Barreiro School of Technology, the Polytechnic Institute of Setubal (ESTBarreiro/IPS) has been in operation since 1999 when it accepted its first intake of civil engineering undergraduates. Part of the well-established Setubal Polytechnic, it is located in the former industrial city of Barreiro which is across the River Tagus from the capital, Lisbon, and 30 km north of the main Setubal campus.
The college currently specialises in Civil Engineering and related courses in the areas of Building Restoration and Rehabilitation and of Construction Management. The range of courses was broadened in the academic year 2008-09 with the inclusion of Chemical Engineering. It offers both day and evening courses and all current courses were restructured in 2006 and have been approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science as being in accordance with the Bologna Regime. The college is housed on a purpose-built campus some 3 km from the centre of Barreiro.