Laboratory Animal Science

Scientific research in the field of life sciences is particularly important and animal experimentation is one of its main pillars. However, the evolution of society and concerns about animal welfare mean that the use of animals for experimental and other scientific purposes must be increasingly based on well-founded and regulated practices, which require the training and qualification of all those involved in this process.

It is therefore imperative that professionals who perform various functions in the use of animals for experimental and other scientific purposes acquire and/or enhance the skills appropriate to those functions, as established in Community and national legislation (Directive 2020/63/EU, DL No. 113/2013 with amendments introduced by DL No. 1/2019), and that the training is provided by institutions qualified for this purpose.

The training on this course is divided into two components: theory and practice for performing procedures on rodents (rats and mice). This module provides adequate training for performing procedures (function A of Directive 2020/63/EU – Category B of FELASA) on these two animal species; i.e. the qualification and/or requalification of persons involved in animal experimentation and the training of new researchers or research technicians who wish to be recognised and accredited as such by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Affairs.

This modular training course aims to promote the qualification and/or requalification of people involved in animal experimentation and the training of new Coordinating Investigators and Investigators or Research Technicians who wish to be recognised and accredited by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Affairs.

This course is especially designed for those interested in applying for FELASA Category B accreditation as a Research Technician from the DGAV, but also for those who wish to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of Laboratory Animal Sciences.

Coordination:

Ana Catarina Beco Pinto Reis, Professora Auxiliar com Agregação da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa

Maria Manuela de Jesus Guilherme Gaspar, Investigadora Auxiliar da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa

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Legislation:

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

The Laboratory Animal Science course offers the option of being taught in Portuguese or English language (PT/EN).

The theoretical module of the course will run from 2 February 2026 to 22 July 2026 in e-learning format.

The practical module of the course will run from 19 October 2026 to 23 October 2026, exclusively at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon and at the Animal Facility of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.

The course, in its entirety of two modules, totals a number of training hours equivalent to 6 ECTS.

• Theoretical module: 3 ECTS
• Practical module: 3 ECTS

The training hours are distributed as follows:

• Theoretical training hours: 20 hours
• Theoretical-practical training hours: 9 hours
• Practical training hours: 13 hours

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STUDY PLAN FOR THE COURSE IN LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCES

Combining theoretical and practical training, this course aims to qualify individuals involved in animal experimentation, as well as to enable the training of new researchers or research technicians who wish to be recognised and accredited by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Affairs.

ASSESSMENT OF THE THEORETICAL COMPONENT:

The assessment will be carried out in a written exam at the FFUL premises.

The exam, lasting 90 minutes, will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions, with 4 answer options each, of which only one is correct. Marking an incorrect answer does not subtract points from the exam. A minimum of 60% is required to pass the exam.

• Assessment date: 22 April 2026 or 22 July 2026

To register, participants must send their intention to take the exam by email to cncg@ff.ulisboa.pt no later than the date of 02 April 2026 (for the April assessment) or 02 July 2026 (for the July assessment), indicating the language in which they wish to take the exam (PT/EN). If participants choose to take the exam on the first attempt and do not pass, they will be automatically registered for the second attempt at no additional cost.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PRACTICAL COMPONENT:

The assessment will be carried out in person at the FFUL facilities and will consist of verifying the execution of practical procedures, with a minimum of 90% success in performing these procedures (60% of the final grade) and a written test (40% of the final grade).

Both forms of assessment are compulsory (practical procedures and written test). Failure to complete one of these assessments will result in failure of the practical course.

Class attendance is mandatory for admission to the assessment, with attendance being recorded, requiring 100% attendance of practical classes with animals and 75% attendance of other practical classes in this module.

• Assessment date: 23 October 2026

Application period for the Theoretical Component: from 2 February 2026 to 15 July 2026

Start and end dates for the Theoretical Component: from 2 February 2026 and 22 July 2026

Application period for the Practical Component: from 2 February 2026 to 31 July 2026

Start and end dates of the Practical Component: from 19 October 2026 and 23 October 2026

Applicant Qualifications:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Veterinary Science, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Science, Agricultural Science, Biological Science, or related fields.

Selection and seriation criteria:

The theoretical component has no minimum or maximum number of participants.

For the purposes of selection and ranking for the practical component, the order of application and the candidate’s curriculum vitae will be taken into account.

• Minimum number of trainees for the course to run: 05
• Maximum number of trainees for the course to run: 40

Required Documents for Application: Document proving possession of a bachelor’s degree and Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Note: enrolment in the practical component of the course requires passing the theoretical component and proof of the selected application status through a supporting statement.

Application Fees and Tuition:

Theoretical Component:

• Application Fee: €10 (Note: the application fee will not be refunded if the candidate is excluded or not selected).
• Tuition Fee for the Theoretical Component: €100
• School Insurance: €2.10

Practical Component:

• Application Fee: €10 (Note: the application fee will not be refunded if the candidate is excluded or not selected).
• Tuition fees for the Practical Component for those who have passed the current edition of the Theoretical Component:

For those interested in taking only the Practical Course, the fee is: €400 (**).

• School insurance: €2.10

(**) Equivalence of attendance in a Theoretical Course in Animal Experimentation (Category B) will be subject to evaluation by the Course Coordination, and candidates must submit the respective supporting certificate with their application.

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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: “Non Degree 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 course organisation, please contact Academic Services.: cncg@ff.ulisboa.pt