The Doctoral Programme in Nursing Sciences at the University of Porto, published by Deliberation no. 3085/2009, in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 218, of 10 November 2009, is a continuation of the Doctoral Programme in Nursing Sciences, approved by Resolution no. 6/SC/2001, of 16 March, of the University of Porto, published by Resolution no. 75/2001 (2nd series, in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 155, of 6 July 2001. º 6/SC/2001, of 16 March by the University of Porto, published by Resolution no. 75/2001 (2nd series), in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 155, of 6 July 2001, thus providing nursing professionals with appropriate professional and scientific qualifications, namely those set out in DR no. 74/2006 of 24 March.
This programme is the result of a partnership between ICBAS UP and ESEP and is governed by a Protocol between the two institutions.
The object of study is nursing, which needs to be specified, strengthened and delimited, so the doctoral programme in nursing will have an essential scientific component, given that it is essential for doctoral students to recontextualise their knowledge and expertise in order to play a relevant role in multidisciplinary health teams, both in terms of the design and practice of nursing care, research and teaching.
The programme aims to analyse health problems and identify the elements that characterise nursing care, focusing on the mobilisation and recontextualisation of nursing knowledge. It also aims to develop skills in the construction of nursing as a scientific discipline, promoting the interconnection of research and care practices, with the aim of fostering healthy transitions (developmental, situational, health/illness and organisational) and accompanying individuals or groups in the face of adaptive strategies caused by illness and other life processes.

Among other requirements, an absolute condition for the submission and public defence of the Thesis is the inclusion in it of a minimum of 1 original article (full length paper) in which the doctoral student is the 1st author, accepted or already published in an international journal of the speciality.

Objectives

Employment Prospects

• Clinical Practice
• Teaching in Higher Education (university or polytechnic)
• Research and Scientific Dissemination
• Management and Consultancy

Information

Course Information:

• Start of academic year: 13th October 2025
• Timetable: Daytime
• Mode of study: In-person
• Language of instruction: Portuguese, English
• Standard Duration of the Course: 4 years (8 semesters)
• Minimum number of students for the cycle of studies to operate – 1

OPEN COMPETITION 2025/2026 link: Vacancies, deadlines and criteria ( document in portuguese and english).

1st phase: 17 places + 3 places for international applicants
2nd phase: Vacancies remaining from the 1st phase
3rd phase: Not applicable

The interviews for applications to the Doctoral Programme in Nursing Sciences (PDCE) for the academic year 2025–2026 will preferably take place on 5 June 2025 via videoconference, from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00, and will last approximately 15 minutes per candidate. After the application deadline has passed, candidates who meet the requirements to be assessed under this selection criterion will be contacted by the doctoral programme’s office to schedule the interview time and to receive the connection link.

Re-entry applications link: 25 June to 15 July 2025 - Information here

International Students:
Important information for international students:

International students, find all the information you need to study at the University of Porto at the following links:

• Decree-Law no. 36_2014 of 10 March Regulates the International Student Statute.pdf – document available only in Portuguese.
• International Students - Frequently Asked Questions
• Regulations for the Application of the International Student Statute of the University of Porto
• Special Contests for Admission to Higher Education
• General Regulations for Cycle of Studies

Although foreign candidates do not need recognition of a (graduate/master) degree to enroll in the Doctoral Programs in Portugal, if they want to apply for doctoral scholarships it will be necessary to have the recognition.

2nd International Meeting of Nursing Doctoral Students - 9th and 10th October 2025

Data Protection Policy:
Consult the U.Porto Data Protection Policy here for more information on the processing of your personal data.

Contacts

General information

Study Plan

Certificates

Predominant Scientific Areas

Previous Courses/Cycles of Study