Applying for a Master’s degree in Portugal (2026)
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| 21 | universities offer Masters in Portugal in English |
| 214 | Masters are available |
Portuguese universities offer a growing number of English-taught Master’s programmes, especially in areas like business, engineering, and social sciences. While Lisbon and Porto are often known for their scenery, this country is also home to modern universities, competitive tuition fees, and an increasingly international academic environment.
Once you understand how the system works, the application process is relatively straightforward. Read on to learn the what, how, and when about getting a Master’s in Portugal.
The official Study.eu database lists more than 150 Masters in Portugal that are fully taught in English, covering a wide range of disciplines. Find yours today!
Searching for Master's degrees on Study.eu is generally recommended as the first step to your study-abroad plan.
Tuition fees in Portugal are moderate by European standards, especially at public institutions.
Keep in mind that most Portuguese universities charge a non-refundable application fee, typically ranging from €50 to €100. This fee is paid when submitting your application and helps cover the administrative costs of processing and assessing your documents.
It is important not to confuse this with the enrolment (or registration) fee, which is usually a bit lower (often between €20 and €50) and is only paid after you have been admitted and accepted your place.
When applying for a Master’s in Portugal, you’ll often see it referred to as a “2nd cycle degree” (segundo ciclo). This is part of the Bologna system, which divides higher education in Europe into three cycles: Bachelor’s (1st cycle), Master’s (2nd cycle), and Doctorate (3rd cycle).
Once you’ve chosen a programme, the application process is usually handled directly by the university. There is no single national application portal for Master’s degrees in Portugal, so each institution (and sometimes each faculty) manages its own system.
In most cases, you’ll apply online through the university’s website, where you select your programme, upload the required documents, and track your application status. Admission results are also typically communicated through these portals.
Commonly requested documents for Master’s applications include:
For English-taught programmes, universities usually accept standardised tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, but some may waive these if you completed your prior education in English or pass an institutional test.
The academic year in Portugal starts between September and early October. Some specific Master’s programmes and private universities also offer February intakes, but that’s less common.
Universities often run multiple application phases (calls) for Master’s admissions, with earlier rounds typically offering more seats and better chances of admission and scholarships:
Non‑EU/EEA students should aim for earlier rounds to allow enough time for visa procedures and document legalisation.
Since each university sets its own admissions schedule (and deadlines can even differ between programmes) you should always verify the dates on the programme's official website. Note that all times are usually given in the Portuguese timezone (UTC/UTC+1).
In Portugal, most Master’s scholarships are closely linked to the admission process, so timing is important.
In general, you should start looking for scholarships as soon as you begin applying for universities. For many programmes, you apply for funding at the same time as your Master’s application, or shortly after receiving an offer. Universities often use early application rounds to decide who receives financial support, so applying early can improve your chances.
External scholarships, such as Erasmus+ or funding from your home country, usually follow separate deadlines and should also be checked early in the process.
Applying after enrolment is usually too late for most major scholarships, as the main funding decisions are typically made during the admission phase.
Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not need a visa to study in Portugal. However, they must register their residence with the local authorities after arrival.
Non-EU/EEA students must apply for a long-stay study visa at the Portuguese consulate in their home country before travelling. After arriving in Portugal, they must then apply for a residence permit with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).
To apply for the study visa, students are usually required to submit the following documents:
These are the standard documents; however, depending on the consulate where you apply, you may also be asked to provide:
After arriving in Portugal, students must book an appointment with AIMA to finalise their residence permit. At this stage, having a stable address is necessary, so many students first arrange temporary accommodation and then look for long-term housing once in the country. This is often the most practical and flexible approach.
Finding accommodation in Portugal can be one of the most challenging parts, especially in cities like Lisbon and Porto where demand is high and the student housing market moves quickly.
Many students start looking too late and struggle to find affordable options close to campus. It’s common for rooms to be advertised and taken within hours, particularly before the start of the academic year. Prices in popular student areas have also increased in recent years, which can make budgeting more difficult than expected.
Because of this, students should start searching early and be cautious when booking online. Scams do exist on unofficial platforms, and it’s important not to send money before verifying the accommodation or signing a proper contract. Using university housing services, trusted student residences, or reputable platforms can significantly reduce risks.
Most international students arrive by plane, but depending on where you’re coming from, train and bus can also be realistic options.
If you’re flying, you’ll usually land in Lisbon, which is the country’s main international airport. The airport in Porto and Faro also have a the wide range of connections within Europe.
Most Master’s degrees in Portugal correspond to 90-120 ECTS, which translates to around 1.5 to 2 academic years, depending on the field and structure.
At public universities in Portugal, EU/EEA students typically pay around €700 to €1,500 per year for Master’s degrees, while non-EU/EEA students usually pay higher international fees of roughly €2,000 to €6,000 per year, with some reduced rates available for students from Portuguese-speaking countries. At private universities, tuition fees are significantly higher, generally ranging from €3,000 to €12,000+ per year, depending on the institution and programme.
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