Lisbon Consortium, Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Doctoral Program in Culture Studies

The Doctoral Program in Culture Studies is a four-year research program in the Humanities and Social Sciences aimed at graduates and professionals from the cultural sector who wish to advance their university education within a theoretically solid and groundbreaking framework.

The program is born out of the commitment to develop a doctoral program that promotes both high-level research training at the forefront of scientific interest and responds to the cultural sector's growing call for highly qualified professionals. It is inspired by the ‘collaborative turn' on two levels: firstly as a model of advanced research training that draws from artistic practice and cultural management to reflect on theory and in turn embeds practice in theoretically informed premises; secondly as a form of doctoral training that is transnational by definition, because the study of culture inevitably deals with diversity.

The program intends to inspire students to customize their curriculum and is committed to support work placement. It will provide doctoral students with methodological tools for cultural analysis, challenging them to revise phenomena that are either "invisible" or undervalued by contemporary societies while encouraging a look into the humanist tradition to deepen the understanding about the discourses and creations that have molded cultural history. Consequently, it aims to promote original and internationally relevant research and to integrate doctoral students into multinational research teams. In addition, it will support knowledge transfer, urging students to take their work outside the seminar room and interact with professional realities other than academia.

Therefore, the Lisbon Consortium offers a Summer School for all the master and PhD students, an annual Graduate Conference fully organized by PhD students, as well as an online journal published bi-annually under the editorial direction of students in the doctoral program in Cultural Studies.

Students of the PhD Program in Culture Studies of The Lisbon Consortium can apply to the PhD Net - European Doctoral Program in Literary and Cultural Studies, an international network between UCP, University of Giessen, University of Helsinki, University of Bergamo, University of Stockholm, University of Graz and University of Warwick.

Applications for 2024/2025

Early bird applications
> Applications: January 15 to February 26 (until 23:59:59 GMT)
> Interviews: on a rolling basis
> Posting of Results: March 13
> Registration: March 14 to 21

1st Phase
> Applications: February 27 to April 8 (until 23:59:59 GMT)
> Interviews: on a rolling basis
> Posting of Results: April 23
> Registration: April 24 to May 6

2nd Phase
> Applications: April 9 to May 30 (until 23:59:59 GMT)
> Interviews: on a rolling basis
> Posting of Results: June 19
> Registration: June 19 to 27

Documents Required for Application:

• Curriculum Vitae in English;
• University Transcripts of Records – Original documents should be presented until October 30;
• Preliminary research project (max. 15.000 characters);
• Motivation Letter (2 pages max.) – the motivation letter should introduce you to the selection committee, explain why you have chosen this program and why you would be a good fit;
• English Language Certificate;
• Identification document (Passport or ID card);
• Vaccination record (tetanus vaccine updated) – upon registration.

Note: Besides those mentioned above, any other documents that Applicants find relevant to their application may be included.

Note: All Degrees earned abroad, Transcripts and Certificates must be duly translated into Portuguese (if not in English, French or Spanish).