Specialization Branches:
● Physical Geography and Environmental Studies (Tutorial Programme)
● Human Geography (Tutorial Programme)
● Geography and Regional Planning (Tutorial Programme)
● Landscape Studies (Compulsory Attendance & Tutorial Programme)
Notes:
- Specialization branches exclusively in tutorial progreammes are directed towards the thesis development, with the respective supervision by one of the lecturers of the Department of Geography (DGEO) of UMinho. Proponents submit their PhD project to the Scientific Council of ICS on a proposal from the DGEO’s Coordination Committee.
- For the specialization branch in Landscape Studies students must present their application in a specific period (see ‘Application’ and ‘Applications Phases’ sections)
Presentation:
The Doctorate/PhD in Geography (DG) of UMinho responds to the current demand, transversal to several countries, of an advanced training in the scientific area of Geography. Its general objective is to provide the conditions necessary for the development of original research, likely to be distinguished as an important contribution for the conceptual and methodological advances in the geographic science, and in the wider sphere of Social Sciences. This research is produced in the speciality areas of Human Geography, Physical Geography and Environmental Studies, Geography and Regional Planning, and Landscape Studies.
Learning outcomes:
The PhD in Geography stimulates and supports the ability of students for autonomous research in specialized fields of the geographic knowledge, in order for them to achieve the necessary skills deepening to: reflect critically about the state of the art in Geography, regarding a specific research subject; use conceptual and methodological frameworks that contribute to the strengthening of the interdisciplinary dimension of Geography, applying them in an original and relevant research; produce innovative and renewed empirical knowledge; hypothesize, analyse and interpret social, economic, cultural, environmental, political, and scientific and technological problems, as well as those related to planning, land management, and regional and local development; concur to the conceptual, methodological and technical advances of the geographic science; and, critically contribute to the analysis and discussion of themes and questions concerning the domain of Geography, in both academic and professional contexts.
Teaching methodologies:
As this is a PhD study programme, all CU favor independent work methodologies, by encouraging autonomous research and analysis, as well as the application of acquired theoretical, methodological and technical knowledge. Critical reviews and/or scientific articles, likely to be published, are developed in the context of the biannual CU (Compulsory Attendance).
All teaching methodologies promote the participation of students in scientific activities. Moreover, some theses are developed within the scope of the supervisors’ research projects. Doctoral students have also the opportunity to present and discuss their thesis’ research work in events organized for this purpose by DGEO, namely Doctoral Meetings/Workshops and the Research in Geography Symposium: Portugal/Brazil.
Location:
Universidade do Minho
Campus de Azurém
Guimarães
Duration of the study programme:
3 years / 6 semestres
Contacts:
Head of the PhD Study Programme: Profª. Doutora Paula Remoaldo
Telephone: 253 510 560
Email: sec@geografia.uminho.pt
Specific entry requirements:
The PhD in Geography entrance requirements are as follows:
a) Holders of a master´s degree in Geography or equivalent as well as in a related field;
b) Holders of other Master's Degree considered relevant by the Coordination Committee of the Department of Geography;
c) Holders of a Geography degree with an academic or scientific curriculum particularly relevant, attesting the capacity to accomplish the PhD in Geography, through curricular appreciation by the Coordination Committee of the Department of Geography;
d) Holders of a foreign academic degree, whose suitability is recognized by the Coordination Committee of the Department of Geography;
e) Holders of an academic, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized by the Coordination Committee of the Department of Geography;
Vacancies for the specialization branch in compulsory attendance (Landscape Studies):
5 as the minimum number of students and 20 as the maximum.
Schedule:
The specialization branch Landscape Studies has a compulsory attendance on the 1st Year: friday’s afternoon. The folowing years and other specialization branches are directed towards the thesis development, with the respective supervision by one of the lecturers of the Department of Geography (DGEO) of UMinho, defined case by case under the supervisor-student relationship.
Application:
See the EDITAL with updated information about the application process.
Application dates:
a) 1st phase: April 13th (we advice foreign students to apply in this phase because the needed time to Visa procedures);
b) 2nd phase: June 8th (leftover vacancies);
c) 3rd phase: September 7th (leftover vacancies).
Information also availabe at the ‘Instituto de Ciências Sociais’ website:
https://www.ics.uminho.pt/en/Study/Doutoramentos/Pages/Candidaturas.aspx
Study Plan – PhD in Physical Geography and Environmental Studies (Tutorial Supervision)
1st Year/2nd Year/3rd Year
Thesis (180 ECTS)
Study Plan – PhD in Human Geography (Tutorial Supervision)
1st Year/2nd Year/3rd Year
Thesis (180 ECTS)
Study Plan – PhD in Geography and Regional Planning (Tutorial Supervision)
1st Year/2nd Year/3rd Year
Thesis (180 ECTS)
Study Plan – PhD in Landscape Studies (Compulsory Attendance and Tutorial Supervision)
1st Year/1st Semester
Landscape Theory and Practice (10 ECTS)
Landscapes of Exclusion (10 ECTS) - Optional
Landscape Architecture (10 ECTS) - Optional
Landscape and Ecology (10 ECTS) – Optional
1st Year/2nd Semester
Landscape Analysis and Interpretation Methods (10 ECTS)
Guided Readings (10 ECTS)
Supervision Seminar 1 (10 ECTS)
2nd Year/3rd and 4th Semester
Supervision Seminar 2 (20 ECTS) - Annual
Thesis 1 (40 ECTS) – Annual
3rd Year/5th and 6th Semester
Thesis 2 (60 ECTS) – Annual
Notes:
- In the PhD in Landscape Studies students enroll up to two optional Credit Units in the 1st Year/1st Semester, among the offer available.