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The Doctoral Program in Psychology at Iscte provides advanced training for conducting independent research across multiple areas of basic and applied psychology, within a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international scientific environment.
The program is offered by the Department of Psychology at the School of Social Sciences, in close partnership with CIS-Iscte, the psychology research unit at Iscte. This collaboration provides a dynamic and stimulating intellectual context that fosters the development of theoretical, methodological, and analytical skills in domains such as social psychology, education and development, health and well-being, and the cognitive and affective processes underlying human behavior.
The program is accredited by the Portuguese Agency for the Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES), and the associated research unit has received an Excellent rating in the latest evaluation from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
Objectives
Promote autonomy and excellence in fundamental and applied psychological research, aligned with the international standards in research and advanced training
Foster the development of conceptual, methodological, and scientific communication skills
Stimulate the development of national and international networks through teaching, co-supervision, and mobility
Stimulate scientific dissemination in academic contexts and within the broader community
Train highly qualified professionals for careers inside and outside academia
Apply psychological research to understanding and addressing relevant social challenges, reinforcing the role of psychology in developing a knowledge-based society
Structure and Organization
The program is taught in person and entirely in English, attracting highly qualified and motivated candidates from diverse countries and backgrounds, many of whom are supported by competitive national and international scholarships. In addition to supporting applications for external funding, the program provides scholarships and specific support through the School of Social Sciences and CIS-Iscte.
With a duration of four years on a full-time basis (part-time enrollment is also available), the program combines a curricular component focused on conceptual and methodological development with supervised research activities.
PhD students benefit from close supervision by their advisory teams, regular discussions of work in progress, and periodic independent evaluation by external researchers who monitor research progress.
Most doctoral projects are developed in collaboration with national and international teams, and students frequently conduct part of their work at other teaching or research institutions. The program actively encourages the integration of doctoral students into the scientific networks promoted by CIS-Iscte, as well as the development of their own collaborations.
PhD students have access to specialized research facilities and resources, including a state-of-the-art laboratory, equipped for a wide range of behavioral studies and research in cognitive and affective neuroscience.
Regular dissemination of research is strongly encouraged through publication in specialized journals, participation in national and international conferences, and presentation of results at seminars and public events open to the community. PhD students are encouraged to attend summer schools, thematic courses, and internships at national and international institutions. Much of the research and dissemination activities receive financial support from the program and the associated research unit.
DGES initial reference: R/A-Ef 3372/2011 de 18-03-2011
DGES reference update: R/A-Ef 3372/2011/AL01 de 20-02-2020
Programme structure
2026/2027
The program is taught in person, entirely in English, and has a duration of four years, offered on a full-time basis with the option of part-time attendance. It offers diverse learning opportunities through a curricular component focused on conceptual and methodological development, as well as training in advanced academic skills. The program also includes complementary training activities, regular sessions for discussing work in progress, and the active integration of doctoral students into the CIS-Iscte research groups.
In addition to close supervision by their advisors, doctoral students benefit from independent evaluations and regular feedback from external researchers who monitor their progress.
Students benefit from specialized research infrastructure and resources, including highly qualified technical and scientific management services. They also have access to a fully equipped laboratory for the collection and analysis of behavioral and neurophysiological data (both peripheral and central), supporting state-of-the-art research in psychology and cognitive and affective neuroscience.
A student that successfully realizes this course should be able to:
OA1. Distinguish, question and judge scientific problems and solutions in Psychology OA2. Explain, apply and use competencies, skills and methods of research OA3.Plan and carry out scientific research according to international quality standards OA4.Demonstrate a significant set of original research works in the area of Psychology that contribute to the advancement of the state of the art and that deserve dissemination in national and international publications with peer review OA5.Critically analyze, evaluate and synthesize new and complex ideas regarding the scientific and social world in general and in the area of Psychology in particular OA6.Communicate towards their peers and the rest of the scientific community and the society in general about the scientific area of Psychology and defend their research results OA7. Applying ethical principles of research in Psychology
In each year, the syllabus will be closely aligned to the research projects presented and implemented by doctoral students. Through presentation and discussion of completed research or work in progress the programme intends to provide the foundations for a better theoretical contextualization of the students works.
Critical reflection about the progress of the research project, which should be included in the annual activity report and will be evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively on a scale from 0 to 20 by the supervisor and the reviewer of the doctoral project (relator).
At the end of this course, the student should: OA1. know how to construct and present a doctoral project in a research area of psychology LO2. Master the main foundations and methods of the chosen research area and the design of studies to develop it. LO3. Apply the ethical principles of your area of research LO4. Be able to design, implement and write the research studies for a doctoral project. LO5. Be able to discuss research studies (their own and others') with peers and other researchers in an informed and critical manner. LO6. Be able to organize events to present and disseminate knowledge and pass it on to others
The course aims to provide students with opportunities to: 1. integrate into the institution, getting to know its spaces, people and research support structures (e.g., Lapso, 3rd cycle), 2. contact potential supervisors to accompany their projects and get to know their respective areas of research 3. develop a consistent doctoral project, adjusting their studies, particularly with the close supervision of their chosen supervisor 4. get to know the ethical principles of research in psychology and the workings of the ethics committee at iscte. 5. keep in touch with peers from other years and other institutions and researchers working in their fields, e.g. through regular participation in the activities of the CIS-iscte Groups and preparation for the annual Psychology PhD Meeting 6. develop, present and debate their studies in the CIS-iscte Groups and at other appropriate meetings
Assessment throughout the semester: 1- Participation in the meetings of a CIS-iscte research group, with at least 1 presentation. 2- Presentation of the project and its studies at the annual meeting of the doctoral program and its public discussion. 3- Participation in the organization of the meeting. 3- Reflection on the progress of the research project in the activity report, with qualitative and quantitative assessment by the supervisor and rapporteur (Scale 0-20). Maximum unjustified absences: 50%.
Mandatory
Não existe bibliografia de referência para todos os alunos.
By completing the Research Seminar in Psychology - Advanced Issues, the students will be able to: LO1. Identify and critically assess some of the current research programs in psychology, recognizing the specificity of approaches and methods of each. LO2. Identify how, in some of the current research programs in psychology, research goals, approaches and methods are connected. LO3. Compare some of the current research programs in psychology with their own research projects. LO4. Identify, through the above comparison, potentialities and limits of their own research programs.
Each year the Syllabus of this Research Seminar in Psychology is tailored to the specific needs of the students enrolled in the program.
Students can complete this Research Seminar in Psychology throughout a final written assignment (100%), namely, an individual critical reflection about one of the seminars attended throughout the academic year, elaborating on the aspects that the student's Ph.D. project shares with the seminar by either: raising a research question that is relevant for the Ph.D. project based on the theory presented in the seminar; or designing a study based on the methodology presented in the seminar. Students with a grade equal or higher than 9.5 will be approved. There is no assessment by Exam in this Seminar. Attendance is mandatory. Unjustified absences are only allowed for 25% of the seminars.
Mandatory
Será proposta aos alunos em função dos seminários - temas avançados programados para cada semestre/ano letivo. It will be proposed according to the seminars scheduled for each semester/school year.
Optional
Será proposta aos alunos em função dos seminários - temas avançados programados para cada semestre/ano letivo. It will be proposed according to the seminars scheduled for each semester/school year.
When they finish the UC the students will be able to: OA1. Identify and critically assess some of the current research programs in psychology, recognizing the specificity of approaches and methods of each. OA2. Identify how, in some of the current research programs in psychology, research goals, approaches and methods are connected AO3. Compare some of the current research programs in psychology with their own research projects OA4. Identify, through the above comparison, potentialities and limits of their own research programs
Each year the Programmatic contents of the seminars Advanced Themes are tailored to the specific needs of the enrolled students.
a) Requirement for evaluation: Attendance of the seminars. Unjustified absence is only allowed for 20% of the seminars
b) The student chooses 1 of the Advanced Methodology seminars available for assessment. The teacher accepts to evaluate the student (according to the number of students evaluated) and presents an assignment proposal that will be evaluated with a quantitative score (0-20).
Mandatory
A bibliografia desta UC será fornecida no contexto dos seminários previstos para o respectivo ano lectivo.
LG1. Write a scientific project. LG2. Write a scientific article. LG3. Prepare and present scientific research (e.g., posters, talks) LG4. Organize a scientific conference/meeting. LG5. Learn pedagogical strategies for teaching in Psychology. LG6. Learn and apply high standard research practices, namely regarding ethics, open science, data protection and replicability.
S1. Scientific writing: grants S2. Scientific writing: articles S3. Rules and tools for preparing and presenting research. S4. Rules and tools to organize scientific meetings S5. Pedagogical skills for teaching Psychology. S6. Good practices in scientific research
Students can conclude this course through assessment throughout the semester. a) Attendance at least 75% of the seminars; Participation in the organization of a scientific event (e.g., conference); 1 class plan and implementation (supervised by the supervisor or by a teacher to be appointed by the supervisor) b) The student chooses 1 of the seminars available for assessment. The lecturer agrees to assess the student and presents a work proposal which will be assessed quantitatively (0-20).
Mandatory
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition (2020). Gernsbacher, M. A. (2018). Writing empirical articles: Transparency, reproducibility, clarity, and memorability. Advances in methods and practices in psychological science, 1(3), 403-414. A Guide to Writing Good Academic Prose (2016). The Chronicle of Higher Education Inc. Billig, M. (2011). Writing social psychology: Fictional things and unpopulated texts. British journal of social psychology, 50(1), 4-20. Lewis, N. A., Somerville, L. H., van Bavel , J. J., Cunningham, W. A. (2019). Help funders help you: Five tips for writing effective funding applications. Science.
Optional
Additional readings for each subject will be provided throughout the course.
Faculty
The faculty includes professors and researchers from Iscte, as well as invited national and international experts with recognized expertise in various areas and methodological approaches in psychology.
Faculty members and researchers lead research programs across several areas of basic and applied psychology, sharing a common vision centered on the use of multiple methods and levels of analysis to generate innovative and socially relevant knowledge, aligned with the highest international standards of scientific excellence.
Areas of specialization include:
Fundamental research on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes, using methodologies from experimental psychology and cognitive and affective neuroscience;
Psychosocial adjustment across development, considering family, educational, and community dimensions;
Health and well-being from a psychosocial and socioecological perspective, including health promotion interventions;
Societal change and its impact at individual, group, and relational levels, including research on environment and climate change, diversity and inclusion, and intergroup relations.
Detailed information about ongoing research is available in the Research section of the CIS-Iscte website.
Programmes can offer all vacancies in the first phase or distribute them by phase. Vacancies not taken up in a phase are carried over to the next phase. The opening of the next application phase is subject to the existence of vacancies.
To apply for the PhD Program applicants should:
a) hold a Master's degree in Psychology or legal equivalent or holders of a Master's degree in other Sciences, recognized by the PhD Scientific Committee as attesting the capacity to complete a doctoral degree; or
b) hold a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, or a Bachelor's degree in other Sciences in combination with a relevant academic or scientific curriculum that is recognized by the PhD Scientific Committee as attesting the capacity to complete a doctoral degree; or
c) demonstrate an academic, scientific, or professional curriculum that is recognized by the PhD Scientific Committee as attesting the capacity to complete a doctoral degree.
Candidates must submit a Motivation Letter stating the topic they wish to develop and its alignment with the Research Unit, CIS-Iscte. Please use the template (available here) and submit it in the application section "other documents".
The application process may be initiated by clicking "Apply". This will open a newwebpage that provides usefull information about the application to Iscte programs (rounds, documents, FAQ...). We recommned reading this information.
Is also in this webpage that you can access the online platform (Fénix) in which you should conduct and submit your application.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Doctoral Program in Psychology encourages applicants to find external or internal funding for their training. Within the national private and public funding, we highlight:
Iscte Internal Scholarships
Iscte's Merit-Based Scholarships for PhD Students
The Merit Scholarship, with a monthly value corresponding to the amount of national doctoral scholarships awarded by FCT, is intended -to students selected and enrolled for the first time in the 1st year of the doctoral programme in Psychology at Iscte and/or who are attending the 1st year of the doctoral programme in Psychology at Iscte for the first time in the 2025-2026 academic year. Applications are open between 1 April and 23 September 2026 athttps://recrutamento.iscte-iul.pt/jobs/716
The Scholarships for the payment of annual tuition fees is intended for new students who have completed a master's degree at Iscte in the two academic years immediately preceding the start of their doctorate (including those who have completed or will complete in 2025-2026). Applications are open between 1 april and 23 September 2026 athttps://recrutamento.iscte-iul.pt/jobs/717
External Scholarships
FCT Individual PhD Scholarships
Information about this call is available on the FCT website.
Individual PhD Scholarships by Fundação “LaCaixa”
Information about this call is available at the Fundação “LaCaixa” website.
