The PhD programme in Heritage, Arts and Creativity (PAC) is an advanced training and research programme offered jointly by the Polytechnic University of Tomar (IPT), the Polytechnic University of Castelo Branco (IPCB) and the Polytechnic University of Guarda (IPG). However, it is currently undergoing a process of converting to an association status at A3ES (the Portuguese Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education). This PhD programme benefits from academic collaborations with all universities belonging to the KreativEU university consortium — the European University dedicated to Identity, Heritage and Creativity in Europe, led by the Polytechnic University of Tomar — as well as with the UNITA and BAUHAUS4EU consortia, to which IPG and IPCB belong, respectively.
The PhD programme’s primary scientific field is Arts and Humanities (A&H) and is aligned with the remit of the R&D Unit ‘Centre for Technology, Restoration and Arts Enhancement’ (TECHN&ART), in which the doctoral programme will be carried out. This PhD programme focuses on the intersection between heritage conservation, contemporary artistic practices and the creative industries, reinforcing the role of IPT, IPCB, IPG and of TECHN&ART as key players in the regional production of applied research and cultural development and across the country.
The curriculum is available in the annex and comprises 180 ECTS credits.
The duration of the programme is 3 years
The PAC PhD programme combines tangible and intangible heritage with art, promoting a transdisciplinary education in the arts and humanities using creativity. It distinguishes itself from similar PhDs by offering a cross-disciplinary, research-oriented programme arising from this intersection between heritage, art and creativity, contributing to an understanding and appreciation of heritage across a broad and diverse geographical scope, thereby enabling a more accurate and tailored interpretation of each of the situations under investigation. In addition to its geographical scope, the diversity of expertise among the teaching staff involved enables the development of a wide range of tools, methodologies and mechanisms, facilitating the production of research materials tailored to each topic of study and context. In this PhD programme, the use of creativity – a core value for the field of art and for the European University – KreativEU – enables the creation of innovative solutions to reframe, enhance and conserve heritage, promoting resilience in its understanding, management, communication and enhancement, whilst also adhering to an eco-cultural framework.
Art is, by definition, multifaceted and concerned with the development of unique poetic discourses. Within this field, a wide range of subjects and topics can be explored. Consequently, research centred on artistic heritage fosters the novelty of each student’s personal and unique encounter with their own distinct perspective and understanding of the world, which will enhance their professional and research performance.
The predominant mode of teaching for this degree course is face-to-face. It will be carried out during a daytime regime and classes will take place mainly at the IPT campus, owing to the availability of laboratory facilities suitable for teaching more practical modules.
Heritage is the subject of theoretical and practical study and research, which are carried out through the exploration of creative practices. These are taught and supervised within the academic context, tailored to the specific research interests of each student.
Classes comprise oral presentations supported by the viewing of images and the reading of texts, encouraging students to develop independent and critical discourses, whilst raising their awareness of the specific aspects of art-based and practice-based research, which can be applied innovatively to the heritage sector. In addition, there is a distance-learning component in the format of lectures by experts from other institutions, which aims to broaden the critical discussion surrounding this approach to heritage.
Programme Coordination Committee:
Prof. (PhD) Ana Rita de Sousa Gaspar Vieira (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Ana Cláudia Leal Marques Pires da Silva Mendes Pinto; (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Maria de Fátima B. da C. Gonçalves (Instituto Politécnico da Guarda)
Prof. (PhD) Rui Miguel S. Sampaio Dias (Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco)
Academic staff:
Prof. (PhD) Ana Rita de Sousa Gaspar Vieira (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Ana Cláudia Leal Marques Pires da Silva Mendes Pinto; (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Hermínia Maria Pimenta Ferreira Sol (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Liliana Cristina Vidais Rosa (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Luiz Miguel Oosterbeek (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Maria de Fátima B. da C. Gonçalves (Instituto Politécnico da Guarda)
Prof. (PhD) Miguel N. M. Carvalhinho (Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco)
Prof. (PhD) Rui Filipe C. Carreto (Instituto Politécnico da Guarda)
Prof. (PhD) Rui Miguel S. Sampaio Dias (Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco)
Prof. (PhD) Andreia Maria Meira Machado Nogueira (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Prof. (PhD) Carlos Noronha Feio (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar)
Advisory Board:
Prof. ISABEL LÖFGREN (Södertörn University, Suécia)
Prof. KATARZYNA MAZUR-W?ODARCZY (Opole University of Technology, Polónia)
Prof. LUCIA NOVÁKOVÁ (Trnava University in Trnava, Eslováquia)
Prof. SERGIU MUSTEA?? (University Valahia Targoviste, Roménia)
Prof. SILVIU MARIAN MILOIU (University Valahia Targoviste, Roménia)
Prof. ZOLTÁN SOMHEGYI (University of Szeged, Hungria)
Visual Identity created by Teresa Cirera Dória, BA Student in Design and Graphic Arts Technology, Polytechnic University of Tomar
Location: Tomar.
Process No.: NCE/ 25 /2500394
Accreditation Term: 2 Anos
Publication Date: 11/03/2026
A3ES Deliberation

















