OFFICIAL INCOMING ROADMAP · UNIVERSITY OF COIMBRA

Official Mobility Guide & Timeline

A transparent, verified roadmap for international students planning a hands-on laboratory research stay at BIA Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering (DEQ / FCTUC).

Portal Scope: Attracting & Recruiting Research Talent for BIA Lab

The primary purpose of this portal is to connect with international students and early-career researchers who wish to conduct scientific research, master's thesis projects, doctoral stays, or practical computational traineeships at BIA Lab under the supervision of Prof. Sérgio F. Sousa.

Flexible Research Formats: Students do not need to come exclusively to defend a formal Master’s thesis or degree dissertation. We actively welcome hands-on laboratory internships, Erasmus+ Traineeships (Staj), and collaborative computational projects of various durations.

Attending Regular Lecture Courses? Exchange students seeking strictly to enroll in traditional classroom lectures and earn curricular course credits ("fazer cadeiras") should use the central University of Coimbra international mobility channels (UC Central International Relations / DRI ↗). Those general academic coursework channels operate independently of BIA Lab.

Planning & Timeline

When Should You Apply?

In practice, the exact timeline depends on your specific mobility framework (Erasmus+ Traineeship, Master’s Thesis, or Visiting PhD), your home institution’s internal calendar, and laboratory workstation availability.

Flexible Research Timelines

Unlike classroom lecture courses, laboratory research stays do not have rigid, universal start dates. Traineeships and PhD visits can often be scheduled throughout the year or during summer periods upon mutual agreement.

💡 Recommended: Contact BIA Lab 2 to 4 months in advance of your intended arrival to define your research topic and confirm lab hosting capacity before formal administrative processing.

Step-by-Step Procedure

The Four-Stage Official Process

1

Informal Research Agreement with BIA Lab

Before initiating formal paperwork, browse our team on bialab.pt/team ↗ and explore ongoing projects on bialab.pt/projects ↗. Then submit an inquiry to BIA Lab with your CV and research interests. Once Prof. Sérgio F. Sousa and the team confirm project fit, you will receive confirmation to proceed with the official UC system.

2

Online Application at Nonio Portal

All incoming exchange students must register on the official University of Coimbra Nonio mobility applications system. Follow the comprehensive instructions provided in the official UC application guide.

3

Acceptance Letter & Visa Application

Following approval of your Learning / Training Agreement, your formal Acceptance Letter becomes available on InforEstudante (Login > Applications > Incoming Mobility > Details > Acceptance Documents). Non-EU citizens must present this letter when requesting their study / research visa at the nearest Portuguese Consulate or Embassy.

4

Arrival, Laboratory Induction & Buddy Support

Arrive in Coimbra, visit the UC Welcome Center / Student Hub at Polo I, collect your UC student card, and report to BIA Lab at the Department of Chemical Engineering (Polo II) for workstation onboarding, HPC credentials setup, and scientific briefing.

ESN Coimbra Buddy Programme
International Mobility Protocols

Strategic Country Agreements & Regional Pathways

Tailored bilateral agreements, national grant frameworks, and streamlined admission routes for students from our key partner nations and regions.

🇪🇺 European Union & EEA
Erasmus+ KA131

Full freedom of movement across the EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland (SEMP programme).

  • Erasmus+ Traineeship (Research Stays): Direct lab placement with monthly EU grant from home university for 2 to 12 months.
  • Erasmus+ Studies (30 ECTS Thesis): Enroll in the official Master’s Thesis research module at DEQ/FCTUC without course fees.
  • No Visa Required: Enter with national ID card; register CRUE at Coimbra City Hall after 90 days.
  • European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): Immediate full reciprocal medical coverage across Portugal.
Seamless EWP: Learning Agreements approved digitally via the Erasmus Without Paper network.
🇧🇷 Brazil
CPLP & Bilateral

Over 2,000 Brazilian students study at UC. Portugal and Brazil share deep bilateral academic treaties and simplified residence procedures.

  • CAPES / CNPq Doutorado Sanduíche (PDSE): 6 to 12-month research visits at BIA Lab funded by Brazilian federal agencies with monthly stipends and airfare.
  • CDAM (PB4): Bilateral healthcare accord provides free, immediate access to Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS).
  • Bilateral Agreements: Established institutional links with USP, UNICAMP, UFRJ, UFMG, UNESP, UFRGS, and federal universities.
  • CPLP Mobility Visa: Simplified consular processing with rapid residence authorization upon arrival in Coimbra.
Academic Synergy: Zero language barrier; seamless integration into DEQ/FCTUC research groups and joint international publications.
🇦🇴 PALOP & CPLP
Special Cooperation

Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe benefit from preferential academic cooperation agreements.

  • Gulbenkian Foundation Grants: Specialized research and training fellowships for PALOP scientists at Portuguese laboratories.
  • Camões, I.P. Fellowships: Scholarships for postgraduate research and scientific exchange across the Portuguese-speaking community.
  • CPLP Mobility Treaty: Streamlined visa application procedures and preferential university accommodation access.
  • National Sponsorships: Full compatibility with INAGBE (Angola) and Cape Verde government scholarships.
Support Network: Dedicated African student associations and international integration support at the UC Student Hub.
🇲🇦 Morocco & North Africa
Erasmus+ KA171 & Bilateral

Direct geographic and Mediterranean proximity to Portugal, with active bilateral and Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) frameworks.

  • Erasmus+ ICM (KA171): Bilateral mobility scholarships between UC and partner universities in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria supporting graduate research internships.
  • FCT / CNRST Protocols: Scientific cooperation and joint research synergies supported by agreements between Portugal’s FCT and Morocco’s CNRST.
  • Partner Universities: Potential candidate pools from Mohammed V University (Rabat), Cadi Ayyad (Marrakech), Hassan II (Casablanca), and UM6P.
  • Consular & Visa Gateway: National D4 study/research visa processed through the Embassy of Portugal in Rabat and VFS Global centers (Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier).
Mediterranean Gateway: 100% English working language in the lab with extensive campus support for international Maghreb scholars.
🇹🇷 Turkey
Erasmus+ Full Member

As an official Erasmus+ Programme Country, Turkish students and researchers enjoy complete eligibility for European research mobility grants.

  • Erasmus+ Traineeship (Staj Hareketliliği): Turkish BSc, MSc, and PhD students receive monthly allowances (~€600–€750/month from home university's Ulusal Ajans grant) for 2 to 12-month research stays at BIA Lab.
  • TÜBİTAK 2214-A / 2219 Fellowships: Comprehensive international research fellowships for Turkish PhD candidates and postdocs to conduct biomolecular simulation research in Coimbra.
  • Top Partner Universities: Frequent collaborations and trainees from METU, ITU, Boğaziçi University, Bilkent, Hacettepe, Koç University, Sabancı, Ege, and Gebze Technical University.
  • Visa Protocol: National D4 study/research visa processed quickly through VFS Global / Portuguese Embassy in Ankara or Consulate in Istanbul using the official UC Acceptance Letter.
Direct Supervision: Direct support from Prof. Sérgio F. Sousa to sign and endorse Turkish Learning Agreements for Traineeships (Staj Anlaşması).
🇨🇳 China & East Asia
CSC Compatible

Longstanding institutional partnerships between the University of Coimbra and leading Chinese and Asian universities.

  • China Scholarship Council (CSC): UC actively hosts CSC doctoral fellows for 1 to 2-year research stays in computational sciences.
  • Consular Centers: Visa D4 processing via Portuguese Consulates in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Macau.
  • Working Language: 100% English across all BIA Lab scientific meetings, coding, and supervision.
  • Institutional Agreements: Joint master's and doctoral research protocols with top Asian universities.
Research Immersion: Rapid onboarding into GPU computing clusters and published collaborative pipelines.
🌎 North America & Global
Fulbright & Mitacs

United States, Canada, India, Latin America, and other global destinations.

  • Fulbright US Program: Visiting scholar and student grants at the University of Coimbra.
  • Mitacs Globalink (Canada): Bilateral awards supporting graduate research stays in Portugal.
  • National Visa D4: Application through VFS Global with formal UC Acceptance Letter.
  • Free Mover Track: Independent visiting students can register for research credits directly at UC.
Global Gateway: Dedicated international orientation and assistance for third-country researchers.
Doctoral Funding in Portugal

Prospective PhD Students: FCT National Fellowships

Are you planning to complete your PhD in Portugal? The Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) runs an annual nationwide competitive call for doctoral research grants (Bolsas de Doutoramento FCT):

100% Tuition Direct university fee exemption for the full 4 years
€1,250+ / mo Tax-free living allowance + social security + travel funding
Up to 48 Months Complete financial stability for your doctoral degree
Global Applicants Open to all international candidates without nationality restrictions

BIA Lab Mentorship: We assist exceptional candidates in formulating highly competitive FCT research proposals in biomolecular simulation, QM/MM catalysis, and AI-driven drug discovery.

Start Your PhD Journey

Reach out with your academic CV, research thesis summary, and topics of interest. Let's design your PhD work plan together.

Propose a PhD Project →
EST. 1290 · ROYAL CAPITAL 1279 · COIMBRA, PORTUGAL

From 1279 to the future.
From Portugal to the world.

In 1279, King D. Dinis established his royal capital in Coimbra. In 1290, he signed the charter that founded our university.

For over seven centuries, navigators and scholars departed from these ancient hills to discover the world.

Today, our expeditions are computational. We model atomic dynamics. We train neural networks on molecular structures.

We simulate life. We engineer the future.

Join BIA Lab. Dream, Think, Solve.

“Real science. International collaboration. Future-ready skills. An inspiring experience in Coimbra.”
Laboratory Creed Dream, Think, Solve!