NOVA University Lisbon (Universidade NOVA de Lisboa) was founded in 1973 and is one of Portugal’s leading universities. Its schools include Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE) on the coast at Carcavelos, NOVA School of Science and Technology at Caparica, NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS), NOVA Medical School and NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 337th in the world and the third-highest-ranked university in Portugal. It’s especially well known for business and economics, and Nova SBE’s CEMS Master’s in International Management has been ranked 4th in the world by QS.
Admissions at NOVA are handled by each school, and while most bachelor’s programmes are taught in Portuguese, Nova SBE teaches its bachelor’s and master’s programmes in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on NOVA’s own guidance and official Portuguese information.
1. Check whether you’re an international student
Portugal’s International Student Statute (Estatuto do Estudante Internacional) gives students who aren’t Portuguese or EU/EEA citizens their own “special contest” for bachelor’s and integrated master’s places, with separate places, dates and fees. You can’t use it if you’re a family member of a Portuguese or EU citizen, if you’ve lived legally in Portugal for more than two years by 1 January of the year you apply (time on a student visa usually doesn’t count), or if you benefit from the Statute of Equal Rights and Duties for Brazilian citizens. If you can’t use it, you apply through the national access system like Portuguese students. At NOVA, each school runs its own special contest for international students, with its own requirements and dates, so check the page of the school you want to join.
2. Choose your school, and check the language
Most of NOVA’s bachelor’s programmes, for example in engineering and the sciences at NOVA School of Science and Technology, are taught in Portuguese, so you’ll need good Portuguese for them. Nova SBE is different: its official language is English, and it teaches its bachelor’s in Management, Economics and Ocean Studies and its master’s programmes in English, and you don’t need Portuguese for life on campus. Some master’s programmes at NOVA IMS and NOVA’s other schools are also taught in English.
3. Meet Nova SBE’s grade requirements
To apply directly to Nova SBE’s bachelor’s programmes, you need a recognised high school diploma, your transcripts from the last three years and minimum grades that depend on your qualification and programme. For example, applicants with India’s 12th Standard need at least 85% to 88% overall, depending on the programme, and some programmes also set a minimum mathematics grade. If you don’t meet these criteria, you can apply through NOVA’s SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme, which prepares international students for undergraduate study at NOVA and its partner universities. Nova SBE: application for international students.
4. Apply on time
For 2026-27, Nova SBE’s application period for international bachelor’s students ran from 14 April to 16 June 2026. Nova SBE’s master’s programmes now use admissions rounds: you can submit only one application per round, to one programme, and if you’re rejected you can reapply in a later round. NOVA’s other schools set their own phases, so check each school’s calendar, and apply early if you need a visa.
5. Prove your English
English-taught programmes ask you to prove your English, usually with IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or a Cambridge English qualification, although applicants who studied in English may be exempt. Minimum scores are set by each programme, so check yours, and book your test early so your results are ready when you apply. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. Nova SBE asks for English at level B2 when you apply, and for its bachelor’s it accepts, for example, Cambridge English with a score of at least 170, or exemption if your high school education was fully in English or English is your mother tongue.
6. Prepare a strong master’s application
For Nova SBE’s master’s programmes, you need a recognised bachelor’s degree, and the programmes are designed for candidates with up to two years of work experience. Some programmes, such as the International Master’s in Finance and the International Master’s in Management, have their own specific criteria, and a GMAT score can strengthen your application. At NOVA’s other schools, each school sets its own requirements and selection criteria for master’s applicants. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GMAT practice tests.
7. Understand the fees
Portuguese and EU students pay €697 a year for bachelor’s programmes, but international students pay more, and fees differ between schools. At Nova SBE, international bachelor’s students pay €7,500 a year, plus a non-refundable €70 application fee, and the €750 enrolment fee is deducted from the tuition. Nova SBE’s master’s fees for non-EU students in 2026-27 include €13,000 for the International Master’s in Management and €14,450 for the International Master’s in Finance. Nova SBE: fees and funding.
8. Look for scholarships
Portugal has few large scholarships for international students, but look at the Camões Institute (for students from some Portuguese-speaking countries), the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for doctoral studentships, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Santander Universities, as well as funding from your own government. Nova SBE has its own programme of merit and social mobility scholarships, many funded by companies and foundations, and it advises applying as early as possible to improve your chances. Nova SBE: scholarships and funding.
9. Apply for your student visa, then your residence permit
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a visa, but if they stay longer than three months they must get a registration certificate from their local town hall. If you’re from outside the EU/EEA, you first apply for a residence visa for higher education at the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country once NOVA has accepted you, and you must show that you have enough money to live on, health or travel insurance and a criminal record certificate. The amount is based on Portugal’s monthly minimum wage, which is €920 in 2026. The visa lets you enter Portugal, where you book an appointment with AIMA, Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, to apply for your residence permit with proof of enrolment, tuition payment, accommodation and means of subsistence. Under current rules, the residence permit for higher education students is valid for three years, or for the length of your course if it’s shorter. If you arrive from another Schengen country and don’t pass Portuguese border control, you must declare your entry to AIMA or the police within three working days. AIMA appointments can take time, so apply for your visa as soon as you’re admitted. AIMA: residence permit for higher education students.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
With a residence permit for study, you can work as an employee or be self-employed alongside your studies, as long as your studies remain your main activity, and you’ll need to register with Portuguese social security and get a tax number (NIF). Most part-time jobs need Portuguese, so don’t count on them to pay your tuition or living costs. After you graduate, you’ll need to switch to a residence permit that allows you to work, for example once you’ve found a job, so check the current options with AIMA before your student permit runs out. NOVA’s career services can help you find internships and jobs. AIMA: residence permit for higher education students.
Applying for a PhD at NOVA?
NOVA’s doctoral programmes are run by its schools and coordinated by its Doctoral School. You’ll usually need a master’s degree, a research proposal and a supervisor, and many doctoral students in Portugal are funded through studentships from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) or research projects. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Apply to more than one university to give yourself options. Read our guides to the University of Lisbon, the University of Porto, the University of Coimbra and the University of Aveiro. Our guide to studying in Portugal explains how the Portuguese system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from NOVA’s and Nova SBE’s official admissions, fee and scholarship pages, AIMA and other Portuguese government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on NOVA’s website and your school’s website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with NOVA University Lisbon.