Amidst all the bureaucracy, travel expenses, tuition fees and visa arrangements, studying abroad can be a nerve-wracking decision. Luckily, Porto is a very friendly city for both international students and professionals alike, and we've compiled a full article with everything you need to know about studying in the city!
Best universities in Porto
According to the famous and reputed , the Universidade do Porto is ranked among the top 300 in the world! The ranking highlighted the institution's work in Food Science (top 75), Pharmacy (top 75), Biotechnology (top 100), Mathematics (top 150), Ecology (top 150), Civil Engineering (top 150), Veterinary Sciences (top 150) and Biomedical Engineering (top 200). At the same time, the university was also heavily featured in the , ranking in 31 fields and topping national charts in no less than 15 areas.
Although they didn't make the ranking, other well-rated institutions of higher education in Porto include (Nursing), (Accounting, International Commerce and Corporate Communication) and (private).
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, the School of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) ranked 39st on a list of the . On the other hand, the University of Porto is among the best in the country for students of architecture, biological sciences, engineering, accounting, IT and medicine, overall ranking on the top 500 universities in the world according to .
Naturally, as one of the biggest, richest and most important cities in Portugal, universities in Porto 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 (except Lisbon), as renting a single bedroom in a shared house/apartment will easily set you back over 450鈧�. Furthermore, other expenses such as groceries, eating out and leisure activities are more expensive in Porto compared to most other Portuguese cities.
Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned rankings reflect what most colleges are known for. Within the University of Porto - the only public university in the city - you can find different colleges such as , known for its engineering degrees; , for economy and business management; , for biotechnology, math, chemistry and physics; , for Veterinary Sciences; , for medicine; , for pharmacy; , for architecture; , for nursing; or , for law; among others. Alongside the University of Porto, the Instituto Polit茅cnico do Porto is the other major public institution of higher education in the city. However, the latter is more geared towards vocational studies and degrees, and students are often applicants whose grades weren't high enough to enroll in the University of Porto. Be that as it may, some of its schools are actually held in high regard by employers, especially , for teaching/education; , for accounting; and , for tourism and hotel management.
Lastly, there are also a few private universities in Porto. Unlike the US, there's a stigma against private institutions of higher education in Portugal, and people are usually judgmental towards students who had to pay to get their preferred degree because their grades weren't good enough for public universities. Nonetheless, is probably the only exception to this rule, boasting a respectable reputation as a place of higher learning. This specific private university is especially known for its degrees in business management, law, bioengineering and theology.
Tuition fees in Porto
As one might expect, public universities are generally slightly cheaper than private ones for international students. Generally, both undergraduate and graduate courses range from 鈧� 1,925 to 鈧� 6,000 per year, depending on the degree and the university. However, if you're an EU citizen, you'll聽pay the exact聽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.
Documents needed for applying to a university in Porto
Should your course be taught in English, you will need a proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL. If your degree is exclusively taught in Portuguese, as an international student, you might need a proficiency certificate (issued by ) as well. Other documents can include transcripts of academic records, motivation letters, proof of payment of application fee and portfolio. Documents are usually required to be presented in English (plus the original language).
Needless to say, your official passport will be needed, as well as a valid student visa (depending on nationality and length of stay).
How to get a student visa to study in Porto
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 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.
Applying to universities in Porto: The process
The application process for public universities based in Porto depends on the cycle of studies you are seeking to complete. Undergraduates must register on the (Higher Education Administration, in English) to be able to apply, listing 6 different public institutions 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 (such as the SAT in the USA or the A-Levels in the UK), which must also be recognized at the Portuguese Embassy in their country of residence.
As for private universities in Porto, 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.
Be that as it may, different institutions can have different deadlines for their application process (especially in private universities), so always make sure to stay in touch with a representative of your preferred higher education institution so that you don't miss your opportunity. After applying, you will receive feedback from the university within one/two months of the deadline.
Student life in Porto
Student accommodation and cost of living
Unfortunately, recent times have seen rent and property prices skyrocket in Porto, as well as the cost of living. Although it certainly can't be compared to the likes of Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, and the situation isn't as dire as the one you'll find in Lisbon, Portugal's second city is currently also going through a major housing crisis. As such, accommodation for students is scarce and expensive, with good deals getting increasingly harder to come by due to the severe lack of supply. Although the most recent data is related to the 2024/2025 school year, the Student Accommodation Observatory says that the average room will set students back 鈧�32,00 per square meter, meaning a normal-sized 15-square-meter room is available for 480鈧�/month.
Official data from portals such as seems to validate their numbers. According to this platform, expect to pay upwards of 450鈧� for a humble bedroom in an apartment where all remaining areas are shared with other people. Still, it is not at all rare to find landlords asking for 600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 unable to meet the high level of demand, while private enterprises are targeting higher-end local students and international applicants. 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, but not all students are eligible for this SASUP program. Plus, there are not nearly enough for everyone. Just last year, the University of Porto only made available about 1,600 beds for students, which represents less than 7% of the total of 24,000 students who come from outside the city and need to find a place to stay.
Academic tradition
During the school year, you will find many students strolling through the city's streets dressed in a very particular attire. University attendants choose to wear these academic vests as a symbol of their student years. Even though the story behind the outfit itself is not fully known, some people say it represents every social class (the cloak represents nobility, the cassock represents clergy, and, finally, the vest represents the people). It is a metaphor meaning that both the poorest and the richest of students stand on equal ground, depending solely on their intelligence, and are not to be recognized by their possessions: everyone wears the same, regardless of their background. If you are a student in Porto, you can wear these clothes too.
Unfortunately, the academic attire is often associated with a common practice in Porto's colleges: hazing (praxe). Recent tragic events related to this practice have sparked controversy over the last few years, and the rituals are frowned upon today by a lot of people. Be that as it may, many students across the country (and in Porto) choose to continue the tradition. It is not everyone's cup of tea, but it is definitely part of Porto's student life.
A name synonymous with the city's student community, the Bar Piolho is yet another place strongly associated with local academic tradition. It started off as an ordinary bakery but quickly turned into a small must-visit for drinks and snacks. It is so popular that the name of the old bakery is now used to actually describe the entire area around it.
It's located in the quarter of Cordoaria, where hundreds of students gather every single weekend to drink on the streets, not far away from the Rua das Galerias de Paris, one of Porto's main nightlife hubs.
Queima das Fitas 鈥� Porto's biggest student event
Queima das Fitas started as a small farewell celebration for graduating students but has now progressed to a full-blown festival. Annual festivities usually include a serenade, a huge student parade that actually puts the city on hold, a big music festival that attracts well-known Portuguese and international artists, and a tremendous party atmosphere all around the city (usually with outrageous amounts of alcohol added to the mix). It occurs every May, and it is one of the highlights of Porto's student life.
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.
