Scientific Writing

This Advanced Training course aims to equip students with essential skills for scientific writing in health sciences, with a particular focus on publishing original or review studies in the fields of Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology. Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Communicate effectively, considering their target audience;

• Develop strategies to disseminate their research findings;

• Discuss relevant aspects for selecting the most appropriate journals for submission;

• Structure a scientific article according to its type and understand the content of each section;

• Become familiar with existing reporting checklists for different study types and recognize the value of applying them;

• Navigate the entire process from article submission, responding to reviewers’ comments, to final publication;

• Define the roles of authors and collaborators according to ICMJE criteria;

• Critically review titles and abstracts of scientific articles (their own and those of peers);

• Understand what MeSH terms are and the importance of selecting them correctly;

• Learn about the work of the International Collaboration of Pharmacy Journal Editors (ICPJE), including the Granada Statements, and understand how this work impacts publications in the field of Social Pharmacy, as well as others, considering the multidisciplinary nature of health research.

This course is therefore designed to prepare participants to significantly increase their chances of successfully publishing their research.

Coordination:

Filipa Alves da Costa , Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Faculty of Pharmacy;

Helena Isabel Fialho Florindo Roque Ferreira, Full Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon.

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Legislation:

Regulamento n.º 638/2016 – Regulamento dos Cursos Não Conferentes de Grau da Faculdade de Farmácia da ULisboa

The course will take place in November 2025, with in-person sessions from November 3rd to 18th, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and online sessions on November 3rd from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., November 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and November 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The course comprises a total of 129 hours of training, equivalent to 6 ECTS credits.

The training hours are distributed as follows:

• Theoretical training: 13 hours

• Practical sessions: 12 hours

• Tutorial guidance: 4 hours

• Independent study: 100 hours

This course focuses on scientific writing and publishing in the health field, with particular emphasis on social pharmacy and health technologies.

Special attention will be given to the publication of original research studies (using different methodologies) and review articles. One component of the course will focus on identifying the target audience, selecting the most appropriate journal, and choosing the type of article to be developed, depending on the student’s goals and the stage of their doctoral project. Another component will cover the different stages of the publication process—from submission, ensuring compliance with guidelines and use of appropriate reporting checklists, to responding to reviewers and final publication. A third component will focus on the writing itself, its style, with an emphasis on the characteristics of scientific writing and tips for non-native English speakers.

All supporting materials, including presentations and recommended bibliography, will be made available two weeks in advance, allowing participants to prepare adequately for the topics to be discussed. During the in-person sessions, time will be maximised for student presentations and discussions on the strengths and weaknesses of their work, aiming to increase the chances of successful publication. Practical sessions in all modules are designed to consolidate the knowledge acquired.

The course is structured into 7 modules and will be taught in English, featuring contributions from renowned speakers affiliated with higher education and research institutions, as well as editors of high-impact journals in the relevant fields, including:

• Portuguese Association of Medical Writers

• Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal

• Touro University California, United States of America

• Editors from high-impact journals

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COURSE PROGRAM: SCIENTIFIC WRITING

Teaching Methodology:

The main teaching methodology will consist of lectures delivered by national and international experts. Each lecture will have a maximum duration of 40 minutes, followed by 20 minutes reserved for participatory discussion and/or practical application of the concepts introduced.

Depending on the topic, the practical application may focus on searching for a suitable journal, defining an impactful title, selecting the most appropriate reporting checklist, writing abstracts for different target audiences, and briefing-debriefing activities.

Learning Outcomes and Skills to be Acquired by the Student:

Throughout the course, the focus will be primarily on developing scientific writing skills, with the goal of enabling each student to gradually develop their own scientific article during the programme.

Assessment Methodology:

Students will be assessed individually, although some of the proposed tasks may be carried out in groups. There will be a single assessment moment, consisting of the presentation of the scientific article developed throughout the course. Assessment will be based on the written work (70%) and its oral presentation (20%). The remaining 10% will be based on student participation in the activities proposed in Modules 2–5.

Application Period: From May 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025.

Course start and end dates: November  2025.

Admission Requirements:

Integrated Master’s degree in a Health-related field or equivalent.

Selection and seriation criteria:

Final course average, specialisation area of the doctoral programme the applicant is applying for (for PhD students), current research area (for researchers).

• Minimum number of trainees for operation: 08
• Maximum number of trainees for operation: 30

Required Documents for Application: Academic Certificate, Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Registration Declaration for external PhD students not enrolled at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon (FFUL).

Application Fees and Tuition:

• Application fee: 10€ (Note: the application fee will not be refunded if the candidate is excluded or not selected).
• Course Tuition: €500 for general students  and €250 for external PhD students not enrolled at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon (FFUL).
• School Insurance Fee: 2,10€

Note: FFUL PhD students who wish to take the course as part of their mandatory 1st-year curriculum are exempt from the registration fee.

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Application Process:

Applications for the course are made exclusively through the FenixEdu Platform of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL).

Access to the FenixEdu Platform:

• If you have never been a student at FFUL you must pre-register on the FenixEdu Platform.
• If you are a former student of FFULisboa and have already had an account campus@ulisboa or @edu.ulisboa.pt you should access the FenixEdu Platform and authenticate yourself with your account data. If you have lost access to your account, you can recover your password in the ULisboa users area.
• If you are a former student of FFULisboa and have never had an account campus@ulisboa or @edu.ulisboa.pt you must send an email to cncg@ff.ulisboa.pt indicating your full name and ID document number.

Access the FenixEdu Platform.

• On the tab “Candidate”, choose the type of application: “Advanced Training Courses”, select the desired course.
• Fill out the online form and attach all the required documents in digital format. In the application process you can indicate whether you want the invoice to be issued in the name of another entity/company/institution.
• Select the “Submit” option.

Applications will only be validated by the Academic Services once the applicant has paid the Application Fee.

For information regarding the application process and the course organization, please contact the Academic Services: doutoramentos@ff.ulisboa.pt