Master’s Degree in Nursing

General Objectives of the Course

Training in advanced nursing in the design and development of clinical practice, management of care units and
clinical supervision.
According to the European Quality Assurance System Framework for higher education and the National Framework
Qualifications, on completion of the course graduates should:
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and know how to apply it in research and in understanding and solving problems
in new situations, in broad contexts related to nursing;
Demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge, deal with complex issues, develop solutions and make decisions in
situations where information is limited. They should also be able to reflect on the ethical and social implications
and responsibilities which stem from or constrain these solutions and decisions;
Know how to communicate conclusions and the underlying reasoning clearly and without ambiguity;
Have developed the skills to equip them for self-oriented and autonomous lifelong learning.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the master's program is open to:
a) Individuals with a bachelor's degree or legal equivalent in Nursing from a Portuguese higher education institution;
b) Holders of a foreign first-cycle degree in Nursing that complies with the Bologna Process;
c) Holders of a foreign degree recognized as equivalent to a Portuguese bachelor’s in Nursing by the School's Technical-Scientific Board;
d) Individuals with an academic, scientific, or professional curriculum in the scientific field of Nursing recognized by the School's Technical-Scientific Board as demonstrating the ability to complete the program.

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

Professional Goals

Students who complete the Master’s in Nursing with specialization in Healthcare Unit Management acquire the necessary technical-scientific skills for the activities of healthcare unit and service management. These skills include organization and leadership of nursing and multidisciplinary teams both in the public and private sectors, at the level of healthcare centers, hospitals, clinics, integrated long-term care units, businesses, schools, and elderly support centers, among others.

Mode of Study

Full time

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Assessment is an integral component of the teaching and learning process. It aims to evaluate the students’ knowledge and competencies, as well as their critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and proficiency in written and oral communication. The rules governing attendance, assessment, and classification are set out in the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra (RAUC). The grade awarded for each course unit is expressed as a whole number on a 0–20-point scale. A minimum final grade of 10 is required to pass a course unit. The final classification of the programme corresponds to the weighted arithmetic mean of the grades obtained in the course units. The weighting assigned to each course unit is equal to its ECTS credit value.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

To make decisions about the various dimensions of care (provision, management and supervision)
To design health care projects
To engage in the academic and professional development of nursing
To adopt a research approach strategy
To play an active role in the implementation of change processes
To coordinate activities and health care
To supervise and train peers
To manage resources and expertise
To use information systems, in particular health information systems
The development of knowledge and skills is provided in curricular units through different types of classes, seminars, tutorial guidance, internships and individual student essay.
The completion of objectives is measured by assessing the students' knowledge and skills at the end of theoretical.

Course Coordinator(s)

Rosa Cândida de Carvalho Pereira de Melo
uc47136@uc.pt

António Manuel Martins Lopes Fernandes
uc80201@uc.pt

Rogério Manuel Clemente Rodrigues
uc80164@uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is governed by the provisions set out in the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra (RAUC), Regulation No. 945/2025, and Article 45(1)(a) of the Legal Framework for Higher Education Degrees and Diplomas, approved by Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of 24 March, in its current wording.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

DL No. 74/2006 of 24 March, as amended by DL No. 107/2008, DL No. 230/2009, Declaration of Amendment No. 81/2009, DL No. 115/2013, DL No. 63/2016, DL No. 65/2018, DL No. 27/2021, and DL No. 13/2022.

Graduation Requirements

The main objective of the Master’s in Nursing is to train professionals for the nursing practice in the area of Healthcare Unit Management and of Clinical Supervision. The graduates should be able to:
- understand the methodological complexity of the various research processes and the critical reading of research work;
- learn advanced methodological tools necessary for the treatment and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data;
- develop an informed, critical, and creative perception of the disciplinary and professional development of nursing sciences;
- create an interaction between clinical nursing research and conceptual research for the disciplinary and professional development;
- reflect critically on the policies, design, and organization of health systems and services.

Successful completion of the study plan, obtaining a total of 90 ECTS.

Access to Further Studies

The qualification of Master allows applying for the 2nd cycle of studies (Ph.D.) in accordance with section 8 of this supplement.

Study Programme

Specialization in Care Unit Management

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme

DGES Code: 6734

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 3 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits: 90.0

Category: Advanced specialization second cycle

Applications

Call for Applications

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-Cr72/2010/AL04; 2022-11-22