Study in Portugal: Tuition Fees & Scholarships

Higher education institutions in Portugal independently choose how much they want to charge both national and international students, and there is no cap on tuition (propinas) for Portuguese universities and polytechnics. The Portuguese Ministry of Education establishes a minimum amount that is dictated by the national minimum wage (the minimum cost of tuition is 1.3 times the minimum wage). However, universities rarely charge students the minimum amount.

Cost of Studying at a Public University in Portugal

Average costs of studying at a public university in Portugal are:

• Bachelor's and Masters - €1,250 per year
• PhDs - €2,500 - 3,000 per year

Students enrolled in a part-time program at a public university in Portugal should expect to pay about 70% of the fees a full-time student would pay. Exchange students may be exempt from paying tuition fees depending on the bilateral agreement between their home university and Portuguese university.

Cost of Studying at a Private University in Portugal

Average tuition fees for private universities in Portugal are slightly higher than public universities and average between €3500 to €3900 per year for all study levels.

Higher fees usually apply for non-EU/EEA program students; but some private Portuguese universities offer a discount of up to 100% of the lecture fees depending on a student's final grades. It is also worth considering that most public higher education institutions in Portugal charge tuition annually, whereas most private institutions charge tuition month-to-month.

Scholarships for International Students in Portugal

There are a many public and private scholarships for international students in Portugal. Furthermore, some private scholarships are available to students planning to study specifically in Lisbon.

Public funding for EU and non-EU students alike is available through support from three key institutions:

• The Instituto Camoes, which offers scholarships for studies in Portuguese language and culture;
• The Directorate-General of Higher Education (DGES); which offers merit-based scholarships for all study programs and study-levels through individual institutions; and
• The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), which offers project-based research grants in the fields of science and technology.

Scholarships and grants are typically made available to master’s students, but some funding is also made available for bachelor’s students. Contact your institution to inquire about any further funding options that may be available to you!