How to Apply to Portuguese Universities 2026 Blog

Applying to a Portuguese university splits into two routes. EU/EEA students entering a bachelor's go through the national admissions competition (concurso nacional de acesso) run by the DGES, based largely on secondary-school grades. Non-EU students apply through each university's international student route (Estudante Internacional) directly. Master's applicants of any nationality apply directly to the university. The main intake starts in September/October 2026. Here's how each path works, what you need, and when.

Step 1: Identify Your Route

EU/EEA bachelor's: National competition (concurso nacional) via DGES, using your secondary-school results and, where required, national entrance exams (exames nacionais).
Non-EU bachelor's: The Estudante Internacional route — apply directly to each university, which sets its own criteria and propinas.
Master's (mestrado), any nationality: Apply directly to the university faculty offering the programme.
Doctorate: Apply directly, usually after agreeing a project or supervisor.

Step 2: Choose Your Programme and University

Portugal's main universities each have strengths:

University of Lisbon (ULisboa): The largest — engineering (Técnico), medicine, law, sciences, humanities.
University of Porto (UPorto): Research-intensive — engineering (FEUP), medicine, business (FEP), sciences.
NOVA University Lisbon: Top for economics and management (Nova SBE), plus science, law, and medicine.
University of Coimbra (UC): One of Europe's oldest — law, medicine, sciences, humanities.
University of Minho (Braga): Engineering, electronics, computing, economics.
Universidade Católica Portuguesa: Private — law, business, health, with higher propinas.

Compare cities and student life in our best student cities in Portugal guide before you commit.

Step 3: Check Entry Requirements

Academic qualifications: A recognised secondary-school diploma for bachelor's; a relevant bachelor's for master's. Foreign qualifications may need recognition or equivalence.
Entrance exams (EU bachelor's): Specific national exams (exames nacionais) are required for each course — for example, maths and physics for engineering. Non-EU applicants may sit equivalent assessments or be evaluated on their school results.
Language: Portuguese-taught programmes require proof of Portuguese (often CAPLE/DEPLE B1–B2). English-taught programmes require English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent).
Programme-specific tests: Some faculties (medicine, architecture, fine arts) add interviews or portfolios.

Step 4: Prepare Your Documents

Secondary-school diploma and transcripts (bachelor's) or degree certificate and transcripts (master's)
Certified translations into Portuguese where required, plus apostille or legalisation for non-EU documents
Passport or national ID
Language certificate (Portuguese or English, depending on the programme)
Motivation letter and CV (more common for master's)
Reference letters (some master's programmes)
Portfolio or entrance-test results where the programme requires them

Start gathering and translating documents early — certification can take weeks.

Step 5: Apply

EU/EEA Bachelor's — National Competition

Register on the DGES platform during the application window (typically in the summer), list your preferred course/university combinations in order, and you're placed according to your application grade (a weighted mix of school grades and national-exam scores). There are usually several application phases (fases). Placement results are published in waves.

Non-EU Bachelor's — International Route

Apply directly through each university's international student portal. Each sets its own deadlines, evaluation criteria, and propinas. You can apply to several universities in parallel. Some open applications as early as winter/spring for September entry.

Master's — Direct Application

Apply on the faculty's portal, usually in one or more phases between winter and summer. Submit your degree documents, language proof, motivation letter, and any references. Competitive programmes (Nova SBE, Católica business) have earlier deadlines.

Step 6: Receive Your Offer and Enrol

Once placed or admitted, you'll receive instructions to enrol (matrícula) and pay the first propina instalment. For EU students this is the modest ~€697 bachelor's fee; non-EU students pay the international rate (€3,000–7,000). The university then issues the acceptance/enrolment document you need for your visa. Budget the full cost with our cost-of-study calculator.

Step 7: Sort Visa, NIF, and Housing

Non-EU students should immediately start the student visa process — consulate appointments take time. Everyone needs a NIF (tax number) to sign a lease and open a bank account. And housing in Lisbon and Porto goes fast, so apply for a university residence and search private rooms early — see our accommodation guide.

Application Timeline for September 2026 Entry

October–December 2025: Shortlist programmes, check entry requirements, book language tests, start document translations.
January–March 2026: Non-EU international applications open at many universities; master's deadlines begin. Submit early.
April–June 2026: Master's decisions arrive; prepare visa documents.
July–August 2026: EU national competition (concurso) application phases; placement results published. Enrol and pay propinas.
August–September 2026: Finalise visa/AIMA, secure housing, arrive and register.
September/October 2026: Term begins.

Recognising Your Foreign Qualifications

If your diploma was issued outside Portugal, you'll likely need it recognised (reconhecimento) before or during your application. There are two main types:

Automatic recognition: For many EU secondary-school and higher-education qualifications, recognition is straightforward and quick.
Recognition by comparability or specific recognition: For non-EU or unusual qualifications, a university or the DGES assesses your diploma against the Portuguese equivalent. This takes longer.

Your grades may also be converted onto the Portuguese 0–20 scale for the admissions calculation. Start the recognition process as soon as you have certified, translated copies of your diploma and transcripts — it's the step most likely to delay an otherwise complete application.

English-Taught vs. Portuguese-Taught Programmes

The number of English-taught programmes is growing fast, especially at master's level and in tech, business, and science. If you don't speak Portuguese, filter for English-taught (ensino em inglês) courses and prepare an IELTS or TOEFL score. If you choose a Portuguese-taught programme, you'll usually need a B1–B2 certificate (CAPLE) and should start learning early — many universities offer preparatory Portuguese courses for international students. Choosing the right language track upfront saves you from a mid-application scramble for certificates.

Tips for a Strong Application

Mind the exam requirements: For EU bachelor's, the specific national exams matter as much as your grades — confirm which ones your course needs early.
Apply to several universities: Non-EU applicants can and should apply in parallel to spread their chances.
Get recognition sorted: Foreign-qualification equivalence (reconhecimento) can take time — begin as soon as you have your documents.
Tailor your motivation letter: For master's, link your background to the specific programme and faculty.
Don't wait on the visa: The moment you're accepted, start the consulate process in parallel with enrolment.

Application Costs to Budget For

Applying isn't free, so plan for these one-off costs:

Application fees: €30–100 per university for non-EU international applications; the EU national competition has a smaller registration fee
Document translation and certification: €20–60 per document for certified Portuguese translations
Apostille or legalisation: varies by country, often €10–40 per document for non-EU diplomas
Language tests: IELTS or TOEFL run roughly €200–250; CAPLE Portuguese exams less
Qualification recognition: some recognition processes carry a fee

Altogether, budget €200–500 for the application stage before any propina. Factor this into your overall plan with the cost-of-study calculator.

Common Application Mistakes

Missing the specific exam requirement: EU bachelor's applicants who skip a required national exam are simply ineligible for that course — check first.
Leaving recognition too late: Foreign-diploma recognition can outlast your application window. Start it immediately.
Applying to only one university: Non-EU applicants who put all their hopes on one place risk being shut out. Apply broadly.
Submitting uncertified documents: Translations without certification, or missing apostilles, are a frequent rejection cause.
Ignoring the visa timeline: A great offer is useless if you can't get the visa in time. Run both processes together.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply to a university in Portugal as an international student?

Non-EU students apply directly through each university's Estudante Internacional (international student) portal, which sets its own deadlines and criteria. EU students entering a bachelor's go through the national DGES competition instead.

What is the concurso nacional?

The concurso nacional de acesso is the national admissions competition run by the DGES for EU/EEA students entering bachelor's programmes. You're placed based on a weighted combination of secondary-school grades and required national entrance exams.

When are the application deadlines for Portugal?

For September 2026 entry: non-EU international and master's applications often open winter–spring 2026; the EU national competition phases run in summer 2026. Deadlines vary by university and programme, so confirm each one early.

Do I need to speak Portuguese to study in Portugal?

For Portuguese-taught programmes, yes — usually B1–B2 proficiency. But many master's and a growing number of bachelor's are taught in English and require English proof (IELTS/TOEFL) instead.

Can I apply to multiple Portuguese universities?

Yes. Non-EU applicants apply directly to as many universities as they like. EU students rank multiple course/university choices within the national competition. Applying broadly improves your chances.

Do I need entrance exams?

EU bachelor's applicants usually need specific national exams (exames nacionais) tied to each course. Non-EU applicants may sit equivalent assessments or be evaluated on school results. Master's applicants generally don't, though some programmes add interviews or tests.

How long does it take to get my qualifications recognised?

Recognition (reconhecimento) of foreign diplomas can take several weeks to a few months. Start as soon as you have certified, translated documents, and check each university's recognition requirements.

For the full journey — visa, costs, scholarships, and housing — start at Study in Portugal and see the admissions and application overview.

How to Apply to Portuguese Universities 2026

Step 1: Identify Your Route

Step 2: Choose Your Programme and University

Step 3: Check Entry Requirements

Step 4: Prepare Your Documents