About U.Porto - History

The origins of the University of Porto

The University of Porto was officially established on 22 March 1911, shortly after the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic. Its historical roots date back to the 18th century when a combination of training experiences would be transformed into a university.

In the beginning, U.Porto was composed of two faculties: Sciences and Medicine. Also during the 1st Republic, the Technical Faculty was created in 1915 (renamed Faculty of Engineering in 1926), the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in 1919 and the Faculty of Pharmacy in 1925.

U.Porto’s development was stopped during the dictatorship in Portugal between 1926 and 1974. The Faculty of Arts and Humanities was closed in 1928 and was only reopened in 1961. In fact, the only Faculty to have been founded during this period was the Faculty of Economics (1953).

Following the Carnation Revolution in April 1974 until the end of the 20th century, U.Porto would finally enter a period of expansion. Eight new faculties join the six existing ones: the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (1975), the Faculty of Sport (1975), the Faculty of Psychology and Education Science (1977), the Faculty of Architecture (1979), the Faculty of Dental Medicine (1989), the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science (1992), the Faculty of Fine Arts (1992) and the Faculty of Law (1994).

The University of Porto is a public foundation regulated by private law, with statutory, educational, scientific, cultural, administrative, financial, patrimonial and disciplinary autonomy.