g. PET or FIRST of Cambridge, Grade 6-Trinity, etc.) taken later than 2012 will exempt the students from taking the test.

Therefore students are encouraged to submit as soon as possible the certificate to the office of the Language Laboratory which will assess its validity.

The English BRUSH-UP COURSE (compulsory for those who have demonstrated weaknesses in the English language: level A1) is organised from January 2016 on dates and times to be defined.

The Degree Council, subject to a cultural and administrative assessment of the curriculum, with particular attention to the verification that the contents of the exams taken are not obsolete, decides upon the enrolment of those who are in possession of a degree completed according to the old structure.

Info and contacts

Main Office DIBAF

E-mail: s.didat.dibaf@unitus.it
Tel.: 0761 357583 (Tania Meschini)

Tel.:0761 357390 (Maria Cocozza)

Office for Students
E-mail: segreteriaunica@unitus.it
Tel.: 0761 357798 – 800007464