A "Mestre" degree is awarded to those who, after completed a 2nd cycle - "Mestrado", demonstrate that:
a) Possess such knowledge and capacity of understanding that:
i) Based on the knowledge obtained in the first cycle, they manage to develop and expand that knowledge;
ii) Manage to develop and apply that knowledge to original situations often in the context of research;
b) Know how to apply their knowledge, understanding and problem solving capacities to new and unfamiliar situations in wide multidisciplinary situations, although related to their area of studies;
c) Possess the capacity to integrate knowledge, deal with complex matters, develop solutions or put forward opinions on situations of limited or incomplete information, including reflecting upon the implications and ethical and social responsibilities that result from both those solutions and opinions or indeed that condition them;
d) Are capable of communicating their conclusions and the knowledge and reasoning that underly them, both to experts and non-experts clearly and unambiguously;
e) Possess learning competences that will enable them to benefit from selforiented or autonomous lifelong learning.
It is a cycle of studies which has 90 to 120 ECTS credits and a normal duration between 3 to 4 semesters, or exceptionally 2 semesters and 60 ECTS credits.
In university education, it must ensure the acquisition of a specialization of academic nature, with the use of research, innovation or deepening professional skills.
In polytechnic education, it should predominantly ensure the acquisition of a professional specialization.
- A specialization course, consisting of an organized set of curricular units, which corresponds to a minimum of 50% of the total credits of the study cycle;
- A dissertation of scientific nature or a project work, original and specially carried out for this purpose, or an internship of professional nature which is the subject of a final report, according to the specific objectives envisaged, according to the terms established by the respective regulatory standards, minimum of 30 credits.
The "Mestre" degree is awarded to those who, through the approval in all the curricular units that integrate the study plan of the specialization course and the approval in the public act of defense of the dissertation, project work or internship report, have obtained the necessary number of credits.
It is the responsibility of the competent body of each higher education institution to approve, among other subjects, the curricular structure and the syllabus and the rules on the component of dissertation, project or report of internship, including orientation, presentation, defense and jury.
