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.
