It was created by decree of 1979, but its effective start up was only in 1988 through the creation and union of new and former schools.
With an enrollment of 10,197 (2008)[1] students, it is the third biggest polytechnic institute of Portugal.
The agriculture school whose origins can be dated back to the 19th century, and the current engineering institute, formerly an industrial school in operation between 1965 and 1974, were technical schools of intermediate education before had been upgraded to higher education polytechnic institutions.
Today, it comprises several autonomous schools in engineering, education, accountancy, and agriculture.
The Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra (agriculture school) has a notable rugby union department.