The University of Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa, or ULisboa) is Portugal’s largest university. In its current form it dates from 2013, when the old University of Lisbon, founded in 1911, merged with the Technical University of Lisbon, and today it’s made up of more than a dozen schools, including Técnico (Instituto Superior Técnico), the Faculty of Sciences, ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management, and the faculties of medicine, law and fine arts. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 237th in the world and the highest-ranked university in Portugal. It’s known for engineering, the sciences, economics and management, medicine, law and architecture.
Most of ULisboa’s bachelor’s programmes are taught in Portuguese, but international students have their own admissions route, and a growing number of master’s programmes are taught in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Lisbon’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 ULisboa, this special contest covers the licenciatura (bachelor’s) and integrated master’s programmes, while master’s (2nd cycle) programmes are open to applicants from anywhere, and international students apply to them directly through the school. ULisboa: special admission contest for international students.
2. Choose your school and programme
Admissions are handled by each of ULisboa’s schools, so start by choosing the school that offers your subject, such as Técnico for engineering, the Faculty of Sciences for science, or ISEG for economics and management. Each school sets its own admission requirements, documents and, for master’s programmes, its own deadlines and fees, so read your programme’s page carefully. Most bachelor’s programmes are taught in Portuguese, and more master’s programmes are offered in English.
3. Apply in the first phase, from 4 January to 5 February 2027
For 2027-28, ULisboa’s special contest for international students applying to bachelor’s and integrated master’s programmes has two main phases. The first runs from 4 January to 5 February 2027, with results by 5 March 2027, and the second from 5 April to 21 May 2027, with results by 18 June 2027. Schools may open a third phase for any places left over, with all selection and enrolment completed by 30 September 2027. Applying in the first phase gives you more places to compete for and more time to get your visa.
4. Prepare your qualifications and documents
To apply for a bachelor’s, you need a qualification that gives you access to higher education in the country where you got it, or a Portuguese secondary school diploma or equivalent. For a master’s, you need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent: a Bologna-compliant degree is accepted, and other foreign degrees can be recognised by the school’s Scientific Council. Your school will tell you which documents to upload and whether they need to be translated or certified, so allow time to collect them.
5. Prove your Portuguese or English
For programmes taught in Portuguese, you’ll need to show that you can follow classes in Portuguese, and the required level and accepted proofs are set by each school. If you need to improve your Portuguese first, look at the courses offered by ULisboa’s schools and other Portuguese language programmes.
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.
6. Meet any entrance exam or specific requirements
Many programmes take into account your grades in particular subjects, and some schools set entrance exams or interviews for international applicants, or accept equivalent national exams from your country. Check the specific requirements for your programme in the school’s regulations for the special contest before you apply, and make sure your documents show the subjects and grades they ask for.
7. Understand the fees
Portuguese and EU students pay €697 a year for bachelor’s and integrated master’s programmes in 2026-27. International students pay higher fees, set by ULisboa’s General Council for each school and shown on each course page. For example, the Faculty of Sciences charges international students €3,500 a year for its bachelor’s and master’s programmes in 2026-27, and ULisboa’s schools didn’t propose any increase for 2027-28. Fees for master’s and doctoral programmes vary from school to school, and some international students may have their fee reduced to the national rate. ULisboa tuition fees.
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. ULisboa lists international scholarship opportunities on its website, and some schools have their own merit awards. Apply early, as many funding deadlines close before the academic year begins. ULisboa: international scholarships.
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 the University of Lisbon 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. The University of Lisbon’s career services can help you find internships and jobs. AIMA: residence permit for higher education students.
Applying for a PhD at the University of Lisbon?
To start a PhD at ULisboa, you apply to the doctoral programme at the relevant school, usually with a master’s degree and a research proposal, and you’ll need a supervisor for your project. 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 Porto, NOVA University Lisbon, 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 the University of Lisbon’s official admissions and fee 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 the University of Lisbon’s website and your school’s website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Lisbon.