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Frequently Asked Questions - International Students

Welcome to U.Porto! In this area you will find the answers you need to start your experience at the University. We hope to help you... and welcome you soon!

U.Porto is the favourite university of Portuguese students and one of the best universities in Europe according to the most important international rankings. If you are looking for a contemporary university, proud of its centenary history, cosmopolitan, open to the world and able to provide you with an excellent education, you have come to the right place. If you are not convinced, we give you some more reasons. The rest, we hope you will come to discover for yourself!

The U.Porto is proud to be a university with doors open to the world, the result of more than a decade of continuous commitment to internationalization and, especially, in international cooperation. That is why we do our best to give you the best experience of your life! Besides having at your disposal an integration and support system that is a reference at an international level, at U.Porto you will never feel alone. After all, you can share your experience with thousands of students and researchers from all over the world who annually attend our classrooms and laboratories. And, of course, you will get to know the famous Portuguese hospitality with the help of your colleagues and teachers, but also of a city and a people that will make you feel at home.

A country with a unique history and beauty, a city that is already part of the main tourist routes in Europe (considered the best European destination in 2017), a secular culture and language, an affordable cost of living and, of course, the quality of teaching and the international reputation of the University. These are just some of the motivations that, every year, bring thousands of students and researchers from all over the world to U.Porto. But those who have already lived this experience take all this and much more with them. A proof? Many students come here on the recommendation of teachers and colleagues who have already completed a study period with us.

Are you convinced yet? Then let's go! Whether it's under mobility programmes, or attending one of our full degree courses, U.Porto is open to all who seek it, regardless of where they come from. If you come from outside the European Union or do not have Portuguese nationality, and intend to complete one of our

1st cycle (Bachelor's degree) or integrated master's study cycles, you can take advantage of the U.Porto International Student Statute, in force since the academic year 2014/2015. For post-graduate study cycles (masters and doctorates), the conditions of application are defined by each of the faculties of the University.

If you are already attending a higher education institution and want to "try" U.Porto before making a decision, or simply enrich your curriculum, you can also take advantage of one of the many mobility opportunities that the University provides to students from all over the world.

From Architecture to Natural Sciences, Biology to Fine Arts, not forgetting Engineering, Economics or Literature, the education provided by the 14 faculties + 1 business of the U.Porto responds to practically all vocations. Here, you will have the opportunity to develop a high quality academic career, recognised anywhere in the world, from undergraduate studies to doctorate. At U.Porto you will also find a wide range of Continuing Education courses, including one of the most prestigious MBAs in the world. If you have a dream, you will most probably fulfil it at our University.

If you come from a European Union country and wish to apply to one of our 1st cycle (Bachelor) or Integrated Master courses, you should do so through the National Competition for Access and Admission to Higher Education, which governs access to public universities in Portugal. Besides the general regime for access (especially for students who finish secondary education in Portugal), there are other competitions and special regimes for students from foreign countries.

Of these, the Special Competition for International Students, aimed at candidates who are not nationals of Portugal or another European Union Member State, stands out. There are also special access regimes for Scholars from the PALOP countries, foreign employees (or family members of employees) of diplomatic missions accredited in Portugal and natives of East Timor. In the case of post-graduate courses (masters and doctorates), the access conditions are defined by the different faculties of the University of Porto.

Find out about these opportunities in the Estudar area of this portal, or at the Access to Higher Education Office, located at the U.Porto (GAES-UP). For more detailed information, you can also contact the academic services of the faculty you wish to attend.

Just follow the example of more than 1500 students and researchers from all over the world who, every year, choose our schools and research centres to complete a period of study or internship.

With more than 30 years of experience in the field of international mobility, U.Porto joins participation in the main international mobility programmes (e.g. Erasmus +) to hundreds of cooperation agreements that have allowed the promotion of academic exchange with the best universities on the planet.

For more information about IN mobility opportunities at the U.Porto, you should contact the U.Porto International Relations Department, the structure that will support you before and during your mobility experience. Don't forget to check with your home institution.

Join us and come and live a unique learning experience at U.Porto! Your story begins here!

International Relations Service of the U.Porto

Rectory of the U.Porto
Praça de Gomes Teixeira
4099-002 Porto

Tel: (+351) 220 408 041 / (+351) 220 408 034
E-mail: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday, from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. [schedule a visit].

Launched in 2014, the Special Competition for International Students defines the admission to undergraduate courses (bachelor degrees and integrated master degrees) of the University of Porto for candidates who do not hold Portuguese nationality or nationality of another member state of the European Union, being therefore covered by the International Student Statute (ISS) . It defines the conditions of access, as well as information about application/enrolment, fees and places available for each year.

For more detailed information, check the area of this portal about the Special Competition for International Students or contact the academic services of the faculty of U.Porto that you intend to attend.

The tuition fee applied to foreign students is the same as the remaining students of the University, except in the case of students covered by the International Student Statute, whose value is defined by each faculty of U.Porto taking into account the actual courses of the course. For the academic year 2020/2021, the tuition fee (yearly fee) for students with EEI attending full-time undergraduate courses (integrated master's degrees) at U.Porto varies between 3.500 euros and 8.000 euros. In the case of Masters and PhDs, the value may vary between 3.500 euros and 10.000 euros.

In the case of students from CPLP countries - Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor), a reduction of up to 45% can be applied to the tuition fee.

Yes. Currently, it is possible to access three types of recognition of qualifications (automatic, level and specific), whose procedures may vary.

For more information, contact the Training and Academic Organization Service of the Rectory of U.Porto, through the email [email protected].

It is advisable. Despite the growing number of U.Porto courses taught - partly or entirely - in English, most of our training programmes are taught in Portuguese. It is therefore advisable to have some language preparation before you come to Portugal or during your stay. Some teachers allow papers or exams to be taken in other languages, especially English. However, this has to be proposed and analysed individually.

Yes, because for us it is not enough that you learn how to say "hello" or "thank you", we challenge you to enrich your curriculum by learning the fifth most spoken language in the world, from Brazil to East Timor, passing through Angola or Macau. For that, you can choose an intensive Portuguese course taught by the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto.

Besides FLUP, there are other schools of the U.Porto that offer linguistic support to their international students.

Congratulations, welcome to U.Porto! And because we want everything to go well, don't forget to follow the steps we recommend to our international students. Prepare your things, plan your trip well and pack your map. The greatest adventure of your life is about to begin!
BEM-VINDOS! WELCOME! BIENVENIDOS! WILLKOMMEN! BENVENUTI! BIENVENUE! ZAPRASZAMY! HOŞGELDİNİZ! 欢迎您的光临! ようこそ! ΚΑΛΩΣ ΗΡΘΑΤΕ!...

Calm down! The hard part is done. Now the best part has begun. If you are going to attend a full course, you have access to all the support network oriented to the student community of the U.Porto, as well as to specialized support services existing in our schools.

If you are a mobility student, make sure you register at the International Relations Office of the U.Porto, located in the Rectory building. In this "first meeting" you will be given your U.Porto Card, along with other information that will help you "survive" these first days in Porto.

From the moment you arrive at the U.Porto, your success becomes a priority for us. In addition to the integration facilities that the University offers to the academic community in general, you will benefit from a welcome and support policy led by our central services of International Cooperation, but which involves other bodies and agents of the U.Porto.

If you are coming on mobility, you will feel the Portuguese hospitality in the welcome session that celebrates YOUR arrival at the beginning of the semester. You will live it in your faculty, with the support of services designed just for you. And you can also count on the initiatives of ESN-Porto, a group of volunteers supported by the U.Porto and whose mission is to collaborate in the integration of our mobile students.

Yes, if you are attending one of our courses, masters or integrated masters and cannot afford to rent a flat in the city, the U.Porto has nine university residences available to you with a capacity to accommodate about 1200 students. The University also reserves a limited number of places for students who are attending our schools under mobility programmes and cooperation agreements.

Contact the International Relations Service of the U.Porto to get support in the process of finding accommodation in the city. For more information you can also contact the Social Services of U.Porto (SASUP), the body responsible for the management of our university residences.

One of the first things you'll discover when you arrive at the University is that there isn't a single university campus per se. Strongly integrated in the life of the city, the activities of the U.Porto are spread over three large urban centres, to which a fourth, located 40 km from Porto, in a rural area, is added. In fact, it is in this dispersion that lies the richness of our campus, where you will find historical and modern buildings, gardens, sports facilities, among other infrastructures organized to ensure the best academic, social and cultural experience.

So that you don't get lost, we leave you the map of the University! Don't forget to take a virtual tour!

If you come from a European Union country and are attending a full course (bachelor, master or integrated master) in our schools, you can apply, as any Portuguese student, to the scholarships granted by the Social Action Services of U.Porto (SASUP).

If you are covered by the International Student Statute or are doing a mobility period, you do not benefit from direct social support. Alternatively, you can apply for other sources of funding promoted by external institutions, government entities, or partner institutions of the University.

For more information about funding opportunities available to international students at U.Porto, please contact our International Relations Department.

As a student at the U.Porto, you can enjoy privileged learning conditions, enhanced by the access to a wide range of study support structures. Explore the knowledge scattered through our libraries; use our study spaces; surf the Internet at high speed anywhere on campus; discover our e-Learning platforms and get to know the e-Learning Café... As far as we are concerned, there will be no shortage of conditions for you to achieve the greatest academic success!

The ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is an instrument used to evaluate the amount of work you have done in a curricular unit of your course, facilitating the recognition of your academic path in Portugal and the rest of Europe.

At the U.Porto, one ECTS credit corresponds to 27 hours of student work (lessons, tutorial sessions, work placements, assignments, etc.). Find out the meaning of this and other terms that may be useful in the U.Porto Academic Glossary.

Wrong question! The question you should ask yourself is: what can't you do? Integrated in a city with an intense academic life, U.Porto guarantees the best student experience inside and outside the classroom.

Play sports with the best university athletes in Portugal, join the Orfeão or the Teatro Universitário groups or other cultural groups that exist in your faculty, or follow the example of more than 1000 students who participate in the voluntary actions sponsored by the University.

Don't forget to visit our museums and participate in the events promoted by the students association of your faculty and by the International Relations Service of the University of Porto.

As far as we are concerned, you will have plenty of opportunities to live the University in a full and unforgettable way!

Have you ever heard of Port wine? And Futebol Clube do Porto? And how can you forget the Clérigos Tower or the tasty francesinha? Of course you have heard of it! But these are just some of the attractions that await you in a city full of history, twice considered the best European tourist destination in recent years!

With an intense social and cultural life, a reduced cost of living in relation to the main European cities, a privileged geographical location, a unique historical heritage and a people who have a "doctorate" in the art of hospitality, the "Invicta" city offers you all the conditions to be a student and a tourist at the same time.

Follow our suggestions to live Porto to the fullest!

No. From accommodation to food, transport and cultural life, Porto is a "low cost" city in comparison with most of the big European cities. A good example? With less than 10 euros, you can make a program with dinner, cinema and bus ticket included (see some examples)! If you want to save even more, you can take advantage of the accommodation options at the University or enjoy quality meals at affordable prices (from 1.95 euros) in one of the canteens, restaurants, snack-bars and grill that exist in the various campuses.

  • University and Academic Life
  • Reputation and quality of teaching at the U.Porto
  • Large number of international students
  • Social Life, Cost of Living and Safety
  • Portuguese traditions experienced
  • Cultural offer
  • International student life in a group
  • Geographical conditions (river, ocean, climate...)

And now, are you convinced?

In order to keep up with U.Porto's daily life, we invite you to visit the different information supports of the University. Besides our website, don't forget to follow our news portal and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Youtube!

First of all, we hope to have met your expectations! If you have completed a study cycle and you already have your U.Porto diploma, you can count on the employability support services that exist in our faculties. Alternatively, we challenge you to continue your studies in one of our post-graduate courses. If you have done a period of mobility and would like to return, contact our International Relations Department to find out about the opportunities available to you.

Do you have other questions?

Send us your questions to the e-mail address [email protected]. We will reply as soon as possible.