Diversity and quality of education
The IPB offers more than one hundred academic programmes, including short-cycle technological courses, bachelor and master degree programmes, expressing the successful implementation of the Bologna Process and of the adoption of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The IPB has the most qualified teaching staff of the Portuguese higher education polytechnic system, with 80% of its teaching staff holding a PhD. The IPB is part of the national system of science and technology through the existence of R&D units and branches. The IPB has indicators of the impact and excellence of its scientific production and applied research in several areas: according to the SIR World Ranking 2019, elaborated by the SCImago Research Group, the IPB is the Portuguese higher education institution with the better normalized impact, excellence rates and technological impact (http://www.scimagoir.com/). The IPB is a founding member of the Park of Science and Technology Brigantia-EcoPark, a privileged space for science and technology for technology-based companies, start-ups and spin-offs.
The IPB offers more than one hundred academic programmes, including short-cycle technological courses, bachelor and master degree programmes, expressing the successful implementation of the Bologna Process and of the adoption of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The IPB has the most qualified teaching staff of the Portuguese higher education polytechnic system, with 80% of its teaching staff holding a PhD. The IPB is part of the national system of science and technology through the existence of R&D units and branches. The IPB has indicators of the impact and excellence of its scientific production and applied research in several areas: according to the SIR World Ranking 2019, elaborated by the SCImago Research Group, the IPB is the Portuguese higher education institution with the better normalized impact, excellence rates and technological impact (http://www.scimagoir.com/). The IPB is a founding member of the Park of Science and Technology Brigantia-EcoPark, a privileged space for science and technology for technology-based companies, start-ups and spin-offs.
Quality of the facilities and equipments
The IPB has modern and well-equipped facilities, namely laboratories, ateliers, centre of resources and libraries, which constitute an invaluable support for the teaching quality and its practical and experimental characteristics.
The IPB offers wireless access in all its buildings. Students can also access to online resources, such as scientific and documental information, and to a modern e-learning platform.
The IPB has also a modern sports complex which includes several game courts, a turf court, and an Olympic athletics track. Also, it is the only campus in the country surrounded by a pedestrian and bicycle track.
Quality of life and low cost of living
In a recent European study, Bragança was considered to be one of the cities with a best quality of life, obtaining the higher scores in housing, security and environmental quality. The campi are located in the center of two towns, Mirandela and Bragança, which permits an easy access. Both in Bragança and in Mirandela you can find modern accommodation at very competitive prices (less than 150,00 €/month for a single room). Besides the good quality of life and the low cost of living, the IPB has the lowest fees in the entire Portuguese higher education system.
In a recent European study, Bragança was considered to be one of the cities with a best quality of life, obtaining the higher scores in housing, security and environmental quality. The campi are located in the center of two towns, Mirandela and Bragança, which permits an easy access. Both in Bragança and in Mirandela you can find modern accommodation at very competitive prices (less than 150,00 €/month for a single room). Besides the good quality of life and the low cost of living, the IPB has the lowest fees in the entire Portuguese higher education system.
Academic, cultural and ecological environment
The IPB has 9000 students, who transform the cities of Bragança and Mirandela in centers of academic atmosphere. Bragança and Mirandela also offer an historical and cultural environment (cinema, theatre, music, dance, museums, and libraries). Furthermore, the surrounding region is well known for its immense historical, cultural and ecological heritage, comprising the Montesinho National Park, the International Douro Natural Park, the Protected Area of Azibo, the Sanabria Natural Park (in Spain) and the Alto Douro Wine Region, UNESCO World Heritage region.
Interculturality and internationalization
The students enrolled at IPB come from several national regions, Europe, and the world. Nowadays the IPB is a multicultural institution, with more than 33% of non-Portuguese students.
IPB has an internationalization programme with recognized success, including the annual mobility of more than 900 incoming and outgoing students and 300 teaching staff members, as the result of the collaboration with several higher education institutions from all over the World. Studying at IPB represents a unique opportunity of international mobility, and an asset for the training and employability of our students and alumni.
International recognition
The IPB belongs to the European Network for Universities of Applied Sciences (UASnet), which main objectives include the transferability of professional skills and the integration of applied research in their professional and technological education mission.
The IPB has been awarded with the ECTS Label by the European Commission. The ECTS Label certifies the quality of information on the academic offer and the management of students’ mobility within the European Higher Education Area.
IPB has also been awarded the DS Label. The purpose of the Diploma Supplement (DS) is to provide sufficient independent data to improve the international transparency and fair academic and professional recognition of qualifications.
The IPB was recently assessed by the European University Association (EUA) and it was recognized as one of the most successful polytechnic institutions: “IPB has made significant progress over the last five years, thanks to the commitment of leadership and staff, and their ability to develop and implement institutional reform. The Team would like to stress the enormous potential of IPB: it is an excellent example of how learning and research do not stop at the door of schools and departments” (EUA Follow-up Report, March 2012).
The sixth edition of the international ranking U-Multirank, a multi-dimensional approach to international ranking of higher education institutions, placed once more the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança as the best within the Portuguese Universities of Applied Sciences system (http://www.u-multirank.eu).
The IPB belongs to the European Network for Universities of Applied Sciences (UASnet), which main objectives include the transferability of professional skills and the integration of applied research in their professional and technological education mission.
The IPB has been awarded with the ECTS Label by the European Commission. The ECTS Label certifies the quality of information on the academic offer and the management of students’ mobility within the European Higher Education Area.
IPB has also been awarded the DS Label. The purpose of the Diploma Supplement (DS) is to provide sufficient independent data to improve the international transparency and fair academic and professional recognition of qualifications.
The IPB was recently assessed by the European University Association (EUA) and it was recognized as one of the most successful polytechnic institutions: “IPB has made significant progress over the last five years, thanks to the commitment of leadership and staff, and their ability to develop and implement institutional reform. The Team would like to stress the enormous potential of IPB: it is an excellent example of how learning and research do not stop at the door of schools and departments” (EUA Follow-up Report, March 2012).
The sixth edition of the international ranking U-Multirank, a multi-dimensional approach to international ranking of higher education institutions, placed once more the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança as the best within the Portuguese Universities of Applied Sciences system (http://www.u-multirank.eu).
The IPB offers all its students, national and international, a unique opportunity to study in a creative and innovative institution; and to take advantage of a unique academic, cultural and ecological environment.