In order to explore human rights in contemporary societies, a multiplicity of sites of knowledge production must necessarily be considered. Our belief in the importance of strengthening intersectionality has guided us to conceive this PhD program as a joint effort between CES and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC). The interdisciplinary mission that characterizes IIIUC fits with the scope and approach of this PhD program, offering high-quality knowledge and diverse expertise in a range of areas, both of which (experience and expertise) will be inspiring for future students and current staff.
The Doctoral Program in Human Rights in Contemporary Societies began in 2013-2014 and was accredited by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES) in 2020 for 6 years. The Program is offered on a biennial basis, thus opening a new edition every two years. The 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and 2017/18 editions were funded by FCT. This Program is taught only in English (lectures, essays, thesis and defense).
Objectives
This curriculum offer intend to support the development of non-positivist and multidisciplinary academic excellence in the field of human rights, but also to promote among students various perspectives on the history, theories, policies, institutions and practices of human rights in different contexts. It seeks to provide students with a cutting-edge human rights curriculum, promoting methodological perspectives that combine theoretical and practical understandings of human rights with critical, intercultural, and transformative perspectives.
Students in the 3rd Cycle Degree in Human Rights in Contemporary Societies will acquire in-depth knowledge of the history, theories, policies, institutions and practices of human rights, as well as of economic, social and cultural inhibiting factors. They will be able to understand and engage in public controversies that address human rights issues arising at the local, national, regional, and global levels. Promote theoretical, practical and methodological tools to assess human rights situations from various perspectives in different contexts.
Through this offering they will develop interdisciplinary research skills in the field of human rights in particular and the social sciences and humanities in general. They will be better able to train others interested in how to use, defend and/or conduct human rights research.
Coordination of the Course
Doctor José Manuel Marques Silva Pureza
Doctor Silvia Rodriguez Maeso
Duration of the Course
8 semesters
Programme Structure
| Curricular Unit | Year | Regime | Type | ECTS Credits |
| Scales and Practices of Human Rights: Legalization, Mobilization and Contestation | 1 | 1st Semester | Mandatory | 10.0 |
| History of Human Rights and the North-South Divide | 1 | 1st Semester | Mandatory | 10.0 |
| Theories and Politics of Human Rights | 1 | 1st Semester | Mandatory | 10.0 |
| Human Rights, Otherness and Representational Justice | 1 | 2nd Semester | Mandatory | 10.0 |
| Human Rights, Inequalities, Discrimination and Social Transformation | 1 | 2nd Semester | Mandatory | 10.0 |
| Human Rights, Development Policies and Globalizations: Contradictions and Alternatives | 1 | 2nd Semester | Mandatory | 10.0 |
| Short-term Internship | 2 | 1st Semester | Mandatory | 5.0 |
| Research Methodologies Seminar and Thesis Project | 2 | 1st Semester | Mandatory | 25.0 |
| Thesis | 2 | Multiannual | Mandatory | 150.0 |
Venue
The venues for this course should be consulted in the Timetable available on InforEstudante.
Regulations
The CES PhD Programs are governed by the academic regulations of the University of Coimbra and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research.
Available places
1st Phase: 8 places
2nd Phase: 6 places
3rd Phase: 1 place + remaining places
The course will only run in the current school year if the minimum number of students enrolled (5 students) is reached.
Application Deadline
1st phase: March 3rd to 31st, 2025
2nd phase: June 2nd to July 15th, 2025
3rd phase: September 1st to 12th, 2025