Portuguese students consider U.Porto to be their favourite university, and it is one of the best universities in Europe according to the most important international rankings. If you are looking for a modern university, which is proud of its century-old history and open to the world, you have arrived at the right place. It is a cosmopolitan university that offers quality training and an academic experience like no other in Portugal.
If you are not yet convinced, here are some reasons. Come and experience it for yourself!
U.Porto is proud to be open to the world, which is the result of more than a decade of investment dedicated to its internationalisation and, in particular, international cooperation. We do our best to offer you the best experience of your life!
At U.Porto, we contribute to your integration and provide support so you will never feel alone. You will be able to share your experience with the thousands of students and researchers from all over the world who use our classrooms and laboratories every year.
And, of course, you will experience the hospitality of your colleagues and lecturers. The city and its people will also make you feel at home.
A Country with unique history and beauty, a City which is already one of the main European tourist destinations (best European destination in 2017), centuries-old Culture and Language, affordable living costs and, of course, the University's teaching quality and international reputation. These are some of the reasons why U.Porto attracts thousands of students and researchers from all over the world.
Those who have already lived this experience take even more with them. Do you need proof? Many students come by recommendation of teachers and colleagues who have already experienced a study period with us.
Are you already convinced? Great! U.Porto is open to all, regardless of origin, whether in mobility programmes or attending full degree courses. If you are from outside the European Union or if you do not have Portuguese nationality and would like to complete one of our 1st cycle (Bachelor's degree) or integrated master's degree courses, you can benefit from the U.Porto International Student Status in force since the 2014/2015 academic year.
In postgraduate study cycles (master's degrees and doctoral programmes), application conditions are defined by each faculty.
If you are already part of a higher education institution and want to "experience" U.Porto before making a decision, you can also take advantage of the mobility opportunities offered by the University for students from all over the world.
The courses offered by U.Porto's 14 faculties provide training in nearly all fields, from Architecture to the Natural Sciences, Biology to Fine Arts, without forgetting Engineering, Economics or the Arts and Humanities. Here, you will have the opportunity to develop a high-quality academic career, which is recognised all other the world, from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate.
At U.Porto, you will also find a wide range of Continuing education courses, where you can find one of the most prestigious MBAs in the world. If you have a dream, it is likely that you will make it come true at our University.
If you come from a European Union country and would like to apply to one of our 1st cycle (Bachelor's Degree) or Integrated Master's Degree courses, you should do it through the National Call for Applications and Admissions in Public Higher Education, which manages the access to public universities in Portugal. In addition to the general admissions regime (specially dedicated to students who finish secondary education in Portugal), there are other calls for application and special regimes for students from foreign countries.
The Special Call for Applications for International Students is for applicants who do not have Portuguese nationality or the nationality of another member state of the European Union. Special regimes are also available for PALOP Scholarship holders, foreign staff (or siblings) on a Diplomatic Mission accredited in Portugal and individuals from Timor-Leste. In the case of post-graduation study cycles (master's degrees and doctoral programmes), application conditions are defined by each U.Porto faculty.
Learn more about these opportunities in the Study section of this portal or by visiting our Office for Access to Higher Education located at the University of Porto (GAES-UP). For more detailed information, you can also contact the academic services of the faculty you would like to attend.
You just need to follow the example of more than 1500 students and researchers from all over the world who choose our schools and research centres to complete a study or internship period.
U.Porto has more than 30 years of experience in the international mobility field. It participates in the main international mobility programmes (for example, Erasmus+). The University has also developed hundreds of cooperation agreements to promote academic exchange with the best universities on the planet.
For more information about mobility IN opportunities, contact U.Porto's International Relations Office, which will help you before and during your mobility experience. Do not forget to get information from your home institution as well.
Join us for a unique educational experience at U.Porto! Your story starts here!
U.Porto International Relations Office
Rectory of 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. until 5.30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. [schedule a visit].
The Special Call for Applications for International Students regulates the applications to Graduate courses (bachelor's degree and integrated master's degree courses) for applicants who do not have Portuguese nationality or the nationality of another member state of the European Union. Therefore, they have the International Student Status (ISS). In this regulation, you will find the application requirements, as well as information on applications, registration, tuition fees and vacancies for each year.
For more detailed information, you can also visit the section on this portal dedicated to the Special Call for Applications for International Students or contact the academic services of the faculty you would like to attend.
The tuition fee (an annual fee) applied to foreign students is the same as for other University students, except for those with International Student Status. In that case, the value is defined by each U.Porto faculty according to the real course value.
In the 2021/2022 academic year, the tuition fee (an annual fee) for students with International Student Status who attended Graduate courses (bachelor's degree and integrated master's degree courses) at U.Porto on a full-time basis was between 3,500 and 8,000 euros. Master’s degree courses and doctoral programmes cost between 3,500 euros and 10,000 euros.
In the case of students from countries that are part of CPLP – Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor), they may benefit from a reduction in the annual fee up to 45%.
Yes. The first thing you need to know is that there are three types of recognition of qualifications (automatic, of the study level, and specific), each one with its own procedures.
For more information, please contact the Training and Academic Organisation (FOA) office at the Rectory of U.Porto by sending an email to [email protected].
We recommend that you do. Even though there is an increasing number of U.Porto courses partially or completely taught in English, most of our training programmes are taught in Portuguese. That is why it is convenient to have some linguistic preparation before coming to Portugal or during your stay.
Some lecturers accept work or exams written in other languages, mainly English. However, this situation should be communicated and individually analysed.
Yes. It is not enough to know how to say "Hi" or "Thank you", so we challenge you to enhance your curriculum by learning the fifth most spoken language in the world, from Brazil to Timor Leste, Angola and Macau. You can take an intensive Portuguese language course offered by U.Porto's Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
In addition to FLUP, there are other U.Porto schools that offer linguistic support to their international students.
Congratulations, and welcome to U.Porto! We want things to go smoothly for you, so do not forget to follow the steps suggested for international students. Prepare your belongings, plan your trip well and pack your map. The greatest adventure of your life is about to happen!
BEM-VINDOS! WELCOME! BIENVENIDOS! WILLKOMMEN! BENVENUTI! BIENVENUE! ZAPRASZAMY! HOŞGELDİNİZ! 欢迎您的光临! ようこそ! ΚΑΛΩΣ ΗΡΘΑΤΕ!...
Calm down! The hardest part is done. Now the best part has begun. If you are going to attend a full course, you will have access to the entire support network for the U.Porto student community, as well as specialised support services available at our schools.
If you are an international mobility student, contact U.Porto's International Relations Office, located in the Rectory building. On this "first meeting", you will be given your U.Porto Card, in addition to other information which will help you "survive" this initial period in Porto.
From the moment you arrive at U.Porto, your success becomes a priority to us. In addition to the integration services made available to the University in general, you will also take advantage of a welcoming and assistance policy led by the central services dedicated to International Cooperation but involving other U.Porto bodies and agents.
If you are a mobility student, you will feel our hospitality in the welcoming session, which celebrates YOUR arrival at the beginning of the semester. You will experience it in your faculty with the help of services dedicated to students like you. You can also count on the initiatives developed by ESN-Porto, a group of volunteers supported by U.Porto whose mission is to collaborate in the integration of mobility students.
Yes. If you are attending one of our bachelor's degree, master’s degree or integrated master’s degree courses and you do not have the funds to rent an apartment in the city, U.Porto provides several halls of residence that can host more than 1000 students.
The University also reserves a limited number of vacancies for students who attend our schools under mobility programmes and cooperation agreements.
Contact the U.Porto International Relations Office for help with finding accommodation in the city. For more information, you can also contact the Social Support Services of the University of Porto (SASUP), in charge of the management of our university halls of residence.
One of the first things you will discover when you arrive at the University is that there is not one unique university campus. U.Porto activities are spread throughout three large urban university centres. The fourth one is located in a rural area 40 km away from Porto. This variety enriches our campus, where you can find historic and modern buildings, gardens, and sporting facilities, among other infrastructures organised to ensure the best academic, social and cultural experience.
Explore the University map! And don't forget to take a virtual tour!
If you come from a European Union country and you are attending a full course (bachelor's degree, master’s degree or integrated master's degree course) in our schools, you can apply for scholarships awarded by the Social Support Services of the University of Porto (SASUP), just like any Portuguese student.
If you have International Student Status or you are experiencing a mobility period, you do not benefit from direct social support. Alternatively, you can apply to other funding sources promoted by external institutions, government entities or University partners.
For more information about funding opportunities available to international students at U.Porto, contact our International Relations Office.
As a U.Porto student, you can benefit from having access to a wide range of study support structures, which provide great learning conditions. Explore all the knowledge in our library network; use our study spaces; enjoy our high-speed Internet in any part of the campus; and learn about our e-Learning Cafés...
We will provide you with the necessary conditions for academic success.
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is an instrument used to evaluate the volume of the work developed in a course unit and facilitates the recognition of your academic career in Portugal and the rest of Europe.
At U.Porto, an ECTS credit corresponds to 27 student work hours (classes, tutorials, internships, projects, etc.). In the Academic Glossary of the University of Porto, you can find the meaning of useful terms, including this one.
- Bachelor's Degrees (1st cycle) - 180 to 240 ECTS credits (6 to 8 academic semesters)
- Integrated Master's Degree (2nd cycle) - 300 to 360 ECTS credits (10 to 12 academic semesters)
- Master's Degree (3rd cycle) - 90 to 120 ECTS credits (3 to 4 academic semesters)
- Doctorates (3rd cycle) - 180 to 240 ECTS credits (6 to 8 academic semesters)
Wrong question! What you should ask is: what can you not do? U.Porto guarantees the best student experience in and outside the classroom, as it is part of a city with an intense academic life.
Practise a sport with the best university athletes in Portugal, join the Porto University Choral Society or the Porto University Theatre Group or other cultural groups in your faculty, or follow the example of more than 1000 University students who have participated in volunteering programmes promoted or sponsored by the University.
Don't forget to visit our museums and participate in events promoted by the student association of your faculty and by U.Porto's International Relations Office.
There will be plenty of opportunities to experience University life in a fulfilling and unforgettable way.
Have you heard about Port wine? And what about the Porto Football Club? And how could anyone forget the Clerigos Tower or francesinha? Of course you've heard about it! These are only some of the tourist attractions that await you in a city full of history, selected twice as the best European destination in the last few years!
"Invicta" provides you with all the conditions to be a student and a tourist at the same time with its intense social and cultural life, a reduced cost of living compared to the main European cities, a privileged geographical location, a unique historical heritage and hospitable people.
Take a look at our suggestions to Enjoy Porto to the fullest!
No. From accommodation to food services, transportation and cultural life, Porto is a "low-cost" city compared to the largest European cities. For example, you can plan to go out for dinner and movies for less than 10 euros, including the bus ticket (check out some examples)!
If you want to save even more, you can benefit from the accommodation options available at University or have meals at affordable prices (from 1,95 euros) in one of the canteens, restaurants and snack bars available in different university centres.
The surveys taken annually by our students indicate the following main attractive factors:
- University and Academic Life
- U.Porto's reputation and teaching quality
- A large number of international students
- Social life, Cost of living and Security
- Experiencing Portuguese traditions
- Cultural programme
- The life of international students as a group
- Geographical conditions (river, ocean, climate...)
And now, are you convinced?
To follow U.Porto's daily routine, we invite you to visit the University's different information platforms. Visit our website and our news portal, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!
First of all, we hope we have met your expectations! If you would like to enter the labour market after obtaining your U.Porto diploma, you can also get help from the University’s employability services. Alternatively, we encourage you to continue your studies with one of our postgraduate courses.
If you would like to return after a mobility period, contact our International Relations Office to learn about the opportunities available to you.
Do you have any other questions?
Please send us your questions by e-mail to [email protected]. We will answer as soon as possible.