Not all paths are clearly defined from the beginning. Some take shape as students explore new opportunities. The first students in the new Undergraduate Programme in General Engineering share their expectations, interests, and concerns about what they will experience over the next three years at the entrance to the South Tower on the Alameda campus of Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa. While everyone in this inaugural class starts from the same point, the potential to forge different paths is central to their choice.

“It’s different from other undergraduate programmes”, says Marta Silvestre, explaining her choice of the new programme. “It allows us to explore different areas of interest before choosing a specialisation”. Torn between Engineering Physics and Applied Mathematics and Computation, she found in the new undergraduate programme a way to “keep both options open” and to delve deeper into her interests before deciding on the path she wants to follow.

The reasons that led students to this new undergraduate programme are as varied as the interests represented in the class. Hugo Repolho discovered the programme during a visit to Futurália, where he was particularly drawn to the “flexibility of the curriculum”. He explains, “I find it interesting to have an education that exposes me to different fields while also helping me figure out which ones resonate with me the most”.

For Tiago Morais, the ability to explore the relationships between different engineering disciplines was a crucial factor in his decision. “I’ve always enjoyed understanding how various areas of engineering can complement each other. I believe that being exposed to multiple perspectives from the beginning will provide us with a more comprehensive view and help us better understand the challenges we will face”, he shares.

Some students have crossed borders to attend Técnico. Among the eight international students in this inaugural class, Eilat Kissil from the United States found the new undergraduate programme to be “unique”. “A programme taught entirely in English abroad caught my attention”, she says. “Beyond the academic aspect, I was interested in the opportunity to study in an international setting and to experience a university environment different from that in my country”.

Outside the classroom, interests are also beginning to take shape. The Students’ Organisations and groups associated with the various Técnico departments are among the first things that pique the curiosity of new arrivals. Leonor Monteiro, a student from the Algarve, hopes the programme will allow her “to get her hands dirty”. “I believe the practical component is an asset right from the first year”, she says. “I’m eager to participate in projects, explore the labs, and understand how what we learn in class takes shape outside of it”.

According to Nuno Nunes, a professor at Técnico and coordinator of the new undergraduate programme, the launch of the programme also holds personal significance. “I know very well what it’s like to be in the first class of a new degree programme”, he shares. “I was part of the inaugural class of Técnico’s Computer Science and Engineering undergraduate programme, and even today, nearly 30 years later, we’re still close”. The professor hopes to see a similar “sense of community” develop among the students currently joining the programme. “I hope that, 20 or 30 years from now, this class will remain close-knit and have an experience similar to the one we had”.

While different interests mark their arrival in the programme, there’s also a shared expectation among the first class: “Lots of studying, lots of challenges, and lots of new people to meet”, the newcomers summarise, amid laughter. The first chapter of Técnico’s Undergraduate Programme in General Engineering begins this way, with 30 students admitted through the National Call for Access to Public Higher Education. This journey will allow them to explore different areas of engineering and, over the next few years, “forge their own path”.

The debut of the undergraduate programme took place during the second day of Welcome Week. Amid sessions focused on the new academic offerings, campus tours, and the initial moments shared as a class, memories are beginning to form of a degree programme that will officially start its journey at Técnico on 2 September.

Of the 30 national spots available in the first call, only one remained unfilled, carrying over to the second phase. With a minimum grade point (MGP) score of 17.1, the programme was the first choice for 70 applicants, resulting in a demand-to-supply ratio of 2.33, which is more than double the national average from the previous year.

More information: First Steps at Técnico | Study at Técnico

1st welcome day: All roads lead to Técnico: Welcome week for new students has kicked off

2nd welcome day: “Técnico reaches the four corners of the world” – Welcome Week celebrates the arrival of international exchange students 

3rd welcome day: “Starting university is an exciting step forward”: Welcome Week arrives at Técnico’s Oeiras Campus 

Photo gallery (available soon)