Bachelor's Degree in International Relations

General Objectives of the Course

Objectives: The Bachelor's in International Relations offers multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary training focusing on international politics, providing essential competences to understand and analyze institutional, legal, social and economic dynamics at the global, international and national levels and aiming at training specialized professionals in this field. Curricular Structure: The Bachelor's in International Relations runs over three years (six semesters) and involves 180 ECTS, distributed between compulsory course units (150 ECTS) and optional course units (30 ECTS). Compulsory course units are associated with the following scientific fields: Political Science - International Relations (106 ECTS), Sociology (12 ECTS), Languages (12 ECTS), History (8 ECTS), Law (6 ECTS) and Economics (6 ECTS).

Admission Requirements

National Call for Access and Entry to Higher Education (DGES):

One of the following subjects:
04 Economy
11 History
18 Portuguese

Application score: 95 points (0-200 scale)
Entry exams: 95 points (0-200 scale)

Calculation Formula:
Secondary school average: 50%
Entry exams: 50%

Other forms of access (UC-applicants):
- Change of Institution / Course Pair Schemes;
- Special Access Call for over 23-years-olds;
- Special Access Call for Holders of Other Higher Education Courses;
- Special Call for International Students.

This information does not exempt the consultation of the webpage of the Directorate General of Higher Education (DGES) and/or of the Applicants website. Please, visit the DGES and the Applicants websites

Professional Goals

Bachelor's graduates in International Relations have qualifications for exercising multiple different functions in the field of international politics, namely in international organizations, state bodies (diplomatic career), at business, public and non-governmental organizations international relations departments and offices, in the media and in teaching and research institutions.

Mode of Study

Full- or part-time attendance, presence required in daytime schedule.

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

According to the norms and rules of the School of Economics and of the University of Coimbra, including the Normas Gerais de Avaliação da Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, the Regulamento Pedagógico da Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, and the Regulamento Académico da Universidade de Coimbra. According to these documents, the curricular units’ assessments might be made through: individual exam; continuous evaluation, which might involve different elements, such as tests, essays, class participation, to be assessed in a logic of continuity; or mixed evaluation, combining a final examination with components of the continuous evaluation. The 1st cycle in International Relations privileges rules that envisage a more active participation of the students in the process of learning, however the possibility of conducting a final exam is available for all curricular units. The final marking varies between zero (0) and twenty (20), and it is necessary the minimum mark of 10 for successfully completing the curricular unit.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The demanding and diversified training that underlies International Relations seeks a balance between a theoretical dimension and a practical or experimental one, which assumes as a goal the combination between training for new emerging professional competencies in Portuguese society (development cooperation, negotiation of new international regimes, international journalism, consolidation of non-governmental organizations, cultural and economic diplomacy) and a solid and actual preparation for performing more traditional functions (diplomacy, international public service, among other). In this way, it is aimed the development of cognitive, analytical and professional competencies essential for the above mentioned activities. These are acquired not only through the a knowledge-based approach, but also through processes and methodologies centered on the student, promoting an active involvement in his own training, through the realization of individual and group work, in-class or outside (for example, simulations), scientific articles’ discussions and debates about current problems, which allow competencies at the level of critical analysis, argumentative skills, and communication abilities, fundamental to the exercise of professional activities in the area of International Relations.

Course Coordinator(s)

Bernardo da Silva Relva Teles Fazendeiro
uc44408@uc.pt

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

António Manuel Portugal Duarte
portugal@fe.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

DL 74/2006, of 24 March, as amended by the DL 107/2008, of 25 June, by the DL 230/2009, of 14 September, and by the DL 115/2013, of 7 August. The Order 12473/2012, of 24 September, publishes the current course´s programme structure and study plan.

Graduation Requirements

Successfully complete 180 ECTS, distributed between 150 ECTS in compulsory course units and 30 ECTS in optional course units, selected from an interdisciplinary range defined each year. The choice to hold the 30 optional ECTS in one of the scientific areas of Management, Economics, Sociology or Antropology allows to obtain a degree in International Relations with a minor in that scientific area.

Access to Further Studies

Bachelor's graduates in International Relations have competences for applying to a 2nd cycle studies.

Study Programme

Common core: Bachelor's Degree in International Relations
Areas of expertise: International Relations; Internship; Mobility; Variant with Minor

Academic year
2025-2026

Course Type
1st Cycle Studies

DGES Code: 9229

Qualification Awarded: Bachelor's Degree

Duration: 3 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 180.0

Applications

Call for Applications

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2019-07-31 a 2025-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Ef 1608/2011/AL01; 2022-03-11