Courses / Faculty of Arts and Humanities

PhD in Feminist Studies

General Objectives of the Course

This program aims to provide advanced training in the area of Feminist Studies to students with different disciplinary formations;
to prepare the students for a world in which, despite all the progress already achieved regarding sexual equity, sexual hierarchization and misogyny prevail, even if without being obvious most of the time;
to develop critical awareness of the very process of creating knowledge, the subject position in relation to the object of study and creation, as well as of the politics present in the mainstreaming different discourses;
to become aware of the normative discourses which build – in the past and the present – the normative discourses which create women’s roles and rule their behavior;
to provide empirical data, and analysis methods thereof, on the plurality of women’s experiences, from the elites to the anonymous masses and the marginalized groups;
to provide methodology and concepts needed for academic research and production in this area at PhD level.

Admission Requirements

The following are eligible to apply for this study cycle: a) Holders of a master's degree, or its legal equivalent; b) Holders of a bachelor's degree, those who have an academic or professional resume of particular relevance that is recognized by the Academic Board of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities as attesting to the ability to complete this study cycle; c) those who have an academic or professional resume of particular relevance that is recognized by the Academic Board of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities as attesting to the ability to complete this study cycle. The recognition referred to in points b) and c) above only allow access to the study cycle leading to a PhD, and does not confer the equivalence of a bachelor's or master's degree, or the recognition of same.

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

Professional Goals

Profession: National and international gender expert, consultant;
Employers: International organizations: UN system organizations and their regional bureaus worldwide (UNIFEM, ILO, UNICEF, UNESCO), European Union, European Parliament, NGOs; National public entities: government (several ministries), Parliaments, municipal governments, Committees for Gender Equality, Committees for Migration and Multicultural Integration, National Education Council; NGOs; Private corporations.
Tasks: Development of consultancy studies, public policies’ projects, development aid projects, and training in gender specific issues, in areas such as civil and political rights, work, family, health, violence, disability, education, migrations, social and multicultural integration, conflict resolution and peace-building, etc; Conducting training in all these areas; juridical consultancy and support of women in law suits with gender specificities; advocacy and lobbying; technical assistance.
Skills: in-depth knowledge in gender as a cross-cutting issue across various areas and sectors; Skills in the development of research programs, consultancy and data analysis, training programs, social interventions and project management. Skills in training trainers and women at different levels; knowledge of fund mobilization; advocacy and lobbying, technical assistance.

Mode of Study

Face-to-face

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese Language

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 registered for under the terms of number 6 of article 4 of the University of Coimbra Pedagogical Policy. 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 assessment includes more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according to a formula published in the course outline under the terms of number 2 of article 7 of the UC Pedagogical Policy.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

By the end of the degree students should be able:
to do critical analysis of media, literary, historiographic and other representations of women;
to place in historical context both gendered discourses and social practices;
to understand the substantive issues involved in gender relations and social change;
to be familiar with identity theory and its relation with notions such as sexual identity / gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual citizenship and Human Rights;
to discuss the relation of feminism(s) with racial and ethnic identities and colonialism; and know the historical evolution of feminist theories and praxis;
to do autonomous research using the tools adequate to their chosen methodology and object;
to present research results, in oral and written form, clearly argued and sustained by theory and data;
to debate them in academic context at the highest level in dialogue with different disciplinary fields and epistemological positions.

Course Coordinator(s)

Adriana Conceição Silva Pereira Bebiano Nascimento
adrianab@fl.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

The legal framework for the qualification is established by the decrees: Decree-Law no 74/2006, 24th March, in its current wording; Ordinance nº 782/2009, 23rd July.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 240 ECTS including positive assessment in the course units constant of the program and an original thesis subject to public defense.

Access to Further Studies

Post-doctoral research.

Study Programme

Feminist Studies

Academic year
2023-2024

Course Type
3rd Cycle Studies

DGES Code: 5404

Qualification Awarded: Doutor

Duration: 4 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 240.0

Annual Fee: 1425.0

Applications

Call for Applications

3rd Cycle Course

Calendar

1st Semester: Start date: 11-09-2023
End date: 16-12-2023
2nd Semester: Start date: 05-02-2024
End date: 23-05-2024

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2020-07-31 a 2026-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 112/2015; 2015-07-16