Courses / Department of Mechanical Engineering

PhD Degree in Advanced Materials and Processing

Entidades parceiras: Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Universidade de Aveiro, Universidade do Minho, Universidade do Porto, Universidade da Beira Interior

General Objectives of the Course

Seventy per cent of all technical innovations are directly or indirectly linked to materials. This percentage has been increasing since 1970 and is forecast to continue increasing steadily until 2030. Advanced Materials have been identified by the European Commission as one of the five Key Enabling Technologies. The doctoral program proposed on Advanced Materials and Processing is in-line with this reality, offering a widely interdisciplinary 3rd Cycle, built from the competence and experience of the research institutions and academic departments involved. The program is tuned with high ranking European Universities, Institutes and running European PhD network programs, turning so the graduates more competitive worldwide and in particular in Europe, besides opening routes of R&D collaboration of the personnel involved, strengthen so Portuguese competitiveness towards European R&D projects and networking.

Admission Requirements

Have completed one of the following academic degrees or equivalent:
- Pre-Bologna Degree in Materials Science and/or Engineering, or related fields;
- Pre or post-Bologna Masters in Science and/or Engineering of Materials, or related areas,
- Have obtained an average of pre-Bologna degree or post-Bologna integrated master's or a weighted average of 1st and 2nd cycles post-Bologna equal to or greater than 14/20.
- Candidates with an average of less than 14 will be accepted if they are authors of at least one original work with peer review, already published or accepted for publication by the date of submission of the application;
- Have a degree in Higher Education, obtained at a national or foreign institution, recognized as appropriate by the Scientific Committee of the Program,
- Have a professional or scientific curriculum recognized as relevant and appropriate by the Scientific Committee of the Program.

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

Mode of Study

face to face

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

As assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, its aim is to establish the students' competencies and knowledge, their critical sense, ability to recognize and resolve problems, as well as their written and oral presentation skills. Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently enrolled. The following are examples of assessment items: Oral or written exams, written or practical work, individual and group projects that may require an oral defense, as well as class participation. Assessment for each class may include one or more of the above mentioned items. Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20 and a grade of 10 is required to pass. Whenever the grade comprises more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according a formula published in the course outline.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

By ensuring the training of specialists with strong innovation capabilities and the promotion of technological progress in the field of Advanced Materials and Processing, this PhD program offers career opportunities in teaching and/or scientific research, as well as integration into the job market in areas ranging from various industries (ceramics and glass, polymers and molds, automotive and aerospace, metalworking, electronics and computers, etc.) to R&D+i and technological development, production, quality control, regulation and technology transfer, and even consultancy. Among the skills aimed to be developed in young PhD graduates are: critical thinking, conceptual autonomy, and entrepreneurship, fostering the potential creation of new businesses.

Course Coordinator(s)

Ana Paula da Fonseca Piedade
ana.piedade@dem.uc.pt

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

Ana Sofia Figueira Ramos
sofia.ramos@dem.uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Decree-Law no. 74/2006, 24th of March, in its current

Graduation Requirements

The study plan includes a doctoral course, the submission of a thesis project and its public presentation, which correspond to 18 ECTS, and a thesis worth 150 ECTS.

Study Programme

Advanced Materials and Processing

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
3rd Cycle Studies

DGES Code: PA05

Qualification Awarded: Doutor

Duration: 3 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 180.0

Annual Fee: 2750.0

Applications

Call for Applications

3rd Cycle Course

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: ACEF/2122/120174; 2022-07-31 a 2028-07-31
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 161/2013/AL01; 2025-02-03