Why should I choose the School of Sciences of the University of Minho?
Our Professors’ experience and excellence of teaching provide students with transversal skills and aptitude to face the challenges of the labor market; the excellence of our scientific research; our mission to promote innovation and knowledge transfer. Our cultural awareness and multiculturalism are open doors for talents like you.
The School of Sciences was founded in 1975 as a fundamental pillar of the University of Minho. It currently includes 174 PhD teaching staff, 43 technical, administration and management staff members, more than 130 researchers and nearly 2,800 undergraduate, graduate and students in brief courses. At the School of Sciences, you can study a variety of Bachelor, Master and PhD courses in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Physics focused on emerging topics in science such as sustainability, data science, modern physics, vision science, environmental technologies, synthesis and analytical chemistry, among others.
Two magnificent cities, one School: the School of Sciences is located in two campi of the University of Minho: campus of Gualtar in the city of Braga and Campus of Azurém in in the city of Guimarães. Both campi offer a set of services such as libraries, canteens, restaurants, bars, medical centers, sports complexes and copy shops, besides other services and accommodation facilities nearby.
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What about the added value of the School of Sciences in terms of Research and Innovation?
The professors and researchers are integrated in Research Centres where they foster innovation, transfer and exchange of scientific knowledge through collaborations with numerous national and international entities, including higher education institutions and companies. They are involved in nationally and internationally funded research projects and international networks, and they have an impressive level of scientific production and international recognition.
What about the added value of the School of Sciences in terms of qualifications of the teaching staff?
Both the academic and non-academic staff of the School of Sciences supporting the study programs have high qualifications. All professors are PhD and have a strong background in pedagogical skills,but are also ‘learning specialists’ as they regularly update their knowledge base to improve their practice and to meet new teaching demands.
By initiative of the rectorate, the IDEA-UMinho Center was created with the mission for the development of teaching and learning at UMinho. Dependent on the rectorate for pedagogical innovation, its activities include teacher training, retreat courses for early-stage teachers and the implementation of an annual call for funding innovative teaching projects.
Teachers are also experienced researchers with a strong scientific background integrated in Research Centres internationally recognized and periodically assessed by panels of international experts.
Our teaching/learning model is oriented to provide students with multidisciplinary skills, capacity of autonomous work, entrepreneurship and adaptation to the challenges of the labor market.
Our teaching quality is subjected annually to an Internal Procedure of Assessment of Teaching (actively participated by the students), whose results are rigorously scrutinized by the Course Commission (which include students of all academic years) and the Pedagogical Council. The Course Commission also conducts a self-assessment of each Course annually in accordance to the internal evaluation of the University of Minho. In this process, the student's perception is crossed with the teacher's perception, allowing the detection of inconsistencies and the implementation of accurate measures to correct them.
All programmes of the School of Sciences are nationally accredited by an independent accreditation national organism that evaluates each programme regularly. This evaluation involves an independent international evaluation panel with scientists, teachers and students who analyse a report made by the Course Commission and interviews teachers and students.
Is the School of Sciences of the University of Minho internationally recognized?
Our professors and researchers hold high international experience in Collaborative R&D projects. Our professors are internationally competent with a vast experience of studying and teaching abroad under Erasmus+, Fulbright Program, among others. Our researchers conduct high scientific productivity in cutting edge Science. We run consolidated collaborations with national and international external entities like Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal, Bluepharma Indústria Farmacêutica, Continental ITA S.A; among others
What outreach activities are offered at the School of Sciences of the University of Minho?
Different scientific and science outreach activities organized annually are widely participated by the students, including activities aimed at the general public, such as the European Researchers Night and activities aimed at potential future students, such as the Chemistry Olympics, Summer Campus, UMinho Best Student, among others. We also actively promote outreach activities in high schools and welcome high school students to the School of Sciences' facilities.
