Low tuition
English-taught
Capped low tuition: reference fee €697/year (Bachelor’s, 2025/26); up to €2,750 (Master’s)
- Mandatory cost / yr
- €697
- Degree levels
- Bachelor · Master · PhD
Low tuitionEU MEMBER
Tuition-Free Universities in Portugal
Capped low tuition: reference fee €697/year (Bachelor’s, 2025/26); up to €2,750 (Master’s)
- Universities to explore
- 6
- Mandatory university cost / year
- €697
- Currency
- EUR
- Academic year
- 2026/2027
Tuition rules for EU citizens
Portuguese public universities charge a capped maximum tuition (propina) set nationally and indexed annually. For 2025/2026 the reference fee was €697 for Bachelor’s degree programmes and up to €2,750 for Master’s. EU/EEA students are charged the same as Portuguese students. Amounts are verified per institution and year.
Public universities
Capped low tuition; EU/EEA charged national rates.
Private universities
Private institutions charge higher tuition.
By degree level
- Bachelor's: Capped low tuition (≈ €697/yr reference, 2025/26).
- Master's: Capped low tuition (up to ≈ €2,750/yr, 2025/26).
- PhD: Often funded via FCT scholarships.
English-taught programmes
A growing English-taught catalogue, especially at Master’s level.
Mandatory fees
Small enrolment/administrative fees may apply.
Estimated mandatory university cost per year: €697.
Admission system & application process
National contest (CNA) and direct institution portals.
Residency conditions
EU/EEA students pay national tuition rates.
Language requirements
Portuguese-taught programmes require Portuguese; English programmes require English proof.
Deadlines & document submission
- Applications open
- ≈ June
- Applications close
- National contest (CNA) ≈ July–August
- Document submission
- Certified copies + translations; equivalence may be required.
- Note
- Access regulated by DGES.
Typical dates for the 2026/2027 cycle — verify the exact deadline on the official admissions page.
Living costs, housing & scholarships
- Living costs (approx.)
- €600–€1,000 / month
- Student housing
- Student residences and shared flats; Lisbon and Porto are competitive.
- Scholarships
- FCT scholarships for research; university merit awards.
- EU/EEA mobility
- As an EU/EEA citizen you do not need a visa or residence permit to study here; register with the local authorities after arrival. Non-EU/EEA students need a visa/residence permit.
Living-cost figures are approximate (2026 estimates) and separate from the mandatory university cost above.
Universities in our database (6)
Low tuition
English-taught
Capped low tuition for EU/EEA students (2026/2027 fee order; Bachelor’s reference ≈ €697/year); Master’s fees set per programme
- Mandatory cost / yr
- €697
- Degree levels
- Bachelor · Master · PhD
Low tuition
English-taught
Capped low tuition: reference fee €697/year (Bachelor’s, 2025/26); up to €2,750 (Master’s)
- Mandatory cost / yr
- €697
- Degree levels
- Bachelor · Master · PhD
Low tuition
English-taught
Capped low tuition ≈ €697/year (2025/26 reference fee)
- Mandatory cost / yr
- €697
- Degree levels
- Bachelor · Master · PhD
Low tuition
English-taught
Capped low tuition for EU/EEA students (Bachelor’s reference ≈ €697/year, unchanged for 2026/27); Master’s fees set per programme
- Mandatory cost / yr
- €697
- Degree levels
- Bachelor · Master · PhD
Low tuition
English-taught
Capped low tuition: reference fee €697/year (Bachelor’s, 2025/26); up to €2,750 (Master’s)
- Mandatory cost / yr
- €697
- Degree levels
- Bachelor · Master · PhD
Always verify. Tuition rules may change. Always verify current fees and admission requirements on the university's official website before applying.
Official sources
- DGES – International Students (official)
https://www.dges.gov.pt/ - Eurydice – Higher education funding: Portugal
https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/