ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics & Management
PhD in Development Studies
Lisbon, Portugal
PhD
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 4,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 2nd phase : 31/03/25| 3rd phase - 15/05/25
** international students outside the european union: 1st year | following years: 3,000€| national students within the european Union: 1st year: 3,500€/ following years: 2,000€
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
ISEG and AEISEG are organizing, from January 20th to 23rd, on ISEG Masters Open Week 2026 - a week to get to know ISEG's master's degree program in detail.
ISEG Lisbon is taking all measures with the health and safety of our community as a top priority. Since March we're operating 100% online, engaging virtually and using online tools for learning and evaluation.
The Ph.D. Development Studies was established by the Technical University of Lisbon in 2009. This 3rd cycle course aims to provide high-quality academic training in development studies and produce original research in this field. The course has emerged in response to the changes in recent decades that have brought Development Studies to the fore in current debates, both in the academies and in the area of economic, social, and environmental policy.
Host centers
The research undertaken in ISEG’s research centers, which have been classified by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) as very good or excellent, provides important support for students in this program.
The research centers for economics (UECE), economic sociology (SOCIUS), economic and social history (GHES), and international development and cooperation, whose research focuses on Portuguese-speaking countries and developing economies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, (CEsA) play host to the Ph.D. Development Studies students.
How is the course structured?
- The Ph.D. Development Studies is a three-year program in which students must obtain a total of 180 ECTS (credits). It comprises:•Taught course units, 60 ECTS;
Preparation, submission, and defense of a thesis, 120 ECTS.
Course units are taught in the first year of the program over 2 semesters. They are:
- Development theories (1st semester), 7.5 ECTS
- Development history and policies (2nd semester), 7.5 ECTS
- Research methods (1st semester), 7.5 ECTS
- Research Seminar (2nd semester), 7.5 ECTS
- Elective course units (1st and 2nd semesters), 15.0 ECTS
- Seminars (1st and 2nd semesters), 15.0 ECTS
Who is the Ph.D. Development Studies for?
Anyone interested in obtaining advanced academic training and doing research with a view to working in jobs related to international and national development in the public sector, the private sector, or the non-profit sector. Out-going students can find employment in teaching and research posts, managerial and executive positions in international and national organizations, consultancy, training, research projects, journalism, planning, development projects, public policy planning, and evaluation, and social projects and social policies.