Explanatory Guide to Curricular Units (PDEIC)

Introduction

This guide explains how the curricular units (UCs) of the PhD Program in Computer Science and Engineering (PDEIC) work. It is designed to help students and supervisors understand the available options, the enrollment process, how evaluation and crediting are carried out, and the roles of students, supervisors, the PDEIC coordinator, and the Postgraduate Area (APG).

The PDEIC curriculum includes different types of UCs that support advanced training and research. This document presents them from the perspective of the activities students may wish to pursue:

• taking advanced specialization courses,

• enrolling in doctoral courses at IST or other ULisboa schools (optionals),

• gaining teaching experience,

• doing internships in academic or non-academic settings,

• or engaging in other advanced training activities (Topics).

Each section follows a common structure: objective, examples, enrollment process, evaluation, and roles involved.

General principles

• Enrollment: Students register in Fénix (IST’s academic system). The system automatically ensures that ECTS and curricular rules are respected.

• Precedence: For UCs with two versions (I/II), version II may only be taken after successful completion of version I, allowing students to repeat the UC with distinct activities.

• Forms: Certain UCs require prior approval.

  • For Teaching Skills, students must complete the "TS pre-enrollment form" (to be announced), managed by the UC coordinator.

  • For Topics, Internships, and Optional I/II, students must complete the "PDEIC prior approval form" (to be announced).

• Deadlines: Enrollment follows IST’s official deadlines. Students may attend classes from the start of the semester even if enrollment is still pending.

Contacts

• PDEIC coordinator (Nuno Santos): coorddeic@dei.tecnico.ulisboa.pt

• Teaching Skills UC coordinator (Alfredo Ferreira): alfredo.ferreira@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

1. Specialization Courses by Scientific Area

These UCs provide advanced training in specific areas of Computer Science and Engineering, aligned with the student’s research path. They are regular PhD-level courses taught by DEI faculty, with a well-defined syllabus and evaluation process.

Examples

• Advanced Topics in Computer Architectures and Operating Systems

• Advanced Topics in Reliable Distributed Systems

• Advanced Topics in Secure Systems

• Theory and Methods in Human–Computer Interaction

• Advanced Topics in Algorithms

• High-Performance Computing

• Machine Learning courses (e.g., Deep Structured Learning, Reinforcement Learning)

• Other advanced DEI courses relevant to the student’s scientific area

Enrollment

• Students enroll directly in Fénix during the standard registration period.

• No additional approval from the supervisor or PDEIC coordinator is required.

• Fénix automatically ensures these UCs are credited to the specialization block.

Evaluation and crediting

• Each UC has a course coordinator responsible for the syllabus, evaluation, and calendar.

• Evaluation is carried out by the faculty teaching the UC.

• Grades are entered directly in Fénix by the UC coordinator.

Roles involved

• Student: Chooses and enrolls in the UC (ideally after consulting the supervisor).

• Supervisor: May advise on course choices to best support the research path (recommended, but not mandatory).

• PDEIC Coordinator: No involvement in these UCs.

• APG/Academic Services: Handles standard administrative management of enrollment.

2. Optional Courses (I/II)

Optional courses give students flexibility to broaden their study plan with UCs outside their immediate specialization. They are formal PhD-level courses offered at IST or within ULisboa and count toward one of three groups: specialization, transversal skills, or free electives.

Subcategories

• Optional in Specialization I/II (6 ECTS each): Scientific courses offered in IST doctoral programs or by other ULisboa schools, subject to approval by the PDEIC coordinator.

• Optional in Transversal Skills I/II (3 ECTS each): Courses offered by the Técnico Doctoral School, with the list updated annually by IST’s governing bodies.

• Optional I/II (6 ECTS each): Free electives from any PhD program at IST or other ULisboa schools, subject to approval by the PDEIC coordinator. The list is also defined annually by IST/ULisboa governing bodies.

Enrollment and evaluation process

1. Prior approval: If the course is offered outside IST (ULisboa mobility), the student must first request approval by email to the PDEIC coordinator (coorddeic@dei.tecnico.ulisboa.pt), including the course name, link, and CC to the supervisor.

2. Enrollment:

   • If the course is available in Fénix for PDEIC students, the student enrolls directly.

   • If the course is offered by another ULisboa school outside IST, the PDEIC coordinator forwards the request to APG, which finalizes the enrollment with the host faculty.

3. Evaluation: The course instructor defines the evaluation method and records the grade in Fénix (or communicates it via APG for ULisboa mobility).

4. Crediting: Once the grade is recorded, the UC is automatically credited to the appropriate optional category.

Roles involved

• Student: Selects the course, requests approval if needed, enrolls, and completes evaluation requirements.

• Supervisor: Advises on the scientific or professional relevance of the course.

• PDEIC Coordinator: Approves requests for ULisboa mobility.

• APG/Academic Services: Handles administrative enrollment for ULisboa mobility.

• Doctoral School: Defines and offers the annual list of transversal skills courses.

3. Teaching Skills

This UC develops teaching and communication skills by engaging PhD students in teaching activities in undergraduate or master’s courses at Técnico. By assisting with classes, student assessment, and preparation of teaching materials, students gain practical pedagogical experience that complements their scientific training.

Examples of activities

• Supporting laboratory or practical classes.

• Assisting in theoretical classes under the supervision of the course instructor.

• Participating in the evaluation of students (tests, exams, projects).

• Developing teaching materials such as tutorials, exercises, or lab guides.

Enrollment and evaluation process

1. Pre-enrollment: Students must complete the TS pre-enrollment form, which collects information about the intended teaching activities.

2. Assignment: The Teaching Skills UC coordinator (currently Prof. Alfredo Ferreira) reviews the submissions and assigns students to specific courses.

3. Activity: The student collaborates in the host course under the supervision of the responsible instructor.

4. Evaluation: At the end of the semester, the responsible instructor provides feedback on the student’s performance. The student may also be asked to submit a short activity report.

5. Validation and grade: The Teaching Skills UC coordinator validates the activity and records the grade in Fénix.

Roles involved

• Student: Completes the TS pre-enrollment form, collaborates in the assigned course, and delivers a report if requested.

• Supervisor: Confirms that the activity is relevant to the student’s training.

• Course instructor: Supervises the student’s teaching contribution and provides feedback.

• Teaching Skills UC coordinator: Manages pre-enrollments, validates activities, and records grades in Fénix.

• Doctoral School: Provides general guidelines on teaching opportunities.

4. Internships (Non-Academic and Abroad)

Internship UCs provide students with the opportunity to gain practical experience outside their usual academic environment. They can take three forms:

• Non-Academic Internship I (6 ECTS): short-term professional experience outside academia (companies, startups, public institutions, NGOs).

• Non-Academic Internship II (12 ECTS): longer professional experience outside academia.

• Research Internship Abroad (12 ECTS): research experience at a university or research institute outside Portugal, with a local host and supervisor.

Internship opportunities are usually arranged by the student or the supervisor. The Técnico Doctoral School also provides information on potential opportunities: Doctoral School – Internships.

Differences between modalities

• Non-Academic I vs. II: differ mainly in duration and credits (6 vs. 12 ECTS).

• Abroad: must be explicitly research-focused, with a host institution and local supervisor identified.

Enrollment and evaluation process

1. Prior approval: Before enrolling, the student must submit a proposal via the PDEIC prior approval form (to be announced), endorsed by the supervisor, specifying:

   • host institution and local supervisor/contact,

   • objectives and activity plan,

   • expected duration,

   • supervisor’s approval.

2. Enrollment: Once approved, the student registers in Fénix for the intended internship UC.

3. Activity: The student carries out the internship as approved.

4. Final report: At the end, the student submits a written report and confirmation from the host institution.

5. Validation and grade: The PDEIC coordinator validates the report and documentation, and records the grade in Fénix. The evaluation is usually qualitative (pass/fail), but may take into account host feedback.

Roles involved

• Student: Proposes and completes the internship, delivers final report and documentation.

• Supervisor: Approves and confirms the scientific/professional relevance of the internship.

• PDEIC Coordinator: Approves the proposal, validates the final report, records the grade in Fénix.

• Host institution: Provides supervision and confirmation of the student’s activities.

• Doctoral School: Defines the general framework for internships and advertises opportunities.

5. Topics in Computer Science and Engineering I/II

These UCs provide flexibility within the specialization block. They act as a “container” to credit advanced training or activities relevant to the student’s research that cannot be credited under other categories.

How they differ from Specialization Courses

Specialization Courses are regular PhD-level courses with a syllabus, evaluation, and direct enrollment in Fénix. Topics I/II, in contrast, have no predefined syllabus and are used to credit external or exceptional activities, with approval and grading managed by the PDEIC coordinator.

Examples of valid cases

• Advanced courses, workshops, seminars, or summer schools organized by recognized academic or scientific institutions.

• Participation in other high-level external training directly relevant to the research area.

• Exceptionally, an MSc course at IST, if approved by the PDEIC coordinator and capacity allows.

• For flexibility, PhD-level courses at IST or another ULisboa school may also be credited under Topics, particularly when curricular or ECTS constraints prevent their inclusion as Optional Courses.

Enrollment and evaluation process

1. Prior approval: In general, before enrolling, the student submits a proposal via the PDEIC prior approval form (to be announced), endorsed by the supervisor, describing the intended activity.

2. Enrollment: Once approved, the student registers in Fénix for Topics I or II.

3. Activity: The student completes the approved course or activity.

4. Final report: At the end of the semester, the student submits a short report and supporting documents (certificate, transcript, official statement, etc.).

5. Validation and grade: The PDEIC coordinator validates the proposal and documentation, and records the grade in Fénix. The grade normally reflects the classification obtained in the recognized activity.

Prior approval for specific cases:

• Advanced courses, workshops, seminars, summer schools: Require prior approval via the PDEIC form.

• MSc courses at IST: Require prior approval via the PDEIC form. The student is responsible for enrolling directly (subject to capacity). If approved, the PDEIC coordinator evaluates the final report and records the grade under Topics.

• PhD-level courses at IST or another ULisboa school: For flexibility, these may be credited under Topics when curricular or ECTS constraints make it the more appropriate option.

  • Within IST: prior approval via the PDEIC form; enrollment normally done directly in Fénix.

  • Within ULisboa: prior approval by email to the PDEIC coordinator (CC supervisor, include course name and link). If approved, the request is forwarded to APG, which finalizes the enrollment with the host faculty.

Roles involved

• Student: Requests prior approval, completes the activity, delivers final report and documentation.

• Supervisor: Confirms the scientific relevance of the activity.

• PDEIC Coordinator: Approves the proposal, validates final documentation, records the grade in Fénix.

• APG/Academic Services: Provides administrative support only in ULisboa mobility cases.