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):

Entry exam:

One of the following sets:

11 History
or
18 Portuguese
or
11 History
18 Portuguese
or
19 Mathematics A
18 Portuguese
or
04 Economy
18 Portuguese
or
06 Philosophy
18 Portuguese

Minimum Grades:
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 (https://www.uc.pt/en/studyatuc/):
- 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

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 enrolled. 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 the grade comprises more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according a formula published in the course outline.

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)

Sofia José Figueira Santos
sofiajosesantos@gmail.com

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

Raquel Beleza Pereira da Silva
uc46444@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
2026-2027

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

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 2031-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Ef 1608/2011/AL01; 2022-03-11