Master’s and PhD Programmes

Research and Teaching

In the 2024 World University Rankings, NOVA School of Law obtained a score of 71 for research quality, securing 35th place globally in this category, according to The Times Higher Education’s assessment. In NOVA School of Law’s Master’s and PhD programmes, CEDIS researchers teach what they research. Most of CEDIS’s integrated researchers are professors on the PhD and Master’s programmes at NOVA School of Law, an institution in which teaching and research are totally interlinked.

As an essential component of our doctoral programme in Law, the course “Law & Society” serves as an introduction to CEDIS’s research theme.

The Doctorate in Law programme, administered by NOVA School of Law, has a structured curriculum over four years. This programme comprises a teaching component, which lasts three semesters, and a subsequent research component, which lasts five semesters. The teaching phase offers advanced legal studies with an interdisciplinary perspective, equipping students with vital research methodologies and complementary skills, including academic writing and critical analysis. Notably, emphasis is placed on the development of essential skills for scientific publication. After completing the teaching component, candidates prepare and publicly defend their thesis project, articulating their chosen research topic, objectives and methodology. Subsequently, they dedicate themselves to the research component, which includes carrying out supervised research, attending courses at NOVA’s Doctoral School, culminating in the preparation and defence of the doctoral thesis.

The Doctorate in Gender Studies, a collaborative effort between NOVA School of Law, NOVA’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH) and the University of Lisbon (through the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences – ISCSP-UL), operates within a similar structure. This four-year programme has a structured curriculum made up of a teaching component, which lasts three semesters, and a subsequent research component, which lasts five semesters. Throughout the teaching component, students engage in advanced legal studies with interdisciplinary elements and receive training in research methodologies. They also prepare and defend their thesis project. The research component involves supervised research and culminates in the preparation and defence of the doctoral thesis.

In addition to the structural components of these programmes, emphasis is placed on maintaining rigorous quality standards and promoting a conducive academic environment. Both programmes have an international orientation, with English being the main language of instruction. Notably, the PhD in Law has been awarded the status of “FCT PhD Programme” by the Foundation for Science and Technology, underlining its commitment to excellence and its ability to guarantee generous financial support. Admissions to these programmes are highly competitive, with rigorous selection processes designed to identify candidates of exceptional academic merit and research potential.

Integration of PhD students at CEDIS

PhD candidates are fully integrated into CEDIS, taking on roles as active members. They lead Speed’s coordination and are extensively involved in various capacities within our centre: participating in the Scientific Council, contributing to the activities carried out within the three thematic lines and being actively involved in the CEDIS Governance Committee. This interconnection guarantees a harmonious integration of research objectives and academic activities within our doctoral programmes.

CEDIS provides strong support for PhD students, offering assistance with publications, including editing, proofreading and open access, along with opportunities for assignments.

PhD students hired by NOVA School of Law

NSL hires PhD students as Teaching Assistants or Guest Lecturers.

Currently, the PhD students who are members of CEDIS and have been hired as Guest Professors by NOVA School of Law are: Anabela Brízido, Ana Coimbra Trigo, Martim Farinha, Patrícia André, Vitor Boaventura Xavier.

The PhD students who are members of CEDIS and have been hired as Guest Assistants are: Guilherme Berriel, Joana Capaz Coelho, Maria Miguel Oliveira da Silva, Vânia Simões.

Success of the PhD students

From 2018 to 2023, among the 65 PhD students at CEDIS, 18 received FCT grants. In addition, 36 doctoral degrees were successfully completed at the Faculty. Throughout this period, CEDIS PhD candidates have made a remarkable academic contribution, producing 66 articles, 27 books, 69 book chapters, 14 working papers or other research articles, giving 18 oral presentations, giving 30 guest lectures, receiving 8 awards and writing 28 articles in the press, along with actively participating in or organising 313 events, including conferences, workshops, seminars and courses.

Highlights:

• A1) Patrícia André, our PhD student, was a member of the LAC – Local Arrangements Committee for the 7th Global Meeting on Law & Society (Lisbon 2022). She is currently leading, with Teresa Violante, a study for the Economic and Social Council on ‘The Reform of the CES Law’ (2023-2024).
• A3) Emelin de OLIVEIRA, our PhD student, was the author of an article published in the journal “Democratisation,” which was ranked in the top 10%.
• A3) Dimitra FRAGKOU, our doctoral student, co-authored with our researcher Veronica CORCODEL an article published in the “European Journal of Risk Regulation,” ranked in the top 10 per cent.
• C8) Carla VALÉRIO’s doctoral dissertation was recognised with the IBFD European Taxation Journal Prize 2021.

Prizes offered to PhD students

NOVA School of Law offers various prizes for researchers and students, which can be consulted here. In addition to these, three new prizes will be launched:

• The António Manuel Hespanha Prize is a monetary grant designed to encourage doctoral students and young researchers to publish in international peer-reviewed journals, especially those indexed in Scopus. In addition to internationalisation, the criteria for the award include the interdisciplinary and social motivation of the themes.

CEDIS doctoral students awarded FCT scholarships

Between 2018 and 2023, the following CEDIS doctoral students benefited from an FCT doctoral scholarship:

Scholarships Awarded by CEDIS with FCT Funding