Explanatory Guide to the Thesis Proposal (PDEIC)


Introduction


This page provides practical guidance on the preparation and submission of the PhD Thesis Proposal, a mandatory requirement of the PhD Programme in Computer Science and Engineering (PDEIC) at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST).

The goal of this guide is to explain what the thesis proposal is, how it fits into the PDEIC curriculum, and how students and supervisors should prepare for the associated evaluation by the Comissão de Acompanhamento de Tese (CAT).


1. What the Thesis Proposal Is and the General Process


The thesis proposal is a structured document in which the PhD student presents the research topic, research questions, and planned methodology for their doctoral work. It serves as the basis for discussion and evaluation by the Comissão de Acompanhamento de Tese (CAT), whose role is to accompany and monitor the scientific development of the thesis.

The standard process involves the following main steps:

  1. Preparation of the thesis proposal by the student, in close coordination with the supervisor(s).
  2. Constitution of the CAT, proposed by the supervisor and approved through the appropriate PDEIC and IST bodies.
  3. Public defense of the thesis proposal, where the student presents and discusses the proposed research plan with the CAT.
  4. Evaluation, resulting in a pass/fail decision, which is recorded administratively.


Timing

According to the PDEIC regulations:

  • The CAT must be constituted and approved within 12 months of enrolment in the PDEIC programme.
  • The public defense of the thesis proposal must take place within a maximum of 18 months after enrolment.

From 2026 onwards, compliance with these deadlines is mandatory for all PDEIC students.


2. Preparation of the Thesis Proposal


The thesis proposal is not the thesis itself, nor a final or binding specification of the doctoral work. Its purpose is to:

  • demonstrate that the research problem is well motivated and scientifically sound;
  • show that the proposed approach is feasible within the scope of a PhD;
  • provide a clear basis for discussion and feedback by the CAT.

It is normal (and expected) that aspects of the thesis will evolve after the proposal defense.


Length and level of detail

As a guideline, the thesis proposal should be approximately 5 to 10 pages long.

This length is sufficient to: clearly state the research context and motivation, identify concrete research questions and expected contributions, and outline the methodological approach and evaluation plan.

It is intentionally short to avoid turning the proposal into a premature version of the thesis.


Recommended structure and template

To help clarify what is generally expected, a typical thesis proposal is organized around the following elements:

  • Abstract: A concise summary of the problem, the proposed direction, and the overall plan.
  • Context and motivation: The background and rationale for the topic; what problem is being addressed and why it matters.
  • State of the art and research gap: A short, focused discussion of related work and the limitations that motivate the proposed research direction.
  • Research questions and expected contributions: The main research questions (typically 3–4) and what the thesis aims to contribute (models, mechanisms, methods, or empirical insights).
  • Methodology and technical approach: The planned technical work to address each research question, including how results will be validated (evaluation approach).
  • Preliminary results/feasibility evidence (when available): Early exploration, prototyping, or observations that support the feasibility of the plan (it is acceptable if this is limited at an early stage).
  • Timeline and publication plan: A realistic plan for the next steps and milestones, including intended research outputs.

PDEIC provides an optional LaTeX template that illustrates a thesis proposal through a fictitious example:

The template is not mandatory. Students and supervisors are free to adapt the structure, reorder sections, or modify the content as appropriate for the specific research topic and the expectations of the advisory committee.


3. Constitution of the CAT and Thesis Proposal Defense


The Comissão de Acompanhamento de Tese (CAT) is proposed by the supervisor, taking into account scientific expertise, diversity, and relevance to the thesis topic.

The proposed CAT must be: (1) reviewed and approved by the PDEIC coordination, in consultation with the Scientific Committee of the programme, and (2) formally approved through the Associação para a Pós-Graduação (APG), in accordance with IST regulations.

Whenever feasible and scientifically appropriate, the inclusion of at least one member affiliated with an international institution is strongly recommended.


Defense of the thesis proposal

After the CAT is approved and the written proposal is prepared, the supervisor schedules the public defense of the thesis proposal, in coordination with the CAT. The defense may take place in person, remotely, or in hybrid format. The presentation itself is public, in line with IST transparency principles. Any confidentiality constraints must be addressed in advance.

The date and location of the defense must be communicated to the PDEIC coordination to be announced on the PDEIC website.

Following the defense, the CAT issues a pass/fail evaluation, which is then formally recorded with the APG.


4. Guidance for Students with Overdue Thesis Proposals


PDEIC recognizes that a significant number of students are currently beyond the recommended deadlines for preparing and defending the thesis proposal and constituting the CAT. To help regularize these situations in a structured and realistic way, the year 2026 is intended as a transition period for clearing overdue thesis proposal and CAT requirements.

As general guidance:

  • Students in this situation are strongly encouraged to prepare the thesis proposal by March 2026.
  • The constitution of the CAT and the public defense of the thesis proposal should then take place by July 2026.
  • The second semester of 2026 is expected to be a period in which the majority of these cases are fully regularized, with thesis proposals already defended.


Students at an advanced stage of their PhD

For students who are already at a more advanced stage of their doctoral work, the thesis proposal should retain the same overall structure and length as described above, but may naturally reflect the progress already achieved.

In such cases, it is appropriate for the proposal to:

  • describe in more detail the work completed so far;
  • include references to publications, preprints, or submitted work;
  • clarify how the remaining research builds on existing results.