Doctoral Programme in Governance, Knowledge and Innovation

General Objectives of the Course

The aim of the DGCI is to develop new knowledge and skills in research and critical analysis for doctoral students on a range of topics that highlight the centrality of science and technology and institutions in the governance of contemporary societies and economies. The governance of knowledge, science, technology and innovation has become a central process in contemporary societies and economies, in processes of co-production between society and technology that also constitute new political economies. The programme identifies the importance of various forms of institutionalisation of the governance processes of the economy, on the one hand, but, on the other, the pervasive way in which technology intrudes into, and is shaped by, the mundane processes of social life. The programme analyses specific areas in which science and technology have been asserting themselves in contemporary societies and economies, namely in the digital and in the relationship with nature, highlighting the importance of public policy approaches that promote impact and social transformation for the common good, mitigating their risks and negative impacts. An enriching dialogue is sought between different approaches, of an economic and sociological nature, and new disciplinary relationships and innovative forms of knowledge production are valued, of which STS (social studies of science and technology) have been forerunner.

Admission Requirements

1- Applicants for admission to the Doctoral Programme in Governance, Knowledge and Innovation must be:
a) Holders of a master's degree or legal equivalent, in Political Science, Economics, Sociology, ou other Social Sciences and
Humanities, namely with specific relevance for the study of science and technology and economic institutions, and the forms of
production and organization of knowledge;
b) Holders of a bachelor's degree in the Social Sciences and Humanities, or in other scientific disciplines, when 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 Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra.

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

Professional Goals

PhD graduates are qualified to carry out multiple and diverse functions within the public administration, companies, associations and non-governmental organisations, as well as teaching and research institutions, in the area of Social Studies of Science and Technology, and Political Economy and Sociology, namely on science and technology policies, innovation, economic governance and citizen participation and mapping and analysis of emerging technologies.

Mode of Study

Academic part: Full-time / In-person / Daytime | Thesis: Full-time or part-time / Individual work with regular meetings

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese/English

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

The regulations of the University of Coimbra on 3rd cycles are applied here, particularly the UC Academic Regulation and the FEUC Assessment and Examinations Regulations.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

Students will develop skills in analysing the co-production of science, technology, economics, politics and society. Benefiting from a range of interdisciplinary approaches, in political and institutional economics and in the social studies of science and technology, students will develop skills for analysing and formulating public policies and forms of governance of knowledge, institutions and their relationship with economic evolution and social dynamics. Students will be equipped with tools for identifying political economies and their institutional varieties and discussing different underlying forms of governance and the corresponding relationship between actors. On the other hand, students will develop skills in critically analysing the processes of co-production of knowledge and society, and their impacts, particularly in the context of socio-technical controversies, identifying dominant and alternative discourses and different forms of knowledge. Students will acquire tools for evaluating public policies, mapping controversies and energising forms of public participation, and will develop advanced interdisciplinary working skills.

Course Coordinator(s)

António Manuel Simões Lopes Paiva de Carvalho
uc44512@uc.pt

Tiago Tavares Santos Pereira
tsp@ces.uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

The recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulations of the University of Coimbra.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

The qualification is framed by the Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of 24 March, in the current wording.

Graduation Requirements

The programme leads to a PhD in Science and Technology Studies, in the scientific area of Economics or Sociology, from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra. The first area corresponds to the preparation of a thesis on a topic of economic studies. The second area corresponds to the preparation of a thesis on a sociological topic.

The programme takes place over 4 years, with the teaching part, during the 1st year, consisting of six half-yearly seminars of 60 hours each, for a total of 60 ECTS, one of which is a research seminar, geared towards the development of the thesis project. Approval of the thesis project, within the scope of the ‘Research Seminar’, is a prerequisite for enrolment in the ‘Thesis’ course, which begins in the 2nd year. The preparation of the doctoral thesis thus begins in the 1st semester of the 2nd year and lasts for 3 years. The doctoral degree is awarded with the public defence of the doctoral thesis before a jury constituted in accordance with the Academic Regulations of the University of Coimbra.

The approval of the curricular units in the first academic year - Introduction to Science and Technology Studies; Political Economy of Knowledge and Institutions; Transformative Science and Technology Policies; Science, Technology and Natures; Technology and the Digital in Contemporary Societies - totalizing 50 ECTS of this study cycle will award an Advanced Specialization Course Diploma in Governance, Knowledge and Innovation.

Access to Further Studies

Doctors are able to access post-doctoral training, particularly in the area of Economics or Sociology, but also in other areas of social sciences, taking into account the interdisciplinary training they benefit from in the program.

Study Programme

Common core: Doctoral Programme in Governance, Knowledge and Innovation
Areas of expertise: Economia Política do Conhecimento e das Instituições; Social Studies of Science and Technology

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
3rd Cycle Studies

DGES Code: 5173

Qualification Awarded: Doutor

Duration: 4 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 240.0

Annual Fee: 2000.0

Applications

Call for Applications

3rd Cycle Course

Calendar

1st Semester: Start date: 07-09-2026
End date: 18-12-2026
2nd Semester: Start date: 08-02-2027
End date: 20-05-2027

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2025-07-31 a 2031-07-31
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Ef 1600/2011/AL02; 2025-09-26