Applications are now open for the 16th edition of the Postgraduate Programme in Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, a Portuguese-taught programme offered by the Porto Faculty of Law, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in partnership with ICFML – Instituto de Certificação e Formação de Mediadores Lusófonos.
Starting on 2 November 2026, this programme offers a qualified response to the growing importance of conflict prevention, management and resolution in legal, institutional, business and social contexts. At a time when complex relationships call for new forms of dialogue and intervention, mediation is playing an increasingly central role in the development of effective, responsible and legally grounded solutions.
Recognised by the Ministry of Justice, this postgraduate programme provides access to the profession of mediator within public mediation systems, namely in the Justice of the Peace Courts and in family mediation. The programme also includes an international dimension, through its connection to the International Mediation Institute and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, reinforcing its distinctive position in the field of mediation training in Portugal.
The 2026/2027 edition will take place in person, in an after-work format, between November 2026 and June 2027, combining a solid academic component with a practical and experiential approach. The programme will begin with a Mediation Bootcamp, held from 2 to 7 November, designed as an intensive week of applied training, simulation and professional skills development, with access to ICFML International Certification, Level 1.
Throughout the programme, participants will be encouraged to deepen their knowledge of conflict mediation, the role of the lawyer in mediation, communication techniques and negotiation processes. The programme will also cover public mediation systems, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the challenges raised by Online Dispute Resolution. Its methodology favours active learning, based on participation, critical reflection, skills training and an understanding of individual behaviour in conflict situations, further strengthened by the integration of the Conflict Dynamics Profile.
Aimed at graduates and final-year undergraduate students, this programme is designed for those who wish to begin or consolidate a path in the field of conflict resolution, with particular relevance for professionals connected to Law, Justice, organisations, social intervention and contexts in which negotiation and cooperation play an especially important role.
Under the scientific coordination of Ana Maria Maia Gonçalves and Professor Agostinho Guedes, the Postgraduate Programme in Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution brings together a teaching staff composed of national and international specialists.
Applications are open until 30 September 2026 and must be submitted through the online platform of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The postgraduate programme awards 17 ECTS to participants who meet the assessment and attendance requirements.
With this new edition, the Porto Faculty of Law strengthens its commitment to applied, interdisciplinary legal education, attentive to the growing role of mediation in the prevention and qualified resolution of conflicts.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMME