Master in Political Science and International Relations

General characterization

Degree pre-requisites

Duration: 2 years/4 semesters.

Total credits: 120 credits (60 credits from curricular units + 60 credits from the non-teaching component). Non-teaching component modes: Dissertation or Project Work or Internship with Report.
The student performs 50 credits in all the curricular units offered. The student also carries 10 credits as free-elective optional (from curricular units of postgraduate level at FCSH/NOVA, UNL, or other national or foreign institutions of higher education under agreement). In the 3rd semester the student must perform a follow-up seminar from the non teaching component (5 ECTS). The degree of "mestre" corresponds to the level 7 of the NQF and EQF-National Qualifications Framework/European Qualifications Framework.



Competencies:

a) To acquire in-depth interdisciplinary theoretical knowledge concerning political systems, international relations and the processes of globalisation of structures and socio-political problems, which enable issues to be raised and understood within the rapid transformations of the contemporary world;
b) To acquire knowledge and competencies concerning the application of academic methodological tools for the planning and carrying out of pure or applied research, specifically in the selection, gathering and processing of complex information originating from a wide and differing range of primary and secondary sources;
c) To acquire competencies concerning the application of knowledge and methodological competencies for the formulation, calculation and resolution of problems within enlarged and complex or innovative contexts which involve decision-making, whether this be within the context of pure or applied research, or integration into employment or within an organisation, which requires competencies for research and the management of complex information to provide support for decision-making;
d) To obtain suitable preparation to carry out studies at doctoral level.

Conditions of admittance

Application and access conditions to the cycle of studies reflect the conditions established in the national legislation, namely: - to hold a licenciado degree or legal equivalent; -to hold a foreign academic degree recognized by the Scientific Council of NOVA FCSH. - to hold an academic, scientific or professional curriculum vitae recognized by the Scientific Council of NOVA FCSH. Applicants will be selected and ranked according to the criteria annually defined in the application edict.

Evaluation rules

A final grade, expressed as a number between 10 and 20 on a scale of 0 to 20 as well as its equivalent on the ECTS grading scale, is awarded for the post-graduate diploma. The final grade of the post-graduate diploma is the average, by credit, of the grades obtained in the course units in which the student obtained the 60 credits from the taught part of the Masters course. A final grade, expressed as a number between 10 and 20 on a scale of 0 to 20 as well as its equivalent on the ECTS grading scale, is awarded for the Masters degree. The final grade of the Masters degree will be the average of the final grade of the taught part of the course, weighted to 40%, and the grade awarded to the dissertation, project work or practical work experience report, weighted to 60%.

Structure

Paths

• area of specialisation in Political Science
• area of specialisation in International Relations
• area of specialisation in Globalisation and Regional Issues
• area of specialisation in European Studies