Programme

Programme

Goals

The third cycle Programme (PhD) in Civil Engineering was launched in 2008 and revised for the 2012/2013 academic year in compliance with the principles of the Bologna Process and Decree-Law 74/2006 of 24 March, which defines Academic Degrees and Higher Education Diplomas.

The main objective of the Doctoral Programme in Civil Engineering is to train highly qualified experts and researchers capable of undertaking autonomous research, development and innovation work within academic or business contexts in the field of Civil Engineering. The set of skills acquired by PhD students over their academic life will enhance the interaction between the University and the entrepreneurial fabric and will contribute towards the competitiveness and sustainability of the Civil Engineering sector at national and international levels.

The guiding principles of the Doctoral Programme in Civil Engineering are the following:

  • to complement the training received by holders of master degrees and 5-year undergraduate degrees in the field of Science and Engineering, particularly Civil Engineering, by providing advanced training in fast-growing areas such as ConstructionStructures and GeotechnicsHydraulics and Environment, as well as Planning and Transport Infrastructures, with particular emphasis on innovation and development of technologies and processes in these areas and on the source materials/products for construction technologies;
  • to provide students with solid training in research methodology and experimentation, which may allow them to conceive and promote the elaboration of research and development projects in academic and/or professional contexts, thus contributing to increase their abilities in terms of research, technological development and, consequently, their ability to innovate in order to achieve further knowledge in the field;
  • to boost Civil Engineering-related research and technological development, promoting their consolidation as an important element of the industrial sector.
Training Profile to be provided by the Course

The training profile of PhDs in Civil Engineering corresponds to highly qualified specialists and researchers capable of carrying out independent research, development and innovation work in a university or business environment in the area of Civil Engineering. The skills and culture acquired by the PhDs will enhance the interaction between the University and the business community, contributing to the competitiveness and sustainability of the Civil Engineering sector at national and international level.

Career Opportunities
Employers are companies in the Civil Engineering sectors, as well as public or private scientific research centers that develop activities in areas related to Civil Engineering.
Access to Higher Studies

The conclusion of this doctoral course allows research activity at the post-doctoral level.

New Study Plan

From the academic year 2021/2022 (September 2021 for 1st-semester students and February 2022 for 2nd-semester students) onwards, the Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering (PDEC) will be composed only of the Thesis curricular unit.

  • The thesis admission request, submitted at the beginning of the 2nd year, is still mandatory, so the 1st year of the Ph.D. is considered a probationary period in which it is still mandatory to submit and present the Thesis Project, with the difference that now a quantitative grade will not be issued.

Thesis Project and Doctoral Thesis

It is recommended that students start writting the Thesis only after the Thesis AdmissionThis approval depends on the presentation and defense of the Thesis Project, held at the end of the probationary period (1st year). The proposed Project, duly signed by the student and the supervisor, must be approved by the Steering Committee of the Doctoral Programme and by the Scientific Council of the School of Engineering.

In the Thesis Project students must be able to: i) relate information from various contributions in the field of research and to demonstrate capacity to critically analyseevaluate and synthesise new and complex ideas; ii) identify and propose methods to solve specific problems; iii) communicate effectively, with a sense of academic rigour and synthesisin the form of a written report and oral presentationusing all the available tools.

The Thesis Project must convey to the reader, clearly and unambiguously, the main line of studythe study objectivesthe necessary means for achieving it, the expected tasks schedule and the starting date of the work programmeThis document should be signed by the candidate and the supervisor.

Students must complete the 1st year, including the Thesis Project, to be able to request admission to the preparation of the Thesis, which should be formalised up to 30 days after having passed the 1st stage of the study cycle.

The Doctoral Thesis aims at enabling students to acquire advanced knowledge in Civil Engineering and in Sciences and Complementary Technologiesfundamental to the development of research carried out for the preparation of the ThesisIn this contextthe offered courses are primarily theoretical and theoretical-practical and mainly based on individual work and individual study.

NOTE: In accordance with paragraph 2Article 10 of the Annex IV from the Regulation of the Doctoral Degree of the School of Engineeringthe the applicant must be the author or co-author of at least one publication in an international journal ISI – quartiles Q1, Q2 or Q3 – (published or accepted for publication), or alternatively in an international journal SCImago – quartile Q1 – (published oraccepted for publication), developed in the context of the thesis in question.

How can I do the Thesis Admission?

The Thesis Project must be delivered at the Secretariat of the Doctoral Programme in Civil Engineerig, duly signed by the applicant and the supervisor, within the deadlines established for the evaluation period of the curricular year, which will be timely disclosed to students.

The Candidate will also be informed of the date scheduled for the Thesis Plan defense.

After the defense, the student has 30 days to formalise the Thesis Admission, by submitting the Thesis Admission request to the Secretariat of the Doctoral Programme.

Annual Progress Report

Students admitted to the Thesis will have to prepare an Annual Progress Report. Supplementary reports to the annual one may be required in exceptional circumstances. Every Progress Report must be submitted together with the Supervisor’s opinion.

The Progress Report must respect the existing template.

Steering Committee

Joaquim_Barros
Joaquim António Oliveira Barros
Position: Full Professor
Email: barros@civil.uminho.pt
EP
Eduardo Nuno Borges Pereira
Position: Assistant Professor
Email: epereira@civil.uminho.pt
GV
Graça Fátima Moreira Vasconcelos
Position: Associate Professor
Email: graca@civil.uminho.pt
JLP_2
José Luís da Silva Pinho
Position: Associate Professor
Email: jpinho@civil.uminho.pt
RM_2
Ricardo Filipe Mesquita da Silva Mateus
Position: Assistant Professor
Email: ricardomateus@civil.uminho.pt