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The undergraduate programme in Sociology at Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon was the first course in Portugal in this area. It stands out today as the main educational offer in terms of number of students and number of graduates in the area.
The undergraduate programme provides a solid and up-to-date training, involving the learning of sociological concepts and approaches on fundamental themes for a comprehensive understanding of contemporary societies.
The formative focus on intensive and extensive methodologies, incorporating a strong demonstrative component of research and operationalisation of sociological concepts and theories, gives the Sociology undergraduate programme at Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon differentiating features of wide recognition and prestige in the national and international panorama.
Throughout the training process, students are challenged to exercise and "experiment" sociology, both in terms of scientific research and of social intervention and professional practice.
The Sociology undergraduate programme is offered at Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon, during the day and after work, with a growing demand from adults, with the aim of completing their training and enriching their skills to meet the requirements of the labour market.
In order to provide students an opportunity to diversify their training, the undergraduate programme in Sociology offers, in the third year, the possibility to choose one of the following two branches of specialization:
- Sociology
- Public Policy
In this formative framework, one of the traits that is particularly advantageous stems from the clear prevalence in the teaching staff of members integrated in the research units of the Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon - mainly in the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-Iscte), Center for International Studies (CEI-Iscte) and Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies (DINAMIA'CET-Iscte).
Students can join the Sociology Student Nucleus of Iscte (NESISCTE), which, throughout the undergraduate programme, promotes the support and monitoring of students and develops a set of activities related with Sociology.
Offer in English
The degree in Sociology has had a growing demand from international students and offers a set of Course Units taught in English.
The results of entering the degree in Sociology at the Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon have revealed an increased demand, with the score of the last placed in the 1st phase of the national access competition in 2020/2021, of 14.1 values (Portuguese scale, 0-20).
As a higher education institution, the Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon offers its students a Learning Programme that is not limited to the frequency of classes.
All students entering the Sociology undergraduate programme are thus challenged to participate in numerous activities that take place in the context of the university, on an almost daily basis. This involvement is one of the pillars that supports the expansion of the potential for reflective skills and critical sense that our students are expected to acquire throughout their training process.
Our main mission towards students is to help them obtain solid, technical and scientifically competent training, which helps them to overcome themselves, and enables them to build alternative projects and make choices with a future.
2026/2027
The degree in Sociology lasts for three years (180 ECTS), with a solid training at the theoretical, methodological and courses specific to Sociology and offering the possibility of deepening specialised themes, through a wide range of optional courses.
The study plan includes multidisciplinarity, by opening to courses from other social sciences and from different disciplinary areas offered in other undergraduate programmes at the Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon.
In the framework of the plan, in addition to what has been mentioned, the following aspects stand out:
Some courses are taught both in Portuguese and in English, at different schedules. The option for a course in English represents an added value for the CV, in addition of enabling a deeper knowledge of the language.
| Unidades curriculares | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Classical Sociological Theory Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Culture and Society Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Descriptive Data Analysis for the Social Sciences Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Introduction to Excel * | 1 | 2.0 |
| Object and Method of Sociology Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Writing Scientific and Technical Texts * | 1 | 2.0 |
| Extensive Research Methods Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
| Inferential Data Analysis for the Social Sciences Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
| Institutions and Social Change Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
| Laboratory: Statistical Sources and Indicators Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
| Sociological Theory: Major Schools of Thought Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
Recommended optative
Optional courses will only be held if they achieve a minimum number of enrollments.
2nd year, 2nd semester
Daytime
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Demography
Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Economy
Introduction to Social Psychology
Evening
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Economy
Introduction to Social Psychology
Introduction to Contemporary History
3rd year, 1st semester
Daytime
Sociology of Work
Urban Sociology
Economic Sociology
Sociology of Communication
Sociology of Health
Evening
Sociology of International Migrations
Sociology of Work
Sociology of Culture
Sociology of Gender
3rd year, 2nd semester
Daytime
Sociology of the Family
Sociology of Education
Environmental Sociology
Sociology of Development
Evening
Sociology of Gender (in English)
Sociology of Education
Sociology of Consumption and of Lifestyles
Sociology of Networks and Information
For more information about curricular internship, please contact: career-services.espp@iscte-iul.pt
| Unidades curriculares | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Contemporany Sociology Theory Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Dependency Models in Data Analysis for the Social Sciences Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Intensive Research Methods Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Laboratory: Observational Field Research Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Social Classes and Stratification Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Laboratory: Ethics and Profession in Sociology Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
| Multivariate Data Analysis for the Social Sciences Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
Recommended optative
Optional courses will only be held if they achieve a minimum number of enrollments.
2nd year, 2nd semester
Daytime
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Demography
Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Economy
Introduction to Social Psychology
Evening
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Economy
Introduction to Social Psychology
Introduction to Contemporary History
3rd year, 1st semester
Daytime
Sociology of Work
Urban Sociology
Economic Sociology
Sociology of Communication
Sociology of Health
Evening
Sociology of International Migrations
Sociology of Work
Sociology of Culture
Sociology of Gender
3rd year, 2nd semester
Daytime
Sociology of the Family
Sociology of Education
Environmental Sociology
Sociology of Development
Evening
Sociology of Gender (in English)
Sociology of Education
Sociology of Consumption and of Lifestyles
Sociology of Networks and Information
For more information about curricular internship, please contact: career-services.espp@iscte-iul.pt
| Unidades curriculares | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory: Research Project in Sociology Common Branch | 1 | 6.0 |
| Modernity and the Social Question Public Policy | 1 | 6.0 |
| Planning Methodologies Public Policy | 1 | 6.0 |
| State and Public Policy Public Policy | 1 | 6.0 |
| Administration Sciences Public Policy | 2 | 6.0 |
| Evaluation Methodologies Public Policy | 2 | 6.0 |
| Laboratory: Research Report in Sociology Common Branch | 2 | 6.0 |
| Society and Social Policy Public Policy | 2 | 6.0 |
| Sociology Placement Optional Courses > Free - 3rd Year, 2nd Semester | 2 | 6.0 |
Recommended optative
Optional courses will only be held if they achieve a minimum number of enrollments.
2nd year, 2nd semester
Daytime
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Demography
Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Economy
Introduction to Social Psychology
Evening
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Economy
Introduction to Social Psychology
Introduction to Contemporary History
3rd year, 1st semester
Daytime
Sociology of Work
Urban Sociology
Economic Sociology
Sociology of Communication
Sociology of Health
Evening
Sociology of International Migrations
Sociology of Work
Sociology of Culture
Sociology of Gender
3rd year, 2nd semester
Daytime
Sociology of the Family
Sociology of Education
Environmental Sociology
Sociology of Development
Evening
Sociology of Gender (in English)
Sociology of Education
Sociology of Consumption and of Lifestyles
Sociology of Networks and Information
For more information about curricular internship, please contact: career-services.espp@iscte-iul.pt
The general objectives of the course are to provide a university degree in sociology that allows a fruitful platform, both to develop the employability of the trainee and to base subsequent postgraduate training, through appropriate articulation between them:
- Solid knowledge of the main debates and concepts of sociology and sociological theories.
- Pluridisciplinary coverage supported by a varied range of optional disciplines, introduction to other social sciences, areas of sociological specialization and free choice within the institution's training offer.
- Diversified and in-depth methodological skills, based on the teaching of extensive and intensive methods and extensive training in quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
- Technical operationalization of methodological skills and theoretical knowledge acquired, in laboratory training, aimed at testing their practical application (academic and professional).
The teaching staff of the Sociology degree is highly qualified and recognised nationally and internationally, with extensive experience in teaching and research.
The different areas of specialisation, within Sociology, of the teaching staff, ensures a very embracing training offer in very diverse thematic areas.
2025/2026
A national candidate (or equivalent) is considered to be the one who:
A national or equivalent candidate competes for higher education through the National Competition for Access – National Call, managed entirely by the Directorate General for Higher Education (DGES). See here. That is, the application is not submitted or analyzed by Iscte, but by DGES.
1 Apart from the spouse, the unmarried partner is also eligible if accompanied by documentary evidence. | 2 Children over the age of 21 who remain dependent on the Portuguese/EU/EEA citizen or his/her spouse are also eligible. | 3 Children who live with the Portuguese/EU/EEA citizen or his/her spouse are also eligible.
| Entrance examinations minimum score | Minimum application score | Formula for calculating the application score |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | 100 | Secondary school average 50% + Entrance examination average 50% |
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 697.00 € |
| Year 2 | 697.00 € |
| Year 3 | 697.00 € |
An international candidate is considered to be one who:
An international candidate wishing to apply for an Iscte programme competes through a Special Competition, managed by Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon. In other words, the application is presented and analyzed by the Iscte, through the Candidature Analysis Commission of the undergraduate programme for which the candidate has applied.
International candidates who meet the respective screening and selection criteria available for consultation here (see under ranking and admission criteria), may apply for this Special Contest.
National international candidates from China should also consult this page.
International candidates who are nationals of Brazil should also consult this page.
The application is online, on our Fénix academic management platform.
To learn more about the application process, and to move forward with yours, please consult this page.
The enrolment and registration of candidates who have applied for the programme is subject to the payment of the registration fee.
The tuition applied to international students is available on the programme presentation page. The tuition fees regulations are mandatory to read and available here.
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 1st Year | 5500.00 € |
| 2nd Year | 5500.00 € |
| 3rd Year | 5500.00 € |
See the previous tab "International Candidate".
The application to this competition follows a previous stage of registration in the M23 tests, which are mandatory at Iscte, typically in July. Candidates who meet all the following conditions can apply for these tests:
Learn more here (Webpage in Portuguese).
The Special Competition for Holders of Double Certification Courses of Secondary Level and Specialized Artistic Courses is intended for candidates who meet all the following conditions:
This special contest is intended for candidates who meet all the following conditions:
Learn more here (Webpage in Portuguese).
This special contest is intended for candidates who meet all the following conditions:
Learn more here (Webpage in Portuguese)
If you are unsure about your candidates profile, please fill in the contact form.
Among a wide set of employability, it is possible to highlight, e.g.:
Companies and organisations: human resource management, professional training, new technologies and organisational change, new forms of labour organization, quality management, organisational workplace culture, strategic planning, marketing, public relations;
Municipalities and regional development: local and regional urban planning, urban management and intervention, local entertainment, development agents, urban renovation, environmental impact studies, civil protection, local and regional development projects;
Culture and communication: cultural entertainment, cultural heritage, cultural policies and cultural management , marketing and publicity, business communication, social media, editorial activity;
Public administration and social policy: anti-poverty and anti-social exclusion projects, social (re)integration, education and school administration policy, health and hospital administration policy, labour policy, evaluation of social projects and policies, cultural projects;
Education and research: teaching, professional training, scientific research, research and project-based companies and departments, market surveys and study, production of statistical information, data analysis, consulting.