Ten years ago, Universidade Católica Portuguesa launched a pioneering degree programme in Portugal: the Double Degree in Law and Management. Five years after the first cohort of graduates entered the job market, the programme has established itself as the answer for those who believe that “real-life challenges rarely belong to just one area of knowledge”, as Rita Eiras, a final-year student on the Dual Degree programme, puts it. “This course has better equipped me to analyse complex situations, make more informed decisions and adapt to different professional contexts.”
A pioneering initiative that still makes sense today
Over the last decade, the programme has produced 154 graduates and achieved a 100 per cent employment rate.
Launched in the 2015/2016 academic year as a result of collaboration between the Faculty of Law – Escola do Porto and Católica Porto Business School, the Dual Degree programme enables students to complete, in five years (10 semesters), two full bachelor’s degrees – one in Law and one in Management. However, rather than simply combining two degree programmes into a single pathway, the programme is based on the integration of two complementary fields, preparing students for careers in Law, Management and the many contexts where these disciplines intersect. The integration of knowledge, the development of transferable skills and preparation for international careers are some of the programme’s distinctive features.
The career paths of its students and graduates demonstrate how this programme translates, in practice, into a wide range of professional opportunities.
From Universidade Católica to a global market
Five years ago, Filipe Mendes was part of the first cohort of graduates from the Dual Degree programme in Law and Management. Today, he works in New York as a Legal Engineer at Harvey, where he bridges the gap between artificial intelligence solutions for the legal sector and clients’ needs.
Looking back on his career path, he believes that the combination of Law and Management was crucial. “Having a broader organisational and business perspective allows me to respond more quickly to day-to-day needs,” he says. “It is much easier to be a well-rounded and well-prepared professional if we have a better understanding of organisations, the world and the rules that govern them.”
A pathway for those looking for more than just a degree
The programme continues to attract students seeking an interdisciplinary pathway. This is the case for Manuel Vasconcelos, currently in his third year, for whom “choosing this course meant not having to choose between the two areas I was interested in.”
Throughout his studies, he particularly highlights the opportunity to develop skills that go beyond technical knowledge. “I’ve developed other skills that arise from reconciling two very different ways of thinking: the rigour and attention to detail of legal reasoning, on the one hand, and the more practical approach of management, on the other.” The ability to switch between these perspectives has become, in his words, “the best training” for the future
As she nears the end of her studies, Rita Eiras takes stock, highlighting the rigour of the curriculum, the emphasis on bridging the gap between theory and practice, and the encouragement to participate actively in university life. “I realised that, to truly make the most of the opportunities offered by Católica, simply attending lectures wasn’t enough. I needed to get involved, participate and seek out experiences that would complement my academic education.” In addition to the knowledge she has acquired, Rita highlights the development of skills such as organisation, resilience and the ability to manage different responsibilities. She was also particularly impressed by the approachability of the lecturers and the network of contacts she built up throughout her studies.
“A solid and recognised education”
In 2015, the Double Degree programme was established based on the “belief that the labour market was evolving more rapidly than traditional education models”, explains Luísa Anacoreta, the programme coordinator at Católica Porto Business School. The aim was to ensure that students completed the programme with “a solid and recognised education” in both fields, through “two degrees obtained simultaneously”, going beyond a hybrid programme. The Dual Degree programme was also designed with a view to “compliance with the requirements of the legal professions, professional bodies and international best academic practices”. It is, therefore, “a demanding programme that requires a great deal of discipline and organisation”, she emphasises.
A decade on, this vision remains as relevant as ever. For Ana Teresa Ribeiro, the programme coordinator at the Faculty of Law, “by creating this programme, we anticipated a need that is now evident: to train professionals capable of understanding both the legal dimension and the management dimension of organisations. Ten years on, we can see that this commitment continues to make perfect sense and that our graduates are highly valued by the labour market”.
Luísa Anacoreta also points out that these results are reflected in the students’ profiles and the career paths of graduates. “We have very talented students, with a strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity and ambition,” she says. The diversity of careers pursued by former students demonstrates “the versatility of the programme and its ability to open doors in a wide range of sectors”.
Applications for the Dual Degree in Law and Management for the 2026/2027 academic year are now open. The first phase runs until 24 July and the second phase will take place from 27 July to 11 August. Full details on the application process, entry requirements and the curriculum are available here.
