🇵🇹 University of Lisbon — Tuition, Scholarships & Visa Pathway for International Students
QS 2027 #237 · €1,500–18,000 a year · Lisbon
Quick Facts
| Location | Lisbon, Portugal |
|---|---|
| Global Ranking | #237 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026). |
| International Students | Around 42,800 total students, with 7,000+ international students from 100+ countries — roughly 18% of the total student body |
| English Requirement | Varies by programme; most Master's-level English-taught programmes require IELTS 6.0-6.5+ |
Tuition for International Students (2026-27)
€1,500–18,000 per year (2026-27 international-student tuition for bachelor’s and integrated master’s: €1,500 Law, €3,500 most science and humanities faculties, €7,000 Técnico, €7,500 ISEG, up to €18,000 Medicine). Source: ULisboa General Council: 2026-27 tuition decision (PDF). Add at least €11,040 a year for living costs (study visa minimum; source below).
Real Scholarships — Not Just a List of Names
University of Lisbon International Student Scholarships
Tuition fee reductions plus stipends based on academic merit.
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarships
Funding for postgraduate students, particularly in research, arts and sciences.
What Actually Distinguishes ULisboa
Beyond the overall ranking trajectory, ULisboa's Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) is genuinely the country's leading engineering school, feeding directly into Lisbon's tech and startup sector. The university offers a "Concurso Especial" admissions route specifically for applicants with a foreign secondary diploma, distinct from the standard Portuguese national exam pathway most domestic students use — worth understanding if you're applying from outside Portugal's own school system.
Visa & Post-Study Work Pathway
As Portugal's capital and largest university, Lisbon graduates have the deepest access to the country's growing tech and startup ecosystem — directly relevant to the Tech Visa fast-track pathway for IT graduates.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon good for international students?
University of Lisbon is ranked #237 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, 1st of the 2 universities in Portugal covered on VisaCalc. International tuition runs €1,500–18,000 a year depending on the program. After graduating: graduates can switch to a work-based residence permit once they have a job offer. Whether it is a good fit depends on your program, budget and career plans; use the cost calculator and comparison charts on this page.
What tuition does Lisbon charge international students?
€1,500–18,000 per year (2026-27 international-student tuition for bachelor’s and integrated master’s: €1,500 Law, €3,500 most science and humanities faculties, €7,000 Técnico, €7,500 ISEG, up to €18,000 Medicine), checked 30 October 2026.
What IELTS score do I need for Lisbon?
Varies by programme; most Master's-level English-taught programmes require IELTS 6.0-6.5+
Can I work in Portugal after graduating from Lisbon?
As Portugal's capital and largest university, Lisbon graduates have the deepest access to the country's growing tech and startup ecosystem — directly relevant to the Tech Visa fast-track pathway for IT graduates.
See the full Portugal university landscape and visa pathway.
🇵🇹 Study in Portugal Guide 🔗 Official Lisbon Website
Worked example: a full degree at University of Lisbon
An international student starting a 3-year bachelor's at the lowest fee shown, budgeting the official visa living-cost figure. Rates are converted at the 29 Oct 2026 reference rates; use the calculator above to change any assumption.
| Tuition | €1,500 a year (lowest rate in the published range: 2026-27 international-student tuition for bachelor's and integrated master's: €1,500 Law, €3,500 most faculties, €7,000 Técnico, €7,500 ISEG, €18,000 Medicine) |
| Living costs | €11,040 a year (Benchmark: Portugal's 2026 minimum wage (€920/month), used for means-of-subsistence checks) |
| Years | 3 (typical bachelor's length) |
| Total, fees flat | €37,620 ≈ ₹40.0 lakh ≈ $41,930 |
| Total if costs rise 4% a year | €39,145 ≈ ₹41.6 lakh |
| Most expensive programme, same assumptions | €87,120 ≈ ₹92.5 lakh |
The visa living-cost figure is a legal minimum, not a comfortable budget. Scholarships are not deducted.
Sources
- ULisboa General Council: 2026-27 tuition decision (PDF)
- U.Porto news: QS 2027 (Lisbon 237th)
- Portugalist: 2026 minimum wage and visas
- Exchange rates: open.er-api.com reference rates, 29 Oct 2026
How we checked this page
Fees for University of Lisbon come from the university's published fee pages (indicative: no 2026-27 schedule we could verify); the QS 2027 position from U.Porto news: QS 2027 (Lisbon 237th); living costs from Portugalist: 2026 minimum wage and visas. Checked on 30 October 2026. Course-level fees vary, so confirm your exact program on the official University of Lisbon website before paying anything. VisaCalc is independent of University of Lisbon. Not admissions or immigration advice.