Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa)
Portugal's flagship research university: 50,000 students, home to the premier engineering school Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), and the country's highest-ranked comprehensive academic institution.
| Type & Founding | Public research university (est. 1290 / reformed 1911, merged 2013) |
|---|---|
| QS World Ranking (2025/2026) | #260 globally · #1 in Portugal for Engineering & Natural Sciences |
| Tuition (EU / National) | €697 / year (statutory maximum for first-cycle undergraduate) |
| Tuition (Non-EU International) | €3,000 – €7,000 / year (varies by faculty; IST €7,000 / yr) |
| Key Faculties & Schools | IST (Engineering), ISEG (Economics), Law, Medicine, Fine Arts, Sciences |
| Campus Location | Cidade Universitária (Alvalade / Campo Grande, Lisbon) & Taguspark |
Academic Standing & Faculty Excellence
Universidade de Lisboa is Portugal’s largest and most comprehensive university, created in 2013 from the merger of the historic University of Lisbon and the Technical University of Lisbon (UTL). It enrolls over 50,000 students across 18 specialized schools and research units. Its engineering arm, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), consistently ranks among Europe’s top technical universities and maintains direct innovation partnerships with CERN, ESA, and global tech corporations.
2026 Tuition Fees & International Admissions
Under Portuguese law (Decreto-Lei n.º 36/2014), non-EU applicants apply through the International Student Statute (Estatuto do Estudante Internacional). At ULisboa, international tuition ranges between €3,000 per academic year (humanities, social sciences) and €7,000 per academic year (engineering at IST and advanced biosciences). EU/EEA citizens pay the regulated national fee of €697 per year.
English-Taught Degrees & Programs
While undergraduate bachelor's degrees (Licenciaturas) are predominantly taught in Portuguese (requiring B1/B2 proficiency or preparatory foundation courses), over 45 master's degrees (Mestrados) and doctorate programs are delivered entirely in English. Areas with complete English delivery include computer science, data analytics, civil and aerospace engineering at IST, and finance and economics at ISEG.
Campus Life, Metro Connectivity & Student Accommodation
The central Cidade Universitária campus in central Lisbon sits directly on the Yellow Line of the Lisbon Metro, offering immediate transit access to Saldanha and Marquês de Pombal. Student accommodation is situated across Alvalade, Campo Grande, Entrecampos, and Areeiro. Monthly living budgets in Lisbon for university students typically average €900 to €1,400, including private room rental (€450–€750/mo) and the municipal Navegante metro transit pass (€30–€40/mo).
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