The Doctor's degree Program in Science Education and Dissemination (DEDC - Doutoramento em Ensino e Divulgação das Ciências) aims at providing advanced training for science teachers and communicators. This doctoral program results from the combined participation of faculty staff from the Science Teaching Unit of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (Unidade de Ensino das Ciências da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto) and from its thematic departments, in areas such as Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology and Geology. This diversity and range of experiences, skills and subject areas is a major advantage to secure a solid and balanced range of opportunities for advanced training through research in science teaching and outreach. Notably the close connection to research in the science fields covered by the faculty of sciences ensures a productive and highly innovative approach to active topics of research in science education and outreach.

The program addresses issues associated with education, communication and/or public outreach, but it deliberately remains closely linked to the each of the corresponding scientific areas in any of the physical and natural sciences. The students of this degree have an initial semester with common curricular units on teaching and science outreach and also with curricular units on specific field-related subjects (both teaching and outreach). In a second semester the students prepare a project (in any of the two main specializations) which, after approval by the course committee on a public session, establishes the basis for the research work leading to the thesis. The research plan and the preparation of the thesis are undertaken in the second and third year of the Doctor's degree course under the supervision of experienced researchers/faculty staff. The students are expected to acquire specific, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary skills, related with teaching and popularisation of Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology and/or Geology. The training offered by the program ensures the acquisition of competencies that are important for the long-term building of a scientifically literate society, through actively improving the training on teaching at all levels, as well as teaching practices, and also towards expanding and strengthening the impact and quality of the role of museums and science outreach institutions.

Admissions Requirements

• Students with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, or with a 5-year long bachelor’s degree, when at least one of these degrees is in the area of Exact or Natural Sciences, or in Teaching of Exact or Natural Sciences
• Applications of international students are analysed on a case by case basis.
• Special cases will be analysed by the Scientific Commission of the Course.

Selection and Ranking Criteria

• A - Bachelor's and master’s degrees course averages (40%).
• B - Curriculum Vitae of the candidate reflecting experience in Science Teaching and/or Science Communication, including research activities (40%).
• C – Motivation letter (pdf document with 2-6 pages) in which the candidate, briefly, projectively and prospectively explains:
• the reasons why he/she is interested in enrolling in this PhD Program;
• the intended specialization area (Science Teaching or Science Communication), justifying and mentioning the study he/she wants to undertake;
• other aspects that he/she considers to be important for the application (20%).

1. Preference will be given to candidates holding a bachelor's and a master's degree, or a 5-year long bachelor's degree, both in the area of Exact or Natural Sciences or in Teaching of Exact or Natural Sciences.
2. Interview (just in the case of a tie and, if necessary, for curricular clarification)

Teaching Language

• In Portuguese and partially in English

Information

• Application Dates 2023-2024
• Thesis Submission for FCUP’s PhD Students - 2023/2024

Contacts

General information

Study Plan

Certificates

Predominant Scientific Areas

Previous Courses/Cycles of Study