PHD in Economics and Finance

General Objectives of the Course

The PhD Programme in Economics and Finance has the following general objectives: 1. to develop academic excellence in
economics and finance; 2. to offer students an innovative curriculum in economics and finance; 3. to promote advanced research in
economics and finance, as well as critical knowledge that contributes to the sustainable development of the financial sector,
economy and society; 4. to contribute to the SDG Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 4, 8, 9 and 13.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Doctoral Programme in Economics must be:
a) Holders of a master's degree or legal equivalent, namely holders of a Master's degree in Economics with a Very Good classification or equivalent rank or holders of a master's degree in other fields, with a Very Good classification or equivalent rank, or holders of a bachelor's degree with Very Good classification or equivalent rank in the school part of master's in Economics or related fields;
b) Holders of a bachelor's degree in the fields referred to in sub-paragraph a), holders of a particularly relevant academic or scientific curriculum that is recognized as attesting capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the Academic Board of the Faculty of Economics;
c) Holders of a scholarly, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized as attesting to the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the Academic Board of the FEUC and EEGUM.

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

Professional Goals

Doctoral graduates in Economics and Finance are qualified to perform professional roles that require rigorous and demanding analysis in various institutions, whether public or private, academic or non-academic, such as:

Teaching and research in Higher Education Institutions

Financial institutions and auditing and consulting firms

Regulatory agencies

Public or private companies across various sectors.

Mode of Study

Face-to-Face

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

English

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from teaching, aimed at refining students’ skills and knowledge, their pro-activity, critical thinking and synthesis skills problem-solving abilities, as well as mastery of both written and oral communication. Students enrolled in the respective curricular units for the academic year to which the assessment applies are admitted to evaluation in accordance with the regulations of both universities. Assessment elements may include the following examples: written or oral exam, tests, problem solving, practical (laboratory or computational) or written assignments, as well as individual or group projects, which may have to be presented and defended orally. The assessment methodology of each curricular unit may include one or more of the indicated assessment elements, and students must be informed of the weighting of each component in the final evaluation, in accordance with the regulations of the University of Coimbra. The classification of each student in each curricular unit is expressed into an integer value between 0 and 20, with students achieving a minimum final classification of 10 values being considered approved. Approval in the Thesis curricular unit requires a public defense of the work developed before a jury of experts in the corresponding field in accordance with RAUC and RAUM.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

Students of the PHD program will be able to:
1. interpret, compare and evaluate economic or financial theories and models;
2. identify and evaluate financial sector institutions and practices;
3. analyse different national or international micro and macroeconomic contexts;
4. analyse and critically appraise the literature on a given economic or financial context or problem;
5. apply a variety of analytical methods to solve economic and financial problems and propose economic and financial policy
recommendations and decisions;
6. apply econometric and/or quantitative methods to organise and prepare original empirical or theoretical research;
7. Develop and execute original research projects independently, and prepare scholarly articles and theses in the fields of
macroeconomics, microeconomics, and finance.
8. communicate the results of their research, in particular through presentations at conferences and the publication of articles in
international academic journals.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The 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 24th (http://www.uc.pt/academicos/regulamentos/regulamentos), as established in Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24th, in its current wording, and with the Academic Regulations of the University of Minho (RAUM), published in the 2nd Series E, in the Diário da República of January 20th, 2020 (https://alunos.uminho.pt/PT/estudantes/Regulamentos/Despacho_RT-03_2020.pdf).

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Legal regime for higher education degrees and diplomas defined by Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24, in its current wording.

Graduation Requirements

At the end of the first year, composed by eight mandatory units of study, the student must undergo an exam on the main subjects taught during the first two semesters. Approval in this exam must be obtained for admission to the second year. In the third semester, the candidate must attend and obtain approval in the unit of study Thesis Proposal, and also submit a dissertation project, whose successful defence is required for subsequent dissertation development. The dissertation will then be defended in a public examination. This programme leads to a doctoral degree in Economics and Finance by the University of Coimbra and University of Minho.

Access to Further Studies

Doctoral graduates will be able to access post-doctoral programmes, namely in the field of Economics and Finance.

Study Programme

Paths: Economy; Finance

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
3rd Cycle Studies

DGES Code: PA69

Qualification Awarded: Doutor

Duration: 4 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 240.0

Applications

Call for Applications

3rd Cycle Course

Accreditations

Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 162/2025; 2026-07-31 a 2032-07-31