The first steps on the path of what is now the University of Beira Interior (UBI) were given in the 70, when the Instituto Politécnico da Covilhã (IPC) was born, in 1973. The city, once considered "The Portuguese Manchester", by its long tradition, dynamics and wool quality, was struck, in this decade, by an industrial crisis: large and small factories had begun to reveal serious weaknesses that would lead to their closure, with disastrous social and economic consequences for the region. Thus, after the publication of the Decree-Law 73/402, of 11 August, in the context of the so-called "Veiga Simão Reform", which led to the expansion and diversification of higher education, the IPC was created and received, in 1975, his first 143 students, in Textile Engineering and Administration and Accounting courses. In July 1979, six years later, the institution becomes Instituto Universitário (University Institute) of Beira Interior (IUBI) (Law 44/79 of 11 September). IUBI conversion occurred in 1986 (Decree-Law 76-B/86, of 30 April), having the expansion areas and protection of Poles I, II and III been regulated by Government Decree No. 33/87, of 2 November. Pole IV came afterwards, in 1996, with courses in Social Sciences and Humanities.