Master’s in Public and Private Administration

General Objectives of the Course

The study plan is designed with an interdisciplinary character, integrating compulsory curricular units and several optional curricular units, allowing master’s students a wide and diverse range of high-quality training options. Based on this premise, the Master’s in Public-Private Administration has the following main general objectives:

To provide an appropriate balance between transversal and specialized knowledge, through the inclusion of curricular units essential to understanding the heterogeneous realities that mark the institutional and functional complexity of the market, within the public and private spheres of public and business administration;

To promote capabilities related to know-how and to professional conduct (“knowing how to do” and “knowing how to be”) at all levels of an organization;

To provide the technical and scientific tools that enable the understanding and analysis of the essential segments of an organization, and the collection, organization, and analysis of relevant information, guiding the performance of tasks according to institutional objectives and the objectives and results inherent to the functions performed;

To equip students to manage and lead processes of change;

To provide the competencies for the autonomous, rigorous, and responsibly creative performance of tasks, with the ability to execute, propose, and communicate the solutions and results achieved.

If you want it in another language (e.g., Spanish or French) or in a more concise/academic tone, just say the word.

Admission Requirements

Students who meet the following criteria may apply to this programme: a) Holders of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent; b) Holders of a foreign academic degree following a 1st cycle of studies according to the principles of the Bologna Process by a country adhering to this process; c) Holders of a foreign academic degree recognized for the fact of meeting the objectives of a degree; d) holders of an academic, scientific or professional curriculum which the Scientific Council considers to enable the candidate to successfully complete this cycle of studies.

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

Professional Goals

State, Central and Peripheral Administration, Public institutes, Independent regulatory anthorities, Administration of the Autonomous Regions; Local Government, State-owned and Local Enterprises and other corporate entities, Financial Institutions, EU Administration, International Organizations, Social Economy Sector Institutions, Companies managing Public Service and Public Works, Public and Private Foundations, other public or private entities.

Mode of Study

Regime daytime, full-time, 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' skills and training, 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

The Master’s in Public-Private Administration is structured as a specialized technical and scientific program for students and professionals who wish to deepen their training in the field of Public Administration and Business Administration within the sphere of the State, the Autonomous Regions, and the Local Public Business Sector, in accordance with the new organizational and management principles of national and international administrative institutions.

Without prejudice to the interdisciplinary nature inherent to a study cycle of this kind, the program aims to place particular emphasis on the scientific fields of Administration/Management, providing students with core training and the appropriate competencies to understand the requirements and challenges of organizations in Public Administration, Business Administration, the social economy sector, and other similar institutions.

However, insofar as researchers and professionals in these sectors require specific preparation that enables them to fully comply with the subordination of Administration (regardless of its form and scope) to legality, the scientific field of Law must also naturally assume the relevance that is duly owed to it.

If you’d like, I can also adapt this to a more concise institutional style or align it with EU academic wording.

Course Coordinator(s)

Fernando Licínio Lopes Martins
uc36064@uc.pt

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

João António Pinto Monteiro
uc36909@uc.pt

Miguel João de Almeida Costa
migueljoao13@hotmail.com

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 Decree-Law nº 74/2006, of the 24th March, in its current wording; and by Ordinance nº 782/2009, of the 23rd July.

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of courses totaling 120 ECTS, plus a dissertation or internship report with public discussion.

Access to Further Studies

PhD degree studies.

Study Programme

Public and Private Administration

Academic year
2025-2026

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme

DGES Code: M945

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 2 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 120.0

Category: Advanced specialization second cycle

Applications

Call for Applications

Calendar

1st Semester: Start date: 08-09-2025
End date: 19-12-2025
2nd Semester: Start date: 09-02-2026
End date: 21-05-2026

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2025-09-21 a 2026-09-20
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Cr 136/2016; 2017-02-03