Study and find schools in Portugal

Studying in Portugal

Portugal offers international students European degrees taught mainly in Portuguese, in a country that is part of the European Union and the European Higher Education Area. Its universities follow the Bologna structure with ECTS credits, and public universities charge moderate fees: at the Universidade de Lisboa, the bachelor's tuition fee for the 2026/2027 academic year is 697 euros.

For students from Latin America, Portugal is also an accessible destination: several universities run a special admission competition for international students and some, such as the Universidade do Algarve, charge lower fees to students from Portuguese-speaking countries and Latin America. Language schools in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve teach Portuguese to foreigners.

The education system in Portugal

Portuguese higher education is a binary system of university and polytechnic education, taught in public and private institutions. Universities focus on research and the creation of knowledge; polytechnics focus on applied research and professional training. Private institutions need prior recognition from the ministry responsible for higher education, and the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES) accredits study programmes; a programme that is not accredited must stop admitting students. The qualifications are:

• Professional higher technical courses (CTeSP): short cycles of 120 ECTS credits over two years, which do not confer an academic degree
• Licenciatura (1st cycle, bachelor's degree): 180 ECTS credits over six semesters at polytechnics, and 180-240 ECTS credits over six to eight semesters at universities
• Mestrado integrado (integrated master's): 300-360 ECTS credits over 10-12 semesters, taught only at universities in fields where EU rules or practice require it
• Mestrado (2nd cycle, master's degree): 90-120 ECTS credits over three to four semesters, including a dissertation, project or internship of at least 30 credits
• Doutoramento (3rd cycle, doctorate): usually six to eight semesters and 180-240 ECTS credits, awarded by universities

Admission and recognition

Students from the EU apply through the national access competition, like Portuguese students. Students from outside the EU apply through the special competition for international students, regulated by Decree-Law 36/2014. To apply, they need a qualification that gives access to higher education in the country where it was awarded, or a Portuguese secondary diploma or equivalent. All applications go directly to the university or polytechnic, and each institution sets its own requirements, deadlines and documents. Master's and doctoral programmes also admit international students through each institution.

Language is an admission requirement. At the Universidade do Algarve, for example, candidates must prove a B1 or B2 level of the CEFR in the language of instruction; those with only B1 must pass an annual language course at the university.

Foreign degrees are recognised under Decree-Law 66/2018, in force since 1 January 2019. There are three types of recognition, the simplest being automatic recognition for foreign degrees on an approved list with the same level, objectives and nature as the Portuguese licenciado, mestre and doutor degrees; it is requested online from the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) or a public higher education institution.

Student visa and residence permit

EU citizens do not need a visa. Students from other countries normally obtain a residence visa for study at a Portuguese consulate and, once in Portugal, apply to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) for a residence permit for higher education students. According to AIMA (checked October 2026), the application requires:

• A valid passport and a valid residence visa
• A declaration of the address where the student lives
• Proof of means of subsistence and a criminal record certificate
• Proof of enrolment at a higher education institution and, where applicable, of payment of tuition fees
• Health insurance, or proof of coverage by the National Health Service (SNS)

The permit is valid for three years and renewable, or for the length of the programme if it is shorter. Students who entered Portugal legally without a residence visa may also apply in certain cases. Holders of a study residence permit may work, employed or self-employed, alongside their studies.

Costs and scholarships

Public universities set the tuition fee for Portuguese and EU students each year; at the Universidade de Lisboa it is 697 euros for 2026/2027 for bachelor's and integrated master's studies, while master's and doctoral fees vary by school. International students pay their own fees, set by each institution and shown on each programme page. At the Universidade do Algarve, the annual fee for international students in 2025/26 ranges from 1,500 to 4,500 euros and can be paid in up to 10 monthly instalments; students from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) and Latin America pay less in many programmes, for example 1,750 euros instead of 4,500 in civil engineering. Students with a scholarship from Camões, Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua are exempt from several residence-permit documents.

Where to study

• Lisbon, the capital, home to the Universidade de Lisboa, formed by the merger of the Technical University of Lisbon and the former Universidade de Lisboa; to The Lisbon MBA; and to Portuguese language schools such as CIAL, founded in 1959 with schools in Lisbon and Faro, and International House Portugal, in Portugal since 1963
• Porto, with the Universidade do Porto, the Instituto Politécnico do Porto and language schools such as Fast Forward and Oficina de Português
• Coimbra, home to the Universidade de Coimbra
• The Algarve, with the Universidade do Algarve, and smaller university cities such as Bragança (Escola Superior Agrária de Bragança) and Angra do Heroísmo in the Azores (Universidade dos Açores)
• The Lisbon coast (Carcavelos, Sintra, São Domingos de Rana), with international schools such as St. Julian's School, CAISL and St. Dominic's International School

Frequently asked questions

How much does university cost in Portugal?

For Portuguese and EU students at the Universidade de Lisboa, the bachelor's fee is 697 euros for 2026/2027. International students pay more: at the Universidade do Algarve, between 1,500 and 4,500 euros a year in 2025/26, with lower fees in many programmes for students from Portuguese-speaking countries and Latin America.

Do I need to speak Portuguese?

For most bachelor's programmes, yes. Universities ask for a certificate in the language of instruction; at the Universidade do Algarve, the required level is B1 or B2 of the CEFR.

Can I work while studying in Portugal?

Yes. According to AIMA, holders of a residence permit for study may work, as employees or self-employed, alongside their studies.

How do I apply as an international student?

Through the special competition for international students, applying directly to each university or polytechnic. Each institution sets its own requirements, deadlines and documents, so check its website.

Is my foreign degree recognised in Portugal?

Foreign degrees are recognised under Decree-Law 66/2018. Degrees on the approved list can be recognised automatically through the DGES or a public higher education institution.