Courses / Department of Life Sciences

Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology

General Objectives of the Course

A degree in anthropology includes the study of biological variability, cultural and social man, with the overall objective to show how knowledge about human evolution, the ethnographic comparison, health, disease, material culture (among others), we can help balance, analyzing and interpreting the dilemmas of the contemporary world in relation to the past. In this degree students will deal with knowledge about genes, bones, artefacts and languages, behaviors and norms, symbols and institutions, discourses and narratives, from an epistemological decentralization stems from the cultural and biological diversity of human societies. Training on different biological, social and cultural human groups with the aim of articulating the formation on the evolution and the cultural and social diversity. Interpret, analyze and understand the dilemmas of the contemporary world in relation to the past.
The Anthropology course lasts six semesters (three years) and is divided into two alternative routes:
- Degree in Anthropology without minor (180 ECTS) and
- Degree in Anthropology (150 ECTS) and with minor in a complementary scientific area (30 ECTS).

Admission Requirements

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

One of the following subjects:
02 Biology and Geology
09 Geography
11 History

Application score: 100 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

Museums, municipalities, universities and research centers, as well as organizations and national and international institutions, laboratory services, regional development, spatial planning, heritage and tourism. Business market research, consulting, consultancy, health and communication.

Mode of Study

Day time 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 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

A degree in Anthropology aims to provide a theoretical and practical basis in the fields of Biological, Social and Cultural Anthropology. The curriculum is developed over three years with a set of required courses (Social, Cultural and Biological areas) that allow students to acquire basic knowledge about human evolution, ethnography, health, disease, material culture (among others) and an initial contact with their research methods. This training is complemented with a choice of an open list courses (in the interdisciplinary area) from the 2nd year (4th semester course) allowing the additional students and enrich their anthropological training base in areas it considers most relevant to their future route. This degree also promotes the development of intellectual skills through the analysis, interpretation and discussion of texts and practical skills, including practical work, critical reviews and oral presentations. All these seek to consolidate a basic anthropological training. Students are also encouraged to attend conferences and / or courses and when possible, to collaborate on research to enrich their curricula and acquire knowledge, important skills and tools for continuous studies in a masters.

Course Coordinator(s)

Fernando José Pereira Florêncio
fjpf@ci.uc.pt

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

Gonçalo João Duro dos Santos
gsantos@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

Order No. 20658 -M/2007 published in the Official Gazette No 173, 2. Grade, supplement September 7 and the amendments set out in Order No. 13148/2008, Official Gazette, 2. Grade No. 90, Sept. 9.

Graduation Requirements

The degree is structured in six semesters. The number of credits required for the degree is 180 ECTS, divided into two alternative routes: - Degree of Anthropology without minor (180 ECTS) and Degree in Anthropology with minor (180 ECTS). Both routes required 75 ECTS in the area of Biological Anthropology and 75 ECTS in the area of Social and Cultural Anthropology. The degree without minor includes still 30 ECTS in the interdisciplinary area and the degree with minor, 30 ECTS in disciplines of one of the minors approved by UC.

Access to Further Studies

The graduation in Anthropology gives access to several Masters, including Masters of continuity: Human Evolution and Biology and Social and Cultural Anthropology.

Study Programme

Common core: Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology
Areas of expertise: Anthropology; Anthropology with Minor

Academic year
2025-2026

Course Type
1st Cycle Studies

DGES Code: 9448

Qualification Awarded: Bachelor's Degree

Duration: 6 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits: 180.0

Applications

Call for Applications

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-Ef 1535/2011; 2011-03-18