Presentation

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) is a renowned Higher Education institution that stands out for the excellence of the teaching it promotes, the top position it occupies in research and the symbiotic relationship it nurtures with several public and private health institutions throughout the country.

The objective of this institution is to train doctors and other health professionals at a scientific, technological and humanistic level, as well as improve the health of the population. The Faculty has been attracting hundreds of students who, every year, come here to attend the Integrated Study Cycle of the Master's Degree in Medicine (MMED) and the Degree in Digital Health and Biomedical Innovation (SauD InoB), as well as other post-graduate courses, namely Masters (2nd Cycle of Studies) and Doctoral Programmes (3rd Cycle of Studies).

At the same time, FMUP invests in the dynamization of specialization courses, advanced studies and continuing education, both on-site and online, providing quality training programmes that meet the growing needs of various target audiences, e.g., doctors and other health professionals, who are interested in updating, deepening or enhancing their knowledge.

FMUP also stands out for its proximity and strategic alignment with the University Hospital Center of São João, which reflects in the multidisciplinary and collaborative space both institutions share – the Porto Academic and Clinical Centre (CAC.Porto).

The quality of the teaching, the intense scientific activity and the differentiated care practice are key points in the focus and name of this institution, which is celebrating its bicentenary, combining the strength of its history with a singular spirit of innovation.

Bicentenary

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto is an essential pillar of medical education in Portugal, with a history spanning two centuries of evolution, innovation and commitment to health training.

Its roots go back to 1825, more specifically 25 June, the date of King João VI's charter, which established the Royal Schools of Surgery, which operated at the Hospital Real de São José in Lisbon and at the Hospital da Misericórdia in Porto, the Hospital Real de Santo António. This was the first step in building an academic and scientific tradition that would mark the country. The inauguration and opening of classes at the Royal School of Surgery in Porto took place that same year, on 25 November.

In 1836, as part of the so-called Literary Reform Law led by Passos Manuel, the Royal School became the Porto Medical and Surgical School. This period was marked by a commitment to practical teaching, with the creation of laboratories, specialised offices and libraries that raised the quality of medical training. Until 1883, the institution remained on the premises of the Hospital de Santo António, and then moved to its own building nearby, adapted to the growing demands of teaching and research.

The year 1911 brought a crucial turning point. The republican education reform elevated the Escola Médico-Cirúrgica do Porto into a Faculty of Medicine, inserting it into a new academic and scientific dynamic. This transformation was not just nominal: the curriculum was profoundly renewed, integrating fundamental subjects such as Physics, Biological Chemistry and Natural Sciences, and reinforcing clinical and laboratory teaching. Practical internships became an obligatory part of training, ensuring solid preparation for future doctors.

Throughout the 20th century, the Faculty of Medicine continued to adapt to the demands of an ever-changing world. In 1959, another decisive milestone was reached: the inauguration of the Hospital de São João, designed as a teaching hospital to provide the Faculty with its own facilities that combined teaching, research and medical care, meeting the needs of modern medical training. This new space consolidated the Faculty of Medicine as one of the main medical teaching institutions in Portugal.

Today, as it celebrates its 200th anniversary, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto looks to the future with the same determination that has marked its journey. Honouring the legacy of the generations that built it, it reaffirms its commitment to excellence in teaching, research and health promotion, remaining at the forefront of medicine in Portugal and the world.

A Renowned, Pre-graduate and Post-graduate, In-person and Distance Medical Education

FMUP offers an Integrated Master's Degree in Medicine, a Degree in Digital Health and Biomedical Innovation, and several 2nd Cycle/Masters and 3rd Cycle/Doctoral Programs in a wide range of Health areas.

Additionally, it offers about thirty courses of Continuing Education, including specialization courses, advanced studies, lifelong learning and a wide range of individual training units.

FMUP has adapted its broad training offer to current demands, combining different teaching modalities and having a proven track record in distance learning.

Cutting-edge medical and scientific research

FMUP occupies a prominent place in the national scientific production. In the last 5 years, FMUP has raised around ¤22M in competitive tenders, ensuring the funding of 134 scientific projects, 40 of which were international. FMUP also promoted around 1,200 clinical studies and produced over 7,200 articles in WoS-indexed journals (86 Highly Cited articles and 2 Hot Papers), 39% of which were published in relevant journals.

Distinctively, FMUP integrates the first Associate Laboratory dedicated to clinical and translational research - RISE – and also hosts the country's largest R&D unit in the same area – RISE-Health, the result of an unprecedented merger and the unanimous strategic will of the leaders and researchers of 4 former R&D units, increasing critical mass, greater multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary synergies, and scientific complementarity.

In this context, FMUP is at the forefront of clinical and translational research in Portugal.

Differentiated Assistance Practice

The collaboration of hospitals in the clinical training of the Integrated Master’s in Medicine and of the Degree in Digital Health and Biomedical Innovation (SauD InoB) is of the utmost importance to ensure the necessary conditions and quality in health education. Thus, FMUP and the University Hospital Center of São João constitute the CAC.Porto - Clinical Academic Center of Porto. In addition, this Faculty maintains affiliation protocols with approximately 20 public and private health institutions, which welcome students for high-quality medical training.

People

More than three thousand students study in the various educational cycles of FMUP. The Faculty has a highly qualified teaching staff and a young and differentiated technical staff, comprising approximately 950 employees.

Facilities

FMUP shares facilities with the largest central hospital in the North of Portugal - the University Hospital Center of São João. It also has its own complex of facilities covering an area of 23,000m2, called the FMUP Medical Research Centre (CIM-FMUP). The complex comprises three buildings and includes the main auditorium, two smaller auditoriums, a library with approximately 1,000m2, and more than 40 classrooms and laboratories.