The city of Porto dates back to a pre-roman settlement of the name Cale. Although there is debate regarding the origin of the name, the prefix Portus was eventually attached originating the alternative pronunciation of Portucale, the origin of the name Portugal.

The University of Porto (Universidade do Porto) now has a history of just over century. Although it was formalized into its current status in 1911, its roots go even further back into the 17th century in the form of several schools later integrated into the University. In the early days of its inception, the University was comprised of: the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical & Chemical and Historic & Natural Sciences (de Ciências Matemáticas, Físico-Químicas e Histórico-Naturais) and the Faculty of Medicine (Faculdade de Medicina).

Aggregated to the Faculty of Sciences was an Engineering School, which later gained autonomy under the form of the Technical Faculty (Faculdade Técnica). Later reform re-organized the newly founded Faculty into its earliest courses: Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrotechnics and Industrial Chemistry. Some of these denominations would survive until the present day, taking part its FEUP's current broad spectrum of Engineering disciplines which include: three 3 year Bachelor Degrees, nine 5 year Integrated Master's Degrees (in conformance with the Bologna Process), twelve 3 year Master's degrees and twenty-two 3 year Doctoral Programmes.

For a more detailed history, visit this page.