BIOLOGICAL AQUATIC RESOURCES

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Portugal has a strong relationship with the aquatic environment, whether from urbanistic, recreational, industrial or economic perspectives. Our EEZ is the largest in the EU and the majority of population lives near the coast or in the surroundings of the major hydrographic basins.
The aquatic environment is a huger source of resources, but it is subjected to intense environmental pressures due to demographic and industrial increases. The living resources within the ecosystem are suffering similar pressures. Thus, it is important to know how to manage and to extract resources in a sustainable fashion, as based on scientific criteria. The Master addresses the following main topics: aquaculture, aquatic biology, aquatic biodiversity, aquatic populations dynamics, aquatic ecology, aquatic ecosystem management, environmental impact, biological water quality, and fisheries.

OBJECTIVES

This Master’s degree trains technicians specialized in management, exploitation and preservation of the aquatic ecosystem. It has been designed for biologists and Bachelor’s degree holders of related areas who wish to improve their knowledge and aptitudes in diverse aspects related to the aquatic ecosystem, in order to guarantee its preservation and a sustainable exploitation of resources.

STRUCTURE

The cycle of studies leading to the Master’s degree in Biological Aquatic Resources is composed by:

• a Specialization course, composed by an organized set of curricular units, corresponding to 60 ECTS credits. It confers a Specialization in Biological Aquatic Resources;
• a scientific dissertation or an professional internship, object of a final report, specifically made for this purpose, corresponding to 60 of the total of 120 ECTS, whose public defense may award the Master’s degree in Biological Aquatic Resources.

STUDY PLAN

Click here to view the complete version of the latest curricular plan.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Holders of a Bachelor degree in biology, aquatic science, environmental science, animal science or related fields.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates who have a Bachelor’s degree in the area of ​​the study cycle, according to the criteria defined by the Scientific Committee of the Master, will be placed first.

Placing will be done according to the following criteria and subcriteria:

• Academic curriculum (training area and average obtained) (70%)
  • Sub-criterion 1: training area (10%)
  • Sub-criterion 2: grade average and adequacy (60%)
• Scientific curriculum and professional experience (30%)
  • Sub-criterion 1: publications in journals and Communications in conferences (10%)
  • Sub-criterion 2: Participation in research projects, internships in the area of the Master or other relevant professional experience (10%)
  • Sub-criterion 3: training actions in the scientific area of the Master’s degree (10%)

Criterion of tie-breaking candidates:

• Bachelor’s grade
• note of scientific curriculum and professional experience