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Last modified: 2026-09-30

# University of Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa): Admission and Fees for International Students

The University of Lisbon (ULisboa) is Portugal's largest public university. Eighteen of its 19 schools admit non-EU applicants to bachelor's programmes through a dedicated international student competition, while each school runs its own master's admissions. First-cycle teaching is mostly in Portuguese at B1 level, and you can still apply without a certificate if you commit to a year-long Portuguese course. For the 2027/28 academic year, international students pay from $1,700 (€1,500) a year for Law to $12,490 (€11,000) for Nutrition Sciences, with most programmes at $3,970 (€3,500). Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico costs $7,950 (€7,000) and Medicine $20,440 (€18,000) a year.

The University of Lisbon rectorate building in the Cidade Universitária. Photo: Manuelvbotelho / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reitoria_da_Universidade_de_Lisboa_Arq_Pardal_Monteiro.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).

ULisboa traces its current form to 2013, when the University of Lisbon founded in 1911 merged with the Technical University of Lisbon. The university reports more than 51,000 students, over 11,000 of them international.

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| City | Lisbon; school buildings are spread across the city, and Instituto Superior Técnico also has the Taguspark campus in Oeiras |
| Structure | 19 schools; 18 teach bachelor's and integrated master's degrees, including faculties, higher institutes and the Nursing School |
| Route for non-EU citizens | Concurso Especial para Estudantes Internacionais (special competition under the International Student Statute) |
| Bachelor's language | Portuguese at B1; applying with a commitment to a one-year language course is allowed |
| International fees, 2027/28 | $1,700–12,490 (€1,500–11,000) a year for bachelor's; integrated master's $7,950–20,440 (€7,000–18,000) |
| Fee for Portuguese and EU students | $790 (€697) a year; not available to holders of international student status |
| 2026/27 application rounds | Round 1: 2 January – 6 February 2026; Round 2: 6 April – 22 May 2026; schools may add a third round |
| Student residences | 15 SASULisboa residences; in 2026/27 a bed in a shared room costs $200–260 (€175–230) a month |

## How the university works: choose a school, not a brand {#section-1}

ULisboa is a federation of autonomous schools. The university sets the common admission regulation and approves fees, but each school receives applications, ranks candidates and allocates places. Every school has its own website, application platform and edital, the official call that lists conditions, dates and the number of places.

The schools that admit international students to first-cycle and integrated master's programmes are:

- Instituto Superior Técnico (IST): engineering, architecture, applied mathematics and computer science;
- Faculdade de Ciências: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, data science, informatics engineering;
- ISEG (Lisbon School of Economics and Management): economics, management, finance;
- Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine faculties;
- Faculdade de Direito: law;
- Faculdade de Letras: languages, history, philosophy, translation;
- Faculdade de Arquitetura and Faculdade de Belas-Artes: architecture, design and fine arts;
- Faculdade de Psicologia, Instituto de Educação and Faculdade de Motricidade Humana (sport and dance);
- Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território and Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas;
- Escola Superior de Enfermagem, the Nursing School that joined the university on 30 December 2025.

This structure has three practical consequences. Fees depend on the school: Law costs $1,700 (€1,500), while Economics at ISEG costs $8,520 (€7,500) a year. Calendars and selection formats differ too: IST ran four application calls for 2026/27, and the Faculty of Medicine opened its third round in August. Finally, subject requirements are set per programme, so the real comparison is between programmes rather than between "Lisbon" and "Porto".

## Who counts as an international student {#section-2}

The special competition is for applicants who hold neither Portuguese nor another EU nationality. You are not treated as an international student if you:

- are a family member of a Portuguese or other EU citizen;
- have lived legally in Portugal for more than two consecutive years on 1 January of the year of entry (time on a student residence permit does not count), which also applies to children living with such parents;
- hold equal-rights status under an international treaty with Portugal;
- are in Portugal on an academic mobility programme.

Once admitted, you keep the status until you finish the programme you entered. That matters for your budget: the international fee does not drop to the domestic rate in later years.

## Bachelor's entry requirements {#section-3}

### Which school certificate qualifies

You can apply with any qualification that gives access to higher education in the country where it was awarded, or with a Portuguese secondary diploma. The document must prove that access and show your final grades. Schools rank applicants by the average converted to the Portuguese scale and may add their own criteria.

At Faculdade de Ciências, for example, selection works like this:

1. A jury of programme coordinators ranks candidates by final secondary-school grade, highest first.
2. Grades are expressed on a 100–200 scale, with 100 as the minimum to apply.
3. Ties are resolved on the CV.

### Subject preparation

Schools also check your preparation in the subjects that Portuguese students sit as entrance exams (provas de ingresso) for that programme. Faculdade de Ciências accepts proof of equivalent exams, or proof that you passed final exams or the relevant school subjects, taken in the application year or the three previous calendar years.

IST offers its own route for applicants without valid final exams: tests in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, and Descriptive Geometry. In 2026 they took place on 4 May after registration from 20 to 29 April, cost $68 (€60) per exam and could be written in Portuguese or English.

The Faculty of Medicine requires preparation in Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and invites shortlisted applicants to an interview.

### Documents

A typical application includes:

- passport;
- a sworn statement that you are neither Portuguese nor an EU citizen and meet the international student criteria;
- your secondary certificate and proof that it grants access to higher education in the issuing country;
- a transcript with final grades and the grading scale;
- evidence of subject preparation;
- Portuguese proof (DEPLE, a B1 certificate from a ULisboa school or a level declaration), or English proof for an English-taught programme;
- a short CV; IST also asks for a photo and an optional motivation letter.

Documents issued outside the EU must carry an apostille from the issuing country or be certified by a Portuguese consulate. Anything not in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish needs a translation into one of these languages. Faculdade de Ciências states that incomplete applications are rejected automatically, while IST accepts scans at the application stage and checks apostilled originals at enrolment in September.

## How many places go to international students {#section-4}

Schools set international places per programme, and numbers are small. For 2026/27, Faculdade de Ciências opened 87 places across 17 bachelor's programmes: five each for Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Geology and most others, four for Data Science, Geospatial Engineering and Technological Chemistry, and ten for Informatics Engineering. Medicine had 11 international places.

A programme with five places usually fills in Round 1, and only leftovers carry into Round 2. If you are torn between two related programmes, apply to both in the first round rather than saving the second for spring.

## Portuguese at B1: what it means in practice {#section-5}

ULisboa requires independent use of Portuguese at B1 for bachelor's and integrated master's degrees. You can prove it with a DEPLE diploma, a B1 certificate from a ULisboa school, or the university's own language and culture test.

Without a certificate you can still compete, but you commit to a year-long Portuguese language and culture course. It runs alongside your first year and must be repeated every year until you reach B1. IST gives you until the end of the first year to show B1. The Faculty of Medicine accepts B1 in Portuguese or English, and students without Portuguese attend a language course until the end of year three.

English-taught first-cycle options are limited. ISEG teaches three bachelor's degrees in English: Economics, Management and Finance, each listed with English as the language of instruction on its programme page. IST asks for English at B1 for its English-taught programmes. Master's level offers far more choice in English.

## Application calendar {#section-6}

The general ULisboa calendar for 2026/27 intake:

| Stage | Round 1 | Round 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Applications | 2 January – 6 February 2026 | 6 April – 22 May 2026 |
| Validation and ranking | by 2 March 2026 | by 12 June 2026 |
| Results | by 6 March 2026 | by 19 June 2026 |
| Place reservation | by 20 March 2026 | by 3 July 2026 |
| Remaining places published | by 30 March 2026 | by 13 July 2026 |

Schools with places left after Round 2 may open a third round, handled first come, first served or ranked by a school deadline, and all procedures end by 30 September. IST ran a third call from 6 to 17 July 2026 and a fourth, for master's only, from 14 to 17 September. The Faculty of Medicine accepted applications for its integrated master's from 10 to 14 August, with interviews from 31 August to 10 September.

Schools publish the 2027/28 dates during the academic year, and the pattern usually repeats with Round 1 opening in early January. For a September 2027 start, have apostilled documents and your language certificate ready by December 2026, because Round 2 leaves less time for the visa.

## Tuition fees for international students {#section-7}

The university's General Council sets fees, and international rates are approved a year ahead. In May 2026 the council reviewed 2027/28 fees; no school proposed an increase, so the figures match 2026/27. The document notes that final approval depends on the 2027 State Budget Law.

### Bachelor's degrees, 2027/28

| School and programme | Annual fee |
| --- | --- |
| Faculdade de Direito, Law | $1,700 (€1,500) |
| Instituto Superior de Agronomia, all bachelor's | $3,410 (€3,000) |
| Ciências, Letras, Belas-Artes, Motricidade Humana, ISCSP, Instituto de Educação | $3,970 (€3,500) |
| Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território | $5,110 (€4,500) |
| Faculdade de Psicologia; Nursing School | $5,680 (€5,000) |
| IST engineering bachelor's; Faculdade de Arquitetura design programmes | $7,950 (€7,000) |
| ISEG: Economia, Gestão, Economics, Management and others | $8,520 (€7,500) |
| Dental Medicine: Oral Hygiene, Dental Prosthetics | $10,220 (€9,000) |
| Faculty of Medicine: Nutrition Sciences | $12,490 (€11,000) |

### Integrated master's (5–6 years, no separate bachelor's), 2027/28

| Programme | Annual fee |
| --- | --- |
| Architecture (Faculdade de Arquitetura or IST); Pharmaceutical Sciences | $7,950 (€7,000) |
| Veterinary Medicine | $14,190 (€12,500) |
| Dental Medicine (students entering from 2025/26) | $17,030 (€15,000) |
| Medicine | $20,440 (€18,000) |

For a full-programme estimate, multiply by the number of years: a three-year bachelor's at Faculdade de Ciências comes to about $11,920 (€10,500), and at IST about $23,850 (€21,000), if fees stay flat.

### Payments on top of tuition

| Payment | Example |
| --- | --- |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | $68 (€60) at Faculdade de Ciências (2025/26 reference); $110 (€100) at IST and the Faculty of Medicine |
| Place reservation after admission (credited to tuition, lost if you withdraw) | $570 (€500) at Faculdade de Ciências; $2,270 (€2,000) at IST |
| Registration fee | $57 (€50) at Faculdade de Ciências (2025/26 reference) |

Reservation deadlines are short: five calendar days after results at Faculdade de Ciências. If you pay from Russia, plan a lawful transfer route in advance; see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

### Are there discounts for Russian and CIS citizens?

ULisboa has no general discount scheme for international students. A separate university incentive applies to applicants from Portuguese-speaking countries, while citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries pay their school's full rate. If the numbers do not work, choosing a more affordable school within the university, such as Sciences or Law, is more realistic than hoping for a discount.

## Master's degrees {#section-8}

Master's selection looks at your bachelor's degree, its content and your grade average, under rules set by each school. International applicants use the same school platforms, and the school itself assesses a foreign degree for admission purposes.

| School and programme | International fee, 2027/28 |
| --- | --- |
| Faculdade de Ciências: most programmes, including Data Science, Informatics, Bioinformatics | $3,970 (€3,500) a year |
| Faculdade de Ciências: Medical Physics | $7,950 (€7,000) a year |
| IST: engineering master's, Data Science and Engineering | $7,950 (€7,000) a year |
| ISEG: Economia | $5,680 (€5,000) year one, $3,690 (€3,250) year two |
| ISEG: Gestão | $8,520 (€7,500) year one, $3,970 (€3,500) year two |
| ISEG: Finanças | $9,080 (€8,000) year one, $4,430 (€3,900) year two |
| Faculdade de Letras: most programmes | $1,360 (€1,200) a year |

IST asks non-native English speakers applying for master's to show a TOEFL iBT score above 65 or IELTS above 5. International places are set per programme and updated before each call: in September 2026 IST's table listed, for example, 29 master's places in Civil Engineering, 10 in Environmental Engineering and 9 in Aerospace Engineering. For the wider picture, read [master's degrees in Portugal](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-portugal).

## Medicine at ULisboa {#section-9}

The integrated master's in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine is the university's most expensive programme for international students at $20,440 (€18,000) a year. It offered 11 international places for 2026/27. Requirements:

- a qualification giving access to higher education in the issuing country;
- preparation in Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, shown through exams equivalent to Portuguese entrance exams;
- Portuguese or English at B1;
- a medical statement for Group A prerequisites ("interpersonal communication"), assessed by a doctor registered with the Ordem dos Médicos;
- an interview for shortlisted candidates;
- a $110 (€100) application fee.

Teaching is listed as Portuguese and English, but clinical training in Portuguese hospitals requires fluent Portuguese. To compare European options, see [studying medicine in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-spain) and our [medicine programme overview](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-medicine).

## Accommodation {#section-10}

The university's social services (SASULisboa) run 15 student residences. You can apply only after enrolling in a programme, through sas.ulisboa.pt; the process includes a document check and an interview, and state-scholarship holders who moved from other regions get priority. For 2026/27, applications opened on 27 August 2026 and places were allocated as applications came in, while they lasted.

| Room type, 2026/27 | ULisboa student, per month |
| --- | --- |
| Bed in a shared room, per-capita household income up to 28 × IAS | $200 (€175) |
| Bed in a shared room, per-capita household income above 28 × IAS | $260 (€230) |
| Single room | $320 (€280) |

The rate depends on room type and household income per person. Fifteen residences house only a small share of 51,000 students, so search the private market in parallel and pay nothing until you have seen the tenancy contract and checked who is renting the room.

## Visa and residence permit {#section-11}

Once admitted, a non-EU citizen needs a D4 national study visa and, after arrival, a residence permit. For ULisboa students the steps are:

- What you apply with. The school's admission letter, issued once you have reserved your place and paid the deposit.
- Applying from Russia. On 17 April 2026 the Portuguese Embassy announced that the BLS visa centre in Moscow accepts D4 applications without an appointment if you show the university letter at the entrance. The national visa fee is $120 (€110).
- Funds to show. Consulates start from the Portuguese minimum wage, $1,040 (€920) a month in 2026. A study visa needs a year's worth, $12,540 (€11,040); proof that you already have accommodation can halve that, and the consulate decides which documents it accepts.
- Visa validity. The residence visa lasts four months and allows two entries. Within that window you file for a residence permit with AIMA, the migration agency.
- Residence permit. Higher-education students get a three-year renewable permit, or one matching a shorter programme. This permit gives you the right to paid work or self-employment alongside your studies.

The consulate grants or refuses the visa and AIMA the residence permit; the school has no say in either. The document checklist is in our [Portugal student visa guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-portugal-student-visa).

## Lisbon, Porto or Coimbra {#section-12}

Fees in the table are international rates for 2026/27; ULisboa has kept the same amounts for 2027/28.

| Criterion | ULisboa | U.Porto | Coimbra |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| International bachelor's fee | $1,700–12,490 (€1,500–11,000) by school | $3,970–6,810 (€3,500–6,000) for most programmes | $7,950 (€7,000) for every programme |
| Bachelor's language | Portuguese B1 or a language-course commitment | Portuguese at independent-user level | Portuguese B2; B1 with a year-long course |
| Medicine, per year | $20,440 (€18,000) | $18,740 (€16,500) | $20,440 (€18,000) |
| Dental Medicine, per year | $17,030 (€15,000) | $9,650 (€8,500) | $7,950 (€7,000) |
| Discounts for international students | only for Portuguese-speaking countries | up to 45% for CPLP nationals only | $1,140–2,270 (€1,000–2,000) a year for an entry score of 150/200 or a priority-list programme |
| How a CIS school leaver is ranked | school-leaving average and subject preparation, per school | faculty rules | recognised exams (including the EGE in relevant subjects) or UC's own exams in Portuguese |
| City | capital, highest rents | Portugal's second city | compact university town |

See the full profiles of the [University of Porto](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-porto) and [University of Coimbra](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-coimbra), and the overview of [universities in Portugal](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-portugal).

## Who ULisboa suits {#section-13}

ULisboa makes sense when you are aiming for a specific school: engineering at IST, sciences at Faculdade de Ciências, economics and finance at ISEG. It suits applicants ready to learn Portuguese who want a public European university where a bachelor's year costs $3,970–7,950 (€3,500–7,000). Faculdade de Ciências offers the strongest value, at $3,970 (€3,500) a year for both bachelor's and most master's programmes.

Look elsewhere if you need a wide choice of English-taught bachelor's degrees, if your budget depends on a scholarship, or if Lisbon rents do not fit your plan. For country-wide comparisons, read [applying to Portuguese universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-portuguese-universities) and [the cost of studying in Portugal](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-portugal), or start from [studying in Portugal](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-portugal).

## Common mistakes {#section-14}

- Comparing the university instead of the school. Within ULisboa, Law and ISEG Economics differ by $6,810 (€6,000) a year.
- Assuming the domestic fee applies. The $790 (€697) rate is for Portuguese, EU and equivalent students, not for international-status students.
- Leaving apostilles and translations too late. Faculdade de Ciências rejects incomplete files without review and keeps the application fee.
- Applying without a Portuguese plan. The year-long language course adds workload in year one and repeats until you reach B1.
- Forgetting the reservation payment. At IST it is $2,270 (€2,000), due shortly after results and not refunded if you withdraw.
- Building the budget around a residence place. You can apply only after enrolment, and Portuguese scholarship holders come first.

## FAQ {#section-15}

### Can I apply to ULisboa straight after an 11-year school certificate?

Yes, if your certificate gives access to university in your country. The school converts your average to the 100–200 scale and checks subject preparation. ULisboa does not require a separate foundation year, but without Portuguese B1 you must commit to a year-long Portuguese course.

### How much does a year cost for a non-EU student?

Between $1,700 (€1,500) for Law and $20,440 (€18,000) for Medicine. Sciences and humanities typically cost $3,970 (€3,500), engineering at IST $7,950 (€7,000) and economics at ISEG $8,520 (€7,500). These rates applied to 2026/27 and were kept unchanged for 2027/28.

### Are there bachelor's degrees in English?

A few. ISEG teaches its Economics, Management and Finance bachelor's degrees in English; Economics costs $8,520 (€7,500) a year. At IST the bachelor's is mainly in Portuguese, with B1 due by the end of year one. Master's programmes in English are far more common.

### Do I need to sit entrance exams?

There is no single exam. Schools look at your certificate grades and final exams in the relevant subjects. IST lets applicants without suitable exams sit its own tests in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, and Descriptive Geometry, in Portuguese or English.

### When should I apply for 2027/28?

In the last cycle Round 1 opened on 2 January and ran for about five weeks, with Round 2 from April to May. Schools will confirm 2027/28 dates during the year, so plan for January and prepare documents in the autumn.

### Will I get a residence place once admitted?

Not automatically. You apply to SASULisboa after enrolment, then go through a document check and an interview, and Portuguese state-scholarship holders from other regions come first. It is safer to budget for private rent.

### Can I work while studying?

Yes. The law allows holders of a study residence permit to work as employees or self-employed alongside their studies. While you are on the D4 visa and waiting for AIMA, plan to cover your costs from your own funds.

### How does StudyU help with ULisboa?

School and programme selection, checks of certificate and subject requirements, document and application preparation, and support with place reservation and the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The ULisboa school decides on admission, the Portuguese consulate on the visa and AIMA on the residence permit.

## Sources {#section-16}

- [ULisboa: international student competition, 1st and 2nd cycles, 2026/27 calendar](https://www.ulisboa.pt/info/concurso-para-estudante-internacional-1o-e-2o-ciclos)
- [ULisboa: tuition fees](https://www.ulisboa.pt/info/propinas-e-emolumentos) and [General Council fee decision for 2026/27 and 2027/28 (PDF)](https://www.ulisboa.pt/sites/default/files/documents/page/2026/deliberacaocgpropinas2026.pdf)
- [ULisboa: key figures](https://www.ulisboa.pt/en) and [International Student Guide](https://estudanteinternacional.ulisboa.pt/index-en.html)
- [Faculdade de Ciências: 2026/27 international student call (PDF)](https://ciencias.ulisboa.pt/sites/default/files/fcul/institucional/Edital_Estudante_Internacional_26_27_EN_1C_1fase.pdf)
- [Instituto Superior Técnico: International Students](https://tecnico.ulisboa.pt/en/education/study-at-tecnico/applications/international-students/)
- [ISEG: Management](https://www.iseg.ulisboa.pt/en/study/undergraduate/management), [Economics](https://www.iseg.ulisboa.pt/en/study/undergraduate/economics/) and [Finance](https://www.iseg.ulisboa.pt/en/study/undergraduate/finance)
- [Faculty of Medicine: International Student — Medicine 2026/27](https://www.medicina.ulisboa.pt/en/international-student-medicine)
- [SASULisboa: price tables (PDF)](https://www.sas.ulisboa.pt/_archive/_sas_documento/9546ab0e32af1dca2.44718162.pdf) and [2026/27 housing applications](https://www.ulisboa.pt/noticia/alojamento-ulisboa-20262027-candidaturas-abertas)
- [Embassy of Portugal in Moscow: D4 study visa applications](https://moscovo.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/ru/)
- [MNE Portugal: visa types](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/type-of-visa), [visa fees](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/fees), [means of subsistence](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/means-of-subsistence) and [Order 1563/2007 on required means](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/portaria/1563-2007-628798)
- [AIMA: residence permit for higher-education students, Article 91](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/estudar/autorizacao-de-residencia-emitida-a-estudantes-do-ensino-superior-art-o-91)

ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10. All sources were checked on 29 September 2026.

If you want to know which ULisboa school fits your certificate and Portuguese level, send us a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Master's Degrees in Portugal for International Students: English-Taught Programmes, Fees and Admission](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-portugal)
- [Applying to Portuguese Universities: How the International Student Competition Works](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-portuguese-universities)
- [Cost of Studying in Portugal for International Students: Tuition, Housing and a First-Year Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-portugal)
- [Portugal Student Visa: The D4 Visa, Documents and Residence Permit](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-portugal-student-visa)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying Medicine in Spain as an International Student: Admission, Cut-off Marks, Costs, MIR and Degree Recognition](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-spain)

Updated: September 2026