The University of Coimbra
The University of Coimbra (UC) is a Portuguese public and autonomous higher education institution. Created in 1290 as the Portuguese General Study, by King D. Dinis, the university was initially established in Lisboa, alternating between the two cities until it settled definitively in Coimbra in 1537, on the banks of the River Mondego. From its foundation to the present day, the university has reinforced the city’s importance, attracting scholars and promoting intellectual growth.
Nowadays, it embraces ten research and education units: Faculties of Law, Medicine, Arts and Humanities, Pharmacy, Economy, Sciences and Technology, Psychology and Education Sciences, Sport Sciences and Physical Education, together with the European Judicial University Court and the Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health. There are also units supporting cultural, training and education activities, such as the Common Library, the University Stadium, or the Botanical Garden. UC is divided in three campi, and it is part of an UNESCO World Heritage place “University of Coimbra, Alta and Sofia”, since 2013. It enrolls as well several UNESCO chairs. The University is also the place of one of the EPS historic sites, the ”Old Cabinet of Physics”, that was distinguished in 2016. It is located in the oldest Jesuit college in the world, founded in 1542, and it was donated by the Marquis of Pombal to the University. This ”Old Cabinet” holds a magnificent collection of didactic and scientific instruments of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in an extraordinary state of preservation.
Internationalization has been one of UC’s main concerns with special emphasis in Education and Training. Regarding Education, UC manages 35 undergraduate degrees, 123 master degrees and 69 doctorates. It is worth highlighting the collaboration within MIT and UT Austin, as well as the Research and Training activities undertaken by the Centers and Laboratories, with 38 units and around 1800 researchers, and with 222 PhD thesis concluded in 2018/2019. On the subject of Transfer of Knowledge, UC deepens the innovation policy through INOV.C, an Innovation Ecosystem that comprises more than 500 partners. Spin-offs such as Luzitin, LaserLeap, InEye, TreatU, Active Aerogels, demonstrate this innovation environment.
The Physics Department (DF)
The Physics Department of the University of Coimbra (DF) was founded in 1772 as the Experimental Physics Office, part of the Faculty of Philosophy. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it maintained an intense collaboration with the main European scientific centers, even during the country’s most isolated periods. It is currently part of the Faculty of Science and Technology and has modern facilities, including classrooms with excellent acoustics, well-equipped laboratories and a reference library. It also stands out as a high-performance computing hub, providing resources for researchers from all over the country. It is responsible for the Undergraduate, Master’s and Doctoral degrees of Physics, Physics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and the Masters in Medical Physics and in Astrophysics and Instrumentation for Space.
The City of Coimbra
Coimbra, one of Portugal’s oldest cities, situated in the centre of Portugal, between Porto and Lisboa, was established during Roman times as Aeminium, and later occupied by the Moorish, before becoming part of the Kingdom of Portugal in the eleventh century. Often referred to as the City of Knowledge, Coimbra’s dynamics are linked to student life, research and to its University, the oldest in Portugal, the symbol of excellence in this city.
In addition to its academic importance, Coimbra was also the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal until 1255, when that function passed to Lisboa. The city is home to the Monastery of Santa Cruz, where D. Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king, is buried. Over the centuries, Coimbra experienced architectural changes influenced by the Renaissance and Baroque periods. More recently, in the 19th and 20th centuries, Coimbra underwent industrialization and urbanization. It played a role in Portuguese politics and culture, with the students of the University being an active force against the dictatorship of Estado Novo.
Nowadays, Coimbra’s historical charm embraces its modernity and innovation, making it an appealing destination for travelers. Fado music and its convent sweets are among its cultural offerings, very appreciated by visitors from all over the world, that stroll through its historic center, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013.