Wishing to move to Portugal to pursue your studies? Lisbon alone offers 26 different faculties, both private and public, with a wide range of options regarding BAs, MAs and PhDs - some of the courses are even taught in English. Most universities in Lisbon are included in the Erasmus program as well, so you can kickstart your expat life as early as possible.
Furthermore, with entry-level Portuguese classes available at most universities, you can even add a foreign language to your CV. Different nationalities are subject to different scholarship programs as well, so it's something worth checking once you have decided which university is best for you.
The best universities in Lisbon
The University of Lisbon stands out as the biggest learning institution in the country, hosting over 50.000 students! On the other hand, when looking at quality over quantity, the聽聽earned a spot in the as one of the world's best 60 universities under 50 years old. Furthermore, according to the famous and reputed , Lisbon alone boasts two universities ranked among the 300 best in the world: Universidade de Lisboa and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (top 800).
However, if you're completing a specific degree and are looking for the best Portuguese university in that area, a more detailed analysis is required. According to the Financial Times, Nova School of Business and Economics, Cat贸lica Lisbon School of Business and Economics and the Lisbon School of Economics and Management are the best colleges in Portugal for economics, business management and finances students. On the other hand, the University of Lisbon is among the best in the country for students of architecture, chemistry, engineering, computer science and medicine, according to .
Although they didn't make the ranking, other well-rated institutions of higher education in Lisbon include Instituto Universit谩rio de Lisboa (Social Sciences, Technology, Business and Architecture) and Universidade Cat贸lica Portuguesa (private).
Naturally, universities in Lisbon often top national rankings, as all the best and most celebrated professionals teach there. On the downside, the cost of living is much higher compared to the rest of the country, as renting a single bedroom in a shared house/apartment will easily set you back over 500鈧�. Furthermore, other expenses such as groceries, eating out and leisure activities are more expensive in Lisbon.
Tuition fees in Lisbon
As one might expect, public universities are generally slightly cheaper than private ones for international students. Generally, the cost of undergraduate courses ranges from 3,000鈧� to 7,000鈧� per year, while that of graduate and post-graduate courses ranges from 1,200鈧� to 2,500鈧�, depending on the degree and the university. However, if you're an EU citizen, you'll be paying the same public fees as Portuguese students, which are currently capped at 697鈧�/year.
Needless to say, private universities' tuition fees can go much higher than that. Taking Universidade Cat贸lica as an example, annual tuition fees for lower-level degrees currently stand at 7,000鈧� for international students, though you also need to factor in hundreds upon hundreds of euros in application and registration fees, extra credits and other bureaucratic processes.
How to get a student visa to study in Lisbon
If you're an EU citizen (plus Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) you do not need to apply for a student visa in Portugal. In fact, if staying for less than 3 months, you don't have to worry about any bureaucratic requirements. However, should your cycle of studies in the country last longer than the aforementioned 3 months, it is mandatory to register your stay with local authorities.
On the other hand, if you come from outside the EU/EEA, you'll probably need a student visa. The only exception applies to citizens who are staying for less than 3 months AND come from one of the 63 visa-exempt countries, such as the US, the UK, Canada or Japan. Nonetheless, students from countries that require a Schengen visa or are planning to stay longer than 90 days (regardless of nationality) will have to apply for a student visa. In order to do so, you will need to get a letter of acceptance from the university you wish to enroll in and get in touch with the Portuguese Embassy in your country of residence.
Keep in mind that the student visa is only valid for 3 months, which is why you will also need to obtain a residence permit if you're staying longer than 90 days. After your visa expires, this permit will allow you to remain in the country legally. In order to do so, you'll have to . The Ag锚ncia para a Integra莽茫o, Migra莽玫es e Asilo (AIMA) was created in late 2023 as the entity responsible for managing migration processes in Portugal. Non-EU residents will need to apply for a student-based residence permit (called a D4 visa) in their home countries via a Portuguese consulate or embassy.
How to apply to university in Lisbon
In order to apply to University in Portugal (Lisbon included), undergraduates must register on the (Higher Education Administration, in English) and list up to 6 different public institutions and/or courses in order of preference. On the other hand, graduates and postgraduates must apply directly through the website of their chosen university. In both cases, applicants will be asked for official translations of their school records and/or final exams.
As for private universities in Lisbon, the entire application process is managed directly by the institution. This means you should contact the university beforehand and ask about the application requirements and any additional information that can be useful to candidates.
Plus, if you are not a part of the (non-EU Citizen/Resident) nor any other student transfer protocol and wish to apply to a Portuguese university, bear in mind you will need to complete admission exams. These take place every year between May and July and are used as a ranking for entry to the university. If you're not living in Portugal, you can request to take these exams at the Portuguese Embassy in your country of origin or reach out directly to the university you're seeking to attend and enquire about the admission exams and how to take them.
Finally, the application process for international students is usually split into three different stages (January-February, June-July and August-September), with minimum grade requirements changing for each one of them. Usually, vacancies get smaller and smaller with each passing deadline, so it will be technically easier to get in if you do it during the first stage. Furthermore, by applying during the first stage, you will have plenty of time (classes start in September) to sort out your visa and accommodation arrangements. On the other hand, if you already live in the country and are going to apply through the 鈥渓ocal route鈥� (after taking the admission exams), applications take place in July and August.
Student life in Lisbon
Student accommodation and cost of living
Unfortunately, recent times have seen rent and property prices skyrocket in Lisbon, as well as the cost of living. As a result, Lisbon is no longer the cheap, sunny, Western European capital it once was, though it is still admittedly cheaper than the likes of Paris, London or Amsterdam. Be that as it may, accommodation for students is scarce and expensive, with good deals getting increasingly harder to come by due to the severe lack of supply. Even though 2024 registered a 76% spike in accommodation listings for students, these are still largely insufficient to meet demand.
For a humble bedroom in an apartment where all remaining areas are shared with other people, expect to pay upwards of 500鈧�, although it is not at all rare to find landlords asking for 800鈧� /month. Average prices are also higher for furnished/equipped apartments and for listings that already include other living expenses, such as water, electricity or internet services.
While there have been efforts to build new student residences as quickly as possible, public efforts are not able to tackle the high level of demand, while private enterprises are targeting higher-end local students and international applicants. Standing as the perfect example, a 2023 privately funded residence was inaugurated two years ago in Lisbon, with room prices ranging from 650鈧� to 1096鈧�/month (over 2x the average room price for students in the city). On the bright side, the local authorities have also inaugurated specific residencies exclusively targeting scholarship holders, with rooms ranging from 鈧�84 to 鈧�324, depending on household income.
Student Support Services (Servi莽o de Ac莽茫o Social) usually run programs for accommodation within the compound of university residences. These rooms are much cheaper than what you'll find in the private market (between 243鈧�/month for a private bedroom and 600鈧� for a fully-equipped apartment), but not all international students are eligible for this .
Student discounts
Student discounts are not as common as in other parts of Europe, especially when it comes to meal deals or subscriptions. However, there are still a few advantages worth checking. When it comes to public transportation, for example, students under 23 can get a free monthly pass, while older university students still get a rail pass that is valid across the whole country for just 鈧�20,00/month. Furthermore, and since you are studying in a foreign country and will eventually want to check Lisbon's main sights, students can also get discounts at some of the city's most popular tourist attractions.
Finally, we also recommend getting an international student card, such as the ESN Card (20鈧�/year) or the European Youth Card, which may also grant you some additional discounts when buying fuel, groceries or paying for other services.
Leisure activities for students
Despite the quiet surface, Lisbon is always bubbling with opportunities to get out of the house. Different universities have their own leisure and sports centers as well, so if you choose to stay close to campus, you can take advantage of the in-house facilities.
However, keep in mind that you're studying in the third sunniest capital in all of Europe, so spending time in nature or playing sports is a must! Jogging, biking, hiking, football 鈥� the options are endless, not to mention water sports such as kayaking or surfing.
International students will quickly hear about the Erasmus Corner, a trendy destination in Bairro Alto famous for the unusual concentration of international students. It's a pretty cool place to get to know other students from the expat community.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
