NEWS
Welcome to the Polytechnic University of Leiria
14 July 2025
The Polytechnic University of Leiria (IPLeiria) is a public higher education institution serving society and is fully engaged in its various dimensions, namely teaching, research, and innovation. It is currently undergoing a significant phase of growth, development, and national and international recognition.
The institution offers high-quality, labour market-oriented education in the areas of Arts and Design, Marine Science and Technology, Business and Legal Sciences, Education and Social Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Health and Sport, and Tourism. With a community of around 14,500 students and more than 1,650 professionals (including teaching staff, researchers, and technical personnel), IPLeiria currently offers 45 short-cycle higher technical programmes (TeSP), 45 bachelor’s degrees, 85 master’s and postgraduate programmes, and 4 PhD programmes.
It provides its students with a high-quality academic experience, seeking to serve as a launchpad for a successful and fulfilling professional life. This is achieved through fundamental values such as creativity, innovation, ethics and responsibility, sustainability, pluralism, and inclusion.
The institution gives priority to the empowerment of citizens with relevant skills, fostered through the development of comprehensive, up-to-date and high-quality academic programmes, lifelong learning strategies, and international cooperation and mobility initiatives in the fields of education, training, research, and innovation. This strategic approach is further reinforced by a strong commitment to society, aiming to generate impactful knowledge.
Research and Development Ecosystem
With increasing activity in the field of research, the Polytechnic University of Leiria is defined by an ecosystem of research, development, and innovation that is strongly oriented towards the economic and social fabric of the surrounding region.
Recently, eight of IPLeiria’s 15 Research and Development (R&D) units were rated ‘Excellent’, five were rated ‘Very Good’, and two were rated ‘Good’. Led by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, this evaluation attests to the quality of our research units and recognises the excellence, dedication and commitment of all IPLeiria researchers.
The Polytechnic University of Leiria’s Research, Development and Innovation (R&D+i) ecosystem includes:
- 5 schools
- 2 training centres
- 15 research units
- 1 knowledge and technology transfer centre
- 3 scientific infrastructures
Additionally, the R&D+i ecosystem comprises the following structures:
- 1 european university
- 3 business incubators
- 5 collaborative laboratories
- 9 technology clusters and competitiveness hubs
- 1 business school
- 1 business association
- 1 science and technology park
- 1 technological centre
- 1 technology park
- 2 regional energy agencies
- 3 innovation platforms (Leiria Social Innovation Hub, Health Innovation Hub, and the Leiria Digital Innovation Hub)
- 1 science centre (Living Science Centre of Alviela)
IPLeiria is oriented towards applied research and the pursuit of practical solutions to real-world societal and business challenges. Its R&D units operate in close collaboration with companies, through research activities, project development, and the provision of specialised services.
RUN-EU and Internationalisation
Currently, as a co-leader of the European University Regional University Network (RUN-EU), the Polytechnic University of Leiria contributes to strengthening the European identity based on innovation and knowledge. Particular emphasis is placed on pedagogical innovation, flexible curricular pathways, short courses that promote reskilling and advanced qualifications, as well as the development of European Degrees, all aiming to support the development of the region in which each international partner is located.
The Leiria and West region, represented in this European initiative through the Polytechnic University of Leiria, is a clear example of how an international cooperation strategy can enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of territories beyond major urban centres. The integration of IPLeiria into RUN-EU represents a unique opportunity to consolidate synergies between academia, businesses, local authorities, and civil society, supporting a model of regional development based on qualification, innovation, and internationalisation.
In a region characterised by a strong industrial base, an entrepreneurial culture, and a growing commitment to digital and green transitions, RUN-EU provides concrete tools for the upskilling of human resources and for the modernisation of the regional economic fabric. By creating training programmes aligned with market needs, developing applied research projects in partnership with local companies, and promoting knowledge transfer, this European University directly contributes to the region’s economic competitiveness and sustainability.
IPLeiria has embedded internationalisation within its institutional strategy, across all levels of its academic offer, with a clear goal of increasing the number of students undertaking international mobility (both outgoing and incoming), while also enhancing the mobility of teaching staff, researchers, and technical personnel.
To achieve this, it has been essential to raise the institution’s visibility and recognition regarding the quality of its education, as well as its research and innovation output, among other higher education institutions, international companies, and global organisations.
The Polytechnic University of Leiria offers a multicultural environment, allowing students from all over the world to share experiences. More than 1,600 students from 70 different nationalities are currently enrolled, making the institution a truly Global Campus.
Polytechnic University of Leiria: Who We Are, Where We Are
8 Cities · 5 Schools · 3 Scientific Infrastructures · 2 Training Centres
Leiria
CAMPUS 1 • School of Education and Social Sciences (ESECS)
CAMPUS 2 • School of Technology and Management (ESTG) + School of Health Sciences (ESSLei)
CAMPUS 5 • Health Innovation Hub
Caldas da Rainha
CAMPUS 3 • School of Arts and Design (ESAD.CR)
Peniche
CAMPUS 4 • School of Tourism and Maritime Technology (ESTM)
R&D, Training and Knowledge Dissemination Centre for Maritime Studies (CETEMARES)
Marinha Grande
Centre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development (CDRSP)
Torres Vedras
IPLeiria Training Centre
Pombal
IPLeiria Training Centre
Note: The Polytechnic University of Leiria maintains significant cooperation with the municipalities of Batalha and Porto de Mós, where educational and research activities are also carried out.
