Programme Overview
Pharmaceutical Engineering is an emerging and interdisciplinary field dedicated to the innovation, production and quality of pharmaceutical products. It combines knowledge of biotechnology, manufacturing sciences and quality management, among other areas, to respond to new paradigms of formulation, personalized medicine, digitalization, and manufacturing efficiency. Holders of a Master in Pharmaceutical Engineering have a solid background in Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmaceutical Process Engineering, being able to contribute significantly to technological innovation, to improving industrial competitiveness, and to leadership in the various areas of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The Master in Pharmaceutical Engineering is a joint initiative of Instituto Superior Técnico and the Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Lisbon.
Programme Structure
The 2nd Cycle in Pharmaceutical Engineering has a duration of 4 semesters (2 years), equivalent to 120 ECTS. The structure is depicted below.
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1st year (ECTS)
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60
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2nd year (ECTS)
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18
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12
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30
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The curricula of the 1st and 2nd Cycle were reformed in the 2021/2022 academic year, following Decree-Law 65/2018 and the implementation of a new teaching model and pedagogical practices (previous programme structure).
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Core Structure (78 ECTS)
The Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Engineering (Major) deepens your knowledge in topics such as Biopharmaceuticals, Manufacturing Technologies, Quality Management, Active Substance Synthesis, and others.
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Project (12 ECTS)
In order to integrate the knowledge acquired in the Master’s program, students are proposed to study and elaborate a group project about a pharmaceutical production unit, associated industrial processes, and a pharmaceutical product.
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Dissertation (30 ECTS)
The dissertation is the final assignment of the study cycle, which allows students to focus and specialise on a specific subject that may take any of these formats:
- Scientific thesis
- Internship at a company
- Capstone project
Target Audience
The Master in Pharmaceutical Engineering is intended for graduates in areas related to Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and related fields.
The programme is taught in Portuguese however may there be international or mobility students enrolled, the curricular units will be taught in English.
Career Opportunities
Graduates in this field can work in various sectors, including:
- Pharmaceutical companies that produce active ingredients or formulate finished products;
- Biopharmaceutical companies;
- Regulatory bodies overseeing pharmaceutical activities in Portugal or abroad;
- Medical device companies, hospitals, or health systems;
- Pursuing advanced studies (third-cycle) at academic institutions in Portugal or abroad (e.g., Germany, Switzerland, Canada).
Entry requirements
To apply for a 2nd Cycle at Técnico you should:
- hold a 1st cycle degree in Science and Technology (except in the case of the 2nd cycle in Architecture, which requires a 1st cycle degree in Architecture);
- hold an academic, scientific or professional curriculum that certifies their ability to do the MSc programme which they apply for.
Candidates are selected according to these criteria:
- affinity between the degree they hold and the programme they apply for;
- type of degree they hold;
- academic success in the programme they attended.
Note: if requested, we may appreciate the academic, scientific or professional curriculum and the candidate’s performance during the interview.
Students' Organisations
Técnico students autonomously and proactively stimulate projects that complement their academic background. For example, the Students’ Organisations provide them with skills and added value making them more competitive in the labour market.
