TL;DR: Portugal has several well-regarded public universities offering degrees at €700–€1,100/year in domestic fees — among the lowest in Western Europe. From 2025/26, expat children legally resident in Portugal for 2+ years qualify for domestic fees rather than international rates. The main universities — University of Porto, Nova University Lisbon, University of Lisbon, and University of Coimbra — cover all major disciplines. Entry for children who’ve completed Portuguese secondary school uses the CNAES national access system; those with IB or A-Levels have a separate access route. For families making the state school decision now, domestic university fees are a compelling part of the long-term argument.
Higher education rarely features in Portugal relocation guides for families — the focus is always on primary schools, creches, and international school fees. But for families with children of any age, understanding how the Portuguese university system works and what it costs is relevant to the long-term picture. This guide covers everything expat families need to know.
The 2-Year Residency Rule: Domestic Fees for Expat Children
The most important recent change for expat families — and one that is not widely known outside Portugal — came into effect from academic year 2025/2026.
Students who have been legally resident in Portugal for at least two years are no longer classified as international students for higher education fee purposes. They apply through a specific process and pay domestic tuition fees rather than the significantly higher international rates.
What this means in practice
- A family that arrived in Portugal in 2024 will have children qualifying for domestic fees from 2026 onwards
- Domestic public university fees: approximately €697–€1,100/year (set annually by the government, linked to the minimum wage)
- International student fees at the same institutions: typically €3,500–€8,000/year for non-EU students
- The saving over a 3-year degree: €8,000–€21,000 per child
Important caveat: time spent in Portugal on a student visa (residence permit issued for study purposes) does not count towards the 2-year residency requirement. The residency must be under a standard residence permit — D7, D8, or other non-study visa categories.
This rule is genuinely significant for the state school vs international school decision. A child who enters Portuguese state school at age 6, becomes bilingual, completes Portuguese secondary education, and then applies to a Portuguese university at 18 will pay under €1,000/year for a degree from a ranked institution. The total cost of a 3-year Portuguese degree at domestic fees is less than one year of international school fees.
The Portuguese Higher Education System
Portugal has two types of higher education institutions:
- Universidades (universities) — academically oriented, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Research-focused.
- Institutos Politécnicos (polytechnic institutes) — professionally oriented, offering degrees and post-secondary professional qualifications. Often stronger for technical, health, and applied disciplines.
In total Portugal has 97 higher education institutions, 34 of which are public. The public universities are generally the most prestigious and the most affordable.
The Main Universities — What Expat Families Should Know
University of Porto (Universidade do Porto)
Consistently one of Portugal’s top-ranked universities and the most relevant for families based in Porto. Strong across engineering, medicine, pharmacy, sciences, law, economics, and arts. Approximately 30,000 students. Many master’s and doctoral programmes offered in English; undergraduate degrees are primarily in Portuguese. The university occupies several campuses across Porto — the main science and engineering campus is in Asprela (east Porto); humanities and social sciences are in the city centre. up.pt
Nova University Lisbon (Universidade Nova de Lisboa)
Younger than Portugal’s historic universities and internationally well-regarded. Nova SBE (School of Business and Economics) in Carcavelos is one of Europe’s strongest business schools and the most internationally oriented campus in Portugal, with significant English-language teaching. Nova also has strong faculties in law, social sciences, medical sciences, and humanities. unl.pt
University of Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa)
Portugal’s largest university, formed from the merger of the University of Lisbon and Technical University of Lisbon in 2013. Strong in sciences, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, law, and humanities. IST (Instituto Superior Técnico) within ULisboa is one of Portugal’s leading engineering and technology schools. ulisboa.pt
University of Coimbra
Portugal’s oldest university, founded in 1290 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strong in law, sciences, medicine, and humanities. The student traditions (praxe, the academic cape, the fado de Coimbra) make it a unique cultural experience. About 2 hours from Porto by train. For expat children who want the full Portuguese university experience, Coimbra is a compelling option. uc.pt
Católica University (Porto and Lisbon)
Private Catholic university with strong business, law, and humanities faculties in both Porto and Lisbon. Higher fees than public universities (approximately €3,500–€5,000/year) but still competitive by European private university standards. Católica Porto Business School has a strong regional reputation. ucp.pt
How to Get In: University Access Routes
Route 1: Portuguese secondary school (Ensino Secundário)
Students who complete Portuguese secondary education (12th year) apply through the CNAES — Concurso Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Superior (National University Access Competition). Applications are made through the DGES portal (dges.mec.pt) after 12th year exams.
Entry grades are calculated from: 12th year national exam results (Provas de Exame Nacional) + 12th year coursework grades. Different universities and courses have different minimum grade requirements (notas de corte). Popular courses at leading universities are highly competitive — medicine, law, and engineering at Porto and Lisbon often require grades above 18/20.
Route 2: International qualifications (IB, A-Levels, Baccalauréat)
Students with foreign secondary qualifications apply through the Concurso Especial para Titulares de Cursos Estrangeiros (Special Competition for Holders of Foreign Courses). This route is available through the DGES portal and runs alongside the main CNAES competition.
The IB Diploma is well-recognised by Portuguese universities. A-Levels and the French Baccalauréat are also accepted. Grade conversion tables are published by DGES. Places allocated through this route are separate from the main CNAES places.
Route 3: Maiores de 23 (Over-23 route)
Students aged 23 or over who do not have traditional secondary qualifications can apply through the Maiores de 23 route — an assessment of professional experience, maturity, and specific aptitude tests set by each university. This route is available to both Portuguese nationals and legal residents.
Secondary School: Preparing for University
Understanding how secondary school feeds into university is important for families with children approaching age 15.
Ensino Secundário (10th–12th year, ages 15–18)
The final three years of school before university. Students choose a pathway:
- Cursos Científico-Humanísticos — the standard academic route, with four tracks: Sciences and Technology (most common for medicine, engineering, sciences); Economics and Administration (business, economics, law); Languages and Humanities (arts, languages, social sciences); Visual Arts
- Cursos Profissionais — vocational pathway, also provides university access
For expat children who have been in the Portuguese system since primary school and are genuinely bilingual, Ensino Secundário is manageable — challenging but achievable. For children who arrive in Portugal at 15 without Portuguese language, the state secondary route is very difficult and international school completing with IB is typically the better choice.
Scholarships and Financial Support
Portuguese public university students who qualify as residents (including expat children under the 2-year rule) are entitled to apply for the same state scholarship (bolsa de estudos) system as Portuguese nationals. Scholarships are means-tested through the Serviços de Ação Social of each university.
Additionally, the government is preparing a new social action law for higher education (announced by PM Montenegro in April 2026) focused on equal opportunities and merit — details are expected ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year.
The Language Question
Undergraduate education at Portuguese public universities is taught primarily in Portuguese. For expat children who have grown up in the Portuguese system and are genuinely bilingual, this is not a barrier. For children who haven’t developed strong Portuguese — those who spent their school years at an international school — undergraduate study in Portuguese is a significant challenge.
Exceptions: Nova SBE has a strong English-language undergraduate programme. Some engineering and science programmes at IST and UP have English-taught options. At master’s level, English-medium programmes are much more widely available across all major universities.
For expat families whose children want the benefits of a Portuguese university degree without full Portuguese-medium undergraduate study, a strategy that works well is: IB Diploma at OBS or CLIP (in English) → English-medium master’s at Nova SBE, IST, or UP → Portuguese language sufficiently developed through living in Portugal to manage the social and administrative environment even if undergraduate was English-taught.
Comparing the Options at Age 18
| Option | Annual cost | Language | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese public university (domestic fees) | €700–€1,100 | Primarily Portuguese | Bilingual children from state school; resident 2+ years |
| Portuguese private university (Católica) | €3,500–€5,000 | Portuguese / some English | Families wanting private institution; resident 2+ years |
| Nova SBE English programme | €700–€1,100 (domestic) | English | Business-oriented; resident 2+ years |
| UK university | £9,535/year (home) or £20,000–£35,000 (international) | English | UK passport holders; IB/A-Level completers |
| Other European university (EU citizens) | €0–€3,000 | Varies | EU passport holders |
| US university | $30,000–$75,000+ | English | Families with US connections; IB strong for admissions |
Fee information changes annually. Always verify current fees directly with institutions and through dges.mec.pt. The 2-year residency rule eligibility should be confirmed with the specific university at time of application.
→ See also: Schools in Portugal: Everything You Need to Know | True Cost of International Schools in Porto | Public Schools in Portugal: Age-by-Age Guide | Cost of Living in Portugal for Families