Accreditations
The Doctoral Programme in Political Science at Iscte provides theoretical and methodological training that enables doctoral students to conduct research on topics of interest to them, which are scientifically relevant and whose results are intended to be applicable in the professional sphere.
Areas of specialisation. The course has two areas of specialisation, reflected in its curricular units: Political Science and International Relations. Political Science covers topics such as elections, political behaviour and attitudes, representation, democracy, institutions, elites, political communication, gender and political regimes. International Relations covers Europeanisation, African politics, foreign policy, security, development and the Middle East.
Similarly, the doctoral thesis may be undertaken with a view to obtaining:
· Doctorate in Political Science – specialisation in Political Science, or
· Doctorate in Political Science – specialisation in International Relations.
Teaching staff. The teaching staff of the doctoral programme has extensive experience in scientific research in the two main areas of the course, as evidenced by their publications and participation in national and international research networks.
Research centres. The relationship between the doctoral programme and associated research centres, namely CIES-Iscte (Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology, with expertise in Political Science) and CEI-Iscte (Centre for International Studies, with expertise in International Relations) (centres that have always been rated as excellent or very good), contributes positively to the completion of doctoral theses (namely, through the integration of doctoral students in these centres as junior researchers, or, more specifically, through their integration in research projects led by professors from the two areas of the doctoral programme).
Protocols. In addition to academic training, which takes place within the institutional context of Iscte, the doctoral programme benefits from agreements established with various public and private entities, both national and foreign. These agreements aim to provide internships under the Internship course unit (in national institutions) accompanied by the Career Services office. Students can also attend periods at foreign universities to develop their research, under a wide range of established protocols. The aim is for students to capitalise on their academic and even professional experience, beyond that promoted internally by Iscte, thus enriching their academic career.
Programme structure. The doctoral programme has an expected duration of four academic years. The curricular part of the doctoral programme is concentrated in the two semesters of the first year of the course. The following three years are essentially devoted to thesis work, with at least eight annual conferences (four in each of the doctoral programme's subject areas) featuring national or international experts on relevant and current topics. A series of international conferences is also organised each year, in conjunction with the other doctoral programmes offered by the School of Sociology and Public Policy.
Programme coordination. The doctoral programme is coordinated by:
· Ana Maria Belchior, Director and Coordinator of the Political Science area (Associate Professor (with Aggregation) of the Department of Political Science and Public Policy, Integrated Researcher at CIES-Iscte), and
· Giulia Daniele, Coordinator of the International Relations area (Assistant Professor of History, Integrated Researcher at CEI-Iscte).
Applications are now open for 2 Merit-Based Scholarships and 3 Grants for the Payment of Annual Tuition Fees, available to students of the PhD in Political Science.
The Merit-Based Scholarships, with a monthly amount equivalent to the national reference value for PhD scholarships awarded by FCT, is intended for new students and for those enrolled in the 1st year in the academic year 2024–2025.
The Grants for the payment of annual tuition fees is available to new students who completed their Master’s degree at Iscte within the two academic years prior to the start of the PhD (including those who completed or will complete it in 2024–2025).
Eligible applicants include currently enrolled students as well as those applying to the PhD in the 6th application phase, taking place between 26 June and 27 August 2025.
More information available here
Management
General information