Study in Lisbon, Portugal

About Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and its largest urban area, spread over hills on the north bank of the Tagus estuary close to the Atlantic coast. For students it combines a long university tradition with a large international community, and it is one of the main places in Europe to learn European Portuguese.

Students come to Lisbon for full degrees at public universities, for exchange semesters, for business programmes and for Portuguese language courses. Most university teaching is in Portuguese, but a growing number of courses are taught in English.

Studying in Lisbon

Our directory lists 8 schools in Lisbon: two higher education institutions, five language schools and one school of another type. The Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa) traces its roots to the first Portuguese university, founded in Lisbon in 1288 and later moved to Coimbra. Today it has 19 schools, 472 programmes and more than 51,000 students, over 11,000 of them international, according to the university. Its international student guide states that more than 300 course units are taught in English.

Portuguese degrees follow the Bologna model: a licenciatura (first cycle) takes three years at ULisboa, and some programmes are offered as five-year integrated master's degrees that combine the first and second cycles. Students from outside the EU who have lived in Portugal for less than two years apply through a special admission contest for international students; master's and doctoral applications go directly to each school. For business, The Lisbon MBA is a 12-month full-time International MBA run by Católica-Lisbon and Nova SBE in collaboration with MIT Sloan.

For Portuguese, CIAL Centro de Línguas has taught Portuguese as a foreign language since 1959 and, according to the school, welcomes more than 1,200 students from over 50 countries every year in Lisbon and Faro. It also offers Brazilian and African Portuguese and prepares students for the official CAPLE exams, held in May, July and November at six levels. International House Portugal has operated in the country since 1963 and its schools have been authorised Cambridge English exam centres since 2011. Other schools in our list, such as Ciberescola da Língua Portuguesa and Falamos Português, teach Portuguese online.

Cost of living for students

The University of Lisbon's international student guide gives these monthly figures for Lisbon: about €325 for meals, €400 to €550 for a room (utilities may not be included), €700 to €900 for a studio or apartment and €40 for a bus and metro pass. ULisboa has 19 halls of residence, with places set aside each semester for mobility students; they charge a monthly fee set every year.

Non-EU students must obtain a study visa from the Portuguese embassy or consulate in their home country about three months before travelling, and must request a temporary residence permit within 90 days of arrival. They also need valid private health insurance to enrol at ULisboa.

Getting around and daily life

Metro, buses and trams connect the main campuses with the city centre, and the river front links neighbourhoods such as Belém and Parque das Nações. Lisbon City Hall runs the Study in Lisbon Lounge, a service that helps international students and researchers when they arrive. Portugal has a Mediterranean climate with about 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Plan your arrival with care: many university schools are closed in August.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Lisbon?

Partly. ULisboa teaches more than 300 course units in English, and The Lisbon MBA is taught in English, but most bachelor's programmes are in Portuguese. Check the language of each programme before applying.

How much does a month in Lisbon cost for a student?

ULisboa's guide lists €400 to €550 for a room, about €325 for meals and €40 for a public transport pass per month, before other personal expenses.

Is Lisbon a good place to learn Portuguese?

Yes. Several language schools in our list teach Portuguese as a foreign language at all levels, and CIAL also prepares students for the official CAPLE exams.

Do I need a visa to study in Lisbon?

Students from outside the EU need a study visa from a Portuguese embassy or consulate, followed by a residence permit requested within 90 days of arrival. EU citizens staying longer than 90 days request a residence card instead.