Double Degree

The MSc Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology (Corso di Studi in Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare) has successfully activated a Double Degree agreement with the College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University (TMU), Taiwan. This bilateral agreement allows the students who participate to obtain, at the end of the study period, a Master’s degree both from UniCa and TMU.

The Double Degree Programme is dedicated only to the students enrolled in the “Advances Cellular Studies” curriculum of our MSc Programme.

Duration of the Program

The duration of the dual Master program at UniCa and TMU is 4 semesters (corresponding to 120 ECTS at UniCa and 33 credits at TMU).

The duration of the study in the partner Country will be 2 semesters full-time equivalent. 

TMU’s Master Programs in the Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) or the International Master Program in Medicine (IGPM) typically consists of 30 credits that include mandatory course credits, elective course credits, and dissertation credits. 1 TMU credit consists of 18 hours of frontal lectures. Students are additionally expected to complete at least 500 laboratory hours in the first year of study and 700 laboratory hours in the second year of study.

UniCa’s Master Program consists of 120 ECTS credits that include mandatory course credits, elective course credits, internship, and dissertation credits. 1 credit at UniCA consists of 25 hours of student work that be: i) 8 hours of frontal teaching + 17 hours of individual study; ii) 12 hours of laboratory teaching + 13 hours of individual study; iii) 25 hours of internship and dissertation preparation.

Students have the opportunity to prepare their diploma dissertation under the supervision of a professor either from TMU or UniCa, or under the co-supervision of two professors, one from TMU and one from UniCa. The diploma dissertation is presented and defended by the students at one or both partner universities. If the dissertation is defended at the partner institution, a professor from the student’s home university is invited as a member of the examination board.

Admission procedure and criteria

The students enrolling to the Double Master Degree Program will be recruited, separately, by UniCa and TMU. 

The students should express the intent to be enrolled into the Double Master Degree Program at the latest by the end of their 1st year and follow the application submission deadline.

The language of both degrees is English. Within each institution, the selection criteria will be in place to ensure that the capacities and potential of each candidate, once recruited, will enable them to make progress and succeed within an international academic context. 

In order to reach the required level of English, students who will have access to the Advanced Cellular Studies Curriculum will start the Language Skills class before all other courses, plausibly in the week between 20 and 27 September 2021.

Candidates enrolled in the first year of the Master Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Cagliari, Italia and Master of Science in Medical Sciences [AC1] or International Master Program in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, with a strong motivation to participate to the success of the partnership, are invited to apply. 

Students participating in the Double Master Degree Program from UniCa or TMU are selected and recommended by each institution according to their own regulations. All students are expected to have a skill-level in spoken and written (scientific) English corresponding to the European level B2 or above before departure. The required English level can also be demonstrated through other internationally recognized qualifications (e.g. IELTS).

From the signed date of this agreement, the maximum number of students enrolled in the program will be 2 from each institution per year. This number may be revised every year at the request of one or both of the partner institutions. If it is not revised, the number will remain as stated in the present agreement, for the entire duration of the agreement. 

Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree in the area of Life Sciences having achieved an adequate specific personal preparation that includes basic knowledge of:

Eukaryotic and procaryotic cells: Structure of the cell, organization and physiological role of the single cellular elements, structure and function of biological membranes, genome structure, cell replication (including mitosis and meiosis), cell cycle regulation, photosynthesis.

Metabolic pathways: structure and function of proteins; enzymes: basic concepts and principles of catalysis; fundamentals of bioenergetics and metabolic pathways; redox reaction role in cellular systems; basic knowledge of methods for purification and characterization of proteins.

Genetics, genome replication and expression: DNA and RNA structures; DNA replication, mutation and repair; transcription, RNA processing and protein synthesis, fundamentals of gene expression regulation, genetic recombination and heredity.

The evaluation of these requirementsat UniCa will be assessed by the CMB selecting committee that will analyze the following students' application mandatory attachments: a) a complete CV b) a single pdf file including the contents of the Bachelor's relevant exams; c) a certificate of completion of Bachelor's degree. The CMB selecting committee will also perform the admission interview for all applicant students. Students must have achieved adequate specific personal preparation of the above subjects before application. Students are invited to contact the CBM selecting committee in advance (prior to application) to verify whether their preparation fully matches the CMB requirements. 

In addition, it is required that students enrolling in the English programme of the Master's course must possess a knowledge of English language of international B2 level before the lectures of the first semester begin. 

Registration and Enrolment Fees

Students should register in their home institution for the complete M.Sc. duration and in the host institution for 2 semesters in order to allow for delivery of a completed dual diploma workload at the end of the program. 

Students must pay all relevant fees to their home institution only. 

Each institution should help enrolled students in their initiatives to apply for any financial support. 

(A) Course Mapping for UniCa Students

Note 1

Master thesis preparation (5 credits) from UniCa if taken in the first year at UniCa will be counted towards UniCa credits but not converted into TMU credits.

(B) Course Mapping for TMU GIMS Students