Between 4 and 11 September 2025, the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP) welcomed the new first-year students of the Psychology undergraduate degree, marking the beginning of an important stage in their academic and personal lives.
The welcome session, held on 4 September, was the students’ first formal contact with the Faculty. The event was attended by Marisa Carvalho, Deputy Director for Academic Management at FEP-UCP, and Catarina Morais, Coordinator of the Psychology undergraduate degree, who underlined the institution’s commitment to providing excellent training within a close and collaborative academic community.
The new students also heard from Sara Patel, Beatriz Valongo and Maria Ferreira, representatives of the Students’ Association, who shared their experiences throughout the three years of the degree and highlighted the Association’s role as a bridge between students and the University.
First steps in Psychology
In the following week, the induction programme further supported the integration of the new students into the Faculty’s academic life. On 8 and 9 September, they had the opportunity to clarify doubts with the Programme Coordinator, meet the Director of FEP-UCP, Raquel Matos, and explore the Porto campus on a guided tour organised by the Students’ Association. Meeting the Academic Services and the Marketing and Communication Department also allowed them to discover the people behind the support structures that are essential to their journey. The programme also included sessions dedicated to Community Service and Tutoring, two pillars that distinguish the Faculty’s academic experience, fostering close guidance and a strong sense of community.
On 11 September, the new students were invited to take part in the volunteering initiative “Be+ Environment: Católica Students in Action”, contributing to environmental preservation through the control of invasive species and the restoration of native biodiversity in an area by the River Sousa, in Gondomar.
This active citizenship experience marked the beginning of their university journey with a positive impact on the community.
“Our aim was to give new students a comprehensive overview of how the University works and of the many opportunities they will have to enrich their journey. More than that, we wanted them to feel, from the very first moment, that they belong to a community that is demanding and challenging, yet equally supportive,” said Catarina Morais, Coordinator of the Psychology undergraduate degree.
A journey that is only just beginning
The welcome and integration activities for new students will continue until 27 November 2025, through initiatives dedicated to presenting key projects currently under way at the University and to specific programmes from the Faculty of Education and Psychology.
With enthusiasm and a spirit of community, FEP-UCP wishes all its new students an excellent academic year – the first chapter of a journey of discovery, challenges, and achievements.
