The student has to choose the courses (UCs) with the approval of the supervisory team.

The student has to obtain a minimum of 30 ECTS in the following groups of courses (UCs):

• 12 - 24 ECTS: Scientific Specialisation;
• 6 ECTS: Transferable Skills;
• 0 - 12 ECTS: Free Options.

Scientific Specialisation courses:

• have all 6 ECTS;
• address specific scientific topics of the programme, at Ph.D. level;
• are those needed for the development of the research work;
• are defined by PDEEC’s Scientific Commission;
• are offered in alternative years (the exception is “Statistical Learning”);
• “Optional in Specialization I/II” are for equivalence in courses in other doctoral programmes within U. Lisbon (subject to approval by PDEEC Coordinator);
• “Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering I/II” are for equivalence in courses in other doctoral programmes outside U. Lisbon (subject to approval by PDEEC Coordinator);
• are listed at https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/deec/curriculo and at https://rgw.al.dsi.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/deec-production-tecnico-departments/PDEEC-UCs_2025-2027_EN.pdf

Transferable Skills courses:

• have either 3 or 6 ECTS;
• encompass specific transversal training critical for completing doctoral studies;
• are defined by the Doctoral School;
• are offered every year;
• “Optional in Transferable Skill I/II” (3 or 6 ECTS) address writing scientific articles, communicating science, research methods, managing scientific projects, ethics, negotiation, leadership and entrepreneurship;
• “Non-Academic Internship II” (6 ECTS), subject to approval by PDEEC Coordinator, is a professional internship to carry out activities fundamental to the research work, jointly supervised by the Técnico supervisor and an external one (equivalent to 5 weeks), as a follow up of “Non-Academic Internship I”;
• are listed at https://doctoralschool.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/~doctoralschool.daemon/professional-training/transversal-skills

Free Options “Courses”:

• are offered annually;
• have either 6 or 12 ECTS;
• are not formal courses;
• are all subject to approval by PDEEC Coordinator, upon recommendation from the supervisor;
• require an activity report by the student;
• require an evaluation report (with a grade proposal) by the course professor or the internship supervisor;
• “Teaching Skills I/II” (6 ECTS) correspond to teaching support (in UCs of the 1^st and 2^nd cycles), with a nominal workload of 3 hours/semester, in courses in the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering, requiring that students conclude prior to the teaching support the certified training by Técnico on Teaching STEAM Students, offered by the Doctoral School (the terms of reference can be found at Doctoral-School_Teaching-Support-Reference-Terms.pdf);
• “Research Internship Abroad” (12 ECTS) corresponds to a scientific internship integrated in a research unit abroad, jointly supervised by an Técnico supervisor and an external one (equivalent to 9 weeks);
• “Non-Academic Internship I” (12 ECTS) is a professional internship to carry out activities fundamental to the research work, jointly supervised by the Técnico supervisor and an external one (equivalent to 9 weeks);
• for internships, require a joint proposal from the student and the supervisor, using the template for PDEEC (PDEEC_Internship-Proposal.docx);
• for internships, the terms of reference can be found at Doctoral-School_Internship-Reference-Terms.pdf;
• “Optional I/II” (6 ECTS) are to be chosen in other doctoral programmes within U. Lisbon