Portugal attracts thousands of Portuguese-speaking students every year since local universities offer high-quality education in a country rich in culture and history.
Why study in Portugal?
There are many reasons why Portugal is popular with international students.
First, you will find lots of great universities here, including one of the oldest universities in Europe — the University of Coimbra. Other top universities include the Universidade of Aveiro and the Universities of Algarve, Lisbon, Porto, Minho, and the Catholic University of Portugal. In fact, the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa earned a spot in the QS University Ranking — as one of the world's best 50 universities under 50 years old. Furthermore, according to the famous and reputed Shanghai Ranking, Portugal boasts six universities ranked among the 1000 best in the world: Universidade de Lisboa, Universidade do Porto (both top 300), Universidade de Aveiro, Universidade de Coimbra, Universidade do Minho (all top 500) and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (top 700).
Second, Portugal has a much lower cost of living compared to other countries in Western Europe. So, even if you choose to settle in the capital city of Lisbon, you will be spending much less than in, say, Paris or Barcelona. Even though the cost of living is on the rise, this makes Portugal a great choice for those on a budget. Plus, for those with funds to spare, Portugal will offer an even more comfortable lifestyle compared to its neighbors.
Finally, one needs to factor in the weather as a quality-of-life indicator. South Portugal, for example, boasts over 300 days of sunshine per year, and there are only about 90 rainy days per year nationwide. As the country is located in the westernmost part of Europe, it opens to the Atlantic Ocean in the south and west, offering some great beaches and access to some of the best surfing spots in Europe: Ericeira, Peniche and the Lisbon coast.
Studying in Portugal is a great way to learn Portuguese, which can be a great CV booster — whether you choose to stay in Portugal after your studies or not. Portuguese is the 8th most spoken language in the world, and your knowledge can come in handy in different fields and countries.
How to apply to a university in Portugal
The application process for public universities in Portugal depends on the cycle of studies you are seeking to complete. Undergraduates must register on the DGES website (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 on the website of their university of choice. 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 your country of residence.
As for private universities in Portugal, 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 Erasmus program (non-EU Citizen/Resident) nor any other student transfer protocol and wish to apply for 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 “local route” (after taking the admission exams), applications take place in July and August.
However, different institutions can bear 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.
Documents needed for applying to a university in Portugal
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 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).
Tuition fees in Portugal
As one might expect, public universities are generally slightly cheaper than private ones for international students. Generally, undergraduate courses range from 3,000€ to 7,000€ per year, while graduate and post-graduate range from 1,200€ to 2,500€, depending on the degree and the university. However, if you're an EU citizen, you'll be paying the exact same public fees as Portuguese students, which are currently capped at 697€/year.
Needless to say, private universities' tuition fees can go much higher than that. Taking Universidade Católica as an example, annual tuition fees for lower-level degrees currently stand at 7,000€ 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 Portugal
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. To get a registration certificate, students will need to apply at their local council within 30 days after completing three months of arriving in Portugal. This certificate costs 15€ and is valid for the entire stay of the student in the country, being issued immediately upon request. To complete the application, candidates need to present a valid ID document, a written affidavit declaring that they are enrolled in an officially recognized school in the country, proof of financial subsistence and proof of health insurance (only if your country requires the same for Portuguese students).
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. 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. After scheduling your interview at the embassy, you'll fill out the application form, submit all the required documentation in person and pay the 90€ visa fee. Once you get a positive response and the magic sticker on your passport (it might take up to 3 months – worst case scenario), you can take care of travel arrangements.
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. You'll have to book an appointment at a local SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service) facility and submit the proper form in person, along with two photos, your identification document (passport), proof of address (accommodation), proof of financial subsistence, student visa and criminal record. This permit is valid for 1 year (can be extended at least 30 days before expiring) and costs 155€ in total (83€ for the submission 72€ as processing fee).
How to get a scholarship to study in Portugal
Although definitely not easy, getting a scholarship to study in Portugal is far from being impossible. First, it is always a good idea to check local programs for students wishing to study abroad in your country of origin. Considering Portugal is such a small country, not many nations have specific programs catering to Portuguese universities, but you might end up finding broad assistance programs for people wishing to study in the EU. One such example is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters program, which attributes scholarships to international graduates to help cover the costs of visa, travel and living expenses. Naturally, there are also other projects for undergraduates.
Speaking of Erasmus, you can always try to rely on funding programs from your local government and/or university. If you're a resident of an EU country, there are usually several scholarship programs run by local authorities to help national students study abroad. The amount of these allowances usually depends on factors such as distances between your country of residence and – in this case – Portugal, the local cost of living and the total income in your household.
Currently, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency runs 4 different funding programs for students until 2027, and you can check how to apply directly on their website. On the other hand, you may also the European Funding Guide, an online resource where you can literally find thousands of different scholarships and funding programs. Finally, StudyPortals also runs a scholarship program open to international students from all across the globe.
Finally, you can also check out the website of the university you wish to enroll in to confirm whether they run any kind of local program to help out international students. Each university – even the public ones – is free to establish its own programs and admission criteria and can usually be found within the Department of Student Support Services (Serviço de Acção Social).
Needless to say, and regardless of the type of scholarship you wish to apply to, every single grant program usually requires an impeccable record when it comes to grades, attendance and overall student performance and proof of proficiency in English or Portuguese. A detailed and well-written motivation letter, as well as a CV with diverse extra-curricular activities, are also major pluses.
Degree options in Portugal
Higher studies in Portugal can result in the following degrees:
- Licenciatura - This is a bachelor's degree, which is completed over 3 years.
- Mestrado - This is a master's degree and is earned after completion of the Licenciatura. It requires another 2 years of postgraduate study. Some Licenciaturas already include the master's, taking a total of 5 years to complete.
- Doutoramento - This is a doctorate degree or PhD. It requires you to write an original thesis and to defend it in front of an academic audience and is the highest level of degree.
The Portuguese academic year generally runs from September to June and is broken into two semesters. Classes are usually also offered over the summer and winter holiday breaks. Undergraduate classes are taught almost exclusively in Portuguese, while postgraduate degrees may offer more English-speaking classes. You may require Portuguese language classes before commencing your studies if you aren't already fluent.
Useful links:
Online University Application - DGES
Student Visa Application - Egov
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