Sciences
Biomedical
and Health

Doctorate

In partnership with the University of Trás-os-Montes (UTAD)

Result of the accreditation process by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES) • DecisionAccredited Number of years of accreditation: 6 • A3ES Resolution • Self-assessment report In a partnership between the Fernando Pessoa University (UFP) and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD)

Maximum number of admissions: 10

ABOUT THE COURSE

Context

The PhD in Biomedical and Health Sciences is a third-cycle degree offered jointly by the Fernando Pessoa University and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, under the legal framework for associations between higher education institutions.

The course aims to respond to the scientific, technological, and professional challenges posed by the evolution of Biomedical and Health Sciences, promoting advanced research oriented towards the production of relevant knowledge, innovation, and scientific transfer, in conjunction with academic, clinical, laboratory, technological, and organizational contexts.

The adopted training model recognizes that research leading to a doctoral degree can be developed in different knowledge creation environments, including research units, health institutions, companies, and other organizations with relevant research and development activity.

The PhD in Biomedical and Health Sciences aims to:

  • To provide advanced scientific training, based on methodological rigor, research ethics, and intellectual autonomy;
  • To empower doctoral students to conceive, develop, and execute original research in the areas of Biomedical and Health Sciences;
  • To promote the integration between scientific research and professional practice, valuing the application of knowledge in real-world contexts;
  • Develop skills in scientific communication, research project management, and dissemination of results;
  • To prepare doctoral graduates for scientific, academic, clinical, technological, or innovation-related activities in national and international contexts.

The standard duration of the study cycle is four years, corresponding to 240 ECTS credits, in accordance with current legislation, and may be extended according to legally established regulations.

The training program includes an initial phase of structuring the research project, followed by the development of the research and the preparation of the doctoral thesis, with continuous support throughout the entire study cycle.

Curriculum Plan

3rd Cycle (Doctorate) 4 years (1 year: thesis project; 4 years: thesis writing) According to Order No. “available soon”, Official Gazette No. “available soon”, of “available soon”Predominant scientific area: Biomedical and Health Sciences

1st YEAR • 1st SEMESTER
COURSE UNIT ECTS
Thesis Project 30
COURSE UNIT ECTS
Thesis (Multi-year, 1st Year / 2nd Semester - 4th Year) 210

Personal and Professional Development

The PhD in Biomedical and Health Sciences integrates, in a structured way, a component of individualized personal and professional development, complementary to the scientific guidance of the thesis.

Individual follow-up

Each doctoral student is accompanied by a Tutor, which, in conjunction with the Supervisor and the CE Coordination, supports the planning and monitoring of the training path, ensuring the progressive acquisition of scientific, technical and transversal skills relevant to the development of research and the consolidation of the student's professional profile.

The tutorial is supported by a Electronic Portfolio, in which the annual objectives for each candidate are recorded and validated throughout the curriculum, specifically:

  • Scientific and methodological skills acquired;
  • Participation in supplementary training activities, short courses, and micro-credentials;
  • Integration into research units, laboratory, clinical or technological settings;
  • Short-term internships and other activities relevant to the development of the thesis;
  • Scientific production and knowledge dissemination activities.
  • Pedagogical training and participation in teaching activities in higher education.


The skills and activities developed within this individualized learning path are recognized and reflected in the Diploma Supplement, contributing to the transparency and enhancement of the doctoral student's educational journey.

A graduate in Biomedical and Health Sciences is characterized by:

  • Independent and Ethical Researcher: Graduates are capable of conceiving, developing, and executing original research in the field of Biomedical and Health Sciences. Their work is based on methodological rigor, intellectual autonomy, and research ethics.
  • Practical Knowledge Integrator: Demonstrates the ability to integrate scientific research with professional practice. Its focus is on the application of knowledge and innovation in real-world contexts, whether academic, clinical, laboratory, technological, or organizational.
  • Science Manager and Communicator: Possesses solid skills in managing research projects, in scientific communication, and in the effective dissemination of results.
  • Versatile and Global Professional: Highly prepared to perform scientific, academic, clinical, technological, or innovation-related activities. Can work in both national and international contexts.


Validated Cross-Cutting Profile: Presents a range of scientific, technical, and cross-cutting skills consolidated through a path of continuous personal and professional development. This profile is enriched by participation in laboratories, clinical settings, internships, and other activities recorded in an Electronic Portfolio.

Local Health Units (all types of services integrated into this public entity); Private Hospitals and Clinics; Companies in the Medical and Health sectors; Universities; Research Institutes; National and International Medical and Health Regulatory Entities; Diagnostic Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Laboratories, among others.

Career opportunities:
Clinical career; Clinical teaching; Medical and/or biomedical research; University career; Consulting in the pharmaceutical industry or other areas of medical and health sciences; Medical education; Hospital management, among other emerging professions in the fields of medicine, nursing, laboratory work, and rehabilitation.

• Biomedical Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Rehabilitation Sciences

Coordination & contacts

Coordination:
Professor Dr. Fátima Cerqueira
coord.3c.cbs@ufp.edu.pt

Assistant Coordinators:
Professor Dr. Rúben Fernandes (UFP)
Professor Raquel Chaves, PhD (UTAD)
Professor Bruno Magalhães, PhD (UTAD)

Request information about the course:

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

ACCESS QUALIFICATIONS

These are specific entry requirements:
1. To hold an academic qualification as defined in point a) of paragraph 1 of article 30 of Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of March 24, as amended, in an area of education and training within the fundamental scientific areas of this study cycle (CE), or in a related area;
2. To hold academic qualifications as defined in point b) of paragraph 1 of article 30 of the aforementioned Decree-Law, in the area of health sciences, life sciences, or related fields, and simultaneously possess a relevant academic and/or scientific curriculum in these areas, recognized by the legally and statutorily competent bodies of both institutions as demonstrating the capacity to undertake the CE;
3. Exceptionally, possessing a relevant academic, scientific and/or professional curriculum in the fundamental scientific areas of the CE or related fields, recognized as demonstrating the capacity to carry it out under the terms of the previous paragraph.

For candidates with foreign degrees, proof of recognition of the academic degree in Portugal is required, with the respective grade conversion to the Portuguese scale, in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018.

a) Authenticated master's degree diploma or certificate;
b) Authenticated diploma or certificate of the bachelor's degree;
c) Statement of intent for the thesis/thesis project, with associate supervisor – maximum of 1500 words (optional);
d) CV in the CIENCIAVITAE format

In the case of foreign qualifications:

i. Candidates must submit an official statement, issued by the Higher Education Institution that awards the academic degree, indicating the final grade (if not included in any of the documents mentioned above) and the respective quantitative grading scale used (e.g., 0 to 100; 0 to 10, etc.). If this statement is not submitted, the minimum passing grade on the Portuguese scale (10 out of 20) will be considered. The same applies to any other qualification certificates or diplomas submitted with the application;
ii. Diplomas/certificates not written in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish must be accompanied by a translation into Portuguese, which must be legalized by the Portuguese consular agent in the country of origin of the diploma/certificate or legalized by... Hague Apostille.
iii. Certificates from educational establishments in non-EU countries:
For application purposes, simple copies of the certificates are accepted. For enrollment, it will be necessary to submit the certificates with which you applied for the competition, whether copies or originals, authenticated with the [certificate/document name]. Hague Apostille in the country where the documents were issued. If the country has not acceded to the Convention, the documents must be legalized by the official education services of that country and by the respective Portuguese diplomatic authority.

Notice: Candidates may submit their application conditionally even if they are missing any required proof of qualifications or other documents, and must submit them by the application deadline. If they fail to do so, they may express their intention to move their application to the next phase, or it will be deemed inadmissible in the final ranking, and it will no longer be possible to add documents to the process. A new application must be submitted in a subsequent phase, if one exists.

For more information about the application process, please consult the General Requirements for Doctoral Applications

The application is made through Inforestudante. here

School Dates & Fees

Timeline:
Applications are open for the 2026/2027 academic year.
For more information, please contact the coordinator: coord.3c.cbs@ufp.edu.pt

Requirements for applying:
Information about application requirements.

Precarious:
Information about bribes