Student FAQs

Below is a sampling of typical FAQs and our best answers to them. Please scroll to the end of the page for questions on costs and on the GRE examination.

General questions

What are the application deadlines for MIT Portugal programs?
For PhD courses, the deadline is February 28, 2010. For the CTIS (Transportation) Master's course, the deadline is March 31, 2010. And for our Advanced Studies courses, the deadline is July 15, 2010.

I am finishing my five-year degree now. May I apply to the Program even though I will not have my degree certificate until later this year?
Yes, you may apply now. You will need to provide your degree certificate in September showing you have completed a five-year degree (under the older Portuguese "licenciado" rules) or a Bologna Master's degree.

Do classes take place everyday? What if I’m working -- can I do this at night?
There are specific schedules for each of the courses. (Please check the Education section of this website.) Some classes take place during the work day and others are in the evenings and on the weekend.

How can I have access to the subjects that will be taught and their content?
The curriculum for the courses is listed online for each of the Focus Areas. (Please check the Education section of this website.)

How do I know if my English is good enough?
The Program requires English fluency. You must be able to interact at a highly professional level with MIT faculty and staff, understand all lectures in English, and read and write in English. As part of the candidacy process, you may be asked to conduct an interview, which will be in English.

How long will I be able to stay at the MIT, in the US?
Visiting students will stay at MIT for a range of periods depending on the course of study. Master's students may stay a few weeks, while PhD candidates may stay a few months. The times also vary by program focus area.

I don't live close to any of the partner institutions. How do I know where to apply, or even if I have a chance to get in? Do I have to apply in person? If not, which documents to I need to submit?
Please see the Applying to the Program information online.

I have a degree in a field that is not related to one of the focus areas, but would like to further my knowledge in one of the areas. Can I do this?
Application criteria and information about the types of students being accepted into the program can be found here.

I have sent e-mails to one of the coordinators of a focus area, but have not received a reply. How can I access further detailed PhD information about the course?
Please direct your questions about a specific degree program to the contact person for that area. You may also send general questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

How many letters of recommendation do I need, and what is the procedure for getting these letters to the MIT Portugal Program?
Two reference letters are required. Each focus area has an email address to which these letters must be sent (Bioengineering: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Sustainable Energy Systems: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Transportation Systems: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). You must provide your two referees the email address for the program to which you are applying; the letters must be emailed to MIT Portugal by each referee. (The reference lettter template for the referees is available here.) It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that MIT Portugal receives both letters before the application deadline.

I've applied for a scholarship and did not get it. Can I apply again at a later date?
Applications for scholarships are open each year.

Is this only for Portuguese people? I'm from Brazil, studying at IST with a student visa.
Anyone is invited to apply.

My company would like to find out more information about your program and possibly join. What are the requirements? Can any company join?
Please visit the Program Affiliates section of the website.

What are the requirements? I finished my licenciatura with a final grade of 14? Can I take the course?
The requirements for application to each of the programs is listed in the Applying to the Program section of the website.

What do I need to do to apply for an MIT Portugal PhD?
Application requirements for each of the programs is listed in the Applying to the Program section of the website.

What is the registration/enrollment procedure?
The application procedures for each of the programs are listed in the Education section of this website.

What's different and innovative about this course, when compared to others?
The MIT Portugal degree programs represent a historical first, in that they are each offered in association by multiple Portuguese institutions. This collaboration allows excellent Portuguese faculty to join with MIT professors in offering the degrees. The involvement of MIT Portugal's Program Affiliates also provides a high degree of access to corporate research opportunities and greater exposure to future employers. PhD grant recipients will also have the opportunity to spend intensive research periods at MIT.

Are the MIT Portugal Program degrees MIT degrees?
No, the degrees are offered by national consortia of universities in Portugal, and the diploma you receive will be a Portuguese diploma. However graduates do receive a certificate recognizing their completion of an MIT-Portugal Program course, and these certificates feature the MIT Portugal Program name and logo and state the support by MIT of these educational programs. In addition, MIT Portugal graduates are granted Affiliate Member status in the MIT Alumni Association.

When do classes start?
Usually, between September 1 and 15.

I have the old Portuguese "licenciado" five-year degree, can I apply to the PhD programs?
Yes. This degree is acceptable preparation for entry into the PhD programs.

Can I apply to more than one area? For example, if I am applying to the SES Program, can I apply simultaneously to the EDAM program?
Yes. However, to do this you must complete a separate application form for each course to which you wish to apply, justifying your serious interest in each.

Can I work in the USA with an MIT Portugal degree? Will it be recognized?
Non-US citizens who want to work in the US need to obtain a visa. This process requires the US employer to propose itself as your sponsor. In terms of recognition, the MIT Portugal Program Advanced Study diplomas and PhDs are official Portuguese degrees. Most US employers do not require their highly skilled employees to have US degrees. Some may ask you to provide proof of equivalency to certain US standards and/or a translation into English of your official course transcripts. Information on obtaining a US Visa is available here.

Costs

How much does this course cost? I did not get a scholarship but am still interested.
The PhD programs cost approximately 3000 Euros per year. Master's and Advanced Studies courses vary in price. Please visit the individual pages of each program of interest to you (in the Education section of this website) for this information.

GRE Exam

Do I have to take the GRE General Exam to apply to the Program?
No. You may apply to the Program without a GRE score. However, candidates who completed their last degree five or more years ago, or whose final degree marks are not at the highest level, may want to consider submitting a GRE score in order to strengthen their application. Candidates for the Transportation Systems PhD and CTIS courses will be prioritized based on their submission of good GRE scores; candidates to other courses submitting GRE scores will receive a factor of preference.

What is the address of the GRE examination site in Portugal?
Prometric, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376; 1749-024, Lisboa, Portugal. (Website: http://prometric.com/GRE/default.htm)

I can only take the GRE examination at the end of February. Will my scores be considered as part of my application?
The company that offers the GRE advises candidates to leave at least 30 days between the date on which they take the GRE and the date on which their institutions must receive scores. If you can take the GRE before the end of January, then your scores might arrive in time to be considered with your application. After this time there is the risk that the scores will not arrive in time. We suggest you take the test at least a month and a half before the application deadline set by your degree program, to guarantee that your GRE scores are considered in the evaluation of your application.

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