About Ispa

Ispa was founded in 1962 by Catholic religious orders under the original name of the Institute of Psychopedagogical Sciences, having adopted from the outset a pioneering approach aligned with the most progressive ideas of the time. A trailblazer in the teaching and research of Psychology in Portugal, Ispa adopted the name Institute of Applied Psychology in 1964. In 1977, it began operating under the management of a cooperative open to both teaching and non-teaching staff – a model it continues to follow today.

With an initial academic offering firmly grounded in various branches of Psychology, Ispa was also a pioneer in the teaching and research of animal behaviour in Portugal during the 1980s. It was during this period that it founded the School of Postgraduate Studies and launched at a national level, master’s programmes in the fields of Ethology, Psychoanalytic Psychology, Psychosomatics, and Environmental Psychology. By the end of the 1990s, Ispa had taken decisive steps in the development and promotion of the behavioural sciences in Portugal by establishing networks and partnerships with prestigious European and Brazilian universities and R&D institutions. These collaborations enabled the exchange of students, faculty, and researchers, fostering a broad and enriching experience of knowledge sharing.

In 2009, as a well-established and nationally and internationally recognised institution, Ispa was reclassified as a University Institute following changes to the legal framework governing higher education institutions in Portugal. This change granted Ispa the autonomy to offer bachelor’s degrees (1st cycle), Master’s and Integrated Master’s degrees (2nd cycle), and Doctorates (3rd cycle). Also in 2009, Ispa established its Centre for Biosciences, signalling a clear and successful commitment to the life bachelor’s his strategic move led, in the years that followed, to the creation of new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Biology, Bioinformatics, Marine Biology and Conservation, and Behavioural Biology.

With the launch of its Doctorate in Educational Sciences in 2011 – building on its extensive body of knowledge in this field – Ispa significantly expanded its academic offer by introducing undergraduate degrees in Basic Education and master’s degrees in Teacher Training. This development added value and contributed to the enhancement of a field that has assumed growing importance as a key pillar in the country’s development.

The excellence of Ispa’s Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Project has been a hallmark of its more than 60-year history, characterised by continuous institutional growth, public recognition, and meaningful societal impact.

Its history, highly qualified academic staff, ongoing investment in scientific research, knowledge transfer and engagement with society, promotion of cultural life, and vibrant academic community make Ispa the right place to dare to go further.

ISPA – Sapere Aude | Dare to Know

(insignia ISPA)