“Frequently Asked Questions” for the Carnegie Mellon | Portugal Program

The respective programs at Carnegie Mellon and in Portugal are very committed to the success of their programs and to their students’ success—your success—in your graduate studies. You, our graduate students, are the key reason we are here. Professors depend very much on their graduate students, and we know that we are successful when our students are successful.

Our masters and Ph.D. programs are structured so that students gain experience both at Carnegie Mellon and at the respective campuses in Portugal. Throughout their respective programs, students maintain FULL status both at Carnegie Mellon and at the partner university in Portugal. In the end, all students will have fulfilled all degree requirements for both institutions and will be granted full degrees from both institutions. Here are some “frequently asked questions” from prospective graduate students.

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How are Ph.D. students funded when in Portugal?
When in Portugal, you will be supported by a fellowship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. Once you accept the admissions offer you will be instructed on the steps you need to follow to process it. This is a very generous fellowship. The current (2007) monthly stipend in Portugal is €980, which at current exchange rates is approximately $ 1,500 per month. Given that Portugal is much less expensive that the U.S., this is a very reasonable stipend.

If a usual ECE Ph.D. takes about five years, how long will it take me to complete an ECE Ph.D. if I enroll in the dual-degree program?
The dual-degree program does not affect the length of the ECE Ph.D. studies. Because both locations—Carnegie Mellon and the partner universities in Portugal—share the same curriculum, students make progress on all of their requirements at the same pace—regardless of location.

Out of that five years for an ECE Ph.D, how much time will I spend at Carnegie Mellon and how much time at the partner university in Portugal?
We expect that you will spend about two years at Carnegie Mellon and the remaining two to three years in Portugal. But, during both periods of time, you will periodically have short visits with the other university, about a week at a time. For example, while you are at Carnegie Mellon you will periodically visit with your advisor in Portugal, and while you are in Portugal, you will periodically visit with your advisor at Carnegie Mellon. Additionally, students have weekly teleconferences with the non-resident advisors. In this way, your work and communication with both of your advisors is seamless.

I’m not from Portugal and I don’t speak Portuguese. How will I be able to function, living and studying in Portugal?
All of our programs in Portugal and at Carnegie Mellon are completely in English, and English is also commonly spoken in Portugal as a second language.

How do I know whether there will be anyone else there from my country or who speaks my native language?
Portugal is in fact a very diverse country with students from all over the world who come to study at its campuses. Plus, the student communities are very friendly. Newcomers shouldn’t feel concerned at all about being isolated.

Do I need to complete visa applications? Whom do I talk to about for help with this?
Visa issues will be processed by the respective departments. Students will get help from the departmental staff.

Is the Ph.D. or masters degrees obtained in these joint programs the same as those of normal / traditional Ph.D. and masters programs at Carnegie Mellon?
Yes, the requirements are the same and the degrees awarded are the same, no difference. Some of the requirements are taken while in residence at Carnegie Mellon, some while in residence in Portugal. All courses taken in Portugal have been formally approved by Carnegie Mellon; this means that they have the same stringent teaching and evaluation requirements as at Carnegie Mellon.

How can I be sure that I will get the same academic training in Portugal, as helpful and competitive, as I could get at Carnegie Mellon? In other words, how does the program guarantee that the resources and environment provided in the Portugal partner institutions ensure that I meet Carnegie Mellon’s strict degree requirements?
The respective programs at Carnegie Mellon (HCII, MSE, ECE, EPP, etc.) are all closely connected to their peer programs in Portugal. There is also a close oversight for all the requirements that you fulfill in Portugal. Courses are vetted and approved; we have a committee that discusses the content of the courses, the quality of the professors, the teaching methods, the evaluation methods, etc. All Carnegie Mellon advisors work very closely with their peer Portugal advisors. Student also have frequent (usually weekly) teleconference meetings with the non resident advisor.

If I am accepted, where I will go first? Will I go first to Carnegie Mellon or first to Portugal?
It depends on the program. At any given time, different cohorts from Portugal are studying at Carnegie Mellon during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, and vice-versa. Again, however, even while at the partner university, students remain in regular and close connection with their program advisors at both campuses, particularly around research projects and the student’s overall progress.

During my time in Portugal, am I still advised by my Carnegie Mellon advisor or just my Portugal advisor?
Your advisors at Carnegie Mellon and in Portugal are your joint advisors throughout the whole program, whether you are at Carnegie Mellon or in Portugal. Your advisors already know each other and have been collaborating on other research projects, and they will welcome you into their projects. You remain jointly advised by both throughout your program. This dual-advising approach actually gives you a fantastic opportunity to establish close working relationships with two advisors, which can really both broaden and deepen your academic experience.