Objectives

• Improving general and specific capacities and competences, based on the knowledge obtained at the level of the 1st Cycle and its extension to subjects related to the area of Chemical Analysis, Quality of Results and Laboratory Accreditation, through a learning with a strong laboratorial and practical component.
• Improving qualifications for the labor market, through advanced training and development of transversal competences in areas and activities related to Analytical Chemistry, namely with regard to Instrumentation, Development and Validation of Methods, Quality Management and Accreditation of Laboratories. Research skills related to the topics listed above will also be developed. It will be possible to get training in national or international companies or institutions.
• Development of competences in the context of research or industrial reality. In the second year the student can carry out a project in one of the research laboratories at the Faculty of Sciences or in a laboratory of one of the several companies of the North region with which there are protocols of collaboration.
• Qualifications for entering 3rd cycle studies (PhD) in the areas of Chemistry or related sciences.

Programme Structure

• The first year consists of a set of curricular units (mandatory and optional), corresponding to 60 ECTS, whose approval grants a master's degree diploma (non-degree diploma) in Advanced Methods and Accreditation in Chemical Analysis.
• The second year consists of a curricular unit to support research and laboratorial work with 3 ECTS and by performing experimental work inserted in a research project for the preparation of a dissertation of a scientific and original nature or by the execution of an internship in a business context that will be the subject of a final report, corresponding to 57 ECTS credits. In both cases, it will imply the performance of a presentation of the work and defense of the dissertation or report in public examination. This will allow to obtain the master's degree in Advanced Methods and Accreditation in Chemical Analysis.

Schedule and teaching language

The programme operates on an optimized schedule so as to allow a free afternoon for the promotion of individual and/or group work, as well as other student’s activities, such as study visits.
It is intended to attract students from other countries, and it is anticipated that classes can be taught in English.

Employment Prospects

Being a master programmme with a strong experimental component in the area of chemical analysis, quality of results and accreditation, MA3Q MsC holders will have unique competencies to join public institutions or private companies with activities related to chemical analysis, production of accredited goods and services as well as their certification.
MA3Q Masters are also expected to promote the country's development through collaboration with employers or the creation of service providing companies in the validation or accreditation of methods and laboratories. Some students will be able to continue their studies as PhD students.

Admissions Requirements

• Holders of a degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teaching of Physics and Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
• Holders of a 1st Cycle of Studies, according to the Bologna process, with a minimum of 45 ECTS in the area of Chemistry or a Minor in Chemistry.
• Holders of other degrees, provided that their curriculum demonstrates an adequate basic scientific preparation.
• Holders of a school, scientific or professional curriculum that the scientific committee recognizes as sufficient to attest to the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies. Candidates who do not hold a degree at the time of application, but that are in the conditions of completion up to the date of enrollment in the programme, have to provide evidence of the curricular grade average at the application date, as well as a document proving information of their approval in the curricular units (grade, ECTS, Scientific area).

Selection Criteria and Results

• In the 1st phase of applications, candidates with a bachelor degree in an appropriate academic area will be ranked.
• In the 2nd phase of applications, will be ranked candidates who have a degree along with those who do not yet have a bachelor degree but it is expected that they can get their degree by the end of September 2021 and those who have an academic, scientific or professional curriculum, which is recognized as attesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the statutory competent scientific body.

The ranking will be done according to the following criteria and sub-criteria:

• Academic curriculum (area of training and average obtained) (70%)
  • Subcriterion 1 (20%): area of training
  • Subcriterion 2 (50%): final grade (or, for those who have not yet completed their degree, weighted average of the completed curricular units), multiplied by a factor assigned to the suitability of the degree, that can vary between 0.4 and 1 according to the following table:

    factor suitability of the degree
    1	Holders of a degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teaching of Physics and Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Environmental Sciences and Engineering
    0.75	Holders of a 1st Cycle of Studies, according to the Bologna process, with a minimum of 45 ECTS in the area of Chemistry or a Minor in Chemistry
    0.5	Holders of other degrees, provided that their curriculum demonstrates an adequate basic scientific preparation
    0.4	Holders of a school, scientific or professional curriculum that the scientific committee recognizes as sufficient to attest to the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies

• Scientific curriculum and professional experience (30%)
  • Subcriterion 1 (15%): technical and / or scientific publications and communications
  • Subcriterion 2 (15%): participation in research projects, internships in the area of the study cycle or other relevant professional experience

Candidate tiebreak criteria:

As a tiebreaker criterion, an interview will be held with candidates in these conditions.

• Candidates, will be ranked according to the criteria and subcriteria indicated above, but substituting the final average degree for the weighted average of the courses taken.

Information

• Application Dates 2023-2024
• Access to FCUP’s Academic Exams

Contacts

Course Director:	m.maaaq.diretor@fc.up.pt
Postgraduate Section:	pos.graduacao@fc.up.pt
Students:	m.maaaq@fc.up.pt

This information is provided strictly for informational purposes
and does not preclude consultation of the Official Gazette.

General information

Study Plan

Certificates

Predominant Scientific Areas