Founded on December 26, 1979, the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (in Portuguese Instituto Superior Politécnico de Viseu) (ISPV, colloquially IPV) is the first and only public higher education institution in the district, marking an important development milestone for the region of Viseu.

Today it is an essential reference of the city of Viseu and its entire region. From its birth until today, it has been the driving force of scientific, technological, cultural and economic development, namely through its teaching and research activities, of cultural, scientific and technological diffusion, of partnerships, inter-institutional protocols and collaborations with companies and other institutions.

The diversified range of training offered in undergraduate, master’s, post-graduate and post-graduate courses and Professional Technical Courses (Cursos Técnicos Superiores Profissionais – CTeSP – in Portuguese) combined with a strategy of partnerships with the business community, educational, cultural and social of the region, provide to their graduates a rapid insertion in working life and, simultaneously, development and progress to the region and to the country.

In total, the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu has an offer of 32 undergraduate courses, 33 master’s degrees, 15 postgraduate courses, 6 postgraduate degrees and 32 CTeSP, making a total of 118 courses, distributed in 5 Higher Schools.

Higher Schools and Campus

The Polytechnic Institute of Viseu consists of five Higher Schools and a community consisting of 4944 students, 380 professors and 230 employees.

The Higher Schools that make up the ISPV are the following:

• ESEV – Escola Superior de Educação de Viseu (School of Education of Viseu) 

The Viseu Higher School of Education (ESEV) was the first organic unit of a Polytechnic Institute to operate in Portugal since 1983 in the emblematic building of the former School of Primary Magisterium in Viseu.

In that same year, 1983, began the first courses of teacher training.

Being one of the five organic units that make up the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (IPV), ESEV assumes its vocation in the scientific, cultural, artistic and technical training of qualified professionals, in articulation with the provision of services to the community, research and strengthening of partnership networks with regional, national and international entities for the development of projects and activities of common interest.

• ESTGV – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Viseu (School of Technology and Management of Viseu) 

Founded in 1985, the first to be taught was the Management course in the academic year 1987/1988.

The ESTGV, as a higher education institution, is a center for the creation, diffusion and transmission of culture, science and technology, articulating its activities in the fields of education, vocational training, research and community service. The ESTGV is conducted by quality standards that ensure the adequate training to the needs of the community.

• ESAV – Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu (School of Agriculture of Viseu) 

It was officially founded in 1994, thus continuing the tradition, as the City of Viseu had the privilege of being a pioneer in Agricultural Education in Portugal through the creation of the Practical School of Agriculture of Viseu, by Decree of December 16, 1852.

ESAV intends to transmit and disseminate knowledge in order to train students with a high level of competences in the areas of agrarian, food and veterinary science; to promote applied research and its dissemination, cultural, scientific and technological exchange with similar national and international institutions and the relationship with the business community in order to contribute to the development of the region and the country.

• ESTGL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Lamego (School of Technology and Management of Lamego) 

Created officially in 1999, its teaching activities began in 2000/2001, with the degrees of Management and Informatics and Tourism, Cultural and Heritage Management.

ESTGL currently lecture underdegree and a master’s degree, aiming to develop other training areas equally related to management, social work, administration, tourism, IT and new technologies.

• ESSV – Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu (School of Health of Viseu) 

The School of Health of Viseu is a higher education institution located in the city of Viseu, Portugal, which resulted from the reconversion of the Nursing School.

The Nursing School of Viseu was created in 1971 and began its teaching and scientific activities at the service of Nursing training in October 1974. Its integration as an Organic Unit of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu took place in January 2001. In February 2005, was transformed into a School of Health.