The “European PhD” is a title associated with the degree of PhD, awarded by European Higher Education Institutions, to which a reference is made on the Diploma [as it is laid down in no. 2 of article no. 79 of the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra (RAUC) »»].
Note 1: The "European PhD" is not an academic degree, but rather a title associated with the PhD degree, conferred by European Higher Education Institutions, to which a reference is made on the Diploma.
Note 2: – In view of what is provided for in the previous note, the term “European” refers only to the mobility framework.
Note 3: The “European PhD” title that is obtained by the students registered at other European Higher Education Institutions, does not exempt its holder from being subject to the recognition systems provided for in the Portuguese legislation concerning the PhD Degree.
Awarding of the Title
To be awarded the title of European PhD by the UC, the undermentioned conditions have to be met cumulatively:
- The PhD student shall be properly registered in a Cycle of Studies leading to a PhD Degree at the UC;
- The PhD student shall have accomplished a minimum research period of a (continuous and uninterrupted) trimester/quarter at a European host higher education institution as part of the preparation work of the PhD thesis;
- The work plan to be developed within the research period referred to in the previous number, proposed by the PhD Student and approved by the supervisor, shall be signed before the beginning of the mobility programme by the coordinator of the Cycle of Studies and by the Dean of the Organisational Unit (or by someone under his/her delegated power for that purpose).
- The work plan mentioned in the previous number shall be verified by the European host higher education institution;
- The PhD student shall prove that the work was carried out at the European Host Higher Education Institution by means of a Certification issued by that institution;
- Along with the request for admission to the PhD Thesis Public Defence, the PhD student shall submit two positive assessment reports on the submitted thesis, which are subscribed by two Professors from two Higher Education Institutions of two European countries other than Portugal;
- The respective Organisational Unit is responsible for obtaining the reports referred to in the previous subparagraph, and it shall, for this purpose, take the necessary proceedings;
- The Examination Board/Jury of the PhD Thesis Public Defence shall include one member from a Higher Education institution of a country other than Portugal, and the legislation and regulation in force shall be observed;
- In the Thesis Public Defence, one part of the defence must be done in a European official language other than Portuguese, and this information must be precisely referred to in the minutes of the PhD Exam.
Procedure
- Within the deadline of 10 working days as from the date of the successful completion of the PhD Thesis Public Defence, the interested student shall submit at NONIO a request, addressed to the Rector, for the awarding of the title of European PhD;
- The Rector’s decision is communicated in writing to the interested student, as well as to the respective Organizational Unit;
- Only after the communication of the decision, if this is favourable, the student can request the issuance of the diploma that includes the title of “European PhD” associated with the PhD Degree.
Mention of the title “European PhD”
After obtaining a successful assessment in the Thesis Public Defence, and cumulatively, with the favourable decision of the Rector, the diploma to be conferred by the UC will include the mention to the "European PhD" associated with the PhD Degree.