Courses / Department of the Civil Engineering

Master in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability

General Objectives of the Course

The main goal of the study cycle is to train highly qualified professionals in Environmental Engineering (EE), equipped to address scientific and technological challenges and to act responsibly and sustainably across diverse environmental systems.
Students are expected to acquire a solid education in the fields of planning, design, implementation, and sustainable management of technologies and solutions applied to natural, built and industrial environments.
Upon completion of the degree, graduates should understand the scientific, technological, and methodological principles of EE and be able to apply and integrate this knowledge in complex contexts. They should be capable of assessing interactions between environmental systems and human activities, applying methodologies and tools for environmental analysis and management, proposing innovative technical solutions, and demonstrating autonomy, critical thinking, and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Admission Requirements

Candidates to the Master’s programme must:
• Hold a Bachelor’s Degree or legal equivalent in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Agronomic Engineering, Forest Engineering, or related fields.
• Hold a higher education degree obtained abroad following a 1st cycle of studies in Environmental Engineering or related fields, organised in compliance with the Bologna Process by a State adhering to this Process.
• Hold a foreign higher education degree in Environmental Engineering or related fields, recognised by the legally competent scientific body as meeting the objectives of a Bachelor’s Degree.
• In duly justified cases, candidates with a relevant academic, scientific or professional curriculum for attending this study cycle, as recognised by the Scientific Council of FCTUC, provided that candidates achieve a curriculum assessment grade equal to or higher than 14/20 points.

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

Professional Goals

"Graduates with a Master’s in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability acquire advanced, multidisciplinary training that enables integration into the national and international labour market in fields related to environmental engineering, including environmental management and sustainability.
They are prepared to perform technical, managerial, and research functions across a wide spectrum of professional profiles in environmental engineering, including environmental planning and design offices, consultancy and environmental services companies, industries with environmental responsibilities, municipalities, public agencies, and regulatory bodies.
Graduates may also pursue work in research laboratories and research centers or continue their studies at the doctoral level (third-cycle studies).
As engineering is a regulated profession, the exercise of professional functions is governed by the rules and standards of the competent professional Orders."

Mode of Study

Daytime / Full-time / Face-to-face

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese language

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

The evaluation rules are defined for each unit of the course in accordance with the Regulation of the University of Coimbra. The final mark in every unit will be defined in the range 0 to 20; the lower mark to obtain the approval in each unit is 10.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The general learning objective is for students to acquire advanced knowledge in the main domains of Environmental Engineering, mastering engineering concepts and techniques applicable to the analysis and intervention in environmental systems and the current challenges of sustainability.
Students should develop skills to solve complex problems, conduct experimental work, apply theoretical knowledge in practice, and communicate effectively with both specialized and non-specialized audiences.
The programme also aims to promote competencies in responsibility, ethics, discipline, self-learning, self-confidence, and citizenship, as well as to foster scientific spirit, creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to integrate and collaborate within interdisciplinary teams.

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

João Pedro Simões Cândido Martins
jpmartins@dec.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, of March 24, in the current wording

Graduation Requirements

To obtain the Master’s degree, the student must successfully complete all mandatory curricular units of the course (42 ECTS), the optional/elective curricular units (48 ECTS), and the Dissertation (30 ECTS).

Access to Further Studies

By attributing the Master’s Degree, this course allows access to third cycles studies, limited to the specific requirements established by each of these courses.

Study Programme

Ambiente e Sustentabilidade

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Continuity Master Programme

DGES Code: MH61

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 2.0 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 120.0

Category: Continuity second cycle

Applications

Call for Applications

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: ACEF/2526/1901132; 2026-07-31 a 2032-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 44/2021/AL01; 2026-03-27