Gerontology
Qualification awarded (in original language)
"Licenciatura em Gerontologia". Title of "Licenciado".Level of qualification
1st Cycle of Studies. EQF level 6. ISCED 2011 level 6.Admission requirements
Students may apply to this 1st cycle program, through the general regime, if they obtain a minimum classification of 95 points (on a scale of 0 to 200) in one of the following national entrance examinations: Biology and Geology or Chemistry and Physics and Biology and Geology or Mathematics and Biology and Geology.Application may also be possible, through special regimes, for:
. students inside the Portuguese educational system who want to re-enroll, change course of studies, or transfer education institution;
. holders of technological specialization course;
. olders than 23 who have succeed a special exam of assessment of capabilities to access the Higher Education System;
. holders of middle or high level courses;
. students coming from foreign higher education systems.
The access requirements for the 1st cycle of studies of Higher Education appear in the description of the Portuguese Higher Education System, provided by NARIC (http://www.dges.mctes.pt/DGES/pt/Reconhecimento/NARICENIC/) and presented in section 8 of the Diploma Supplement.
The pre-requisites of group A are compulsory.
Recognition of prior learning
Following the implementation of the Bologna Process and the consequent legislation regarding the mobility of students among degrees and higher education institutions, prior learning must be recognized and credited. The prior learning concept comprises all the previous learning/training undertaken in other higher education study cycles in national or international institutions (crediting of certified training), as well as previous professional experience and any post-secondary school training or education. As such, the IPB promotes the crediting of the student’s prior learning when arriving at the institution.Aiming at a quick and full integration of the student in his/her new education programme, the recognition procedures must be submitted when enrolling at the IPB.
For further enquiries on crediting and recognizing prior learning and training at the IPB (calendars, procedures and assessment criteria), please go to the Applicant Portal at www.ipb.pt/portaldocandidato.
Qualification requirements and regulations
6 Semesters (3 years). 20 Weeks of study, per semester, full-time (40 per year). 40 total Hours per week. 810 total Hours per semester (1620 per year). 180 ECTS Credits (30 per semester); 1 credit corresponds to 27 hours.The holders of this degree will be allowed to develop his professional activity into equipment for the elderly support (nursing homes, day centers, social centers, and home care teams); Municipalities; Social Security Centers, Universities of the Third Age; Health Centers; other direct or indirect institutions to the elderly support.
Profile of the programme
The profile of the programme comprises the development of the technical-scientific knowledge and professional skills in the study areas of Health; biology and Biochemistry; Therapy and Rehabilitation; Psychology. Health; biology and Biochemistry; Therapy and Rehabilitation; Psychology.Key learning outcomes
The Gerontology degree is awarded to students who demonstrate to have, in this area, the ability to:a) Knowing the normal processes of aging time detecting deviations of pathological character;
b) Assess problems of aging, quality of life and well-being in elderly populations;
c) Know the policies to support the elderly population in Portugal and in the European Union, namely, systems of social welfare and health;
d) Know the different type of equipment and services for the elderly;
e) Know how to intervene in community and family, with older people and caregivers (formal and informal);
f) Learn how to design, implement and manage programs for active aging;
g) Learn how to monitor and / or refer the elderly in acute, rehabilitation and death situations;
h) Integrate and work within an interdisciplinary and complementary perspective with those involved in the phenomenon of aging;
i) Solve problems and introduce, in their daily practice, either the results of its reflection on the practice or the results of scientific studies and additional research in order to innovate;
j) Evaluate professional practice and promote their development considering values and attitudes consistent with the standards of professional conduct and ethics endorsed by the Universal Rights.
To complete the qualification, the student is required to pass all compulsory course units of the study plan.
Occupational profiles of graduates
The degree of "licenciado" (bachelor) in Gerontology belongs to the education and training area of Health Sciences and Social Protection. Graduates are qualified to develop a professional activity within the profile of the programme.Access to further studies
The bachelor’s degree in Gerontology allows to proceed to post-graduate studies, according to the diagram of the Portuguese Higher Education System, provided by NARIC (http://www.dges.mctes.pt/DGES/pt/Reconhecimento/NARICENIC/) and presented in section 8 of the Diploma Supplement.Graduation requirements
---Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Examination and assessment are regulated by the IPB general regulation, available in www.ipb.pt/sa, and by the School pedagogical regulation, available in www.essa.ipb.pt.Consult this Guide under the option “The ECTS at the IPB” for information on the grading and qualification system.
Mode of study
Full-time.Programme director
| Carlos Pires Magalhaes ( | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
Scientific areas of the study plan
| Scientific Area | Acronym | ECTS Credits | |
| Compulsory | Optional | ||
| Biology and Biochemistry | BIB | 28.0 | 0.0 |
| Educational Sciences | CIE | 6.0 | 0.0 |
| Health | SAU | 77.0 | 0.0 |
| Law | DIR | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Management and Administration | GEA | 5.0 | 0.0 |
| Medicine | MED | 11.0 | 0.0 |
| Phylosophy and Etics | FIE | 5.0 | 0.0 |
| Political Science and Citizenship | CPC | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Psychology | PSI | 12.0 | 0.0 |
| Sociology | SOC | 9.0 | 0.0 |
| Therapy and Rehabilitation | TER | 19.0 | 0.0 |
| Total | 180.0 | 0.0 | |
Course structure
| Year | Sem | Type | Code | Course Unit | Scientific Area | ECTS Credits |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-1101-00-23 | Anatomohistofisiology I | BIB | 5.0 |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-1102-00-24 | Bioethics and Deontology | FIE | 5.0 |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-1103-00-24 | Biochemistry and Biophysics | BIB | 4.0 |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-1104-00-23 | Professional Identity | SAU | 8.0 |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-1105-00-23 | Microbiology | BIB | 4.0 |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-1106-00-24 | Developmental Psychology | PSI | 4.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-1201-00-23 | Anatomohistofisiology II | BIB | 5.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-1202-00-23 | Biology of Aging | BIB | 5.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-1203-00-23 | Physical and Psychological Intervention | TER | 5.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-1204-00-23 | General Pathology | MED | 5.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-1205-00-23 | Health and Aging | SAU | 6.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-1206-00-23 | Socioanthropology | SOC | 4.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-2101-00-24 | Administration and Management of Organizations | GEA | 5.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-2102-00-24 | Geriatrics | MED | 6.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-2103-00-23 | Nutrition and Dietetics in the Elderly | TER | 4.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-2104-00-23 | Pedagogy | CIE | 2.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-2105-00-24 | Psychology of Aging | PSI | 8.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-2106-00-24 | Occupational Therapy | TER | 5.0 |
| 2 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-2201-00-23 | Internship I | SAU | 20.0 |
| 2 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-2202-00-23 | Pharmacology in the Elderly | BIB | 5.0 |
| 2 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-2203-00-23 | Geriatrics Rehabilitation | TER | 5.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-3101-00-23 | Gerontological Law | DIR | 4.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-3102-00-24 | Epidemiology | SAU | 5.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-3103-00-23 | Gerontology | CIE | 4.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-3104-00-24 | Methods and Technics of Research | SAU | 8.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-3105-00-23 | Social and Health Politics | CPC | 4.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9833-346-3106-00-24 | Sociology of Aging | SOC | 5.0 |
| 3 | 2 | Semestral | 9833-346-3201-00-23 | Internship II | SAU | 30.0 |