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The Master's Degree in Work, Employment and Society (previously entitled Master in Labour Studies and Labour Relations) aims to prepare specialists who will be qualified to research, consult or intervene in the field of work, employment and labour relations.
The course programme is designed to integrate the problems of work, employment, and labour relations within their broader social contexts. The core course units focus on the disciplines of sociology, law and economics of work and employment. Additional courses deal with specific topics in the field, namely industrial relations, employment and training policies, and social security policies, and are generally approached from an international comparative perspective. The programme’s mix of a compulsory syllabus and a wide range of electives, provides a unique opportunity for both academic and professional training, enabling the acquisition of relevant knowledge and applicable skills for both scientific research and labour management at various organisational, social and political levels.
The Master's in Work, Employment and Society at Iscte participates in the European Master in Labour Studies, a university network of some of the main European study and research centres in the field. This network promotes an academic exchange programme for students as well as teaching cooperation amongst its member institutions. Students have the possibility of attending the second semester of the course at one of the other universities in the network and may obtain the "European Master in Labour Studies" certificate.
The Master is taught in portuguese, but it is possible to organise a study plan for students who do not speak and/or read portuguese, as Iscte provides a wide range of courses in english in the Master's field.
Lisa Dorigatti, from teh University of Milan, was a guest of the Master's in Labour, Employment and Society, as a speaker at a conference and in the discussion of master's thesis projects. Associate Professor of Economic Sociology and Labour Relations, Lisa Dorigatti specialises in labour relations in sectors such as manufacturing, outsourced social services and logistics, and has worked as a correspondent in Italy for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EuroFound).
2026/2027
The Master's in Labour, Employment and Society (previously entitled Master in Labour Studies and Labour Relations) lasts two years, corresponding to a total of 120 credits (ECTS). Classes are generally scheduled for the evenings.
The curricular structure in the first semester of the first year is organised around the core disciplines of labour sciences and labour relations, namely Sociology and Economics of Work and Labour Law. The UC "Contemporary
Social Inequalities" serves to place the central issues of work, employment and labour relations in the context of the wider society.
In the first semester there is still room for a free elective. Several electives in the field of Human Resources Management or Organisational Psychology are recommended as options for students wishing to have an introduction or reinforce their training in these fields. Sociology electives are also recommended, especially for students who are more interested in social research. For students who have no previous training in the social sciences, we recommend taking the supplementary course "Social Research Methods and Techniques".
In the second semester of the first year, the compulsory courses in the fields of labour relations and labour law are topical and comparative. This offering is reinforced by the course in the field of social protection. Attendance of electives in the field of employment and training policies is strongly recommended. Also compulsory in the second semester is attendance of the course "Research Design", in which students may prepare a first version of their dissertation project.
The first semester of the second year is dedicated to taking two electives. One of the electives will necessarily be selected from Specialised Research Techniques (SRT), in order to support the completion of the dissertation. There is the possibility of an internship as an elective.
A Seminar is held throughout the second year to provide guidance and accompany the completion of the Dissertation or final Project.
| Unidades curriculares | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Social Inequalities | 1 | 6.0 |
| Labour and Social Security Law | 1 | 6.0 |
| Regulation and Labour Markets | 1 | 6.0 |
| Research Methods in Social Sciences Parte Escolar > Optional Courses | 1 | 6.0 |
| Sociology of Work and Employment | 1 | 6.0 |
| Comparative Social Protection Systems | 2 | 6.0 |
| International and European Labour and Social Law | 2 | 6.0 |
| Labour Relations, Trade Unionism and Employers' Associations | 2 | 6.0 |
| Research Design | 2 | 6.0 |
Recommended elective
| Unidades curriculares | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Cycle Internship Parte Escolar > Optional Courses | 1 | 6.0 |
| Master Dissertation in Work, Employment and Society Final Work | 1 | 48.0 |
| Master Project in Work, Employment and Society Final Work | 1 | 48.0 |
Recommended elective
2026/2027
The Master's Degree in Labour, Employment and Society prepares specialists qualified for careers such as:
- consultancy or intervention in the field of labour management and labour relations;
- scientific and applied research activities in the disciplinary and thematic areas of its programme;
- Intervention at various levels of organisational, social and political management, including labour conflict management, human resources management, trade union management, labour relations consultancy, etc.
