Program Overview

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PhD in Civil Engineering

General Objectives of the Course

The PhD in Civil Engineering aims to:

• Contribute to the training of researchers solidly prepared to promote scientific development.
• Compete to form more qualified human resources for three key sectors of the economy: construction, public works, and transport.
• Address the need for productive activity in this field.

The curricular structure of the doctoral program in Civil Engineering integrates a PhD course with 60 ECTS and the writing of a doctoral thesis with 120 ECTS. There are six branches of study for progression:

• Construction
• Structures
• Geotechnical
• Hydraulics, Water Resources and Environment
• Structural Mechanics
• Planning, Transport, and Roads

Admission Requirements

Applications to the PhD Program are accepted from:

• MSc holders or holders of equivalent qualifications
• Holders of BSc degree, with an academic or scientific curriculum that is recognized as attesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the Scientific Committee of FCTUC, under proposal of the PhD Program Coordination
• Holders of an academic, scientific, or professional curriculum recognized as attesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the Scientific Committee of FCTUC, under proposal of the PhD Program Coordination

Professional Goals

Graduates can pursue careers in:

• Research laboratories
• Higher education
• Public institutions and companies both in Portugal and abroad

Mode of Study

The program requires full-time attendance.

Teaching / Evaluation Language

The teaching and evaluation language is Portuguese.

Examination Regulations, Assessment, and Grading

Assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, aiming to establish students' competencies and knowledge. Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently registered for. Examples of assessment items include:

• Oral or written exams
• Written or practical work
• Individual and group projects that may require an oral defense
• Class participation Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20, and a grade of 10 is required to pass.

Course Coordinator

Paulo Alexandre Lopes Figueiredo Coelho

ECTS Departmental Coordinator

João Pedro Simões Cândido Martins

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 program is governed by 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 No 42/2005 of February 22.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requires the public defense of an original PhD thesis.

Access to Further Studies

Not applicable.

Study Programme

The program offers six paths:

• Constructions
• Geotechnics
• Hydraulics, Water Resources, and Environment
• Structural Mechanics
• Structures
• Urbanism, Transports, and Transportation Infrastructures

Academic Year

The program is a 3rd Cycle Studies course.

Course Type

The course type is 3rd Cycle Studies.

DGES Code

The DGES code is 5130.

Qualification Awarded

The qualification awarded is a PhD in Civil Engineering.

Duration

The program duration is 6 semesters.

ECTS Credits

The program consists of 180 ECTS credits.

Annual Fee

The annual fee is 2750.0.

Accreditations

The program is accredited by Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior and Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior, with registration number R/A-Ef 3428/2011.