Students arriving in Coimbra will find the truly cosmopolitan atmosphere of a research centre with international projection, where the diversity of interests and approaches are continuously encouraged. CES researchers have extensive experience in different fields and countries and CES doctoral students are developing research projects embracing all continents. The doctoral programmes are organised in a flexible way, offering a shared environment for a deeper scientific reflection, whilst being open to proposals that are in line with the students’ objectives, based on their own research profile and interests.

Within the framework of the 4 years of the programme, the teaching staff makes efforts to integrate the doctoral students in diverse ongoing projects at CES, namely in the theretical and analytical debates, participating in empirical fieldwork, as well as in the publications or in the audio-visual materials presented by the projects. It has also been standard practice of the programme to periodically offer short-term scholarships for specific work related to the different projects.

Socially and culturally diverse, CES also benefits from its stand as a multidisciplinary space within the social sciences and the humanities, where students can attend lectures, conferences and seminars in the different areas of knowledge. Students can also actively participate in the activities developed by the various CES research groups.

Benefiting from the extensive research experience of CES-Associated Lab, of the University of Coimbra's Faculty of Economy (FEUC), this Doctoral Programme benefits from several partnerships and networks, namely with the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), the Centre for Research on Ethnic Relations and Nationalism (CEREN) at the Uiversity of Helsinki, and the Political Ecology Network (POLLEN). 

(PEOPLES’), based in CES-Coimbra, and the UFMG Justice Observatory in Brazil.

As in previous editions, students can participate and get directly involved in the organisation of seminars, other events, and international networks – such as the “Global Platform for the Right to the City”, the “Turin Biennial of Democracy” or the “Biennial of Public Space “in Rome – through visits organised by lecturers in the Programme. Students can also apply to visits to international research centres with which CES has established partnerships.

Adding to CES diversity and openness, there is a welcoming and support atmosphere from the academic staff. The coordination is permanently in dialogue with its students and is open to welcome new proposals and requests to increase the involvement in other co-organised activities by students, teaching staff and other organisations. Every student receives individual attention, training and guidance from experienced lecturers, also benefiting from the availability of the whole CES research team. Once hosted by CES and by FEUC, the doctoral programme students will have access to all kind of academic, scientific and logistic support from both the institutions.