Cosmetic Industrial Science The University of Milan

Overview

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.

Key Features

With reference to the aforementioned objectives, the Master's degree programme in Cosmetic Industrial Science at The University of Milan provides students with knowledge of:

key formulation ingredients, i.e., inorganic, organic or polymeric ingredients, of cosmetic products and functional ingredients, 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.

Career and employment

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• 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.