Universidade do Minho (reviews)

The PhD program in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Minho presents several challenges that necessitate immediate attention and improvement. After gathering feedback from students, it is evident that there are numerous areas of concern that affect the academic experience. This review aims to shed light on these issues for prospective students considering enrollment in the program.

One significant drawback reported by students is the lack of financial support for academic activities. It has been observed that the university provides zero or minimal financial assistance for research conferences, workshops, and other academic endeavors. This limitation restricts the opportunity for students to present their work, network with peers, and stay updated with the latest advancements in their field. Without adequate financial support, students face obstacles in pursuing their academic goals and professional development.

In addition to the lack of financial support, the program also struggles with other challenges. These include a perceived absence of guidance and support for PhD students. Many students express frustration over the limited availability of knowledgeable staff members and a lack of assistance with their research and academic progress. The absence of proper guidance leaves students feeling isolated and uncertain about their scholarly journey.

Furthermore, incidents of xenophobia have been reported, indicating a concerning lack of inclusivity and diversity within the department. Such incidents create an unfriendly and unwelcoming atmosphere for international students, hindering their ability to thrive academically and socially.

The absence of social activities is another area of concern. PhD students often feel disconnected from opportunities to engage with their peers, both academically and socially. The lack of organized events and platforms for interaction further contributes to a sense of isolation and adversely affects the overall academic experience.

Lastly, the decision to locate the engineering school in a separate city, away from the main campus in Braga, raises questions about its logic and practicality. This physical separation creates logistical challenges for students and inhibits the integration of the engineering school into the broader university community. The resulting inconvenience can impact collaboration and access to resources.

It is crucial for the university administration and department faculty to acknowledge these concerns and take proactive measures to improve the PhD program. Addressing the financial support limitations, enhancing guidance and mentorship opportunities, promoting inclusivity, fostering social engagement, and reevaluating the location decision are vital steps toward creating a supportive and enriching academic environment for PhD students.

By providing adequate financial support, facilitating mentorship programs, organizing inclusive events, and considering the feasibility of relocating the engineering school, the University of Minho can enhance the PhD program and better meet the needs of its students. Such improvements will contribute to a more positive and fulfilling academic journey for aspiring researchers in the Civil Engineering Department.

This masters has a good program if you’re looking for a career in translation but do have in mind that it is a very general masters, it does not focus on areas like interpreting, and only has one subject for subtitling, so do be aware of this and check their subject overview for more detail. It’s not overly demanding and you’ll probably be able to get good grades.

Universidade do Minho is without a doubt a good university and I know it will help me achieve my goals, not only academic but professional. the teachers are committed to making sure that everything goes well.

The University of Minho is a reference in terms of teaching quality, and I am experiencing this in my graduation, there are always some counterpoints, but as a whole, it is a great university to study and provides great career prospects.

In general, the course was good, I really enjoyed taking English Literature and English Culture, but on the other hand, when it comes to the major and minor languages there were not many options. I was limited to choosing between English, French and Spanish as major languages, and there were only other few options overall as minors (the ones mentioned earlier) and Latin. Italian and other options could only be taken as an option for one semester.

The faculty hires several experts on the subjects, all though some of them lack teaching skills they make up for it by the level of investigation they do. The previous statement shows that when it comes to learning you may be forced to do so by yourself, but when it comes to investigation you will have good guidance.

The services are horrible. Too many students for a very low staff that can’t handle and don’t have the info to help the students figure their problems out.
Specifically the International Relations program: wasn’t great, but it changed and got worse. Some of the professors are great investigators, but not so great at teaching.
I wouldn’t recommend either the University or the Bachelors.
At least it’s affordable.

This university is without a doubt the best in Portugal. It offers a wide range of very interesting courses, namely the degree in History. Without a doubt, I’m going to do a master’s degree at this university because it’s really good.