ABOUT EMOTION
EMOTION an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Program funded by the European Commission that educates the future generation of translational scientists in the skin health & care sector. It is open to motivated and bright students that want undertake a career in R&D, contributing to the conception and development of innovative dermatological drugs, cosmetics and medical devices for skin well-being.
Skin has a special social meaning and expresses who we are and how we feel. Skin wellbeing, including healthy aging, is not only a matter of appearance and self-confidence, but a health priority in the modern world.
EMOTION is designed to train students in three different sectors related to skin health & care:
- cosmetics
- dermatological drugs
- medical devices.
These three fields are exponentially expanding, constantly craving for innovation, invest heavily in innovation and R&D, and hire a high number of qualified scientists.

COSMETICS
Cosmetics are products intended to beautify, promote attractiveness, improve our appearance, or cleanse, while not affecting the structure or function of the body.
Originally designed as preparations to help skin look its best, cosmetics have now taken a new role in the management of many skin disorders. Therefore, an innovative cosmetic might require intense R&D and intellectual property protection around functional ingredients. They are regulated by the EU Cosmetic Regulation (and similar regulatory frameworks world-wide) and their performance might be supported by clinical tests, even if this is not mandatory for market entry.

DERMATOLOGICAL DRUGS
Dermatological drugs are products that cure, treat, mitigate or prevent skin diseases.
Nowadays, a number of skin disorders are receiving attention with a plethora of new agents arriving on the market yearly.
Dermatological drugs are strictly regulated and extensive clinical trials are required for approval by the European Medicines Agency, national health authorities and similar drug agencies world-wide.

MEDICAL DEVICES
Medical devices fall between cosmetics and drugs, and are defined as products used for medical purposes (diagnostic or therapeutic). According to the potential associated risks, devices are classified in four classes.
As an example, plasters fall in Class I, prescription moisturizers in Class II and soft tissue fillers in Class III.
In the EU, they must undergo a conformity assessment to demonstrate they meet legal requirements and to ensure they are safe and perform as intended. They are regulated at EU Member State level by competent authorities, but the European Medicines Agency might be involved in the regulatory process.
Cosmetic-grade, pharmacological-grade and device-grade products differ in terms of intended purpose of the product (appearance versus disease prevention/treatment), of regulations and legislation that govern them and of costs associated with development, and of supply channels. However, many common features blur the line between the three fields.
The interplay between these worlds is so evident that the possibility to find common grounds has been attempted with the term “cosmeceutical”, “dermo-cosmetic” or “neuro-cosmetic” for some products. These terms are not recognized by current regulation, are related to sales channels (i.e. pharmacy) more than to a different value or composition, and often confuse the consumers. Moreover, products containing the same ingredient might be found in different categories according to the Country or the intended use.
To name a few, sunscreens in some Countries are regulated as drugs, while in others fall into the cosmetic category, toothpastes might fall within all the three categories according to the claim, products containing antimycotic active agents are cosmetic products when used for their anti-dandruff effects, while they are drugs when used to treat athlete’s foot. Finally, it might happen that under the same brand both cosmetics and medicinal products can be found.
While the borders between cosmetics, dermatological devices and drugs are becoming increasingly fuzzier, from an educational perspective these sectors have been maintained separate and the majority of educational offers focus on specific aspects of the R&D process (e.g. formulation or manufacturing or regulatory affairs).
WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN EMOTION?
Active and functional ingredients need to be thought, designed, synthesized or extracted, intellectually protected, formulated, tested, validated, packaged, and marketed.
The majority of the current courses that offer specialization in the R&D sector is focused on one or a few of these stages (e.g. formulation, process chemistry, intellectual property, marketing), limiting the possibility that the graduate might undertake entrepreneurial initiative, move across disciplines throughout their career or develop managerial skills.
To address this issue, EMOTION offers a multi-disciplinary programme that melts the understanding of all the aspects involved in R&D, creates highly trained personnel and fosters entrepreneurship initiatives.
In EMOTION, students are trained in all the aspects related to the skin health & care sector, from the design of the active ingredient to the launch of the product in the market.
QUOTES

Susan – V intake student:
“EMOTION is not for the faint-hearted. It is intense in terms of academics, technical knowledge, and personal development. More than just studying, it requires opening your heart to a new family made up of people from different cultures, religions, and customs. Thank you, EMOTION, for being the best experience of my life”

Erika Nicole – IV intake student:
“Winning a scholarship for EMOTION unquestionably transformed my life. I can affirm that every experience throughout the program has been incredibly enriching, both personally and professionally”

Ilaria – III intake student:
“EMOTION was one of the best choices I took for myself. It served as a great starting point for achieving the life I desire, the job that brings me fulfilment, and for nurturing the community I strive for. I feel incredibly enriched”
USEFUL LINKS
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Do you have any questions?
E-mail us, we will be happy
to get back to you
ABOUT EMOTION
EMOTION an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Program funded by the European Commission that educates the future generation of translational scientists in the skin health & care sector. It is open to motivated and bright students that want undertake a career in R&D, contributing to the conception and development of innovative dermatological drugs, cosmetics and medical devices for skin well-being.
Skin has a special social meaning and expresses who we are and how we feel. Skin wellbeing, including healthy aging, is not only a matter of appearance and self-confidence, but a health priority in the modern world.
EMOTION is designed to train students in three different sectors related to skin health & care:
- cosmetics
- dermatological drugs
- medical devices.
These three fields are exponentially expanding, constantly craving for innovation, invest heavily in innovation and R&D, and hire a high number of qualified scientists.

COSMETICS
Cosmetics are products intended to beautify, promote attractiveness, improve our appearance, or cleanse, while not affecting the structure or function of the body.
Originally designed as preparations to help skin look its best, cosmetics have now taken a new role in the management of many skin disorders. Therefore, an innovative cosmetic might require intense R&D and intellectual property protection around functional ingredients. They are regulated by the EU Cosmetic Regulation (and similar regulatory frameworks world-wide) and their performance might be supported by clinical tests, even if this is not mandatory for market entry.

DERMATOLOGICAL
DRUGS
Dermatological drugs are products that cure, treat, mitigate or prevent skin diseases.
Nowadays, a number of skin disorders are receiving attention with a plethora of new agents arriving on the market yearly.
Dermatological drugs are strictly regulated and extensive clinical trials are required for approval by the European Medicines Agency, national health authorities and similar drug agencies world-wide.

MEDICAL DEVICES
Medical devices fall between cosmetics and drugs, and are defined as products used for medical purposes (diagnostic or therapeutic). According to the potential associated risks, devices are classified in four classes.
As an example, plasters fall in Class I, prescription moisturizers in Class II and soft tissue fillers in Class III.
In the EU, they must undergo a conformity assessment to demonstrate they meet legal requirements and to ensure they are safe and perform as intended. They are regulated at EU Member State level by competent authorities, but the European Medicines Agency might be involved in the regulatory process.
Cosmetic-grade, pharmacological-grade and device-grade products differ in terms of intended purpose of the product (appearance versus disease prevention/treatment), of regulations and legislation that govern them and of costs associated with development, and of supply channels. However, many common features blur the line between the three fields.
The interplay between these worlds is so evident that the possibility to find common grounds has been attempted with the term “cosmeceutical”, “dermo-cosmetic” or “neuro-cosmetic” for some products. These terms are not recognized by current regulation, are related to sales channels (i.e. pharmacy) more than to a different value or composition, and often confuse the consumers. Moreover, products containing the same ingredient might be found in different categories according to the Country or the intended use.
To name a few, sunscreens in some Countries are regulated as drugs, while in others fall into the cosmetic category, toothpastes might fall within all the three categories according to the claim, products containing antimycotic active agents are cosmetic products when used for their anti-dandruff effects, while they are drugs when used to treat athlete’s foot. Finally, it might happen that under the same brand both cosmetics and medicinal products can be found.
While the borders between cosmetics, dermatological devices and drugs are becoming increasingly fuzzier, from an educational perspective these sectors have been maintained separate and the majority of educational offers focus on specific aspects of the R&D process (e.g. formulation or manufacturing or regulatory affairs).
WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN EMOTION?
Active and functional ingredients need to be thought, designed, synthesized or extracted, intellectually protected, formulated, tested, validated, packaged, and marketed.
The majority of the current courses that offer specialization in the R&D sector is focused on one or a few of these stages (e.g. formulation, process chemistry, intellectual property, marketing), limiting the possibility that the graduate might undertake entrepreneurial initiative, move across disciplines throughout their career or develop managerial skills.
To address this issue, EMOTION offers a multi-disciplinary programme that melts the understanding of all the aspects involved in R&D, creates highly trained personnel and fosters entrepreneurship initiatives.
In EMOTION, students are trained in all the aspects related to the skin health & care sector, from the design of the active ingredient to the launch of the product in the market.
QUOTES

Susan – V intake student:
“EMOTION is not for the faint-hearted. It is intense in terms of academics, technical knowledge, and personal development. More than just studying, it requires opening your heart to a new family made up of people from different cultures, religions, and customs. Thank you, EMOTION, for being the best experience of my life”

Erika Nicole – IV intake student:
“Winning a scholarship for EMOTION unquestionably transformed my life. I can affirm that every experience throughout the program has been incredibly enriching, both personally and professionally”

Ilaria – III intake student:
“EMOTION was one of the best choices I took for myself. It served as a great starting point for achieving the life I desire, the job that brings me fulfilment, and for nurturing the community I strive for. I feel incredibly enriched”
USEFUL LINKS
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Do you have any questions?
E-mail us, we will be happy
to get back to you
Last modified: December 4, 2024

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in the context of managing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, collects and processes the personal data of some of the candidates. In particular, certain data of the scholarship holders and non-scholarship holders is shared with the Agency and treated according to this privacy statement
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