University of Beira Interior

The University of Beira Interior (Portugal) traces its origins back to the Polytechnic Institute of Covilhã (IPC), in 1973, and became a university in 1986.

Nestled in the mountain city of Covilhã, UBI offers a serene and inspiring setting for academic pursuits, with the perfect blend of modern facilities and natural beauty, creating an environment conducive to focused learning and personal growth.

Attending UBI is an experience that goes beyond the acquisition of knowledge and scientific preparation for a profession. UBI's concern for the academic success of its students is a constant, which is why it invests in ensuring that everyone has the study and living conditions they need to obtain their education. There are state-of-the-art laboratories, libraries, study rooms open 24 hours a day/seven days a week, an on-campus museum, seven halls of residence and other facilities designed to support the solid acquisition of knowledge. Travel from one part of the university to another is usually a comfortable walking distance.

At the same time, it involves its students in sporting and cultural activities so that they can achieve full academic and personal growth. In terms of sport, there are a number of competitive university sports, which are annually rewarded for their quality with national championship titles.

The rich cultural heritage of Covilhã – an UNESCO Creative City in the area of Design - and its surroundings offer a vibrant cultural scene, from traditional festivals to contemporary arts, a unique blend of history and modernity.

Students can get involved in various clubs and organizations, offering a range of activities from sports to arts to community service, where they can build lifelong friendships and develop leadership skills beyond the classroom.

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UBI is recognized for offering up-to-date education that responds to scientific developments and the demands of society, and for innovating in teaching methods, including hands-on practical experiences, internships, and project-based learning. Workshops, seminars, and networking events organized at UBI help equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to stand out in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Link2UBI platform allows students to connect with industry professionals and alumni worldwide.

A diverse array of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines is offered in the areas of Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities, Arts and Letters and Health Sciences. UBI’ s training offer currently gather about 39 1st cycles / bachelor’s degrees / integrated master degrees, about 40 2nd cycles / master’s degrees and about 29 3rd cycles / doctorates.

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Currently, UBI has approximately 9,000 students, of which around 1,700 are international students from 50 different countries, creating a cosmopolitan environment that fosters cross-cultural understanding, enriching academic experience and preparing students for a globalized world.

Students can benefit from an extensive network of international partnerships, allowing them to participate in exchange programs and collaborative research initiatives.

Since 2020 UBI is part of a consortium of European Universities: UNITA - Universitas Montium, an alliance of 12 comprehensive research universities from seven countries with different sizes and backgrounds that bring together more than 248,000 students and 20,000 staff.

UBI is committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge through innovative research. Learning and research facilities are structured into 5 Faculties and 18 research units based at UBI and at other institutions, which have been carefully implemented. Its vibrant, dynamic and high-quality research community has earned UBI the third best position at national level in terms of research quality.

As a comprehensive university, it promotes multidisciplinarity and synergies between research groups and between them and the outside world, emphasising the possibility for students to interact with industry and the consumer market, exploring their interests and contributing to groundbreaking discoveries.

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This interaction is demonstrated by UBIMEDICAL | UBIExecutive, which comprises two distinct areas: the laboratory area and the incubation area. On the one hand, the laboratory area is aimed at supporting and transferring technology, and comprises a number of resident laboratories coordinated by UBI lecturers in the areas of health and life sciences.

UBImedical promotes the transfer of technology between the scientific/university environment and the business environment, applying the concept of translational research as a response to the challenge involved in moving from basic knowledge to its clinical applications and to the community in general.

On the other hand, and in the same areas, the incubator welcomes entrepreneurs and innovative companies. UBIMEDICAL | UBIExecutive has enriched the health cluster in Portugal, acting as a spill-over link between the university and the market.

UBI is one of the youngest universities in Portugal, exploring the frontiers of knowledge to produce and develop cutting-edge products and solutions for industry and society.

Our commitment to Research and Innovation (R&I) is unmatched, fostering a dynamic environment in a context of proximity where groundbreaking ideas come to life. Fundamental and applied research activities carried out at our research units are established through national and international projects and consortia in close collaboration with regional, national, and international industry partners and other organizations.

UBI’s research outcomes and innovative developments are at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs spanning all areas of knowledge, from science and technology to engineering, health sciences, arts, and social sciences and humanities. Our culture of proximity nurtures interdisciplinarity and scientific curiosity, pushing the boundaries of discovery towards effects of change and societal impact.

We are proud of our team of researchers, which includes several scientists who are among the most recognized in the world in their scientific areas. Overall, UBI research has been shaping the future with the solutions proposed having real-world applications and contributing to improve human health and wellbeing and a more sustainable world.

Our willingness to foster knowledge transfer from fundamental to applied research and society is driven by the UBIMedical/UBIExecutive incubator/accelerator, which plays a key role in getting closer academia and corporate stakeholders.

Doing research at UBI is where knowledge meets limitless possibilities.

UBI's educational project is based on the principles of student-centred learning, curricular flexibility, proximity between students and teachers, pedagogical innovation using new technologies and digital learning tools, interconnection with research, multiculturalism and inclusion, and internationalization with special emphasis on the UNITA alliance.

Undergraduate Studies

Our educational offer covers the most diverse areas through 5 faculties. At UBI we welcome students through various activities, such as the UBIANAS artistic residencies, but also through sport and other integration activities.

During their stay, students have opportunities to take part in exchanges with other universities, enter into mentoring programs with professors or former students, but also to carry out joint study programs with other universities within the UNITA alliance.

At the end of their course, students can count on the support of the Entrepreneurship, Professional Exits and Alumni Office to help them find an internship or a job.

Graduate Studies

At UBI, graduate studies are of high quality, providing an excellent link between teaching and research, with an excellent contribution to solving local, national and international societal challenges. Learning is supported by laboratories of excellent quality and by various Research Units and Research Hubs.

Our students are supported by various types of scholarships, including UBI doctoral scholarships, FCT-UNITA scholarships, as well as various university project scholarships.

UBI’s Bachelor and Integrated Masters degrees

UBI’s Masters degrees

UBI’s Ph.D degrees