Study in Portugal: A guide for international students

One of the greatest benefits of having a Golden Visa is that it allows you to bring your family with you to Portugal. Your family will enjoy the same rights and benefits as you and will be eligible for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship.

This also means that your children can attend Portuguese schools and universities. Portugal offers students of all stages a top-quality education. 

Six of the best universities in the world

In the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), six Portuguese universities are among the top in the world. The ARWU, published by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, ranks universities based on six criteria:

• The number of alumni winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals
• The number of staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals
• The number of cited researchers in subject categories 
• The number of papers published in Nature and Science
• The number of papers indexed in Science Citation Index-expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index
• Per capita performance 

More than 1,800 universities are ranked every year, with the best 1,000 published.

The Portuguese universities that have been included in this year’s ranking are the University of Lisbon (ranking among the 200 best), University of Porto (ranked 301-400), University of Minho (ranked 401-500), University of Aveiro (ranked 501-600), University of Coimbra (ranked 501-600) and Nova University of Lisbon (ranked 601-700). 

The Portuguese higher education system

The Portuguese higher education system is divided into two types of institutions: universities and polytechnics. Universities deal with more academic subjects such as mathematics and medicine, while polytechnics provide vocational training in subjects like business or nursing. You can also attend either private or public universities and polytechnics.

There are currently 14 public universities and 36 private universities in Portugal, with 20 public polytechnics in Portugal and 64 private polytechnics. Universities offer a more general, overall education, while polytechnic universities provide practical and hands-on learning.

Types of degrees you can study in Portugal

Bachelor’s degrees (licenciado)

Both universities and polytechnics offer bachelor’s degrees. These usually consist of six semesters or three years of study. 

Master’s degrees

A master’s degree from a polytechnical institution provides students with a professional specialisation. At a university, the focus is more on innovation and research. The duration of a master’s degree is around three to four semesters (one to two years) and may be longer for fields such as medicine or law.  

Language requirements

At bachelor’s level, classes are mostly taught in Portuguese. However, there are some programmes that are offered in English at the bachelor’s level and more at the master’s level. 

Most universities will require a minimum level of proficiency in Portuguese or English at the B1 or B2 level. Students from certain countries may have to take an English language test to prove their English language proficiency. 

It’s best to check with the institution you intend on applying to about their language admissions requirements. At institutions where lectures are held in Portuguese, you might also need to prove your Portuguese language skills.

Applying to a Portuguese higher institution

You will need to ensure that your high school certificate is recognised in Portugal. You will also need to take an entrance exam. International students can take the exam at a Portuguese embassy in their home country.

More and more South Africans are looking to move to Portugal to give their families a safe and quality standard of living. The Portugal Golden Visa route offers four investment options to choose from, so you can find the one best suited to your circumstances.

Interested in moving to Portugal? Learn about Golden Visa Portugal to discover your best route to residency, and European citizenship. Speak to an expert consultant by emailing us at goldenvisa@sableinternational.com or calling +27 (0) 21 657 2141.