On this page, you’ll be able to find information on the frequently asked questions that arise during application or (re) enrollment. And some useful academic information. This is but a small gist of the “normal” questions students pose and is not a substitution of (the mandatory reading of) the U.Porto, nor the MDGPE Master’s Study Agreements:
- Who should apply?
- Application Requirements ;
- Application dates;
- Enrollment Renewal;
- Re-enrollment;
- Enrollment in the second year;
- Assigning or Changing Supervisor(s);
- Internship Requirements;
- Internship Objectives & Activities;
- Final Dissertation or Report requirements;
- Dissertation submission and presentation request;
- Presentations;
- Important Dates (Academic Calendar);
Who should apply?
The MDGPE program welcomes applications from everyone, despite their age, gender, or creed. We value cultural diversity and especially the drive, passion, and expertise in the “core” fields of knowledge of the master’s program. Please take some time to explore the (WIP) online portfolio to see what is expected from enrolling in this program.
If you are not a native Portuguese speaker, you must be able to speak and comprehend the international English language. But please note that the MDGPE program courses are mainly taught in Portuguese. Although, virtually every professor will accommodate English speaking students (as the common international language for communication between students and staff).
To apply, you will need to follow the Application Requirements. Invest in the design of a dedicated portfolio describing your past work. Even if haven’t worked in graphic design or the editorial area(s). Make sure to collect, present, and describe your past work — from the “core” or adjacent graphic design and communication areas. Even if it is not very common, we’ve had applicants enrolling from STEM, Communication, or Humanities backgrounds in the past. Just make sure to describe in enough detail the work included.
Even if you don’t have formal training, education, or experience in communication, graphic, or editorial design area(s), you may still apply. Your life experience is still valued, and you should properly highlight it in the CV or the letter of intent. Please look at some of the students’ work in the website portfolio before applying to ensure this program is right for you.
Application Requirements
Your application to the MDGPE master’s study program requires:
- A recognized diploma or certificate of academic qualifications — bachelor’s degree requirement—, with the final classification.
Preferably in Design areas of study. The diploma must indicate the final average or classification obtained on a scale compatible with the European/Bologna classification system (or possibly normalize into a 0-20 scale).
Applicants must also include a detailed breakdown of the course curricula and individual class assessment that is usually included in the final diploma addendum.
Links to the online syllabus and course/class matrix listings may be relevant and valuable. Still, there is no guarantee we will review any material than the one included in the submission. Additionally, if you already possess a master’s degree (or other academic degrees), you should submit it as it will be considered. The assessment of the academic qualifications has a 20% weight on the final classification of the application.
- A Portfolio presenting the candidate with a concise and relevant sample of work.
The Portfolio should focus on the main “core” areas of expertise required: Graphic Design, Book or Editorial Design, Illustration, Information Design, and Typography.
Other Communication Design fields of study, such as Branding, Art Direction, Photography, Web Design, and Digital Interaction, are also relevant to present the candidate’s versatility and should be included as a complement for consideration.
Works should be annotated appropriately with the concept, client briefing, or problem being addressed. Credits to the authors (art directors, illustrators, photographers, typographers, etc.). Especially when done in collaboration with other colleagues or mentors or within specific contexts, such as courses in academia. A brief description of the main activities, competencies, or specific aspects of the work developed by the authors that are worth discriminating, such as relevant techniques, technologies, or materials used.
Additional links to online materials may be relevant and valuable, but there is no guarantee we will review any material than the one included in the submission. The Portfolio is the single most crucial component in your application, with a 50% weight on the assessment of the final classification of the application.
- A Curriculum Vitae, presenting your academic, professional, and personal or voluntary work activities.
The assessment of the CV has a 20% weight on the final classification of the application.
- Letter of intent (motivation).
The letter of intent should present yourself and your academic, research, or professional activity so far. As well as briefly present your motivations, expectations, and goals when enrolling in this master’s program. Special attention is held to the demonstration of knowledge of the MDGPE program structure and courses, and their relevance to each candidate’s goals.
The assessment of the Letter has a 10% weight on the final classification of the application.
Check the academic portal for the official and updated assessment criteria and additional requirements such as ID or Passport identification, documents, and fees. In any doubt, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the post-graduation academic services.
Application dates/phases
Normally, all master courses from the University of Porto have three distinct application phases:
- First: usually runs from January 2nd to March 1st;
- Second: usually runs from the 2nd of March to 20 of May;
These first two are longer and geared towards the application of professionals or international applicants. There are fewer available slots (usually, the master usually reserves 50% of the placement for these two phases);
- Third: usually runs at the end of July, from the 19th to the 25 July (although it may be sooner or later depending on academic constraints).
The third phase is the shortest application window, but it has the largest placement quota for a single phase (usually 50%). It is mostly geared towards graduate students who have finished their Design degree and wish to pursue further studies.
This calendar may vary according to the annual Rectory / FBAUP official calendar or any update pushed by the academic services. It is imperative to verify this information in the news section of the academic portal. If you have any questions, please contact the post-graduation academic services.
Enrollment renewal (2nd year)
To continue your master course study program, you must renew your enrollment in the second year (dissertation/project). This is not an automatic process.
First, according to the study agreement, you must comply with all the requirements (basically having completed all the course’s classes* and discussing a project proposal with the course director).
The enrollment renewal takes place from early August to early September, depending on the Academic Calendar. Usually from 8 August onwards
* It is possible to continue your second year, even if you have failed a single course, and are enrolling up to a maximum of 81 ECTS. Usually, this means you may leave behind a TP course (eg. Type Design), but not an important course (such as Project). This is also subject to formal academic procedures. Make sure to check the updated information in the news section of the academic portal or contact the post-graduation academic services.
Re-enrollment (leap year)
If you interrupt your study plan, make sure to re-apply for enrollment on time. Usually from 14 of June to 16 of July
Make sure to check the updated information in the news section of the academic portal or contact the post-graduation academic services.
Enrolling in the second year of the study plan
Second-year work can be carried out in 3 modalities: dissertation, project, or internship.
According to the current study agreement and the UPorto general masters’ regulation, each is slightly different in the objectives or program to accomplish. However, the requirements for obtaining the degree are identical or equivalent: https://sigarra.up.pt/fbaup/pt/conteudos_geral.ver?pct_pag_id=1010558&pct_parametros=pv_curso_id=1318
In a general sense, opting for the dissertation modality means you’ll initiate your path to acquiring and developing scientific research skills. The work has a more theoretical focus; hence, it usually produces a longer document but can also have an empirical approach of artifacts, services, or experiences as deliverables.
Opting for the Project modality usually means that you’ll be developing your project-based Design skills. This means it can be an original applied project. Or, even better, a project developed within an ongoing initiative or research project/team. As it focuses more on practices and outcomes, it is usually a shorter document and has its emphasis on the process and deliverables.
Opting for an internship usually means that you’ll be acquiring practice-based design skills within a professional environment. Emphasis must be given to the processes, products, and experiences developed. But, most importantly, students must seek to integrate teams with established design practice and relevant design supervision in the desired field of activity.
Despite the modality, originality of the reports, demonstration of critical thinking properly grounded on a well-identified state of the art and literature review, and rigor are a requirement of all modalities.
Finally, independently of the modality chosen, you may develop your second-year work — dissertation, project, or internship — in an Erasmus Mobility. If this is your choice, please get in touch with the International Office as soon as possible to ensure you have the necessary information about the important dates and all the requirements needed ahead of time — before the first curricular year ends.
Assigning and Changing Supervisor(s)
According to the current study agreement, after completing the first year, and before you enroll in the second year — the Dissertation or Project/Internship year — you’ll be contacted by the program director to present your Research Plan.
The research plan consists of a brief summary of the (provisional) Title or Theme, Modality (dissertation, project, or internship), and the Abstract, Work plan, or Internship Objectives. This will (ideally state the Context, Goals and Objectives, Methods and Instruments, and Main Results or Deliverables.
You’ll be able to discuss this with the program director and eventually, be assigned to an available supervisor that will help and guide you during your second year until successful completion of the course.
Sometimes, during the first weeks or the development of the work of the second year, you may find out that the supervision is not working out.
You or your supervisor may request to change the supervision. Either to include a co-supervisor (due to scientific or technical reasons). Or to change the supervisor altogether.
Any supervision change must be presented and validated by the program Scientific Committee (SC). Hence, to request it, you must:
- Discuss with, or at the very least, inform your current supervisor of this change/decision request first;
- Contact the program director via the official institutional email — direct individual email, or to the program email: mdgpe (at) fba (dot) up (dot) pt —, with your current supervisor in CC presenting the request:
- briefly stating the reason for the change in supervision;
- all relevant information about the current status of the work being developed (e.g.: modality, title or provisional theme, a summary of activities or writing developed so far);
- whether you intend to continue developing the theme (or what you intend to develop from here on)
As soon as we receive this information, we will convene the program SC and follow up as soon as possible.
Internship Requirements
Some students may opt to develop their second-year work within the context of a professional internship.
To do so, you must first contact the studio, agency, or company, presenting a letter of intent to do your internship. Then, if they confirm they are able and willing to receive you within your academic internship, you must present your research plan — including the confirmation of the location of the internship — to the program director, who will assign a faculty supervisor (see previous section on assigning supervisors).
As soon as you start the second-year activities, the first thing to do before starting the actual internship, together with your faculty supervisor and with the company internship supervisor, is to sign the Internship Protocol and write up an Internship Program.
The protocol is attached here:
The Internship Program is a one-page (max.) document stating your internship program or expected work plan. It should contain information about the topic or nature of the internship, the general objective(s) of the internship, the work/responsibilities that will be assigned to you, a schedule of activities throughout the duration of the internship, and, if possible, the expected results.
When this protocol and internship program are signed, you must hand in the three signed copies at the academic office or a digitally signed copy via email.
After all documents are validated and signed by the Faculty Director, you may proceed with your internship.
Internship Objectives and Activities
The internship should be designed with specific objectives in mind. This means that students and their supervisors should design an internship program with objectives beyond the “simple” professional practice acquisition.”
According to the study agreement, students must pursue, during the master program internship, the “deepening of professional activities.” This means that these internship professional activities should demonstrate the acquisition of skills and competencies beyond those of a first-time graduate student entering the professional workforce. Also, they should develop skills and competencies beyond those provided during previous study cycles (including the 1st year of the master’s program).
Hence, the master’s program should be more than “simple everyday professional practice”. As stated above, the internship must begin with a clear program, [learning] objectives, and valid [and valuable] outcomes for everyone involved.
The activities that lead to these should also be “negotiated” with the professional entity and the student (with the supervisors’ guidance). Currently, there’s no mandatory mode of operation.
The internship protocol stipulates a minimum of 3 months (195 hours) and a maximum of 5 meses (325 hours). These are estimated values and depend on the type and requirements of the activities of each internship and student. This means that the modes and conditions of the activities may vary.
One may accomplish the internship in a full-time, five-day-a-week, in-person mode. In such a case, it is expected that the professional entity should have the proper conditions to accommodate the students — workplace, equipment, constant guidance, etc.
But it may also be accomplished in a remote working mode, where the student is only required to check in (remotely or in person) sparingly but always with proper guidance and support while developing his or her project or working in the shared entity’s projects. The supervision team and the student will define the workplace conditions and modes of operation. In any case, the activities must not extend beyond the maximum limit.
Final Dissertation or Report requirements
There is no specific format or rules you must abide by to write and design your final report or dissertation. The current 2014 Study Agreement stipulates only that:
- A dissertation must be composed of a body of text with an average of 20 000 words;
- A project [report] must be composed by [the report of] the empirical work developed within a studio or laboratory environment of an average of 12 000 words;
- An internship [report] must be composed by [the report of] the work developed during the formal internship, with a word count comprised between 7 000 and 10 000 words;
Any and all of the above must only be submitted as a digital PDF document (see the submission requirements below).
Notwithstanding, it is highly recommended that students produce — design, print, and finish — analog/physical editorial artifacts whenever possible or whenever the topic — editorial design — is addressed.
Also, according to the specific study agreement articles, all of the above must be original texts, providing the necessary theoretical and appropriate contextual framework(s), and with relevant and in-depth description(s) of the methodology and empirical procedures.
Specific issues about the format and content of (each) project report or dissertation are further discussed and clarified in the Methodology II course during the second year. Also, make sure to keep regular and detailed contact with your supervisor to clarify these issues on time.
Dissertation submission and presentation request
To submit your dissertation or report and request your final presentation, you must have completed all the curricular units and have accomplished a minimum of 6 months of supervised research and development work.
The normal and extraordinary periods for completing your master’s dissertation and project report are defined in the Academic Calendar at the beginning of each school year. This normally means you must submit your dissertation and request the final presentation by the beginning of June. Usually, between 6 and 11 of June. Or, in exceptional circumstances, until early to mid-September, usually until 10 or 11 of September. Check the updated information in the academic portal and the master’s regulations.
You are only obliged to submit a PDF version of your dissertation/report to request your final presentation and master’s degree. Ensure it is complete (with all the content sections and required annexes for a full comprehension and reading experience) and with the appropriate resolution (for an optimal viewing experience), preferably in single-page mode. You may also choose to submit a printed version if relevant. In this case, submit three copies for all jury members.
If, during your dissertation, project, or internship, you have developed physical artifacts — such as prints, books, or other analog materials relevant to your project — you may also submit these for jury consideration. In this case, you should also submit three copies of each.
This is also applicable to digital artifacts. If you have developed other digital materials (e.g., digital applications), you must also include them as digital archives, properly annexed to the submission of the final report or dissertation.
All submitted documents and artifacts are now under the custody of their recipients. The master’s program cannot be held responsible for their loss, custody, or return.
Remember that to submit and request the final presentation, all documents that are to be taken into account for final assessment have to be final and submitted by this date(s).
If not properly submitted nor thoroughly documented in the report or dissertation, any other document or artifact may not be considered in the jury’s final assessment.
Except for special notes of corrections requested by the jury during the public discussion (see presentation below), there will not be another document or submission opportunity. Also, according to the UPorto’s study agreement, if the documents are not ready, or you don’t achieve a passing result, you’ll have to develop a whole new dissertation, project, or internship. So make sure everything is in order.
Also, in order to submit your dissertation or report and request the presentation, you must have a signed declaration from your supervisor, declaring the compliance of the dissertation or report.
This declaration, the additional library forms, and all the necessary information will be sent to you by the academic office via the institutional email. Usually, this email is sent at the beginning of the civil year / second semester. Make sure to check your institutional email frequently or forward it to your personal email. You can also find the necessary documents on the Master’s documentation page on the Sigarra academic portal: https://sigarra.up.pt/fbaup/pt/conteudos_adm.list?pct_pag_id=1010558&pct_parametros=pv_curso_id=1318
Presentations
You have submitted your final dissertation or report and requested the final presentation. Now what?
Now, you have to prepare for the dissertation presentation. The director and scientific committee will assign you a date and a jury. Then, the academic office will email you the official summons.
This process — reviewing, finding a jury, and validating it with the Faculty director — usually this can take up to a few weeks. So, please be patient.
Meanwhile, with your supervisor, and in a timely process, you should prepare a presentation of your work, in up to a maximum of 20 minutes.
During the process of (re)reading and preparing your presentation, you may find some typos or issues worth addressing. Remember that all documents are considered “final”, and there is no place for corrections before the presentation. Hence, you may (and should) write up an errata sheet to present in the opening of your final presentation:
Errata sheets are commonplace in book publishing. Such documents list content revisions, and are typically a page or two in length. As the name implies, errata sheets are intended to correct errors and alleviate potential confusion.
Once the presentation day is due, make sure you test your presentation (computer connection and slideshow) in the assigned room (to test the projector quality, color, sizes… and table setup). Usually presentations take place in the PS01 Auditorium or the PS45 classroom. Sometimes, in times of greater activity, the PS32 or odd rooms such as the PA101 Auditorium or the Old Book room in the Library are used). Make sure to talk with the building operational assistants and test them ahead.
In the presentation day, arrive early (15-30 mins before) and set everything up. If you have a job, or need a declaration to justify your absence, please download the form below, fill it and the president of the jury to sign it. Afterwards, drop by the academic office to have it stamped.
Present your work. Answer and/or discuss it with the main arguing professor (or supervisor and president) of the jury.
If the jury finds it relevant or important, after the defense, you may be required to address any issue in the dissertation or report in order to have your final grade assigned and the master’s completed.
In such a case, the issues or the corrections must not substantially change the work done. Nor change or compromise the appreciation of the work done by the jury. The jury will specify them during the final assessment, and note them in the presentation minutes. And, as stipulated in the study agreement, you’ll be given a maximum of 10 working days to work these out with your supervisor and submit a (new) definitive digital version of your dissertation or report.
Important Dates
All the important dates of the academic year are scheduled in the FBAUP’s official calendar.
Although it is rare, this information may change due to specific constraints. Make sure that, at least at the beginning of each semester, or in preparation for any activity of your research project, you check this information or your institutional email frequently for any updates.