Master in Cosmetic Industrial Science

The Master's degree programme in Cosmetic Industrial Science (CosmIS) aims to train a graduate with advanced skills in the research, development, industrial production, quality control and marketing of cosmetic products. This graduate will be immediately ready for placement in qualified positions, at different levels within cosmetic companies. The skills and the competencies necessary for the achievement of such goals are acquired through i) theoretical lectures, most of which complemented by laboratory activities, also conveyed through innovative teaching methods, and ii) an internship, lasting at least 6 months, to be carried out preferably in cosmetic companies, in Italy or abroad.

With reference to the aforementioned objectives, the Master's degree programme provides students with knowledge of: - key formulation ingredients, i.e., inorganic, organic, polymeric and functional ingredients of cosmetic products, with their specific activity; - physiology and specific functions of the skin and its annexes; - formulation of semisolid, liquid and solid preparations for the development of skincare, hygiene and make-up products; - technologies applied to the manufacturing and packaging of cosmetic products; - regulatory provisions and skills for placing a new cosmetic product on the market, according to the European guidelines; - microbiological risk assessment and alternative protocols for the relevant toxicological characterization; - quality assessment and stability monitoring of cosmetic products; - marketing and communication, business plan and project financial evaluation relevant to cosmetic products.

During the internship, students are expected to develop a personal project on a topic consistent with the Master's degree programme. This internship is also intended to acquire teamwork aptitudes, critical abilities, and communication skills. At the end of the internship, the student will write a Master's degree thesis in English to be presented and discussed during the final examination. The degree in CosmIS will be conferred to students who have acquired interdisciplinary knowledge and comprehension skills in all the areas covered by their training, particularly in the chemical, chemical/pharmaceutical, biochemical/toxicological, pharmaceutical/technological and legislative fields related to the development and

Graduate students in CosmIS will reach a high degree of autonomy in the work environment, allowing them to hold positions of high responsibility in companies focused on the synthesis/production/marketing of cosmetic raw materials and on the formulation/development of skincare, hygiene and make-up products, their packaging, related sales, and control/safety. They may also assume responsibilities as project or lab leaders in academic research laboratories or find employment in agencies responsible for the development of technical regulations and quality certification of cosmetic products. Studies conducted in English will enable graduates to meet the challenges of the global economy, facilitating their immediate entry into the job market.

The specific career outlets within the cosmetics industry are:

1. Research and development (R&D) and production specialist He/She defines development issues and research programs, in tune with company strategies; designs/formulates new small-scale products studying their tech-transfer and industrialization, proposing the necessary technical resources, budget and investment for project. This professional has: - technical/scientific skills; - ability to process, interpret and evaluate the experimentally obtained results; - ability to design, planning, manage and to motivate the work groups he/she coordinates.

2. Quality specialist He/She supervises the quality assurance system in the cosmetic company, i.e., he/she develops protocols for analyzing and controlling the quality of processes, coordinates the departments involved in the manufacture of the product to ensure that the quality system is efficiently organized and documented, ensures that inspections are periodically planned and properly performed to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of the quality assurance system. This professional has: - technical/scientific knowledge; - ability to analyze and synthesize data, coordinate and manage human resources and any critical issues; - aptitude toward teamworking combined with the ability to work cross-functionally in the various business areas; - knowledge of the regulations and methodologies necessary for product quality control.

3. Regulatory specialist He/She is responsible for the collection, processing, updating and reporting-disclosure, as required by the relevant regulations, of all information relating to the safety of cosmetic ingredients and products, including post-marketing. He/she is an expert in the authorization procedures for the marketing of products, and sets up and maintains documentation in support of the application, interfacing, when necessary, with the in charge regulatory bodies. This professional combines in-depth technical/scientific knowledge with regulatory knowledge, possesses skills of analysis, coordination and management of critical issues, and has aptitude toward teamworking.

4. Specialist in cosmetics market relations (cosmetic informant) He/She conveys scientific knowledge about cosmetic ingredients and products in the areas of the cosmetics company more specifically dedicated to sales. In this respect, he/she is the reference person from which marketers learn the essential technical information for a correct promotion of the products. He/she fosters dialogue and synergy between different areas such as research and development, production, and marketing. This professional has technical/scientific knowledge, basic business administration and marketing skills, business skills, knowledge of technical English and computer abilities, willingness to travel, communication skills and resourcefulness.

The Master's degree in CosmIS gives access to Doctoral programs open to graduates of the LM71 class and particularly to the PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, already active at the Department of Pharmaceutica Sciences, with the option of developing a research project in cosmetic science.

The University of Milan is a public teaching and research university, which - with 8 faculties and 2 schools and a teaching staff of more than 2000 professors - is distinguished by its wide variety of disciplinary fields. A leading institute in Italy and Europe for scientific productivity, the University of Milan is the largest university in the region, with approximately 64,000 students; it is also an important resource for the socio-economic context of which it is a part. Milan is, in fact, the capital of Lombardy, one of the most dynamic and international regions in the European Union, a leader in the national economy that stands at the Italian forefront of research and development investments and commitment to technological innovation.

The University of Milan also possesses a remarkable artistic and cultural heritage that includes important historic buildings, inherited and acquired collections, archives, botanical gardens and the old Brera Observatory commissioned by Maria Teresa of Austria. The University’s departments are housed in important historic edifices in the center of Milan and in modern buildings in the area known as Città Studi (the City of Studies). Among the palazzos that house the University’s facilities are the old Ca' Granda (the big house) – a monumental complex from the 15th-century in the heart of the historical city centre - the 18th-century Palazzo Greppi designed by Giuseppe Piermarini – who built the Scala Theatre in Milan – and the 17th-century Sant’Alessandro College commissioned by the Arcimboldi family. The book collection , which is one of the richest in the region, is preserved in 47 libraries, while the APICE Centre collects rare and valuable book stocks and archives. The University also has a Choir and its own Orchestra, which actively contributes to the cultural life of the city and receives international acknowledgments on an increasingly frequent basis.