The UA is one of Portugal’s 14 public universities. It was founded in 1973 and has grown into a dynamic and competitive institution. Integrated in the community, it has a strong research dimension and offers polytechnic and university undergraduate programmes, 2nd cycle masters programmes, doctoral programmes and post-secondary vocational programmes. Its initial study programmes were launched in Electronics, Ceramics and Teacher Education. Subsequent programmes in Environmental Engineering, New Technologies of Communication, Industrial Management and Engineering, Regional and Urban Studies, Music, and Design were all new areas at national level.

The mission of the University of Aveiro is to share and apply knowledge, involving the whole community through teaching, research and cooperation with the surrounding environment with a view to make a difference for individuals and society. Committed from the start to innovation and quality in the three pillars of Education, Research and Cooperation, the UA has built a global project based on:

-          Life-long learning built on critical and independent thinking, that fosters high quality education, accessible to all;

-          Influential research, creative entrepreneurships that significantly contribute to knowledge, both at national and international level;

-          Cooperation with society;

-          Internationalization across its several activities;

-          A friendly, supportive and rewarding environment for students, professors, researchers and technical, administrative and management staff.