On September 7, FCH-Católica welcomed more than 360 new Master’s and PhD students, who are beginning their academic journey at the School of Human Sciences of Universidade Católica Portuguesa this academic year. Coming from 51 different nationalities, the new students are joining an increasingly international academic community.

The welcome program included a campus tour, an opportunity to meet the coordinator of the program, and a Welcome Session bringing together the new students, the FCH-Católica Faculty members and its teams.

During the session, FCH-Católica’s Dean, Prof. Catarina Duff Burnay, welcomed the students and highlighted the significance of beginning a Master’s or PhD journey, emphasising the importance of deepening knowledge, developing an independent perspective and contributing to what is already known.

“A Master’s or a PhD is an opportunity to go further. It is not simply about acquiring more knowledge or obtaining another academic degree. It is about going deeper, developing your own perspective and, ultimately, contributing something of your own to what is already known.”

The diversity of the academic community and the opportunity to engage with different perspectives were also highlighted by the Dean, who encouraged the new students to make the most of this experience by questioning, researching and discovering new ways of understanding the world around them.

The day concluded with a Sunset Gathering, providing an opportunity for the new students to connect with their peers and marking the beginning of this new chapter at FCH-Católica.