Applications for 2025/2026

Admission Requirements
 

• Holders of Master’s Degrees in Communication Studies or other fields with the social sciences and humanities.
• The PhD program requires a minimum of B2 level of English according to the  Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). It is not required to present an English Certificate, since your language level will be evaluated by the coordination at the time of the interview. 

Documents required for the application

• Curriculum Vitae in Portuguese or English;
• University Transcripts of Records - Original documents should be presented until October 30;
• Motivation Letter (2 pages max.) - the motivation letter should introduce you to the selection committee, explain why you have chosen this program and why you would be a good fit;
• Identification document (Passport or ID card);
• Vaccination record (tetanus vaccine updated) - upon registration.

Note: Besides those mentioned above, any other documents that Applicants find relevant to their application may be included.

Note: All Degrees earned abroad, Transcripts and Certificates must be duly translated into Portuguese (if not in English, French or Spanish).

Application Process
 

Step 1 - Start your application online

In order to start the application, you must:

REGISTER HERE

After creating an account, you will receive the access data in your email. Once you have access data, you may proceed to formalize your application on https://applications.fch.lisboa.ucp.pt .

If you do not remember your username or password, you should access the email address https://applications.fch.lisboa.ucp.pt/passwordResetRequest and follow the instructions to recover your username or password.

Step 2 - Pay the application fee

After you have filled your application and uploaded the required documents, you will need to pay the non-refundable application fee. Please note that your application will not be considered completed until the application fee is settled.

Step 3 - Additional information

After the application, an interview will take place with the candidate (interviews with international candidates can be held by Zoom or Teams). This step is not mandatory but may be requested by the Doctoral Program Coordinator.

Step 4 - Final decision

The Selection Committee reviews your application and makes a final decision.

Please note that:

• the Selection Committee decision is final and conclusive;
• regardless of the outcome of your application, you will receive a personalized e-mail, which will mention your name, as well as the final decision of the committee;
• If accepted to the program, the personalized email will also contain information regarding registration.
• Students are not allowed to apply more than once per Intake (double applications will not be considered and related application fees will not be refunded).​

Program progression spans three core moments:

• Completion of the curricular component with an average grade of 14 in 20;
• Submission to the program coordination of a thesis project accompanied by an opinion from the planned supervisor in the second year of study;
• The approval of the proposed thesis following its public presentation and discussion before a jury made up of three members of the Doctoral Degree in Communication Studies teaching staff, chaired by the coordinator.
   

Only after project approval does the doctoral degree student advance with the definitive registration of the thesis theme. The thesis is to be delivered by the end of the 6th semester following the date of beginning of the Doctoral Degree Program in Communication Studies. This deadline may be extended by students, following due consideration by the program coordination, for a period of up to two academic years. Candidates who fail to gain approval for the doctoral degree project but with the taught curriculum component completed may then opt to complete their studies and receive a certificate of advanced communication studies.

Furthermore, candidates lacking a Master’s Degree will be required to undertake complementary admissions procedures as stipulated by Art. 9 of the UCP Doctoral Degree Regulations.