Study in Portugal

As the oldest nation in Europe, Portugal is an ideal place to study abroad, particularly if you are interested in enjoying a sunny weather and admiring splendid coastlines each day. Anywhere you go in Portugal, you’ll always have a beach nearby and because the Portuguese are known for truly celebrating life, you can always join a local festival that involves dancing in the streets.

In Portugal, you’ll experience the charming atmosphere of a constant holiday, while you also prepare to become an expert in your chosen field of study.

Why study in Portugal?

1. Portuguese universities are active in multiple higher education areas

Portugal is one of the most popular countries for student exchange programmes and many universities are active members of the Erasmus+ programme.

Portuguese universities are focusing both on providing valuable theoretical knowledge and on engaging students in prevalent research projects. Many universities are affiliated with several research centres and they have been contributing to more than 1% of the world's highly cited research publications.

As a student enrolled at one of the Portuguese universities, you can complement your degree with an internship at a local company and attend interesting workshops under the instruction of international experts.

2. It's affordable

At public universities, international students should expect to pay anywhere between 500 and 5,000 EUR per academic year. Non-EU/EEA students are usually the ones who pay higher fees.

If we add in the fact that living costs are also low, it's easy to understand why many foreigners choose Portugal for their higher education.

3. Learn Portuguese, spoken by over 250 million people worldwide

Although you don't need to know Portuguese to study at a university in Portugal, it will be very useful if you learn at least the basics. It will make your day-to-day interactions, shopping, and other activities much easier.

It's also beneficial to have Portuguese as an asset on your CV. It is the official language in 10 countries (e.g. Brazil, Mozambique, Angola) and many international companies are looking for graduates who speak both English and Portuguese at an advanced level.

4. Enjoy the Mediterranean climate

Anyone who lives in Portugal — or at leasts visits it — falls in love with the local climate. Summers are hot and winters only mildly cold, which makes it perfect for people who cannot stand cold weather.

This delightful climate and the beautiful beaches means you'll enjoy plenty of activities that allow you to relax and forget about stressful exams or assignments.

5. Explore wonderful sites and iconic monuments

There are over 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Portugal, both natural and human-made locations, which will sparkle your imagination and curiosity.

Whatever you do, don't forget to visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Oceanário de Lisboa, Torre de Belém, Bom Jesus do Monte, the University of Coimbra, and many other attractions.

What is it like to study in Portugal

As a fresh enrolled student in Portugal, you will experience several welcoming rituals and traditions, named “praxe” – inviting you to socialise with your peers.

In terms of the academics, classes are rather formal and they usually start early in the morning. Professors are usually strict, but they have a more relaxed attitude in the beginning of the year, when students are just starting to accommodate with the university life.

What to study in Portugal

Portugal is particularly known for offering Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in fields such as Biotechnology, Medicine, Social Sciences and Arts. However, since Portugal has started to welcome more and more international students each year, Portuguese universities have been introducing English-taught degrees for most disciplines, from Computer Science to Business.

Here are some of the most popular study options in Portugal:

• Masters in International Business in Portugal 
• Masters in Finance in Portugal 
• Masters in Information Sciences in Portugal 
• Masters in General Engineering in Portugal 

Major cities in Portugal

Most universities are concentrated within 12 major cities of Portugal. Wherever you choose to study, you will benefit from quality academic training. When you’re not engaged in studying, you can have fun at numerous bars and pubs, listen to the famous fado, or enjoy one of the many festivities held in each city in Portugal.

Check out the major student cities in Portugal and learn more about what it is like to study there:

• Study in Lisbon 
• Study in Porto 

Universities and colleges to attend in Portugal

Portugal is home to around 50 universities, over 80 polytechnics and 6 public institutions specialising in military and law enforcement study programmes.

The main difference between universities and polytechnics lies in the fact that universities are more focused on theoretical education, while polytechnics are dedicated to vocational studies.

Examples of top universities in Portugal:

• Instituto Superior Tecnico
• NOVA IMS 
• Polytechnic of Leiria
• ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management
• Polytechnic Institute of Bragança  

Practical Information

If you’re interested in following a Bachelor’s degree in Portugal, you can apply online on the official Portuguese website dedicated to higher education. You can choose up to six universities/polytechnics and study programs you would like to apply for.

When applying for a Master’s or PhD degree in Portugal, simply apply on the website of your chosen universities. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Carefully check all the required application documents and make sure they are all translated into Portuguese if your chosen university requires it.
• Make sure to know what the language requirements are, and whether you need to prove skills in English before enrolling in a degree programme.
• Show how you performed as a student, and be sure to know what your Grade Point Average (GPA) was during your studies.
• To help your chances of going to Portugal, be sure to apply to more than one university!

Make sure you qualify for a Portuguese university

Improve your English through an English-language prep course: If you’re attending a degree programme in Portugal, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

There are over 200 English-taught programmes in Portugal

Universities in Portugal will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills, so that you can easily succeed in their courses. Almost all Portuguese universities accept these official English exams:

• PTE Academic
• IELTS
• TOEFL
• C1 Advanced