Doctorate in Design (PhD)
Partially lectured remotely
The PhD in Design emerged in Portugal within the Lisbon School of Architecture. The current doctoral study results from the adaptation of the old study to the Bologna process, and presents a wide range of curricular units, which allows students to structure the study in accordance to their own research interests. The study is organized in diverse lines of research of a transdisciplinary nature. Given its relationship with the research centre (CIAUD), these lines frame students, researchers and teachers in finances research projects, directed towards the necessities of the labour market and of contemporary society.
Applications are submitted exclusively on an online platform (FenixEdu):
Semesters: 6 (up to a maximum of 10 semesters)
Weeks of classes per semester: 14*
ECTS credits: 180
Years: 3 (up to a maximum of 5 years)
Semesters: 6 (up to a maximum of 10 semesters)
Weeks of classes per semester: 5*
ECTS credits: 180
The PhD in Design has as its main goal to provide training guided towards the development of advanced individual research, preferably integrated in assessed and finances projects, conducing to the generation and transmission of knowledge. The specific goals are intellectual satisfaction, the acquisition of advanced competences that allow for the exercise of professional practice in a more informed way, with competitive advantages, and the contribution to the development of society and the economy. In that sense, the study plan is organized according to the Bologna principles.
In the 1st year, the doctoral candidates undertake several Curricular Units, aiming at the acquisition of knowledge and skills about (1) research methodologies fitting the discipline, (2) several lines of research linked to the study’s teaching staff, and (3) how to build an individual research project. The fulfilment of the objectives if assessed by the works produced in each Curricular Unit, concluding with the approval of the Thesis Project, which allow the doctoral candidate to register the theme and begin the individual research work.
In years 2 and 3, the doctoral candidates dedicate themselves to the development and operationalization of the research, culminating in the defence of the Dissertation. Its evolution is assessed by means of the evaluation of the semester reports and work progress seminars.
The Lisbon School of Architecture provides two academic calendars for the participation in the doctoral studies. The normal regimen has as its definition the general School’s calendar, with classes and assessment periods taking place between September and July, every Friday (each semester with 14 weeks of classes). The intensive regimen has an academic calendar that includes classes every day of the week, and the duration of each semester is 5 weeks.
There is no distinction among the mentioned regimens, be it at the level of the Study Plan, level of demand, tuition costs, etc., the only difference between the modalities being the academic calendar.
In the normal regimen classes take place on Friday, in the periods between 8:30 and 13:00, and 14:00 and 19:00.
In the intensive regimen classes take place every day of the week, in the periods between 8:30 and 13:00, and 14:00 and 19:00.
Normal regime: Friday of the 3rd week of September.
Intensive regime: Monday of the 2nd week of January.
Normal regime: End of May, with the assessment taking place during the months of June and July.
Intensive regime: End of July, with the assessment taking place during the months of November and December.
In accordance to article 30 of the Decree no. 74/2006, published in the Diário da República (Official Journal) no. 60 of March 24, 2006; and no. 63/2016, published in the Diário da República (Official Journal) no. 176 of September 13, 2016, individuals are eligible to apply for a doctoral study: holding a master’s degree or legal equivalent; holding a bachelor’s degree [licenciatura] with the minimum grade for enrolment of 14 (fourteen) points; holding a bachelor’s degree, with an academic or scientific curriculum vitae that is especially relevant and that is recognized as demonstrating the capacity for the realization of the study cycle by the legal and competent scientific body of the Lisbon School of Architecture; or holding an academic, scientific and professional curriculum vitae that attests the capacity for the realization of the study cycle conducing to the degree of Doctor (PhD), and that is recognized as demonstrating the capacity for the realization of the study cycle by the legal and competent scientific body of the Lisbon School of Architecture. Candidates will only be admitted after a rigorous selection process.
Check HERE the available applications
| 1st YEAR / 1st SEMESTER | SCIENTIFIC AREA | HCS |
ECTS |
| Research Methodology | D, A, U, CST | 280 | 10 |
| Object Critique | HTAUD | 420 | 15 |
| Professional Practices | D | 140 | 5 |
| 1st YEAR / 2nd SEMESTER | |||
| Design Project | D, TAUD | 280 | 10 |
| Elective Curricular Units | A, U, D, CST, TAUD, HTAUD, DCV | 280 | 10 |
| Thesis Project Seminar | D | 280 | 10 |
| 2nd YEAR / 3rd SEMESTER | |||
| Laboratory I | D | 840 | 30 |
| 2nd YEAR / 4th SEMESTER | |||
| Laboratory II | D | 840 | 30 |
| 3rd YEAR / 5th SEMESTER | |||
| Laboratory III | D | 840 | 30 |
| 3rd YEAR / 6th SEMESTER | |||
| Dissertation | D | 840 | 30 |
Caption:
HCT – Total Contact Hours
ECTS – European Credit System
A – Architecture
U – Urbanism
D – Design
DCV – Drawing and Visual Communication
TAUD – Architecture, Urbanism and Design Technologies
CST – Social and Territorial Sciences
HTAUD – Architecture, Urbanism and Design History and Theory
Check Here Elective course unit 2023/24
All those who are interested in applying for the Doctorate studies (PhD) at the Lisbon School of Architecture – FA ULisboa, must do so within the dates specified dated. The process is formalized through an online application, with which the following documents must be submitted:
• Curriculum Vitae – Professional/Academic
• Copy of the certificate of qualifications
• Motivation letter exposing the topic of interest for the development of the thesis
• Copy of the Citizen Card [Cartão de Cidadão] /I.D. Card and copy of the NIF [Fiscal number] /CPF
The FA provides its students with a wide set of spaces to support academic life in its diverse stages, including: the library, the reprography, the ‘espaço 24 horas’ (24-hour space, where students can develop their work), the editorial centre, the multimedia office, the photography and videography studio, the cartography and media library, the computing centre (CIFA), the fashion design sewing atelier, the workshops, the rapid prototyping lab (LPR), the colour lab (LABCOR), the photography and synthesis image lab (LAFIS), the 3D scanning lab, the intellectual property and knowledge transfer office, and the School’s incubator.
Best overall grade average of the course
Daciano da Costa Award (300€)