In the first year, students undertak a curricular part consisting of two semesters, participating in seminars on the various scientific areas of the course, taught by professors from Iscte and the Military Academy. In order to make the PhD a plural space, where diverse knowledge, experiences and interests intertwine, open to the privileged views of key protagonists in the field, the study plan also annually includes a Cycle of Multidisciplinary Conferences based on the collaboration of some of the most renowned national and international experts on these topics, as well as a Project Seminar dedicated to the discussion and preparation of students' doctoral projects.

The classes take place after work, and are concentrated on two days a week (one at Iscte, the other at the Military Academy), in addition to the Conference Cycle that takes place alternately between the two institutions. The program also includes an interdisciplinary component taking advantage of the insertion in the areas of advanced training developed at Iscte, and is carried out in close coordination with the research lines developed within the scope of the Center for International Studies (CEI-Iscte).

Students in this program tend to come from diverse academic backgrounds (from History to Military Sciences, including Political Science and International Relations, Economics and Management, Sociology and Anthropology) and from diverse professional contexts (military, teachers, diplomats, journalists, businesspeople).