Study in Porto, Portugal

About Porto

Porto is Portugal's second city and the centre of the north of the country, built on the steep north bank of the Douro river near its mouth on the Atlantic. Its historic centre, the riverside and the port wine cellars across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia make it a popular city with visitors, and it has a large and growing student population.

Students choose Porto for its public university and polytechnic, for exchange semesters and for Portuguese courses. Living costs are among the highest in Portugal together with Lisbon, but generally lower than in many Western European university cities.

Studying in Porto

Our directory lists 4 schools in Porto: two higher education institutions and two language schools. The Universidade do Porto (U.Porto) teaches in 15 faculties. It started the 2026-27 academic year with more than 1,500 exchange students from 77 countries, according to the university; the largest groups came from Spain (283), Italy (224) and Brazil (223). In October 2026 U.Porto is touring Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile to meet prospective students from Latin America.

The Instituto Politécnico do Porto (P.PORTO), whose website now carries the name Universidade Técnica do Porto (UTP), groups schools of engineering (Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto), accounting and administration, education, music and performing arts, technology and management, health, hotel management and tourism, and media arts and design. A recent news item on its site reports that it is preparing around 300 students for Erasmus+ exchanges. Most degree teaching at both institutions is in Portuguese, so check the language of each programme.

For Portuguese, Fast Forward Language Institute has taught Portuguese to foreigners since 1991; it was founded in Brazil and offers homestays with host families in Porto. Oficina de Português is another Porto language school in our list, with standard and intensive courses and options for Erasmus students.

Cost of living for students

The official Study & Research in Portugal portal notes that Lisbon and Porto are the most expensive cities in the country. It gives typical prices of €150 to €400 a month for a place in a higher education residence and €250 to €650 for a room in a shared flat, plus €200 to €300 for groceries. Canteen meals cost €2.50 to €5, and a local monthly transport pass €30 to €60.

Students from outside the EU apply for a study visa at the Portuguese embassy or consulate in their country. The portal recommends showing financial means of around €870 per month and warns that visa applications can take one to three months.

Getting around and daily life

Porto has a metro network that runs from 6am to 1am, plus buses and historic trams, and the city has an international airport. Trains connect the city with Lisbon (a one-way ticket costs €25 to €60) and with Vigo in Spain. Students can buy a €20 monthly national rail pass for unlimited travel on Portuguese trains, which makes weekend trips and commuting from nearby towns affordable.

Frequently asked questions

Is Porto a good place to learn Portuguese?

Yes. Porto has dedicated schools for Portuguese as a foreign language, such as Fast Forward Language Institute, which has taught Portuguese to foreigners since 1991, and Oficina de Português.

How much does student accommodation cost in Porto?

According to Study & Research in Portugal, a place in a higher education residence typically costs €150 to €400 a month and a room in a shared flat €250 to €650. Porto is one of the two most expensive cities in Portugal.

How many international students come to U.Porto?

U.Porto started the 2026-27 academic year with more than 1,500 exchange students from 77 countries, in addition to international students taking full degrees.

How much money do I need for a Portuguese student visa?

The official Study & Research in Portugal portal recommends showing financial means of around €870 per month. Visa applications can take one to three months, so apply early.