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Meta title: Bachelor's Degrees in Portugal: Language, Entry and Fees
Meta description: Bachelor's degrees in Portugal: 3–4 years, entry after 11 school years, Portuguese or English route, Ano Zero, SUPERNOVA and full-degree costs.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Bachelor's Degrees in Portugal: Studying After School in Portuguese or English

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A Portuguese bachelor's degree (licenciatura) takes three or four years and carries 180 or 240 ECTS credits, while medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and architecture are taught as a single five- or six-year integrated master's. School leavers from Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries can enter straight after 11 years of school, without a foundation year, provided they show knowledge of the entrance subjects and the language of instruction. The key decision is language: almost all public bachelor's teaching is in Portuguese, and English-taught options are concentrated in economics and management. Three years of tuition cost an international student from $11,920 (€10,500) for economics in Porto to $20,440 (€18,000) for engineering at the same university.

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Length | 6 semesters (180 ECTS) or 8 semesters (240 ECTS); integrated master's 10–12 semesters |
| Grading | 0 to 20, pass mark 10 |
| After 11 years of school | yes, if your certificate gives access to higher education at home |
| Language | mostly Portuguese (B1–B2); English at ISEG (University of Lisbon), Nova SBE, Católica-Lisbon and two FEP programmes at U.Porto |
| If your language falls short | a year-long language course alongside studies, Coimbra's Ano Zero, NOVA's SUPERNOVA programme |
| Annual fee, 2026/27 | usually $3,970–7,950 (€3,500–7,000) |
| Academic year | starts in September, two semesters |

The University of Minho School of Medicine in Braga, seen from above. Photo: Tiagoramalho1974 / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EM_2021_a%C3%A9rea.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## How the Portuguese bachelor's works {#section-1}

Portugal follows the Bologna system, so a licenciatura is a full first degree that opens master's study anywhere in Europe. Under DGES rules, a university bachelor's lasts 6 to 8 semesters and carries 180 or 240 ECTS, while polytechnic degrees normally last six semesters. In U.Porto's catalogue, law, nursing and communication design, for example, run for eight semesters.

Professions regulated separately across Europe are taught only as a single degree with no intermediate bachelor's. This is the integrated master's (mestrado integrado): ten semesters for architecture and pharmacy, twelve for medicine. You apply straight from school through the same international competition.

Grades use a 0–20 scale with 10 as the pass mark. The licenciatura sits at level 6 of the national and European qualifications frameworks.

## Can you start straight after 11 years of school? {#section-2}

Yes. The international student law only requires a qualification that gives access to higher education in the country that issued it, so an 11-year certificate is enough; unlike some UK and US universities, Portuguese universities do not ask for an extra school year.

The certificate only makes you eligible, though. Every Portuguese programme has set entrance subjects, typically mathematics for economics and engineering or biology and chemistry for medicine, and international applicants must cover them with an exam the university accepts or with the university's own test. Accepted exams and the application process are explained in [applying to Portuguese universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-portuguese-universities).

## Two routes: Portuguese or English {#section-3}

Language shapes almost everything else: which universities you can apply to, what you pay, how long you prepare and how easily you can work in Portugal afterwards.

| Criterion | Portuguese-taught bachelor's | English-taught bachelor's |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Programme choice | almost every field at public universities | economics, finance and management at ISEG, Nova SBE, Católica-Lisbon and FEP (U.Porto) |
| Entry language | B1 at the University of Lisbon, B2 at Coimbra, independent user at U.Porto | English, e.g. TOEFL iBT 80 or Cambridge C1 at Nova SBE |
| Annual fee, 2026/27 | mostly $3,970–7,950 (€3,500–7,000) | FEP $3,970 (€3,500); ISEG and Nova SBE $8,520 (€7,500); Católica-Lisbon about $9,740 (€8,580) |
| Realistic start | the year you finish school if your Portuguese is ready; otherwise after a preparatory year | the year you finish school |
| Internships and work in Portugal | the language lets you intern and work with local clients | you will still need Portuguese for the local job market |

The English route is faster at the start but narrow: unless you want business or economics, you will almost certainly need Portuguese. The Portuguese route is broader and often cheaper, but beginners need at least a year of language study.

## Bringing your Portuguese up to standard {#section-4}

There are three official formats, each tied to a specific university:

- A year-long language course alongside the first year. The University of Lisbon admits applicants at B1 and requires those without a certificate to take a year-long language and culture course, repeated until the level is confirmed. Coimbra does the same for B1 students but requires them to reach B2.
- Ano Zero at Coimbra. A preparatory year for applicants below B1: you are offered a place, but enrolment is confirmed only once you reach B1. The Portuguese-language year costs $7,950 (€7,000), and a subject-based preparatory year in sciences or humanities $5,680 (€5,000).
- SUPERNOVA at NOVA. NOVA University Lisbon's preparatory programme for applicants who miss direct entry to Nova SBE. It requires B2 in Portuguese or English, and progression to economics or management requires at least 13/20 in advanced mathematics plus a microeconomics course. It costs $79 (€70) to apply, $570 (€500) on admission and $3,410 (€3,000) in fees.

Choose the format by the university you want most, not by course price: one university's preparation does not lead to a place at another.

## What a full bachelor's degree costs {#section-5}

Families should budget for the whole degree rather than one year, since international rates apply throughout and programme length varies by a factor of two.

| U.Porto programme | Length | Annual fee, 2026/27 | Full degree at the current rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Economics or management (FEP) | 6 semesters | $3,970 (€3,500) | $11,920 (€10,500) |
| Psychology | 6 semesters | $3,970 (€3,500) | $11,920 (€10,500) |
| Computer science (Faculty of Sciences) | 6 semesters | $4,330 (€3,810) | $12,980 (€11,430) |
| Engineering (FEUP) | 6 semesters | $6,810 (€6,000) | $20,440 (€18,000) |
| Law | 8 semesters | $3,970 (€3,500) | $15,900 (€14,000) |
| Architecture (integrated master's) | 10 semesters | $5,110 (€4,500) | $25,550 (€22,500) |
| Medicine (integrated master's) | 12 semesters | $18,740 (€16,500) | $112,410 (€99,000) |

Universities review international fees each year, so full-degree totals are a guide rather than a fixed price. Housing and visa costs are in [the cost of studying in Portugal](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-portugal); for a country overview, see [studying in Portugal](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-portugal).

## A timeline for students in their last two school years {#section-6}

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Year 10, spring | pick a field and three to five programmes; note entrance subjects and language |
| Year 10, summer | start Portuguese or English with a tutor if you are below B1 |
| Year 11, September–November | book DEPLE/DIPLE or an English exam; decide which national exams match your programme's subjects |
| Year 11, December–February | apply in the first phase with interim grades where the university allows it |
| Year 11, spring | receive offers, confirm a place and pay the first instalment; Nova SBE's autumn intake runs from April to June |
| After graduation, June–July | apostille your certificate, send final results, apply for the visa |

If your language is still weak in the final year, plan a preparatory year, such as Ano Zero or a language school, and apply the following spring.

## What a Portuguese bachelor's leads to {#section-7}

A Portuguese licenciatura lets you continue to a master's in Portugal or elsewhere in the Bologna area; see [master's degrees in Portugal](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-portugal). To work in Portugal after a bachelor's, a work residence permit requires an employment contract, a promise of one, a service contract or registration as self-employed. The law reserves the job-search permit of up to one year for master's and doctoral graduates.

Recognition of a Portuguese degree at home follows the rules of the country where you plan to work, so check recognition early if you are choosing a regulated profession such as medicine, law or architecture.

## Common mistakes {#section-8}

- Choosing a programme by its English title. An English name on the website does not mean English teaching; check the language field on the course page.
- Expecting to learn Portuguese over one summer. Going from zero to B1–B2 usually takes a year of regular study.
- Not matching entrance subjects with your exams. Without the right exam you will sit the university's own test in Portuguese.
- Budgeting for one year. Four-year programmes and integrated master's degrees cost 1.5–2 times more than three-year ones.
- Joining a preparatory programme without a target. Ano Zero and SUPERNOVA lead into their own university, not any university.

## FAQ {#faq}

### How long is a bachelor's degree in Portugal?

Three years (180 ECTS) for most programmes and four years (240 ECTS) for some fields, such as law and nursing at U.Porto. Medicine, architecture and pharmacy are integrated master's degrees lasting five or six years.

### Can I study a Portuguese bachelor's in English?

Yes, but mainly in economics, finance and management: English-taught programmes are offered by ISEG at the University of Lisbon, Nova SBE, Católica-Lisbon and U.Porto's School of Economics and Management. Other public bachelor's degrees are taught in Portuguese.

### What level of Portuguese do I need?

From B1 at the University of Lisbon to B2 at Coimbra, while U.Porto asks for independent-user level. B1 applicants are usually admitted on condition of a year-long language course, and Coimbra offers Ano Zero for lower levels.

### Do I need a foundation year after 11 years of school?

Not for academic eligibility, since the certificate is accepted. A preparatory year helps if your language or subject background is weak: Ano Zero at Coimbra or SUPERNOVA at NOVA.

### How much does a full bachelor's degree cost?

At U.Porto, three years of economics cost an international student $11,920 (€10,500), engineering $20,440 (€18,000) and four years of law $15,900 (€14,000). Six years of medicine cost $112,410 (€99,000) before housing.

### Which subjects are popular with international students?

English-speaking applicants mostly choose management and economics because those are the English-taught options. The Portuguese route opens engineering, computing, architecture, design and health programmes at public universities.

## Sources {#section-10}

- [DGES: the licenciatura — credits, length, qualification level](https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/licenciatura?plid=593)
- [Decree-Law 36/2014 on international student status (consolidated text)](https://www.ulisboa.pt/sites/default/files/documents/page/2025/consolidacao-decreto-lei-no-362014-diario-da-republica-no-482014-serie-i-de-2014-03-10-1.pdf)
- [U.Porto: special call for international students and 2026/27 fees](https://www.up.pt/portal/en/study/international-students/special-call-for-applications/), [sample FEP course page](https://www.up.pt/portal/en/study/bachelors-and-integrated-masters-degrees/courses/fep/1046/)
- [ULisboa: language and competition rules for international students](https://www.ulisboa.pt/info/concurso-para-estudante-internacional-1o-e-2o-ciclos)
- [University of Coimbra: language, Ano Zero and fees for international students](https://www.uc.pt/estudarnauc/estudantes-internacionais/licenciaturas-e-mestrados-integrados/)
- [Nova SBE: international bachelor's applicants and SUPERNOVA](https://www.novasbe.unl.pt/pt/cursos/candidaturas/licenciaturas/estudantes-internacionais)
- [Católica-Lisbon: international bachelor's degrees](https://www.clsbe.lisboa.ucp.pt/international-bachelors-degrees-business-administration/fees-and-scholarships)
- [AIMA: work permit after a bachelor's](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/trabalhar/tendo-beneficiado-de-ar-para-estudantes-do-ensino-secundario-ou-de-ar-para-estudantes-do-1-o-ciclo-do-ensino-superior-e-concluid)

ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10. Facts checked on 29 September 2026.

An admission strategy for a bachelor's, requirement checks, programme selection, documents, applications and support are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university makes the admission decision. If you need to choose between a Portuguese- and an English-taught bachelor's and plan your preparation, send an [application](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Master's Degrees in Portugal for International Students: English-Taught Programmes, Fees and Admission](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-portugal)
- [Applying to Portuguese Universities: How the International Student Competition Works](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-portuguese-universities)
- [Cost of Studying in Portugal for International Students: Tuition, Housing and a First-Year Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-portugal)
- [Studying in Portugal for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-portugal)
- [Portugal Student Visa: The D4 Visa, Documents and Residence Permit](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-portugal-student-visa)
- [Universities in Portugal for International Students: Which to Choose and What They Cost](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-portugal)

Updated: September 2026