Dissertations and Theses
Masters
Doctoral Programmes
- Record of the Theme and Thesis Plan
- Extension of the Deadline for Submission of the Thesis
- Conditions for Submission of the Thesis
- Reformulation of the Thesis
- Submission of the Final Documents
Masters
The dissertation can be developed in an academic or mixed (academic and business) setting and its assessment takes place in a public act of presentation and defence. (See the Operating rules for dissertations in Masters – only available in Portuguese).
Occurrences
The Dissertation has only one occurrence, in the 2nd semester or annual, depending on the course plan set out for each cycle of studies.
During the transition period from the integrated masters, until and including 2025/2026, the dissertations from continuity masters will still have double occurrence in the 1st and 2nd semester.
Exclusivity Regime
The course unit Dissertation must be developed in an exclusivity regime, whenever possible, i.e., without the attendance or examinations of other course units during that occurrence.
Language
The dissertation must be written in English, however, with the consent of the supervisor, it can be written in Portuguese.
Deadlines
Submission of the dissertation in eletronic format (preliminiary version):
- It must take place within the deadlines defined for each cycle of studies, but it cannot surpass the deadline for the publication of grades in each semester.
Public defence and submission of the final version of the dissertation:
- The deadline to submit the final version of the dissertation in eletronic format is the last working day of February (1st semester) or the last working day of July (2nd semester), according to the semestre in which the public defence took place. There will be no issuance of the certificate of Master's degree and the diploma supplement without the submission of the dissertation's final version.
Submission of the Final Documents
Doctoral Programmes
The cycle of studies leading to a Doctoral degree includes the development of an original thesis specifically written for this purpose, suited to the nature of the field of knowledge or related speciality.
The conditions for preparation of the thesis are set out in the specific regulation of each cycle of studies – only available in Portuguese).Record of the Theme and Thesis Plan
When the cycle of studies includes a (non-degree) doctoral coursework component, the permanent registration of the candidate as a doctoral student only takes place after the completion of that coursework component and is dependent on a favourable opinion from the supervisor and from the scientific committee of the cycle of studies, which will take into account the student’s performance in the course and the plan for the thesis. (See the specific regulation of each cycle of studies – only available in Portuguese)
Extension of the Deadline for Submission of the Thesis
After issuance of a decision, and if it is favourable, the student must renew the registration for the subsequent academic year in the period set out for that effect without having to pay any tuition fee amount, just the school insurance for that year. We reiterate that, if the student does not request admission to doctoral examinations within the 90 working days counting from the deadline to submit the thesis, they incur in the payment of one more year of tuition fees, i.e. the tuition fee for the subsequent academic year for which they renewed the registration in order to submit the thesis.
*students who started their academic year in the 2nd semester must submit the written request until the end of December.Conditions for Submission of the Thesis
In order to request admission to doctoral examinations, the candidate must submit a written request at the Academic Services of FEUP. Unless a credit transfer process has taken place, the said request cannot be submitted prior to the 3rd registration in that cycle of studies and both the record of the thesis title and the registration in the academic year must be valid.
A student who is registered in part-time regime can only submit a written request for doctoral examinations after the time resulting from the proportional adaptation of the general rules applicable to the specific cycle of studies has elapsed. (See Article 17 of the General regulation for third-cycle studies of the University of Porto)
Documentation needed to request admission to doctoral examinations:
- Draft document - admission to doctoral examinations;
- 1 copy on CD with the thesis (must include an abstract both in Portuguese and in English) and the curriculum vitae;
- Declaration from the supervisor and joint supervisor (if applicable);
- Form for assignment of property rights to FEUP and request for temporary confidentiality.
Admission to doctoral examinations is subject to the payment of a fee of 500 euros (as set out in the UP table of fees – only available in Portuguese).
Reformulation of the Thesis
Within 60 (sixty) days following the public posting of its final constitution, the jury will meet and issue an initial order declaring whether the thesis is accepted. In case it is not accepted, the jury will give a substantiated recommendation for the candidate to reformulate the thesis.
If the jury recommends the reformulation of the thesis, the candidate has a non-extendable deadline of 120 (one hundred and twenty) days to reformulate the thesis or declare that they wish to keep it as previously submitted. (See Article 19 of the General regulation for third-cycle studies of the University of Porto)Submission of the Final Documents
After public defence of the doctoral thesis, if the jury recommends the approval of the thesis with corrections or recommendations regarding errors, imprecisions or formal inaccuracies, the student must implement said corrections within thirty days of the defence. Afterwards, the supervisor has another thirty days to check and validate the final version.
Subsequently, for the purpose of legal deposit, a copy of the thesis on paper and a CD, both signed by the supervisor, must be delivered at the Academic Services.Issuance of the doctoral degree diploma, doctoral certificate and diploma supplement is dependent upon submission of the final version with the corrections. (See Article 21 of the General regulation for third-cycle studies of the University of Porto)
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