Master Degree in City Management and Transport Engineering

General Objectives of the Course

The main objective is to provide technical skills in the area of city management, with an emphasis on territorial planning and transport engineering. The aim is to foster the acquisition of skills in diagnostic, planning and management of the territory, transport infrastructure and transport systems, with a multidisciplinary perspective and systemic integration, with the goal of promoting sustainable cities with a high quality of life. Special attention will be paid to adapting cities and mitigating the effects of global challenges such as climate change, demographic dynamics and urbanization trends, as well as the paradigm shift in mobility, due to technological advances (electrification, digitization and automation), and new sharing models. In addition, it will foster the development of fundamental personal skills and attitudes such as critical thinking, sense of responsibility, ability to learn independently and ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Admission Requirements

The following are eligible to apply for access to the cycle of studies leading to a master's degree:
a) Holders of a bachelor's degree or legal equivalent in: Management of Sustainable and Intelligent Cities; Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Geography and related degrees;
b) Holders of a foreign higher academic degree awarded following a 1st cycle of studies organized in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Process by a State adhering to this Process, in the areas referred to in point a);
c) Holders of a higher academic degree obtained abroad that is recognized as satisfying the objectives of the bachelor's degree by the Scientific Council of FCTUC;
d) In duly justified cases, holders of a scientific and professional curriculum relevant to attending this cycle of studies and recognized as such by the FCTUC Scientific Council.
e) Those who do not have basic training in engineering sciences may be required to take additional courses in this subject.

Candidates should check the admission requirements available on this site, in addition to the information provided here.

Professional Goals

The Master's Degree in City Management and Transport Engineering, due to its scope and focus on integrating multiple aspects (territory, transport, environment, digital technologies, and management and decision-making processes), provides the holistic training needed to meet the requirements of the public administration responsible for regulating, planning and managing territory and transport systems (both at central and municipal level), as well as consultancy firms (in city management, urban mobility management, transport engineering) and companies in the transport infrastructure management, transport and logistics sectors, and aims to train professionals who, given the growing pressures on cities and the paradigm shift underway in the transport sector, can be absorbed quickly by the job market. Professional profiles include the following:
1. Senior technician in public bodies:
a) Planning Departments;
b) Mobility, Traffic and Transport Departments;
c) Urban Management Departments;
d) Public Space Departments.
2. Engineering and Transport Consultants:
a) Urban Mobility;
b) Traffic Studies;
c) Transport Engineering;
d) Technologies for Transportation Systems;
e) Mapping and Geographic Information Services.
3. Senior technician in companies in the transport and logistics sector:
a) Planning and management of passenger transport services;
b) Planning and management of transport infrastructure;
c) Planning and management of freight transport services.

Mode of Study

Face-to-face

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese/English

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Assessment is a pedagogical activity that is inseparable from teaching, aimed at determining the skills and knowledge acquired by students, their pro-activity and critical and synthesizing spirit, their ability to formulate and solve problems, as well as their mastery of written and oral communication. Students enrolled in the respective curricular units in the academic year to which the tests relate and, at the same time, registered in these tests, when such registration is necessary, are admitted to the assessment tests, in accordance with the regulations of the University of Coimbra. The following are examples of assessment elements: written or oral exams, quizzes, problem solving, practical (laboratory or computational) or written work, as well as individual or group projects, which may have to be defended orally. The assessment of each curricular unit may include one or more of the assessment elements listed, and students must be aware of the weighting of each component in the final assessment, in accordance with the regulations of the University of Coimbra. The classification of each student, for each curricular unit, translates into an integer value between 0 and 20 points and students who obtain a minimum final classification of 10 points are considered to have passed. Passing the Dissertation in City Management and Transport Engineering curricular unit includes a public defense of the work carried out before a jury made up of experts in the field to which it is associated, in accordance with the Academic Regulations of the University of Coimbra (RAUC).

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The aim is to provide an holistic view of cities, their territory and their transport systems (enabling an understanding of the global challenges and growing problems facing cities, as well as societal changes and technological advances in the transport sector), and to provide the knowledge and technical skills needed to analyse and respond to planning and management issues, within multidisciplinary teams, with a goal of creating more sustainable, resilient and human-centred cities. The aim is also to encourage knowledge valorisation and the continuation of studies in a 3rd cycle.
At the end of the study cycle, graduates should be able to perform design, coordination and/or management and maintenance functions in areas related to:
- urban planning and land use planning
- spatial planning instruments and allotment projects
- design of public facilities’ networks
- transport infrastructure
- traffic studies, mobility and transport plans
- transport management and operations

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulations of the University of Coimbra, RAUC, Regulation no. 805-A/2020, DR, 2nd series, of September 24 (http://www.uc.pt/academicos/regulamentos/regulamentos), under the terms set out in Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of March 24, in its current wording.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Decree-Law 74/2006 of 24 March, in its current wording

Graduation Requirements

The qualification is obtained after successful completion of the course units required to make up a total of 120 ECTS.

Access to Further Studies

Completion of this master's degree allows access to a third cycle course.

Study Programme

City Management and Transport Engineering

Academic year
2025-2026

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Continuity Master Programme

DGES Code: MF96

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 2 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 120.0

Category: Continuity second cycle


Applications

Call for Applications


Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior
2025-07-31 a 2031-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior

Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 51/2025

2025-02-14

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