Program Overview

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Master on Herbal Medicines and Food Supplements

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, 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
• b-learning

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

• Portuguese
• English

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Assessments and grading in accordance with Regulamento Académico da Universidade de Coimbra (Regulamento n.º 805-A/2020 DR 2ª Série N.º 187 de 24/09/2020) and of the Rules for assessments of the Faculty of Pharmacy

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 proposal, and outline a scientific work plan

Course Coordinator(s)

• Angelina Lopes Simões Pena
• Lígia Maria Ribeiro Pires Salgueiro da Silva Couto

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of previous studies or professional experience based on curricular analysis and further support documents. Assessment and creditations fall within the competences of the Scientific council of the Faculty

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

• Change year

Course Type

• 2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme

DGES Code

• MD52

Qualification Awarded

• Master

Duration

• 4 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits

• 120.0

Category

• Advanced specialization second cycle

Accreditations

• Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior
• Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior
• Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 122/2022

Calendar

• 1st Semester:
  • Start date:
  • End date:
• 2nd Semester:
  • Start date:
  • End date:

Documents

• University of Coimbra
• Contacts Reporting Channel Compliments / Suggestions / Complaints Legal Notice