Study and Research Opportunities in Portugal

Long and short-term academic programs are available in Portugal across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in Portugal. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make Portugal an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in Portugal and apply.

Scholarships in Portugal

  1. SASULisboa Scholarships
  2. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships
  3. University of Coimbra Scholarships
  4. Lisbon MBA Scholarships
  5. DP-PMI Scholarships
  6. CIEE Scholarships
  7. Instituto Camos Scholarships
  8. Programa Cotutelas Pessoa
  9. FLAD: USA@PT grant
  10. Maratona da Saude Prizes 2021 - Rare Diseases Research
  11. Arquivo.pt Award 2021
  12. University of Porto Scholarships
  13. 2021 Affiliated Ph.D. Programs initiative CMU Portugal
  14. University of Aveiro International Scholarship

Courses of Portuguese in Portugal

  1. Portuguese Connection: Learn Portuguese in Lisbon
  2. Liberlinguas: Learn Portuguese in Portugal
  3. Cial: Learn Portuguese in the heart of Lisbon
  4. Escola de Línguas das Sardinhas: Portuguese courses in Lisbon
  5. Lusa Language School: Learn Portuguese in Lisbon
  6. Worldpuzzle language school
  7. Saudade Language School
  8. Portuguese et cetera: Learn Portuguese in Lisbon
  9. Fast Forward Language Institute
  10. Caravela School: School of Portuguese for Foreigners

Summer Programs Portugal

  1. ProAction 2021Edition: Climate Action
  2. RobotCraft Summer School
  3. University of Evora Summer School
  4. NOVA SBE: Sovereign Debt Crises and Computational Methods
  5. European Cross-Cultural Management
  6. Corporate Negotiation and Influence
  7. Trends in Digital Marketing
  8. Energy and Environmental Economics
  9. International Business
  10. Portuguese Summer School

Portugal as an Academic Destination

Beautiful scenery, affordable lifestyle, mild Mediterranean weather, rich culture, and history make Portugal an attractive destination for tourists and students. 

Portugal is one of 48 European countries that established the Bologna Process, which is aimed to bring coherence and consistency among higher education systems across Europe. It means that higher educational qualifications and study abroad programs are accepted and trusted among those countries. 

Universities in Portugal

The educational system in Portugal consists of universities and polytechnic institutions which provide more profession-related, practical skills. Public and private options are available for both institutions. There are 36 private and 14 public universities in Portugal. The number of private polytechnics is 64, and public polytechnics are 20. Students go to universities for more profound and general education, while for practical, field-specific education, polytechnical institutions are preferred. 

According to the US News Best Global Universities rankings, five universities in Portugal are among the top 500 universities worldwide, all of which are public. 

The highest-ranked university in Portugal is the University of Lisbon, ranked as number 197 among Best Global Universities. Among subject-based rankings, it is number 20 for Civil Engineering and number 66 for Engineering studies worldwide. 

The second-best university in Portugal is the University of Porto. In the list of Best Global Universities, it is ranked as number 271. Studies of Public, Environmental, and Occupational health subjects in the University of Porto are ranked 46th best worldwide. 

The University of Coimbra is ranked as the third one in Portugal and number 402 globally. Pharmacology and Toxicology subjects are the highest-ranked ones in the university (number 170 worldwide). 

The fourth university in Portugal is the University of Nova de Lisboa. It is the 406th university in the global ranking. The university is ranked 127th in the world for Economics and Business studies. 

The University of Minho is the 5th university in Portugal and 459th in the world. Engineering studies are ranked as the 59th best in the world. 

The Oldest University in Portugal

The University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities in the world and the oldest one in Portugal. It was founded in 1290 in Lisbon, and it moved to Coimbra in 1537 after several reallocations. The university buildings, which hold unique history and culture of more than seven centuries, were granted UNESCO World Heritage status with the unanimous decision of the World Heritage Committee in 2013. To explore more about one of the ancient European universities, visit the official website

International Student Expenses

Tuition fees

Portuguese universities provide some of the most affordable degrees in Europe. For example, the yearly tuition fee in the University of Lisbon for masters studies start from €3,000 - €3,500 in faculties of Law, Fine Arts, Arts, and Humanities and reach the maximum of €10,000 - €12,500 in faculties of medicine. 

At the University of Porto, full-time tuition fees for undergraduate international students are €3,500 and €5,000 for international graduate students. The prices are around half of the mentioned price for international students from Community of Portuguese Language Countries, which include Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé, and Príncipe, East Timor, and Portugal. 

Accommodation costs

Compared to other Western European countries, living in Portugal is quite affordable. For example, renting a one-room apartment in Lisbon costs around €840 in the center and around €550 outside the city center. Accommodation fees are lower in Porto: around €680 in the city center and €500 outside of the center. 

However, students can also consider renting a room in university accommodations, which will be more affordable. For example, students of the University of Lisbon may rent a single room for €220 a month. 

Working With a Student Visa

International students are allowed to work in Portugal with a residence permit, but working hours cannot exceed 20 hours per week during the semester. It is allowed to have full-time employment during holidays. 

Research and Development in Portugal

There are many centers and institutes conducting research and development projects in Portugal. Those are mostly united under major universities.

University of Lisbon

Research units of the University of Lisbon were assessed as excellent by the Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research, and Technology. Those centers cover sectors of exact sciences, health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and arts, and humanities. For more detailed information about the research units, check their official websites

University of Porto

The University of Porto is accepted to be called a Research University. It combines 51 research units and is responsible for the scientific discoveries and innovations of the country. More than 23% of Portuguese scientific articles are indexed in the WEB of Science.  

Affordable lifestyle, picturesque nature, and developing education make Portugal an attractive destination for international study experiences. Vibrant and lively cities, great food, street parties, and nightlife will provide a memorable study abroad experience for international students. We hope this section of ARMACAD will bring you closer to your desired academic path in Portugal.