The Master’s degree in Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto is a wide scope Master, encompassing a diversity of thematic areas of Chemistry of current interest. The main goal of this Master is to meet students’ expectations with an advanced, modern and versatile training programme.

Chemistry plays a pivotal role in addressing contemporary societal challenges, namely in the areas of energy, health, environment, sustainability and design of new functional materials.

The Master’s degree in Chemistry aims at responding to these challenges in terms of a pedagogical-scientific training of the students which will prepare them for a successful professional career.

It is worth noting that in the second year of studies, students will carry out a research project in one of the Faculty laboratories or, alternatively, carry out an internship in a laboratory of an industrial company under existing collaboration protocols.

Programme structure

• a set of courses in the first academic year, corresponding to 60 ECTS credits, which awards a master's course diploma in Chemistry (but not the master’s degree);
• a short general course at the beginning of the second year, called Chemistry and Society, 3 ECTS credits, in which modern topics of chemistry are discussed with external invited speakers.
• a Dissertation in R&D or an Internship in Industrial/Business Context, in the second year, corresponding to 57 ECTS.

Schedule and teaching language

The Master courses take place in a weekly daytime schedule, with student-workers being safeguarded by the rights and duties that are included in the regulations of the University of Porto for the 2nd cycle.
The Master in Chemistry is open to internationalization and, as such, to the reception of international students, either degree students or students from mobility programs. In the path Chemistry (without specialization), the working language will be mostly Portuguese, but whenever justified there are courses that may be taught in English. In the specialization path, the working language will be mostly English.

Employment Prospects

The master’s degree holders will have advanced scientific and technical skills that will enable them to: (i) join as professionals in the field of Chemistry in private companies or public institutions; (ii) join as researchers in technological interface centers and other institutions for transfer of knowledge between academia & industry; (iii) to pursue doctoral studies (PhD) in Chemistry or related sciences, nationally or internationally. It is also envisaged that the master’s degree holders will be able to participate actively in the technological development of the country through activities of entrepreneurship and of creation of technology-based start-up companies.

Admission requirements

1. Candidates with a BSc degree in appropriate subjects (Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics and Chemistry Teaching, Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering, and related subjects) or non-graduates who are able to complete their BSc degree by the end of the registration period.
2. Candidates in possession of other degrees, or holders of an academic, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized as attesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the statutory competent scientific body.

Selection and Seriation Criteria

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

Academic curriculum (background area and weighted* final BSc grade obtained) (80%)

• Subcriterion 1: background area (25%)
• Subcriterion 2: adjusted* final BSc grade; in the case of non-graduates, it is considered the average grade weighted by the credits of the courses, multiplied by the fraction of obtained credits relative to the total credits of the BSc degree (55%)

Scientific curriculum and professional experience (20%)

• Subcriterion 1: scientific publications (except theses or final reports related to the conclusion of the BSc degree) (5%)
• Subcriterion 2: participation in research projects or professional experience in the area of the study cycle (15%)

*The adjusted final BSC grade is obtained by normalising the grade to the 0-20 scale, adding the value of ln(R/r), and rounding to the nearest integer in the 0-20 scale, with ln expressing the natural logarithm and R and r being, respectively, the positions in the world ranking published in http://www.webometrics.info for the University of Porto and for the university issuing the candidate’s BSc degree.

In case of equal grading of candidates, the following criteria will be applied:

1. Average classification in the curricular units Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry (BSc degree in Chemistry of UP) or equivalent.
2. Classification in Chemistry I (BSc degree in Chemistry of UP) or equivalent.
3. An interview conducted by the Scientific Committee of the 2nd Cycle of Studies in Chemistry.

Candidates may be subject to an individual interview, by the Scientific Committee of the 2nd Cycle of Studies in Chemistry, to assess relevant aspects of the selection and ranking process.

Information

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

Contacts

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