Study in Portugal

As a vibrant place of history and culture, Portugal is the westernmost country in mainland Europe.

During the 2025/2026 academic year, over 75,000 international students studied in Portugal, which represents more than 13% of the country's total higher education enrolment.

As a student, you'll have the opportunity to learn one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Most courses are taught in Portuguese, so knowledge of the language is essential. Fluency will also help you settle into your new surroundings and language skills always look impressive on your CV.

Whatever your interests, you'll find leisure activities to suit you. Music fans can attend a range of festivals and events such as Rock In Rio in Lisbon, while foodies can sample delicious local seafood dishes in the Algarve.

Sightseers can visit the country's many castles, including The National Palace of Pena in

Sintra, or explore the impressive Algarve caves, such as the sea cave of Benagil.

To witness the nation's passion for sport, football fans can enjoy the exhilarating match atmosphere at Estádio do Dragão, home to FC Porto.

Portuguese universities

Portugal is a member of the Bologna Process, with its higher education system consisting of both public and private institutions, which are divided into two main bodies:

• Universities - teaching is traditionally based on theory and research, with degrees such as medicine, law, natural sciences, economics and psychology.
• Polytechnics - provide vocational training that leads to a profession. Nursing, healthcare, accounting and teaching degrees are offered by polytechnic institutions.

Public higher education in Portugal consists of 14 universities and 20 polytechnic institutes. The private sector is smaller but more diverse, made up of a mix of universities, university institutes and polytechnic schools.

There are three cycles or levels of study:

• Licenciatura (Bachelors)
• Mestre/Mestrado (Masters)
• Doutor/Doutoramento (Doctoral).

First and second cycle degrees can be studied at both university and polytechnic institutions, but third cycle degrees can only be awarded at universities.

Many universities in Portugal ask prospective students to sit an entrance exam - public universities use a national exam, whereas private institutions set their own.

Eight Portuguese universities currently feature in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with five making the top 500:

• University of Lisbon (237th)
• University of Porto (255th)
• Universidade Nova de Lisboa (337th)
• University of Coimbra (342nd)
• University of Aveiro (425th).

The Portuguese academic year is divided into two semesters - the first takes place between September and early February, while the second runs from February until June/July.

Degree courses in Portugal

For admission onto a Bachelors degree (Licenciatura) programme, you must hold a secondary school leaving certificate or equivalent and complete the necessary entrance exams. To find out about additional entry requirements, check with individual institutions.

Students can study a variety of courses at undergraduate level, which usually take three to four years to complete, including options in:

• creative arts
• business
• finance
• IT
• law
• medicine
• psychology.

Masters degrees

There are two types of study:

• A straightforward Masters (Mestrado), undertaken on completion of an undergraduate programme. These typically take one or two years to complete.
• An integrated Masters (Mestrado integrado), which includes an undergraduate component. This study method is more common for professional subjects such as law or medicine and can take up to six years to complete.

The majority of Masters courses are structured around units of coursework and culminate in a dissertation or independent project.

To be accepted onto a Masters course, you'll need to hold a relevant undergraduate degree. However, entry requirements will differ depending on the institution and course, so check before you apply.

PhDs

A Doctorate (Doutoramento) is the highest qualification in Portugal. Courses normally take three or four years to complete, although there's no minimum period of enrolment.

Programmes are available in a range of subjects - from education and science to engineering, manufacturing and construction.

To be accepted onto a course you'll require a good undergraduate degree and a relevant Masters. For courses taught in Portuguese, you'll also need to prove your proficiency in the language.

To successfully achieve a PhD, you'll be tasked with producing a thesis and you'll then need to publicly defend it to a panel of expert examiners.

Student exchanges

The Turing Scheme is for students looking to secure overseas placements and study abroad opportunities at an overseas university. It is backed by over £100million worth of funding, enabling thousands of students from schools, colleges and universities to gain study and work experience abroad.

Your university must have a formal agreement with a partner university in Portugal. Check that your institution is involved in the programme and offers the scheme.

Course fees

European Union (EU) citizens are entitled to attend university in Portugal and are not required to pay higher course fees. EU nationals are also entitled to apply for any available grants towards tuition fees.

Both public and private institutions set their own tuition fees, so the cost varies depending on where you choose to study. Private institutions charge considerably more than public universities. If you choose to study at a private institution, you'll pay monthly fees, while at public universities you pay annually.

Tuition fees in Portugal are generally much lower than in the UK. At public universities, Bachelors degrees typically cost between €500 and €700 (£420-£590) per year for EU students, while Masters programmes usually range from €500 to €2,500 (£420-£2,100) per year, depending on the course and institution.

Private universities charge higher fees, with many Bachelors and Masters programmes costing between €3,000 and €7,000 (£2,500-£5,900) per year. Some specialised courses, particularly in areas such as business or healthcare, can cost more than €10,000 (£8,400) per year.

Even at the higher end of the scale, studying in Portugal is often an affordable choice.

To find out more about tuition fees, contact your individual institution.

Funding to study in Portugal

Portugal offers a number of grants and scholarships to EU students. Eligible candidates can apply for grants in the same way as Portuguese students.

Grants are available from individual institutions that have been recognised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education. Read more about applying for grants via ePortugal.gov.

Scholarships for non-EU students are more difficult to find, so be sure to check the eligibility criteria of any grants and scholarships you come across during your search.

EU students can also contribute to their study costs by working part time for up to 20 hours during term time and on a full-time basis during holiday periods.

Student visas

If you are a non-EU student and plan to study in Portugal for more than three months, you usually need a student residence visa before travelling and a residence permit after arriving in Portugal.

The student residence visa application fee is €90 (£76). After arrival, students must apply for a residence permit, which typically costs around €170 (£143). In total, you should budget approximately €260 (£219) in government fees, although charges can change and additional costs may apply for document certification, translations and health insurance.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not normally need a student visa or residence permit to study in Portugal, although they may need to register their residence if staying for more than 90 days.

Your residence permit can be applied for through your local Portuguese Embassy or consulate and requires:

• residency visa application form (provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• a valid passport
• two recent passport-sized photos
• criminal record check
• international health insurance
• proof of accommodation
• a letter of acceptance from a Portuguese university
• proof of paid fees/scholarship
• proof of sufficient funds.

It can take up to three months to process the visa, so it's advisable to apply as soon as you're accepted into university.

For those in the UK, this would be done by visiting the Consulate General of Portugal in London.

As Portugal is part of the Schengen Area, many citizens of the EU and the EEA, including Switzerland, only need an identify card or passport to enter Portugal.

As an EU citizen, you're permitted to live in any EU country while studying as long as you:

• are studying for more than three months
• are enrolled at an approved university/other institution
• have sufficient income (from any source) to live without needing income support
• have full health insurance cover.

Students from the EU should apply for an EU citizens residents card within four months of arrival.

In many EU countries, it's advisable to carry your passport or some other identity card around with you, as you can be fined or temporarily detained if you leave them at home and fail to produce them.

How to apply

All higher education applications are made exclusively online.

For undergraduate programmes you can apply through a centralised system called Candidatura Online (in Portuguese) and for postgraduate courses you apply directly to your chosen university.

When applying, it's worth contacting your chosen institutions international office for advice on studying in Portugal and the necessary entrance exams and procedures.

Language requirements

Most undergraduate programmes are taught in Portuguese, so if you intend to study at this level, you'll need a solid understanding of the language. If Portuguese isn't your first language, you may be asked to prove your proficiency as part of your application.

At Masters level, an increasing number of courses are taught in English - although some knowledge of Portuguese will come in useful. Look on university websites and contact them directly to find out if your chosen subject is delivered in English. If so, and English isn't your first language, you may need to provide evidence of proficiency.

Comparison to UK qualifications

Portuguese courses and higher education qualifications are directly comparable to those gained in the UK. It's always best to check with employers before applying for jobs, but Portuguese degrees should be recognised in the UK.

Find out more

• Discover what it's like to work in Portugal.
• For further information on studying in the country, see DGES Portugal.