This Master Degree provides access to the new profession of Genetic Counsellor in Europe. It has been accredited by the European Board of Medical Genetics and by A3ES (the Portuguese accreditation agency for university courses).
Its main objective is to educate and train health professionals for the practice of genetic counselling. Genetic Counsellors who obtain the degree are expected to integrate later the multidisciplinary teams of clinical genetics services.
Successful trainees should be able to counsel independently in those clinical situations most often encountered in the practice of the profession, in a non-directive way, that is adequate to the needs of their consultands, providing them the necessary information that facilitates their decision-making process and enables them to make freely their own informed choices, as well as subsequently support them in the choices they make.
Students who graduate should be competent, demanding and rigorous professionals, who are able to contribute with their proficiency and acquired competencies to improve quality of the clinical genetics services they integrate, promoting continuous education, to train other health professionals and to perform research in genetic counselling.

This Master course has four semesters, the first year  being dedicated to curricular units (including clinical rotations); and the second year dedicated to the professionalizing rotation, for which an activities report must be presented, the writing of a scientific article (Research Seminar) and final examination by a jury.

Regulations for the Application of the International Student Statute of the University of Porto:
Special Contests for Admission to Higher Education

General regulations for study cycles