Study in Portugal: Universities, Language and Cost of Living

A mild climate, a warm welcome, a moderate cost of living for Western Europe and quality universities: Portugal is attracting more and more international students. Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga and Aveiro offer a pleasant student life. Here is how to study in Portugal from Tunisia.

Why Portugal?

• Recognised European degrees.

• Moderate fees at public universities, even for international students.

• A cost of living lower than in France, urban Spain or northern Italy, outside Lisbon.

• A growing English-taught offer, especially at master's level.

• A safe and welcoming country.

The universities

• Public: Lisbon, NOVA (Lisbon), Porto, Coimbra (one of the oldest in Europe), Minho (Braga), Aveiro, ISCTE…

• Polytechnic institutes: more vocational programmes.

• Private: Católica, and various universities and schools.

Language of instruction

• Bachelor's degrees: many are taught in Portuguese. A B1-B2 level is often required, and some universities offer a Portuguese language year.

• Master's degrees: there is a large English-taught offer, notably in business, economics, engineering, IT and sciences.

Portuguese is learned fairly quickly by French or Spanish speakers, and it makes daily life and job hunting enormously easier.

Admission

For a bachelor's, international students generally apply through a special access route for international students, organised by each institution, with:

• the baccalaureate and transcripts (sometimes grades in specific subjects);

• a language level (Portuguese or English depending on the programme);

• sometimes an exam or interview.

Applications often take place in several phases, from winter to summer. For a master's, you apply directly to the university, with your bachelor's degree and an application file.

Diplomas must be recognised; documents need to be legalised or apostilled and translated.

The study visa

With the admission letter, you apply for a study visa at the Portuguese consulate. Usual documents:

• admission letter;

• proof of funds;

• health insurance;

• accommodation;

• criminal record extract.

After arrival, you finalise your residence permit with the immigration services. Processing times can be long: plan ahead and keep all your supporting documents.

How much does Portugal cost?

• Tuition fees at public universities for international students: roughly €1,000 to €7,000 per year depending on the institution and programme.

• Private universities: higher.

• Daily life: generally €700 to €1,000 per month. Accommodation in Lisbon and Porto has become expensive; Coimbra, Braga or Aveiro are more affordable.

Working while studying

Students holding a residence permit for study purposes can work alongside their studies, under conditions and with the required declarations. Portuguese is a real asset for finding a student job.

Portugal or Spain?

• Spain: more public universities and programmes, baccalaureate homologation for public universities. See Study in Spain.

• Portugal: special access for international students, moderate fees, lower cost of living outside Lisbon.

Typical timeline for a September intake

1. Autumn of the final year: choosing universities and programmes, checking the language of instruction.

2. Winter: preparing documents (transcripts, baccalaureate as soon as it is available, passport), translations and legalisations or apostilles; language test (Portuguese or English).

3. Winter – spring: first application phase via the special access route for international students, often the most favourable.

4. Spring – summer: subsequent phases for remaining places, results, payment of the first fees.

5. Summer: study visa, accommodation, health insurance.

Applying in the first phase is a real advantage: more places available and more time for the visa.

Learning Portuguese: a worthwhile investment

Even for an English-taught master's, a few months of Portuguese change everything:

• daily life (administration, banking, healthcare, housing) is largely conducted in Portuguese;

• student jobs and internships are much more accessible;

• bachelor's degrees in Portuguese, more numerous and often cheaper, become an option.

For a French speaker, the grammar and much of the vocabulary are familiar. With an intensive course, a B1 level can be reached in a few months. Some universities offer Portuguese courses for foreigners before the start of the year or during the first year.

Choosing the right city

• Lisbon: the capital, the largest university offer, but high rents.

• Porto: a very lively student city, rising rents.

• Coimbra: a historic university city, strong student atmosphere, gentler rents.

• Braga and Guimarães (University of Minho): quieter and affordable.

• Aveiro: a modern university, renowned for engineering and sciences.

To reduce your budget, always compare the cost of accommodation: that is what makes the difference between Lisbon and the other cities.

Documents to prepare in Tunisia

• transcripts for the last three years of secondary school and the baccalaureate diploma;

• official translations and legalisations or apostilles;

• passport valid for the entire stay;

• criminal record extract (bulletin n° 3) for the visa;

• the family's proof of funds;

• language certificate.

After graduation

The Portuguese degree is European and makes it easier to continue with a master's elsewhere in Europe. To stay and work in Portugal after your studies, specific residence permits exist, under conditions: find out at the right time, as the rules change regularly.

Key takeaway: Portugal combines moderate fees, a European degree and quality of life. Apply in the first phase, learn some basic Portuguese and compare accommodation costs between cities.

Our support

Worldwide Studies helps you choose the university and the language of your programme, prepare the application and document recognition, then the visa and accommodation.

👉 Fees and application phases vary depending on the university: talk to an advisor for a Portugal plan suited to your project.