The following may apply to the PhD in Educational Sciences:

a) Holders of a master’s degree or legal equivalent obtained in Portugal.

b) Holders of a master’s degree or legal equivalent obtained abroad, after recognition as fulfilling the objectives of the master's degree (solely for the purpose of applying to this study cycle), by the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Catholic University of Portugal.

c) Holders of a bachelor's degree, with a particularly relevant academic, scientific, or professional curriculum, recognized as attesting to the capacity to undertake this study cycle by the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Catholic University of Portugal.

Applications 2026/2027

The opening of applications in each phase depends on the number of remaining vacancies from the previous phase.

The Board reserves the right to define a minimum application grade in each phase, depending on the quality of the candidates’ results.

Start of classes: October 16, 2026

Number of Places: 10

• Copy of the identification document;
• Curriculum Vitae, including references to published works or other duly documented activities, providing information that allows the evaluation of the selection criteria (cf. point 6);
• Academic qualification certificate (original or certified copy), indicating the final grade;
• Motivation letter for attending the Doctoral programme (between 250 and 400 words);
• Research Proposal:
  • Topic (500 characters including spaces);
  • Motivation for studying the topic (2000 characters including spaces);
  • Description of the research problem (2000 characters including spaces);
  • Research objectives (2000 characters including spaces);
  • Proposed methodological design (2000 characters including spaces).

Documents issued in other countries must be legalized by the Portuguese diplomatic or consular authority in the issuing country, or bear the Hague Apostille, except if issued in the United Kingdom, in EU countries, or in countries belonging to the European Economic Area or the European Free Trade Association.

When documents are written in a foreign language other than Spanish, English, or French, a certified translation must be submitted, prepared in accordance with the provisions of notarial law.

Before submitting your online application, you must ensure that applications for the course you wish to apply for are open. You should also gather the required documents and submit them when completing your online application.

If you experience any difficulties, please contact us:

t | 93 9450000 / 93 9450012

@ | candidaturas.porto@ucp.pt

Office Hours: Monday to Friday, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Address
Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Foz Campus
Rua Diogo Botelho, 1327
4169-005 Porto
Portugal

Your application will only be valid after the respective fee payment has been confirmed by UCP, so you must make the payment according to the ATM references indicated in the final application information.

Please refer to the Tuition and Fees tab for information on application, registration, and tuition fees, as well as other payment-related information.

The results will be published on a digital platform with restricted access for applicants, who will receive the login credentials and access link by email, on a date close to their publication.

The registration information will be sent to admitted applicants after the publication of the results. For this process, the following documentation must be gathered:

• Passport-style photo (*.JPG, *.PNG or *.GIF)

• Copy of the vaccination record to confirm tetanus immunization (only the page related to this record)

• Information requested by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (RAIDES survey)

• Registration form and other specific documents to be indicated at the time of admission

• Proof of payment of the registration fee and the 1st monthly tuition (payment methods will be provided when access to the registration platform is granted)

The applicant's withdrawal is assumed if the registration is not completed within the stipulated deadline.

Original qualification certificates must be presented before the start of classes, on a date and time to be defined by the Academic Services.