The Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP) welcomed the new students of the International PhD in Applied Psychology, who are beginning the 2025–2026 academic year.
The welcome session marked the start of a demanding yet profoundly enriching academic and scientific journey, during which the doctoral candidates will be challenged to contribute to the advancement of knowledge by developing an original project in Applied Psychology.
The meeting, held on 15 October 2025, began with institutional greetings, followed by a presentation of CADOS (Católica Doctoral School), led by Aline Villas Boas. The doctoral programme and supervisory teams were also introduced, allowing the new students to gain a clearer understanding of the academic and scientific framework of the course.
The session also included a presentation of the Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH) by Diana Mesquita, who highlighted the centre’s role in promoting interdisciplinary and international research.
The event concluded with an informal gathering, encouraging the integration of the new students in a friendly and collaborative environment.
According to Luísa Antunes Ribeiro, coordinator of the International PhD in Applied Psychology, this occasion “marks the beginning of an important and challenging stage in the scientific journey of our new doctoral students.”
Emphasising the programme’s international and collaborative nature, she added that “each year, we bring together a truly international and multidisciplinary group of students from several continents, with diverse interests and research projects applied to different fields of Psychology.”
An Innovative and International Programme
The International PhD in Applied Psychology is jointly offered by FEP-UCP in partnership with two foreign universities – Nottingham Trent University (United Kingdom) and Universitat Ramon Llull (Spain). The programme stands out for its international dimension and its strong emphasis on the practical applicability of research from the very beginning. The individual research project starts in the first semester, alongside training seminars designed to support each stage of the doctoral journey.
Doctoral students have the opportunity to undertake a mobility period at Nottingham Trent University, offering an enriching academic and cultural experience. Upon completion of the programme, students are awarded a triple degree jointly issued by the three universities.
