History

The academic program in Computer Science/Computing at FCUP dates back to 1985, within the scope of the Applied Mathematics Group. At the time, professors Miguel Filgueiras, Armando Matos, and Luís Damas — coming respectively from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at FEUP, the Department of Electrical Engineering at FEUP, and the Pure Mathematics Group at FCUP — proposed the creation of a 4-year undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics (Computer Science branch) at the University of Porto.

Also in 1985, the Computer Science Group (NCC) was established, initially composed of the three founding professors and newly hired junior lecturers Fernando Silva, Nelma Moreira and Vítor Santos Costa, all involved in teaching Computer Science. Two years later, in 1987, two more junior lecturers joined: Ana Paula Tomás and José Paulo Leal. That same year, Fernando Silva went to England (Manchester) for a master's and PhD, and in 1988, Vítor Santos Costa followed to pursue a PhD in England as well (Bristol). In 1992, Luís Lopes was hired as a junior lecturer, bringing the NCC faculty to nine members.

In the academic year 1994/1995, the degree was renamed to Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, a title that has been maintained to this day. From 1998 till 2007, it was split into two branches: a scientific branch and an educational branch.

In March 1996, the Department of Computer Science (DCC) was created with 10 faculty members, 5 of whom held a PhD. Sabine Broda became the tenth faculty member associated with the area. That same year, two master’s programs were launched: the Master's in Computer Science and the Master's in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science — the latter offered in collaboration with the Faculties of Economics and Engineering. In 1999, the DCC expanded its academic offering with the creation of the 5-year Degree in Network and Information Systems Engineering.

Since then, and with the restructuring brought by the Bologna Process, the department has diversified its academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels in the field of Computer Science. At the same time, the number of students and faculty members has grown.

As of 2025, the DCC has 42 career faculty members and is responsible or co-responsible for 4 undergraduate degrees, 7 master’s programs, and 2 doctoral programs.