This course offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the discovery phase of drug development. Students will learn about molecular mechanisms of disease, biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and cutting-edge therapeutic strategies. The program includes real-world scenarios and hands-on experience, with expert instructors and collaborations with R&D units in academia and beyond. The course prepares students for a career in the biopharmaceutical field and offers the opportunity to be part of a community dedicated to improving global health.
Teaching Language
Should a non-Portuguese speaking applicant be admitted, classes are taught in English. The course contents and materials are often in English.
ECTS
120 ECTS:
60 – correspond to the first two semesters.
60 – correspond to the Dissertation.
Duration
2 academic years / 4 semesters
Regime
After-work
The MSc Course in Biopharmaceutical Sciences offers a unique curriculum, with competitive research projects and student-oriented training. It includes a curricular part during year 1, composed by 6 optional curricular units in each semester and mandatory curricular units Scientific Writing and Communication and Design of Experimental Research and Innovation. Students will benefit from participative theoretical classes, theoretical-practical classes, laboratory classes and tutorial supervision. The structure of intensive optional curricular units or courses, with the duration of 2 weeks each, allows the student to define an individual curriculum, according to personal objectives. The tutorial supervision is in agreement with the purposes of the Bologna Process for a Master degree and is based on extensive scientific-pedagogic background of the teaching staff.
Year 2 is dedicated to the research project of the dissertation and ends with the defense to obtain the degree.
Students will have to obtain 30 ECTS, in each semester of the 1st year, in order to successfully complete the curricular part of the course. The choice of the training plan is free, only having as mandatory two units in the first year. The 2nd year is exclusively dedicated to the preparation of the dissertation (60 ECTS).
This MSc Course has been designed for those targeting a career in research universities and institutes, pharmaceutical industry and biotechs, often providing advanced training towards a PhD degree or a career in pharma and biotechs.
From Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m.
The classes take place at FFULisboa.
The research project of the dissertation will develop in the FFULisboa and/or in any other national/foreign laboratory, recognized by the Scientific Committee of the Course, co-supervised by an internal staff member. Research projects from previous editions are currently being developed by students in internal laboratories and in external laboratories, both in Portugal and abroad.
2026/2027
Full-time general student
National Students
Annual fee: 1.500,00 € (1st year) | 1.750,00 € (2nd year)
International students
Annual fee: 3.250,00 € (1st year) | 3.750,00 € (2nd year)
(Passed/assessed — academic year 2024/2025)
Source: FenixEdu, April 2026
(Failed/assessed — academic year 2024/2025)
Source: FenixEdu, April 2026
Graduates from 2019/20 to 2023/24
* Calculated as the difference from the percentage of graduates registered as unemployed with the IEFP.
This does not represent an employment rate.
Source: DGEEC, data from June 2025 (2026 edition)
View more indicators on the InfoCursos Portal
Postgraduate Studies Office: mestrados@ff.ulisboa.pt
