Academic Exams
The study cycle leading to the title of Master includes a specialization degree – Master’s Degree – that consists of an organized set of curricular units corresponding to a minimum of 50% of the total credits of study cycle, and a scientific dissertation or project work, original and specifically designed for this purpose, or a professional internship followed by a final report. The chosen alternative will depend on the specific objectives and corresponds to a minimum of 30 credits.
Dissertation: report of an original scientific research work, centered on a topic from the specialization field of the Master's degree.
Project Work: original work specifically aimed at innovation and/or development within the specialization field of the Master’s Degree, followed by the presentation of the final report.
Professional Internship: period of practical training or advanced clinical practice, in an area of the specialization field of the Master’s Degree, followed by the presentation of the final report.
In the context of the Masters, students realize academic evidence for defense, consideration and public discussion of the final work (dissertation or project work or internship report). Only after the approval of this public act is awarded the degree of Master.
Regulation for the elaboration and presentation of dissertations in the 2nd Study Cycle (Master’s Degree) - see document
Title of Specialist
The title of specialist demonstrates the quality and particular relevance of the professional curriculum in a specific area. It is relevant for the purpose of faculty composition at higher education institutions and for the teaching career in higher education polytechnic institutions.
The title, regulated by the Decree-Law No. 206/2009, is conferred after the approval in public examinations in at least three higher education institutions, or two institutions along with an institution that provides training in the corresponding area of specialization.
The title of specialist may also be conferred by consortia of polytechnic institutes provided that three of them provide training in the corresponding area of specialization.
The examinations for conferring the title of specialist are public and consist in:
(a) the evaluation and discussion of the applicant’s professional curriculum;
(b) the presentation, critical analysis, and discussion of a work of professional nature within the scope of the area of the examinations, preferably focused on a work or publication from the applicant’s professional curriculum.
