Portuguese studies is an academic area that encompasses the ways in which cultural diversity manifests in both historical and modern contexts. The field of Lusophone studies includes the culture’s relationship with and effects of colonialization, Arabic and Hebrew traditions, feminism, and human rights.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.

Part-time learning allows one to obtain a degree or qualification even if one cannot attend school on a full-time basis. One can learn at one's own pace, gradually accumulating credits that count towards a final qualification.