Master on Herbal Medicines and Food Suplements

General Objectives of the Course

The course aims to provide advanced training and specialize graduates and healthcare professionals in herbal medicines and other health products, plant-based dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and functional foods of plant origin. It should provide the opportunity for the student to acquire and deepen knowledge and skills to understand: the composition of plant materials, in particular, micronutrients and metabolites with biological or functional activity; the physico-chemical principles of the production of vegetable preparations; the regulatory bases for
registration and marketing of herbal medicines, medical devices and dietary supplements; critical points related to quality assessment and assurance; and acquire skills to carry out studies on plant hues applied to quality assessment; and assess the effectiveness/safety and cost/benefit relationships in disease prevention and the basis for rational use.

Admission Requirements

Degree in any area of Health Sciences or Life Sciences; academic or professional record considered as relevant and suitable by the Scientific council of the Faculty.

Candidates should check the admission requirements available on this site, in addition to the information provided here.

Professional Goals

Specialization for holders of graduation degrees in Health Sciences or Life Sciences, as well as accredited professionals: Pharmacists in office in pharmaceutic or food industries, community or hospital pharmacy; medical doctors and practiciens; nurses; nutritionists.

Mode of Study

After work, Friday afternoon and Saturday and b-learning

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese/ English

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

As assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, its aim is to establish the students' competencies and knowledge, their critical sense, ability to recognize and resolve problems, as well as their written and oral presentation skills. Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently enrolled. The following are examples of assessment items: Oral or written exams, written or practical work, individual and group projects that may require an oral defense, as well as class participation. Assessment for each class may include one or more of the above mentioned items. Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20 and a grade of 10 is required to pass. Whenever the grade comprises more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according a formula published in the course outline.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The graduates should be able to autonomously:
- identify the active substances of plant materials and preparations, recognize their therapeutic or health-promoting potential;
- to advise, or advise against, on the use of these products in the context and limits of their professional competences.
- to inform and educate about the rational use of herbal medicines, medical devices and food supplements made of herbal substances and herbal functional foods;
- to intervene, within the scope of their professional skills, in any of the stages of production, analysis, storage and dispensing of vegetable preparations, as well as interpreting the indicators and quality references and guidelines)
- to apply critical sense, expose the grounds for a research proposals and outline a scientific work plan.

Course Coordinator(s)

Angelina Lopes Simões Pena
angelina.pena@ci.uc.pt

Lígia Maria Ribeiro Pires Salgueiro da Silva Couto
ligia@ff.uc.pt

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

António José Ribeiro
aribeiro@ff.uc.pt

Ricardo António Esteves de Castro
rcastro@ff.uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24, in the current wording

Graduation Requirements

120 ECTS approval.

Access to Further Studies

Access to 3rd Cycle courses.

Study Programme

Medicamentos e Suplementos Alimentares à Base de Plantas

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme

DGES Code: MD52

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 4 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits: 120.0

Category: Advanced specialization second cycle

Applications

Call for Applications

Calendar

1st Semester: Start date: 07-09-2026
End date: 18-12-2026
2nd Semester: Start date: 08-02-2027
End date: 20-05-2027

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2022-07-31 a 2028-07-31
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 122/2022; 2022-07-11