Instituto Universitário Militar

Heir to a historical legacy of institutions that over many years prepared military personnel from the Armed Forces and the Republican National Guard, the Military University Institute (IUM) was created in 2014, under the responsibility of the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, absorbing the mission and functions of the Institute of Higher Military Studies (IESM) – an institution that, in 2006, integrated the former Instituto Superior Naval de Guerra, Institute of Higher Military Studies and Institute of Higher Studies of the Air Force) and bringing together, as autonomous organic units, the Naval School (EN), the Military Academy (AM), the Air Force Academy (AFA) and the Military Polytechnic Unit (UPM).

Aware of the specificities of its nuclear mission – initial and complementary training of officers and sergeants of the permanent staff of the Armed Forces and the National Republican Guard – the IUM is fully integrated into the national higher education system, it is an academic space open to society and constitutes a reference institution for training and research in the area of ​​military sciences in Portugal.

Commander’s Message

The Military University Institute positions itself as a benchmark institution in the field of Military Sciences, providing rigorous and high-quality training to permanent officers and non-commissioned officers of the Armed Forces and the National Republican Guard, as well as to military personnel from allied and partner countries, and to both national and international civilians.

We recognize that the contextual framework of military higher education is changing rapidly: the return of great power politics to the strategic environment and the challenge to international norms; new criminal realities, both national and international; the impact and democratization of technologies and innovation; the ubiquity of information; and the swift evolution in the needs and expectations of our students as individuals. These factors will continue to shape the Military University Institute’s current approach to learning, processes, and outcomes.

In this context, the connection with Academia naturally assumes a prominent role. The breadth of in-house knowledge, the constant pursuit of excellence, academic rigor, and critical thinking contribute to shaping society through partnerships with other universities—fostering high-quality education centered on the strategic context; advocating for up-to-date content that anticipates change; strengthening the creation of networks and collaboration with leading external institutions in their areas of expertise, beyond the narrow scope of the defense and security community; recognizing people as our most valuable asset; focusing on outcomes, being both reactive and proactive in the face of new challenges; and advancing research lines.

Lastly, we aspire for the Military University Institute to continue enhancing its educational offerings, understanding the depth of ongoing changes and their impact, expanding the knowledge base of our students, strengthening their analytical and critical thinking skills, and stimulating their intellectual curiosity through renowned national and international speakers.

Vice-Admiral Vizinha Mirones