University of Lisbon
Universidade de Lisboa
Portugal's largest university, formed in 2013 from two Lisbon universities, with 697-euro fees for home students.
- Students
- 51,000
- Tuition
- €1,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1911
- QS World Ranking
- #237
- 2027 edition
About ULisboa
The University of Lisbon is Portugal's largest university. Its first modern form was founded in 1911, and its present structure dates from the 2013 merger of the former University of Lisbon with the Technical University of Lisbon (founded 1930). The merger brought together well-known schools such as Instituto Superior Técnico (engineering), ISEG (economics and management) and the faculties of Law, Medicine and Sciences.
ULisboa describes itself as having more than 51,000 students, over 11,000 of them international, in 19 schools offering some 460 programmes, with 69 research units. Each school runs its own admissions details and campus: many are in the Cidade Universitária around the Rectorate, while Técnico has campuses at Alameda and Taguspark.
Admission depends on who you are. Portuguese and EU students apply through the National Competition for Access to Higher Education using national exam results, and pay 697 euros a year. Students from outside the EU apply through ULisboa's Special Admission Contest for International Students, with their own quotas and higher fees (from 1,500 euros for Law to 18,000 euros for Medicine). It suits students who want a big, multi-school university in a European capital, with the choice of specialist schools such as Técnico or ISEG.
Why students choose ULisboa
Portuguese and EU students pay a fixed 697 euros a year for bachelor's and integrated master's degrees (2026/2027).
Técnico, ISEG, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Medicine are all part of one university.
Non-EU students have a dedicated admission route with two application phases, from January to February and from April to May.
More than 11,000 international students study at ULisboa.
Admissions
2027/28 entry (autumn 2027)
Selectivity
ULisboa does not publish an overall admission rate. Portuguese and EU applicants are ranked by national exam and secondary grades in the National Competition; international students compete for a limited number of places per programme in the Special Admission Contest (for example 45 places in Law and 15 in Medicine in the 2026/27 table).
Typical entry requirements
| Portuguese secondary diploma | National Competition, ranked by secondary grades and the programme's national entrance exams |
|---|---|
| Foreign secondary diploma (non-EU international students) | A qualification that gives access to higher education in the country where it was obtained, plus the programme's knowledge areas and prerequisites |
| English language | International students need Portuguese at B1 level, or English if the programme is taught in English. |
Deadlines
- International Students Contest, 1st phase (2026/27 intake, for reference) Non-binding Passed6 February 2026
Past cycle. Applications 2 January to 6 February 2026; results by 6 March; pre-registration by 20 March 2026.
- International Students Contest, 2nd phase (2026/27 intake, for reference) Non-binding Passed22 May 2026
Past cycle. Applications 6 April to 22 May 2026; results by 19 June; pre-registration by 3 July 2026. A 3rd phase may be opened by schools with places left.
The 2027/28 international contest calendar had not been published on ULisboa's admissions page by 29 September 2026. In 2026 the first phase ran 2 January to 6 February and the second 6 April to 22 May, with all selection completed by 30 September. Expect similar windows in 2027.
How to apply
Non-EU international students apply online to ULisboa's Special Admission Contest for International Students, on the platform on ULisboa's website and the website of the school running the programme. Portuguese and EU students apply through the National Competition run by the Directorate-General for Higher Education.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary qualification that gives access to higher education in your country.
- Academic background in the knowledge areas required by the programme.
- Portuguese at B1 level, or English for English-taught programmes.
- Programme prerequisites where they apply, such as the physical or communication requirements for some degrees.
Tips for applying to ULisboa
- 1 Apply in the first phase (January to February): later phases only fill remaining places.
- 2 Check the school's own page for its evaluation criteria and the number of places for international students.
- 3 Budget by programme: international fees range from 1,500 euros (Law) to 18,000 euros (Medicine) a year.
- 4 If you hold EU nationality (including dual nationality), you cannot use the international contest and must apply through the National Competition.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Portuguese and EU students pay a fee capped by law and can seek support through ULisboa's Social Services. International student fees are set by the General Council, cannot be lower than the legal maximum home fee, and were kept unchanged for 2027/28; ULisboa lists international scholarships on its website.
- 697 euros a year
- Home fee (2026/27)
- 3,500 euros a year
- Most common international fee for bachelor's degrees
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico
Degrees such as Aerospace Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering; 7,000 euros a year for international students. UN Secretary-General António Guterres studied here.
Economics and Management at ISEG
English-named degrees in Economics, Finance and Management; 7,500 euros a year for international students.
Law
The Faculty of Law educated presidents Jorge Sampaio and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa; international fee 1,500 euros a year.
Medicine (integrated master's)
A six-year integrated master's; at 18,000 euros a year it carries ULisboa's highest international fee, set by the General Council and unchanged for 2027/28.
Architecture (integrated master's)
Offered by the Lisbon School of Architecture and Técnico; 7,000 euros a year for international students.
Research
- ULisboa has 69 research units, all evaluated by Portugal's Foundation for Science and Technology.
- Egas Moniz, Nobel laureate in Medicine (1949), taught at the university's Faculty of Medicine.
- The university runs its own technology transfer centre (TTC@ULisboa) and business incubation programmes.
Schools & faculties
- Instituto Superior Técnico
- ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Sciences
- School of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Dental Medicine
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Faculty of Psychology
- Lisbon School of Architecture
- Institute of Social and Political Sciences
Student life
ULisboa is a federation of 19 schools across Lisbon, so student life is shaped by your school: many faculties sit in the Cidade Universitária around the Rectorate, while Técnico has its own Alameda and Taguspark campuses. The university runs a sports complex (Estádio Universitário de Lisboa), museums and social services, and welcomes international students with events such as the annual Welcome Day. Most students rent rooms in the city. ULisboa also offers Portuguese language courses for international students.
- Estádio Universitário de Lisboa, the university's sports complex.
- Annual Welcome Day for international students.
- More than 11,000 international students.
- Portuguese language courses for international students.
Housing. Contact ULisboa's Social Services about university housing; most students rent privately in Lisbon.
Location
Lisbon is Portugal's capital, a hilly city on the Tagus estuary with a large student population. The Cidade Universitária is in the north of the city and connected by metro, and Técnico's Alameda campus is nearby. Housing is the main cost, so start your search early. The city's metro links the main university areas with the centre.
Nearest airport: Humberto Delgado Airport, Lisbon (LIS)
Notable alumni
- AG António GuterresUN Secretary-General; studied physics and electrical engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico
- JM José Manuel BarrosoPrime Minister of Portugal and President of the European Commission; law graduate
- JS Jorge SampaioPresident of Portugal 1996 to 2006; studied law
- MR Marcelo Rebelo de SousaPresident of Portugal 2016 to 2026; law doctorate
- AD António DamásioNeuroscientist; studied medicine and completed his doctorate at Lisbon
- JM José MourinhoFootball manager; studied physical education at ISEF, now the Faculty of Human Kinetics
Frequently asked questions
How much does the University of Lisbon cost for international students?
It depends on the programme: from 1,500 euros a year for Law to 18,000 euros for Medicine, with many degrees at 3,500 euros and Técnico engineering at 7,000 euros. Portuguese and EU students pay 697 euros.
Who counts as an international student at ULisboa?
Students without Portuguese or other EU nationality who have not lived legally in Portugal for more than two years. EU citizens apply through the National Competition instead.
When are the ULisboa application deadlines?
For 2026/27 the international contest's first phase ran 2 January to 6 February 2026 and the second 6 April to 22 May 2026. The 2027/28 dates had not been published in September 2026.
Do I need to speak Portuguese to study at ULisboa?
International applicants need Portuguese at B1 level, or English if the programme is taught in English.
Is Instituto Superior Técnico part of the University of Lisbon?
Yes. Técnico joined ULisboa in the 2013 merger of the University of Lisbon and the Technical University of Lisbon.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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