Engineering physics doctoral programme deals with the application of advanced physics to modern engineering challenges. It differentiates from other engineering doctoral programmes in the more profound knowledge and use it makes of physics. It shares with other engineering doctoral programmes an interdisciplinarity, multidisciplinarity and action oriented approach to systems, processes, technologies and devices with strong impact in our society and economy.

Being a doctoral programme, training by research is mandatory, with the goal of autonomy. Autonomy in research is a very sophisticated skill, way beyond the proficiency in specific disciplines that characterizes pre-doctoral training. The student will approach problems that are open, don’t have unique solutions, in an environment of collaboration, networking and competition. The scale and time of effort to achieve a solution is also much larger than encountered before. PhD students have therefore, further to scientific proficiency, significant resilience, creativity and capacity to work in teams.

Training by research is present initially in the tutorial approach of its courses, in the thesis project definition by the student and in the research project undertaken. The students undertake the research project in leading Portuguese research units, most of the time in collaboration with foreign institutions and international teams. Throughout the programme attention is given to transferable skills and students employability.



Who can apply
Applicants must fulfil one of the requisites below:
a) Holders of a Master or a second cycle diploma in Engineering Physics, Engineering, Applied Physics or Physics;
b) Holders of a diploma from a certified Higher Education entity, obtained either in a Portuguese or foreign institution, recognized as adequate by the program Scientific Committee;
c) Have a professional or scientific curriculum recognized as relevant and adequate by the program Scientific Committee;
Applicants with published research of the level required for PhD can apply directly for a PhD evaluation. Special conditions apply.


Ranking Criteria
a) Academic curriculum and/or professional experience: 70%;
b) Motivation and readiness for the completion of a doctoral program with the specific characteristics that this presents: 30%;

The ranking is performed by the Scientific Committee considering the following elements:
a) Curriculum vitae, as regards the criterion relating to the academic curriculum and professional experience;
b) Covering letter and any letters of recommendation, with respect to motivation and flair, complemented by a possible interview if deemed necessary.

Fields of Specialization

The main areas covered by the doctoral programme in physics engineering are: a) Advanced matarials, for energy harvesting, energy storage, biological applications; b) Plasmas and its applications including fusion; c) Space engineering and astrophysics instrumentation; d) Computational physics and its applications to information systems; e) Applied nuclear and radiation physics; f) New technologies and methodologies in physics education.

The doctoral programme has an open approach by design. It nurtures other areas in interface and in collaboration with existing doctoral programmes at FEUP, FCUP, Porto University or abroad.

Information

Funding opportunities are available via Erasmus Mundus (http://emundus.up.pt/) mobility grants for foreign students, National Science Foundation PhD grants, National Science Foundation Doctoral Programme grants, European Doctoral Programme grants and ongoing research project grants.

See also the Porto University International Student Portal:

https://sigarra.up.pt/up/en/WEB_BASE.GERA_PAGINA?p_pagina=122270

Contacts

Célia Couto
Telefone: +351 22 508 1819 / +351 22 041 4984
Email:prodef@fe.up.pt

General information

Study Plan

Involved Organic Units

Certificates

Predominant Scientific Areas

Previous Courses/Cycles of Study