Biochemistry
Education objectives
The Master in Biochemistry, due to its transversal nature to several areas of life sciences, such as molecular biology, biophysics, biotechnology, and structural biochemistry, offers a multidisciplinary training, preparing students for the most varied challenges of their future professional lives. The course has a strong laboratory component, providing advanced training in emerging methodologies through its practical classes. As the faculty of this master''s course consists of professors and researchers with an exceptional scientific curriculum and integrated in Research Units/Associated Laboratories (UCIBIO and LAQV) recognized in the national assessment system as excellent, students will havecthe opportunity to get in touch with lines of research of great scientific relevance and current.
Additionally, students will acquire skills in entrepreneurship, as well as proficiency in data processing and critical analysis, and scientific presentation to peers. This framework guarantees students a quality, versatile training, in line with the needs of the employer market, and even in line with a career in scientific research.
In the “Dissertation in Biochemistry”, held in the second year of the course, the student can choose between research laboratories at NOVA School of Science and Technology, other organic units of the university, or other national higher education and/or scientific research institutions; or even by a dissertation in a company or in ERASMUS.
Classes are taught in Portuguese or English to ensure the inclusion of international students.
Career opportunities
The Master in Biochemistry can pursue a career at national or international level in the following areas:
- Research and Development (R&D) in Biochemistry, Biotechnology or Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- Clinical, Biochemical, Microbiological, Genetic and Environmental Analysis Laboratories.
- Forensic chemistry.
- Food and Agri-food Industry.
- Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Industry.
- Public Health Laboratories, and Medical Research Institutes.
- Science Management.
- Regulatory Bodies and Commissions and Quality Control.
- Auditing, Consulting and Design Companies.
General characterization
DGES code
830
Cicle
Master (2nd Cycle)
Degree
Mestre
Access to other programs
Access to a 3rd cycle
Coordinator
Sofia Rocha Pauleta
Opening date
September
Vacancies
25
Fees
Portuguese students: 1250 €/year
Foreign students: 7000 €/year
Schedule
Daytime
Teaching language
Available soon
Degree pre-requisites
Duration: 2 years
Credits: 120 ECTS
| Scientific Area | Acronym | ECTS | |
| Mandatory | Optional | ||
| Biochemistry | Bq | 75 | 0 |
| Biophysics | Bf | 12 | 0 |
|
Biology |
B | 6 | 0 |
|
Biochemistry or Biophysics or Biology or Biotechnology or Materials Engineering or Informatics or Social and Human Sciences |
Bq / Bf / B / Bt / EMt / I / CHS | 0 | 18 |
| Transferable Skills | CC | 3 | 0 |
| Any Scientific Area | QAC | 0 | 6 a) |
| TOTAL | 96 | 24 | |
(a) 6 ECTS in courses chosen by the student on a list approved annually by the Scientific Council of NOVA FCT, which includes the unity of all scientific areas of NOVA FCT.
Conditions of admittance
Admission rules:
- Holders of a bachelor''s degree, or legal equivalent in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Health Sciences or related areas;
- Holders of a foreign academic degree in required areas conferred following the 1st cycle of studies according to the Bologna Process;
- Holders of a foreign academic degree in required areas recognized as meeting the objectives of the Bachelor´s degree by the Scientific Council of the NOVA FCT;
- Holders of an academic, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized as attesting the capacity to accomplish referred cycle of studies by the Scientific Council of the NOVA FCT
Ranking:
- Course classification;
- Academic and scientific curriculum;
- Professional curriculum;
- Possible interview.
Evaluation rules
The evaluation of all UC is continuous for all the components that integrate it, and it must be completed by the last day of the school term of the academic semester.
The continuous evaluation of a UC must include a minimum of three elements in the set of evaluation components, on dates adequately spaced throughout the period of classes.
All UC with a theoretical-practical evaluation component must provide, in addition, a form of evaluation of this component by exam, to be carried out after the period of classes (Examination of Appeal).
All requirements and conditions related to the evaluation of the UC, namely the minimum weights and classifications, if any, of each component, as well as the Frequency conditions, are defined a priori and, mandatorily, published in the Discipline Form.
For each UC, combinations of three evaluation components are allowed: (i) Theoretical-practical evaluation; (ii) Laboratory or project evaluation; (iii) Summative assessment.
The final Dissertation (or Project) involves a public discussion with a Jury.
Regulamento de Avaliação de Conhecimentos (Licenciaturas, Mestrados Integrados e Mestrados.)
Structure
| 1.º Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| 10805 | Spectroscopy of Biomolecules | 6.0 |
| 10770 | Gene Regulation | 6.0 |
| 10825 | Biomolecular Techniques I | 6.0 |
| 1.º Semester - Opção I | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| Options | ||
| 13327 | Biochemistry for Diagnosis and Prognosis | 6.0 |
| 10800 | Biochemistry and Food Proccessing | 6.0 |
| 12032 | Glycobiology and Disease | 3.0 |
| 13326 | Metabolism and Bioenergetics in Health and Disease | 3.0 |
| 11184 | Basics of Toxicology | 3.0 |
| 12492 | Advanced Programming for Biology | 6.0 | O aluno deverá obter 6.0 créditos nesta opção. |
| 1.º Semester - Unidade Curricular de Bloco Livre | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| Options | ||
| 11066 | Unrestricted Electives | 6.0 | O aluno deverá obter 6.0 créditos nesta opção. |
| 2.º Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| 10783 | Clinical Biochemistry | 6.0 |
| 7637 | Structural Biochemistry | 6.0 |
| 10380 | Entrepreneurship | 3.0 |
| 10870 | Biomolecular Techniques II | 3.0 |
| 2.º Semester - Opção II | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| Options | ||
| 13328 | Bioelectrochemistry for Sustainability | 3.0 |
| 10828 | Bioethics | 3.0 |
| 9192 | Bionanotechnology | 6.0 |
| 12183 | Marine Biotechnology | 3.0 |
| 12422 | Microbial Fuel Cells | 3.0 |
| 10801 | Biological Effects of Radiation | 3.0 |
| 11188 | Molecular immunology | 3.0 |
| 13329 | Biochemical Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms | 3.0 |
| 12318 | Metals in Biology and Medicine | 6.0 | O aluno deverá obter 6.0 créditos nesta opção. |
| 2.º Semester - Opção III | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| Options | ||
| 13328 | Bioelectrochemistry for Sustainability | 3.0 |
| 10828 | Bioethics | 3.0 |
| 9192 | Bionanotechnology | 6.0 |
| 12183 | Marine Biotechnology | 3.0 |
| 12422 | Microbial Fuel Cells | 3.0 |
| 10801 | Biological Effects of Radiation | 3.0 |
| 11188 | Molecular immunology | 3.0 |
| 13329 | Biochemical Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms | 3.0 |
| 12318 | Metals in Biology and Medicine | 6.0 | O aluno deverá obter 6.0 créditos nesta opção. |
| 2.º Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Name | ECTS |
| 10802 | Master Thesis in Biochemistry | 60.0 |