It began operating in 1962 as Institute of Psychological Sciences and came to adopt the name of the School of Applied Psychology (ISPA) in 1964. Since then the ISPA was established as an essential reference in higher education in Portugal. "Pioneer in teaching and research in the field of psychological and behavioral sciences, ISPA is recognized nationally and internationally for the excellence of its scientific and cultural education program, the quality of its scientific activity and the relevance of his university extension. 2009 represented another milestone in its institutional development and their conversion into University Institute, under the new organizational model of higher education."