Universidade da Beira Interior

Covilhã, Portugal Public Website

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Universidade da Beira Interior, commonly called UBI, is a public university in Covilhã, Portugal. It became a university in 1986, following earlier phases as the Polytechnic Institute of Covilhã and the University Institute of Beira Interior. Teaching spans arts and letters, sciences, health sciences, social sciences and humanities, and engineering, with bachelor’s, integrated-master’s, master’s, and doctoral options. The university is closely embedded in Covilhã: several teaching and research buildings occupy restored factories associated with the city’s wool industry, while its health-sciences facilities form a separate pole. This combination suits students seeking a multidisciplinary public university in a smaller inland city, but applicants should examine the language, entry requirements, and tuition category for their particular course rather than assuming that one institution-wide rule applies.

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Key Highlights

Public university recognized by Portugal’s Directorate-General for Higher Education
University status dates from 1986, with institutional origins in 1973
Five faculties covering arts and letters, sciences, health sciences, social sciences and humanities, and engineering
Teaching and research facilities include converted historic industrial buildings in Covilhã

Student Life & Environment

Student life is spread through Covilhã and UBI’s academic poles. The university’s future-student guide describes course-based student groups, academic events, music ensembles, theatre, sports, and activities organized by the Academic Association. Participation varies by year, so students should check current schedules after enrolment rather than relying on past event calendars. UBI manages university residences, with buildings located near different faculties. Its official housing information reports seven residences and advises applicants to contact the accommodation service about availability. A place is not automatic, and students should compare the relevant residence with private rental options and the location of their faculty. University social-action services also cover dining, health, psychological support, and sport. The current guide describes canteens, buffets, and bars across the university poles. The multi-pole layout makes location planning important. Students in Health Sciences may have a different daily route from those based near Arts and Letters, Sciences, or Engineering. International and mobility students can also find orientation support, while the Erasmus Student Network in Covilhã offers mentoring for mobility participants. Prospective students with accessibility, dietary, health, or housing needs should contact the responsible service before committing.

Location & Surroundings

UBI is in Covilhã, an inland Portuguese city on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountain range. The university is integrated into the urban fabric, with academic poles occupying both converted industrial buildings and newer facilities. Covilhã’s textile history is especially visible around the restored factories and the university’s Wool Museum. The setting offers direct access to a compact city and nearby mountain landscapes, but it is not in one of Portugal’s largest metropolitan areas. UBI’s travel guidance places Lisbon and Porto airports about 250 kilometres away. Covilhã has road, rail, and intercity-bus connections, and the journey onward from an airport requires additional planning. Students arriving internationally should check current timetables rather than treating historic frequency information as guaranteed. Daily convenience depends on the faculty and housing location because UBI operates across several poles. Some residences are close to Arts and Letters, Engineering, and Sciences, while the Pedro Álvares Cabral residence is near Social Sciences and Humanities. Students should map their course buildings, residence or rental, supermarkets, and transport links before choosing accommodation.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Costs vary substantially by degree cycle and student category. UBI’s tuition page, updated in June 2026, lists annual first-cycle and integrated-master’s tuition of €697 for national students, €5,000 for international students, and €3,000 for CPLP or OEI students. International Medicine is listed at €18,000. For second-cycle master’s study, the page lists €1,037.20 for national students, €1,500 for international students, and €1,200 for CPLP or OEI students, with exceptions for specified programs. Doctoral tuition is listed by subject area: €2,000 in sciences, engineering, and health sciences, and €1,625 in social sciences and humanities, arts, and letters; consortium doctorates may set different amounts. Applicants should confirm their classification and course before budgeting. The same page offers single-payment, four-instalment, and ten-instalment schedules. International bachelor’s and integrated-master’s applications generally carry a €50 per-course fee, while Medicine carries a €250 fee. Tuition does not cover the full cost of attendance, so budgets should also include registration charges, housing, food, travel, insurance where applicable, study materials, and personal expenses. Residence availability and prices must be confirmed directly with UBI. For career preparation, UBI’s entrepreneurship, careers, and alumni office offers career consultations, help with CVs and motivation letters, interview preparation, employment and entrepreneurship fairs, internships, mentoring, and alumni networking. These services support job preparation but do not guarantee employment, salary, or immigration status.