How to Apply to Universities in Portugal (2027): Step by Step

Non-EU students enter Portuguese public universities through the International Student Statute, a special call with its own quota and fees set by each university. The deciding fact is language: bachelor's degrees are taught in Portuguese, and the University of Coimbra requires Portuguese at B2, with a paid foundation year for those below it. Applications run in several phases through the year rather than to one deadline.

Verified 13 Sep 2026 Sources

Bachelor's and integrated master's degrees

Check the language first. Degrees at Portuguese public universities are taught in Portuguese, and Coimbra requires CEFR B2 to enrol.
If your Portuguese is below B2, find out which preparatory route you would be admitted on. At Coimbra, B1 applicants take an Annual Portuguese Language Course, and applicants below B1 take a Foundation Year in Portuguese Language costing EUR 7,000 before the degree.
Confirm you qualify for the International Student Statute: not Portuguese, not an EU national, and not a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
Identify the admission examinations your course requires, because ranking is on their weighted grades. Coimbra accepts several routes, including Portuguese national admission exams and its own qualifying examinations.
Apply in the earliest phase you can. Coimbra's 2026/27 call opened its first phase on 15 December 2025 and closed it on 26 January 2026; later phases only fill leftover places.
Pay the application fee, EUR 50 at Coimbra, and prepare for prerequisites where they apply, such as a medical examination at EUR 40.
On placement, pre-register and pay the enrolment fee. At Coimbra registration is only confirmed once Portuguese B1 is demonstrated, and a place can otherwise be deferred for a year.