STUDY AT ISEC

CHOOSE YOUR FUTURE! CHOOSE ISEC!


Welcome to ISEC.
Welcome to Coimbra.

ISEC – Coimbra Institute of Engineering is the engineering school of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra. Through Erasmus+ we keep growing our partnerships with universities across Europe, welcoming both students and teaching staff. Choosing a host institution is part of your own personal project, and ISEC offers a wide range of learning opportunities across many areas of engineering.

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Applications: 1 April – 31 May (autumn) and 1 September – 30 November (spring)

Your home university sends your nomination to ri@isec.pt.

How to apply

Erasmus code P COIMBRA02

Before your arrival

Key dates, what you need to apply and how to prepare for your stay.

Semesters and application deadlines

Nominations and applications have to arrive within these windows.

Autumn semesterAlso called winter semester

  1. Nominations and applications1 April – 31 May
  2. ClassesSeptember – February

Spring semesterAlso called summer semester

  1. Nominations and applications1 September – 30 November
  2. ClassesFebruary – July

Academic calendars

Full calendars with term dates, exam periods and holidays.

2026/2027

Current year
Bachelor degrees PDF Master degrees PDF

2025/2026

Bachelor degrees PDF Master degrees PDF

Acceptance conditions

Check these before your university sends the nomination.

English certificate, level B1 or higher

Required for all students, except students from Spain.

Nomination by your home university

Your university sends the nomination to ri@isec.pt within the deadlines.

How to apply

The process depends on the programme you're coming with.

Erasmus+ students

From European partner universities

Read the registration guide carefully before you submit your application. If you still have questions afterwards, email ri@isec.pt.

Read the registration guide

Free movers and non-European students

Outside Erasmus+ or from outside Europe

Contact the International Relations Office and we'll guide you through your application.

Email ri@isec.pt

Before you begin, select the subjects/courses you would like to attend. You can also add foreign-language courses.  Browse courses

Preparing your stay

Insurance

Bring health and civil liability insurance valid in Portugal. We also recommend accident insurance.

Accommodation

ISEC has a partnership with Uniplaces, a housing platform where you may find accommodation with a service fee discount. To benefit from the discount, use the promo code UP30ISEC (no spaces) in the designated field in the payment section before submitting your reservation request.

You can explore available options here: Uniplaces. We suggest checking the locations using Google Maps by referencing “Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra”.

You may also book a hostel for your first days in Coimbra.

Courses

Pick your subjects before you apply. You can combine subjects from different bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. However, be aware that doing so increases the possibility that some classes will overlap in the timetable

Subjects taught in English

Open each subject to see its syllabus (ECTS catalogue).

 

Subject Code ECTS Term Year Degree
Operations Management I 60020919 5 Fall 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Applied Hydraulics I (Water Supply Systems Design Project) 61004738 5 Fall 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Roads and Road Safety (Transportation Engineering I) 61004762 5 Fall 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Foundations I 60020690 5 Fall 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Reinforced Concrete Structures I 60020739 5 Spring 2 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Soil Mechanics 60020638 5 Spring 2 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Operations Management II 60020970 5 Spring 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Applied Hydraulics II (Sanitation Systems Design Project) 61004751 5 Spring 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Municipal Roads (Transportation Engineering II) 61004762 5 Spring 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Geographic Information Systems 60021010 5 Spring 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Foundations II 60020750 5 Spring 3 Bachelor in Civil Engineering
Anomalies and Diagnosis of Buildings 61003992 5 Fall 1 Master in Civil Engineering
Management and Maintenance of Transport Infrastructures 61004131 5 Fall 2 Master in Civil Engineering
Excavation Retaining Structures 61004032 5 Spring 1 Master in Civil Engineering
Digital Modelling and Design of Structures 61004057 5 Spring 1 Master in Civil Engineering
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 61004883 5 Fall 3 Bachelor in Sustainable City Management
Urban Geotechnics 61004894 5 Spring 2 Bachelor in Sustainable City Management

English classes open when at least 5 students enrol.

Degree programmes

You can also choose subjects from any of these degrees. The main language of instruction at ISEC is Portuguese. When the number of international students justifies it and resources allow, a class taught in English can be created. This courses also offer tutorial support in English outside class by the teachers. Exams and bibliography are on English Language.

 

Foreign language courses

Add a language to your learning agreement. Portuguese Language and Culture is available just during the Fall Term. is a great way to settle in.

Portuguese Language & Culture Code 600279796 ECTSFall Technical English Code 600244203 ECTSSpring

English2 ECTS per level

German3 ECTS per level

French3 ECTS per level

Levels I–IV: after you arrive, we'll tell you which level and which language (German or French) is available.

After your arrival

What to sort out once you're in Coimbra.

Changing your learning agreement

To add new subjects during your mobility, follow these steps in order.

Deadline: one month after classes start, in both the autumn and spring semesters.

  1. Check with the ISEC teacher

    Confirm with the teacher that you can attend the classes of the new subject.

  2. Get approval from your home university

    Confirm the acceptance of the new subjects with your home university.

  3. Send the form

    Fill in the Learning Agreement – During the Mobility form, sign it and send it to ri@isec.pt. ISEC IRO sign it and forward it to your home university and to you.

  4. Your registration is updated

    ISEC IRO update your registration based on the form.

Entering Portugal: legal procedures

These procedures apply to students from outside the European Union.

If you enter Portugal through an uncontrolled border coming from another member state, you may have to declare your entry to the authorities. If it does, download the Entry Declaration form from the SEF (Immigration and Borders Service) website, fill it in and deliver it in person at the SEF office in Coimbra, by appointment, within three working days of your arrival.

Not complying with these rules may result in a penalty.

These procedures take place at SEF, at the Loja do Cidadão or the Casa da Lusofonia.

Request an interview appointment 90 days before your residence permit or visa expires. You can book it by phone or online at sef.pt.

Grading system

Results, whether from continuous assessment or an exam, are given on a scale from 0 to 20. The lowest passing grade is 10.

  • 0–9 Fail
  • 10–13 Sufficient
  • 14–15 Good
  • 16–17 Very good
  • 18–20 Excellent

Good to know

Accessibility

Some ISEC departments have lifts or wheelchair access, and the campus has ground-floor and ramp access.

Useful documents

Practical information for your stay in Coimbra.

Student guide PDF Visa and additional information PDF

Contacts

Questions about your mobility? Get in touch with the International Relations Office.

International Relations Office

Ms. Dália Pires, contact person

Emailri@isec.pt
Phone+351 239 790 206
Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra
Gabinete de Relações Internacionais
Rua Pedro Nunes – Quinta da Nora
3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
Open in Google Maps
Institution
ISEC – Coimbra Institute of Engineering, Polytechnic University of CoimbraInstituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra – Universidade Politécnica de Coimbra
Erasmus code
P COIMBRA 02
Head of institution
Prof. Nuno Cid Martins
Head of the International Relations Office
Prof. Luis Araújo Santos
Official website
isec.pt/servicos/ri
Copyright © ISEC.