Tourism: Innovation in Active and Experience Tourism
Coordinator
Accreditation of the study cycle GEE
Process Nr: ACEF/2324/0124442 - A3ES
Initial registration with DGES:R/A-Ef 155/2011 de 18-03-2011 - Registo DGES
2.nd registration with DGES: R/A-Ef 155/2011/AL01 de 29-03-2018 - Registo DGES
3.rd registration with DGES: R/A-Ef 155/2011/AL02 de 25-05-2020 - Registo DGES
3.th registration with DGES (last change): R/A-Ef 155/2011/AL02 de 15-04-2026 - Registo DGES
Objectives
This branch of the Master's in Tourism aims to contribute to the training of human resources capable of responding to the new challenges and demands facing the tourism industry. Emphasis is placed on skills in the areas of conception, planning, and management of tourist destinations and products, particularly in the segments of nature and adventure tourism, rural tourism, and creative tourism in urban areas.
Thus, it intends to address the need identified in the Portuguese Tourism Strategy 2027 and by companies to improve the tourism offer by focusing on a dual context of training and management structured around two major strategic aspects: differentiation and qualification. To this end, new professional skills, new training, innovation, and new attitudes are essential.
This specialization branch of the Master's in Tourism differs from others both because it is more specialized, being highly focused on active tourism and the "new" dynamics of tourism that prioritize innovation and tourist experiences, and because it has a more practical component, especially in the second semester.
- Quality and diversity of the teaching staff, composed of 36 PhDs and specialists;
- Offers three specialization branches, with synergies between them;
- Rich and innovative curriculum – approximately 35 curricular units (CU), with the possibility of multiple options and variable geometry, according to the interests of the master's students;
- Excellent training offer in the area of tourism, through specialized higher education, aimed at preparing professionals to respond to the challenges facing the business and institutional tourism sector;
- Reputation and quality of teaching at ESHTE, a public law polytechnic higher education institution specializing in tourism, being the main reference school in the area of tourism at the national level;
- Development of the tourism sector on a global and national scale, with good future prospects;
- Possibility of opting for a one-year specialization course.
a) Hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent;
b) Hold a foreign higher academic degree awarded following a first cycle of studies organized in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Process by a State adhering to this Process;
c) Hold a foreign higher academic degree that is recognized as satisfying the objectives of a bachelor's degree by the statutorily competent scientific body of the higher education institution where they intend to be admitted;
d) Possess an academic, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized as demonstrating the capacity to undertake this cycle of studies by the statutorily competent scientific body of the higher education institution where they intend to be admitted.
Skills
Tourism is a dynamic sector that requires highly trained professionals who conceive, plan and manage tourism products and activities, namely in the areas of nature and adventure tourism, rural tourism and creative tourism in urban areas.
Through a holistic approach and strategic prospective vision, this programme aims at preparing and enabling highly qualified professionals to keep up with the external and internal demands of the sector, to be entrepreneurs and to maintain quality and innovation in tourism products and business management and models. This programme has a strong practical component that brings together theoretical and methodological knowledge with know-how in implementing nature, active, and creative tourism products.
Study plan
The course comprises 120 ECTS credits distributed over two academic years. Of the 60 ECTS credits to be completed in the first year, 30 correspond to the mandatory component of the branch and the remaining 30 ECTS credits to elective course units, to be chosen from other specific units of this branch as well as from those of the other two branches of the Master's in Tourism, provided that the timetables allow it (see also the table of course offerings for the other branches).
Considering the defined objectives and the skills to be developed, the aim is to provide a variable geometry of courses capable of meeting the specific needs of the various target segments of this study cycle and the profile of each student.
The course unit Structural Analysis of Tourism, to be taught at the beginning of the course, is recommended for all students who do not have a degree in tourism.
The second year begins with two methodology course units followed by a period for the preparation of the final project.
Assessment
Assessment in each of the course units within the taught component of the program is individual, consisting of written assignments (individual or group), oral presentations, or other forms of assessment deemed appropriate to the topics under study. The result of the assessment in each course unit will be expressed on a scale of whole numbers from 0 to 20, with passing depending on obtaining a final grade equal to or higher than 10. The grade for the taught component of the program is calculated by averaging, weighted according to ECTS credits, the grades obtained in the course units that constitute it.
The final grade for the Master's degree program is expressed in accordance with the provisions of Article 24 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24, i.e., within the range of 10-20 on the whole number scale from 0 to 20, as well as its equivalent on the European scale for comparability of grades.
The final grade will correspond to the average between the grade in the taught part of the course and the grade in the dissertation, project work, or internship report, weighted by the corresponding credits (ECTS) obtained in each of these blocks. In the first year, classes take place over 12 weeks per semester, complemented by an assessment period. Students' final schedule depends on the curricular units they choose; it is not necessary to fill the entire timetable, and they may even have classes on only two days.
Although students may choose curricular units from the elective component of any of the branches of the Master's in Tourism, the choice is conditional on these units not overlapping with the schedules of the mandatory curricular units of each branch. Schedules are arranged to prioritize the options of the respective branches. The Structural Analysis of Tourism curricular unit is taught intensively during the first two weeks of the course. In the second year, the Methodology I and II course units are conducted in an intensive format (1st semester) to prepare students for the final project, which can be one of the following three options: Dissertation/Project Work/Internship Report (for more information, consult the master's program regulations).
Schedule
1.st semester
- Wednesday to Fridays | 6pm to 11.50pm
2.nd semester
- Thurdays and Fridays | 6pm to 11.50pm
- Saturdays | 9pm to 12.50pm
In the first year, classes take place over 12 weeks per semester, supplemented by an assessment period. Students' final schedule depends on the course units they choose; they do not need to fill the entire timetable, and may even have classes on just two days.
Although students can choose course units from the elective component of any branch of the Master's in Tourism program, this choice is conditional on these units not overlapping with the schedules of the mandatory course units of each branch. Schedules are arranged to prioritize the options of the respective branches.
The course unit "Structural Analysis of Tourism" is taught intensively during the first two weeks of the program.
APPLICATIONS
- 1.st season | from 3.rd February to 15.th March 2026 - NOTICE
- 2.nd season | from 30.th March to 1.st May 2026 - NOTICE
- 3.rd season | from 14.th May to 19.th June 2026 - NOTICE
ADMITED CANDIDATES
- 1.st season - NOTICE
The results of the applications will be published according to the deadlines established in the application notice for each round, on the ESHTE website, in the tab dedicated to the course to which you are applying.
Telephone information: Monday to Friday – 9 am – 12:30 pm / 2 pm – 5:30 pm
Telephone: +351 210 040 700
E-mail: info@eshte.pt
Formalization of Applications:
To complete the application process, which takes place exclusively online, the candidate must access the Applications Portal. It is necessary to access the Guide for Applicants and follow precisely the examples provided (documents can only be up to 1MB).
Application fee | 75 €
The application fee will only be returned if the course does not open. For this purpose, the candidate must keep the respective receipt. Applications will only be considered valid if payment is made within the deadline for formalizing them.
Errors or omissions made in filling in the online application form or the application process’s instructions are the sole responsibility of the candidate.
Documentation:
- Citizen Card or Birth Certificate
- Taxpayer Card
- Certificate of qualifications (1)
- Duly proven Curriculum Vitae / Portfolio
- Letter of motivation with a maximum of 500 words (mandatory)
- Letter of recommendation (optional).
(1) If the candidate does not have a degree certificate, he/she must attach a written declaration. Under honor, he/she undertakes to present the missing documents by the 15.th October. Consult the rules for the payment of master’s fees.
Holders of a foreign higher education degree must present the certificate/diploma with the Hague handout.
Vacancies (numerus clausus)
20*
*Minimum number of participants required for the course to begin: 10
Ranking criteria
The ranking criteria will be applied if the number of candidates exceeds the defined numerus clausus.
Applications will be evaluated by the Scientific and Executive Committee of the Master’s in Tourism, which will decide on each interested party's situation, defining the corresponding credits and study plans.
On the other hand, candidates will be selected by the Scientific and Executive Committee of the Master's in Tourism, based on the successive selection of the following criteria:
i) Classification obtained in undergraduate or postgraduate courses, advanced training or equivalent;
ii) Curriculum vitæ and or portfolio of the candidate, namely academic, scientific, and technical;
iii) Letter of motivation with the statement of objectives;
iv) Result of individual interview, when deemed necessary by the Scientific and Executive Committee of the Master's in Tourism.
Preference will be given to former students of undergraduate and Postgraduate, Advanced Training (or equivalent) courses at ESHTE and executives from companies or public bodies with more than two years of professional experience, up to a limit of 30% available places.
In case of admission:
Registration | € 30
Registration | € 15
School Insurance | € 15
Fees | see below
Despacho n.º 17-PRES-ESHTE-2026 | Propinas cursos de mestrado ano letivo 2026-27
