PhD Programs

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree diploma in Economics, Finance, or other related fields and should have a good level of competence in English. If you don’t have a Master’s degree but expect to obtain it within the year, your application can also be considered.

Applicants should hold a Master’s. Your degree can be in any field (e.g., the sciences, arts, and humanities). Still, if you do not have previous coursework in business studies, your supervisor may require additional coursework (at Nova SBE or elsewhere). If you don’t have a Master’s degree but expect to obtain it within the year, your application can also be considered.

• The online platform opens on December 1
• Deadline for applications: January 31 (11.59 pm Pacific Standard Time)

Step 1: selection
The admission committee evaluates all complete applications. The best applicants may be invited for an interview that can be conducted by phone if necessary.

Step 2: admission offer
The admission committee determines a final ranking. Best applicants receive admission offers. Applicants will be notified regarding final decisions by email in mid-April.

Step 3: admission confirmation
When the admission offer is accepted, the successful candidate starts its enrolling procedure.

Nova SBE PhD programs are highly competitive and prepare candidates for an academic career. Please read the eligibility criteria and documentation requirements carefully.

Nova SBE offers research fellowships funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT [Foundation for Science and Technology] to best candidates. To be eligible, candidates should provide the documentation listed below.

All documents submitted should be in English.

Documents for general admission (see next point for document required for FCT fellowship)

• Curriculum Vitae
• Transcript of records of undergraduate and graduate degrees with the full list of courses and grades. Candidates who have not yet finished their graduate program should provide a certificate of enrolment with, if available, the complete list of grades achieved to date (also accepted in Portuguese)
• Recommendations in the form of two letters of reference, which should be sent directly by referees (as explained in the Online Application Instructions available at the application platform)
• Statement of purpose - including areas of interest and potential supervisor(s)
• Certificate of results for the GRE (Graduate Records of Examination) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). Results should not be older than three years. Applicants who hold, or will shortly hold, a Nova SBE Master’s degree are not required to submit GRE results
   

Document required for FCT fellowship (in addition to documents for general admission)

• Recognition of your foreign degrees in Portugal. This document is issued by the DGES, please see the DGES website for more information.
  • If you have already these document(s), please submit it during application.
  • If you cannot receive the recognition by the indicated deadline, please inform us at phd@novasbe.pt, including the request confirmation. We will consider each case individually.

Optional documents

• English language certificate. Test results should not be older than three years
• Other research samples

All documents submitted should be in English.

Documents for general admission (see next point for document required for FCT fellowship)

• Curriculum Vitae
• Transcript of records of undergraduate and graduate degrees with the full list of courses and grades. Candidates who have not yet finished their graduate program should provide a certificate of enrolment with, if available, the complete list of grades achieved to date (also accepted in Portuguese)
• Recommendations in the form of two letters of reference, which should be sent directly by referees (as explained in the Online Application Instructions available at the application platform)
• Letter of intent including the following topics:
  • why you wish to do a PhD at NovaSBE
  • what you would like to study
  • who you would like to work with as supervisor(s)
  • your career goals after the PhD
  • your financial circumstances and how you hope to support yourself
  • any funding requirements you may have
• Sample Research Proposal (up to 6000 words)
• Certificate of results for the GRE (Graduate Records of Examination) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). Results should not be older than three years. Applicants who hold, or will shortly hold, a Nova SBE Master’s degree are not required to submit GRE results.
   

Document required for FCT fellowship (in addition to documents for general admission)

• Recognition of your foreign degrees in Portugal. This document is issued by the DGES, please see the DGES website for more information.
  • If you have already these document(s), please submit it during application.
  • If you cannot receive the recognition by the indicated deadline, please inform us at phd@novasbe.pt, including the request confirmation. We will consider each case individually.

Optional documents

• Other Research Samples. This is in addition to the sample research proposal above. It can be any technical/professional report that you have written by yourself or are the lead contributor to (e.g., Master's Thesis);
• English language certificate. Test results should not be older than three years