List of low tuition universities in Portugal, tuition fees, costs of living, admission requirements, how to apply and student visa requirements and application process. I want to introduce to you beautiful scenario in Portugal, affordable living cost and cost of studying, ease of admission processing etc. You can gain so much more by studying in Portugal.
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Portugal is a country in southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain. Since the country is located on the Atlantic Ocean, this has shaped their way of life; salt cod and grilled sardines are national recipe, the Algarve’s beaches are a major destination and much of the nation’s architecture dates to the 1500s–1800s, when Portugal had a powerful maritime empire.
The excellent education system and beautiful Mediterranean climate make Portugal a good choice for international students around the world.
Higher Education in Portugal
Higher education in Portugal is made up of two main subsystems: university and polytechnic education. Portuguese universities have existed since 1290. The oldest such institution, the University of Coimbra, was first established in Lisbon before moving to Coimbra.
Why Study in Portugal
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- You will attend some of the famous and top-ranked European universities
- Availability of various popular study fields in Portuguese schools
- International students choosing to study in Portugal will be like their cheap and affordable way of living and tuition. On average, tuition is $1,500 USD per undergraduate year. This is also dependent on the degree level at which a student attends. The cost of living is a surprising 600-800∈ each month.
- Sightseeing in Portugal is full of big surprises
- Fantastically unique foods and wines
- Chance to learn Portuguese – a global language
- You will enjoy the lovely weather
- Portuguese are very warm people
- It opens up doors for your future
- Portugal is a politically and economically stable place to study.
- Due to the emphasis on education and culture, there are several ways that international students studying in Portugal can become a part of the life of Portuguese. You can get acquainted with their sports and clubs on campus or within the communities.
- The quality of education in Portugal dates back to 1290AD, when the ninth oldest university in the world was established and the standard of education was cultivated.
Cost of Living in Portugal
The living costs in Portugal is extremely cheap and affordable when compared to places like the UK, USA or Australia. Although the cost of living in Portugal has increased in recent years, it’s still a relatively affordable place to live. According to research, the cost of living generally depends on the location and the student’s lifestyle.
Accommodation will be your highest monthly expense, and the cheapest option is to live in your university’s halls of residence, which is likely to cost between €165-230 (~US$190-260) a month, whereas renting an apartment in private accommodation is estimated at €400 (~US$450) each month.
You will need around €7,800-10,200 (~US$8,830-11,550) a year to take care of your living expenses. Living in large cities like Lisbon will cost you more. So, for you to curtail your expenses, you can consider studying in minor cities.
Admission Requirements
- proof of language proficiency
- certificate of previous studies
- academic transcripts
- International passport
- statement of purpose
Also consult your school of choice for their specific admission requirements.
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Tuition Fees in Portugal
Tuition fees is not the same for all universities because Portuguese universities set their own fees. Public institutions will likely charge less than private universities. Tuition fees for bachelor’s and master’s degrees are estimated at €950-1,250 per year (~US$1,075-1,415) while fees for doctorate programs are around €2,500-3,000 per year (~US$2,830-3,400).
How to Apply to Universities in Portugal
Undergraduate applications to study in Portugal are made through a centralized online system, called Candidatura Online, which gives you opportunity to choose up to six programs in order of preference. As well as submitting evidence of your secondary level qualifications, you are likely to need to sit an entrance examination in your home country; public universities use the national exam like JAMB, while private universities have their own. If you language of study is Portuguese (as is likely) you’ll need to prove your proficiency in the language.
Prospective postgraduate students should apply directly to the universities in Portugal they wish to study at, submitting all the required documents, including proof of previous qualifications.
Visa Application and Requirements
Those from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who intend to study in Portugal for longer than three months must apply for a residence visa (visto para residencia) before entering the country. Go to your nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate, and below are what you will require;
- International passport valid for at least three months after the end of your course;
- A completed application form;
- Letter of acceptance from a Portuguese university;
- Academic transcript;
- Photocopy of key passport pages;
- Three passport-sized photos;
- Police report;
- Copy of health insurance;
- Proof of sufficient funds – either a bank statement or grant/scholarship.
Your visa fee should be €170 (~US$190) at maximum and will take two or three months to be issued, so you should apply in good time. - EU students should apply for an EU citizen residence card within four months of arriving in Portugal, and pay a small fee for this.
Work and Study Option
Students from the EU can work for 20 hours per week during school period, and full-time during semester breaks.
List of Low Tuition Colleges and Universities
State Universities
- University of the Azores (Ponta Delgada (the headquarters), Angra do Heroísmo and Horta)
- University of Algarve (Faro) (includes polytechnic sector)
- University of Aveiro (Aveiro (the headquarters), Águeda and Oliveira de Azeméis) (includes polytechnic sector)
- University of Beira Interior (Covilhã)
- University of Coimbra (Coimbra)
- University of Évora (Évora)
- University of Lisbon (Lisbon)
- University of Madeira (Funchal)
- University of Minho (Braga (the headquarters) and Guimarães)
- Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Lisbon)
- University of Porto (Oporto)
- University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (Vila Real (the headquarters)
State University institutes
- Lisbon University Institute
- Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute
State Distance Teaching university
- Universidade Aberta
Private Universities
- Lusíada University of Porto
- Universidade Atlântica (Oeiras)
- Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (Lisbon)
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Braga, Lisbon (the headquarters), Figueira da Foz, Porto and Viseu)
- Universidade Fernando Pessoa (Porto, Ponte de Lima)
- Universidade Lusíada, (Lisbon)
- Universidade Lusíada de Vila Nova de Famalicão, (Vila Nova de Famalicão)
- Universidade Lusófona (Lisbon)
- Universidade Lusófona do Porto (Porto)
- Universidade Portucalense (Porto)
Private Institutes
- Escola Superior Gallaecia (Vila Nova de Cerveira)
- Escola Superior Artística do Porto (Porto)
- Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (Coimbra)
- Instituto de Arte, Design e Empresa – Universitário (IADE) (Lisbon)
- Institute of Higher Studies of Fafe, Fafe
- Instituto Piaget (Almada, Lisbon (the headquarters), Mirandela, Silves, V. N. Gaia, Viseu) (includes polytechnic sector)
- IPAM – Instituto Português de Administração de Marketing (Porto), (Aveiro) and (Lisbon)
- Instituto Superior Bissaya Barreto (Coimbra)
- Instituto Superior da Maia (Maia)
- Instituto Superior de Línguas e Administração (Lisbon, Leiria, Santarém, VN Gaia, Bragança)
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Administracao (Lisboa)
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz (Almada)
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde – Norte (Paredes)
- Instituto Superior de Gestão (Lisbon)
- Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (Lisbon)
- Instituto Superior Dom Afonso III (Loulé)
- Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (Coimbra)
- Instituto Superior de Administração e Linguas (Funchal)