Courses / Department of Physics

PhD in Physics

General Objectives of the Course

The general objectives of this third cycle are:
- Provide students with a general understanding of the rationale and methods of research in physics;
- Give them the basic skills for application and development of methods of investigation in fundamental physics and applied in the specific areas of the course above;
- Providing them with appropriate training for the modeling, experimentation and computation and lead to the execution of original scientific work, creative and critical in an area of physics;
- To give students experience of group work and interaction with national and foreign professional physicists;
- Providing them with skills to conduct independent research work of quality, according to international standards, which can be presented at international conferences and, above all, to be published in international journals of acknowledged quality
The cycle starts with a curricular component with a duration of two semesters (60 ECTS). The aim is to provide students with a period further in-depth training in the field of physics, but still can be considered sufficiently generic and broad spectrum within each area of specialty. Also in the first year, students must develop and submit a Thesis Project, which should be made visible, therefore, the main lines of direction that will explore in their research, which will take place, especially from the second years. During the second and third year students will develop an original research work will constitute your doctoral thesis (120 ECTS). The cycle can not have a duration exceeding five years. The possible fields of expertise are:
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Computational Physics
- Astrophysics

Admission Requirements

The requirements to access the PhD program are those defined by “Regulamento de Doutoramento da Universidade de Coimbra”. Candidates to the cycle of studies leading to a doctor degree must fulfill one of the following requirements:
a) Master degree or legal equivalent;
b) Approval in public assessment of pedagogical and scientific capacities (for assistant lecturers);
c) Graduation, plus an academic or cientific curriculum recognized by the scientific council of the faculty they apply to, as being particularly relevant to pursue this cycle of studies;
d) Academic, scientific or professional curriculum recognized by the faculty they apply to, as a guarantee of their capacity to proceed to this cycle of studies.

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

Professional Goals

Fundamental and applied research, university career, development and improvement of new products and instruments, management

Mode of Study

Day time schedule

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese/ English

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

- Acquisition of advanced knowledge in a particular area of Physics, complementing that obtained at a Master’s level in Physics or similar field.
- Development of competences, abilities and research methods in a particular field of Physics.
- Development of ability to autonomously conceive, design and perform original research work of high quality according to international standards.
- Development of critical analysis skills and of ability to synthesise new ideas and perspetives.
- Development of communication skills – with pairs, with the scientific community and with the society – in a particular area of physics.

Course Coordinator(s)

Orlando Olavo Aragão Aleixo e Neves de Oliveira
orlando@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 Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of March 24, reprinted in June 25, 2008 as amended by Decree-Law No. 107/2008, and pursuant to Decree-Law n . 42/2005 of 22 February

Graduation Requirements

Approval on PhD examination.

Access to Further Studies

There are no further degrees

Study Programme

Paths: Astrophysics; Atomic and Molecular Physics; Computational Physics; Condensed Matter Physics; Nuclear and Particle Physics

Academic year
2024-2025

Course Type
3rd Cycle Studies

DGES Code: 5154

Qualification Awarded: Doutor

Duration: 6 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits: 180.0

Annual Fee: 2750.0

Applications

Call for Applications

3rd Cycle Course

Calendar

1st Semester: Start date: 09-09-2024
End date: 18-12-2024
2nd Semester: Start date: 03-02-2025
End date: 22-05-2025

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2022-07-31 a 2028-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Ef 1530/2011/AL01; 2022-10-06