NOVA University Lisbon (Universidade NOVA de Lisboa) is a public university founded on 11 August 1973. It says it has more than 25,000 students, about 20% of them international from over 110 countries.[1][2] It is ranked 337th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[3]
Fees are set school by school. In the 2026/27 programmes we checked at NOVA FCT, Portuguese students pay €697 in a bachelor’s and €1,250 in a master’s, and foreign students pay €7,000 in both.[4][5] NOVA IMS lists €7,500 a year for its international bachelor’s route.[6] Several programmes are taught in English.[4][5]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA, UNL) |
| Location | Lisbon, Portugal (Rectorate: Campus de Campolide, 1099-085 Lisbon); further teaching sites in Almada, Oeiras and Cascais[7] |
| Type | Public university, decentralised: its faculties and institutes have a great deal of autonomy[2] |
| Founded | 11 August 1973[2] |
| Structure | 9 schools and institutes[1] |
| Students | More than 25,000, of which about 20% international from over 110 countries[1] |
| Teachers and researchers | 2,715[1] |
| Programmes | 47 degrees, 149 master’s degrees plus 1 integrated master’s, 75 doctorates[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 337th[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, FCT NOVA, foreign students | €7,000 a year (bachelor’s and master’s programmes checked); Portuguese students €697 and €1,250[4] |
| Tuition, NOVA IMS international bachelor’s | €7,500 a year (page shows academic year 2027/28)[6] |
| Foundation programme | SUPERNOVA, for international students who want to apply to higher education in Europe[8] |
| Official website | unl.pt |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
What is NOVA University Lisbon?
NOVA University Lisbon was founded on 11 August 1973 as part of an expansion of higher education in Portugal and in Lisbon in particular. It adopted a model that stressed interdisciplinary approaches while keeping traditional fields such as medicine, sciences and humanities.[2] NOVA is decentralised: its faculties and institutes have a great deal of autonomy, so fees, admissions and language rules differ by school.[2]
The nine schools and institutes include FCT NOVA (sciences and technology), NOVA FCSH (social sciences and humanities), Nova SBE (economics and management), NOVA Medical School, NOVA Direito (law), NOVA IMS (statistics and information management), ITQB NOVA (chemical and biological technology), IHMT (hygiene and tropical medicine) and ENSP-NOVA (public health).[9] Teaching sites are in Lisbon, Almada, Oeiras and Cascais.[9] The Rectorate is on the Campolide campus in Lisbon.[7]
Note that the history page of the university still quotes 20,077 students and 1,800 teachers, while the study page quotes more than 25,000 students and 2,715 teachers and researchers. We use the study page.[2][1]
How is NOVA University Lisbon ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, NOVA University Lisbon is 337th.[3] A Portuguese study-abroad guide gives the same position, behind the University of Lisbon (237th) and Porto (255th) and ahead of Coimbra (342nd).[10]
QS’s own site blocks automated access, so we read the position in an aggregator and a commercial guide. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at NOVA University Lisbon?
The university lists 47 degrees, 149 master’s degrees plus one integrated master’s, 75 doctorates and a doctoral school.[1] Examples we checked at FCT NOVA are the bachelor’s in Computer Science and Engineering, offered in both Portuguese and English, and the master’s in Computer Science and Engineering, taught in English.[4][5]
International students who want to prepare for a European degree can join SUPERNOVA, a foundation programme that gives access to NOVA or partner universities, among them members of the Eutopia alliance and the Campus Sul consortium.[8]
How much does NOVA University Lisbon cost?
There is no single university-wide fee. Each school publishes its own. These are the programmes we could read:
| Programme (school) | Portuguese students per year | International students per year |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, Computer Science and Engineering (FCT NOVA), 2026/27 | €697 | €7,000 |
| Master’s, Computer Science and Engineering (FCT NOVA), 2026/27 | €1,250 | €7,000 |
| Bachelor’s, international route (NOVA IMS), page shows 2027/28 | not stated on the page | €7,500 |
The FCT NOVA bachelor’s page lists €697 for Portuguese students and €7,000 for foreign students for 2026/27.[4] The master’s page lists €1,250 and €7,000.[5] NOVA IMS gives €7,500 a year for full payment, not including the registration fee and annual school insurance, plus a €3,000 pre-registration payment that is deducted from tuition.[6]
We did not find fee information for the other schools, such as Nova SBE or NOVA FCSH, in a form we could read; check the school’s programme page. Tuition is only part of the cost; for rent and living costs, see our Portugal guide.
How do you apply to NOVA University Lisbon?
Applications are made to the school that runs the programme, so the portal differs.
- FCT NOVA master’s: foreign applicants apply through the CLIP online system via the “International applications” link on the programme page, in a single application phase for international students.[5]
- NOVA IMS bachelor’s: applications go online through the NOVA IMS applications portal. You must not hold Portuguese or EU nationality and must not be a family member of a Portuguese or EU citizen or have lived legally in Portugal for more than two uninterrupted years, among other conditions.[6]
- Foundation route: SUPERNOVA is a foundation programme for international students.[8]
We give no deadlines because they change every year and differ by school and programme.
Which language level do you need?
The language depends on the programme. The FCT NOVA bachelor’s in Computer Science and Engineering is offered in Portuguese and English, and the master’s in the same field is in English; neither page states a language test.[4][5] For the NOVA IMS international bachelor’s route, English at level B2 (the upper-intermediate level of the European CEFR scale) is required. Applicants with B1 can apply if they commit to an annual language course, and applicants whose previous courses were taught in a country where English is official are exempt.[6] The university says its international students benefit from teaching in English.[1]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does NOVA University Lisbon cost for international students?
What is the difference between NOVA University Lisbon and the University of Lisbon?
They are separate public universities. NOVA was founded in 1973 and has nine schools and institutes; the University of Lisbon has 19 schools.[2][9]
Can I study in English at NOVA University Lisbon?
How do international students apply?
How is NOVA University Lisbon ranked?
It is 337th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[3]
More about studying in Portugal
- Portugal: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Portugal
Sources
[1] NOVA University Lisbon: Study, facts and figures (page without a date; counters read from the live page on 7 Nov 2026)
[2] NOVA University Lisbon: History (page without a date; its student count is older)
[3] Xuanxiao: QS World University Rankings 2027, ranks 301 to 350 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (edition released 18 Jun 2026; aggregator page)
[4] NOVA FCT: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Engineering (applications for 2026/27; page without an update date)
[5] NOVA FCT: Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering (applications for 2026/27; page without an update date)
[6] NOVA IMS: Undergraduate programs, international students access (page shows academic year 2027/28; no update date)
[7] NOVA University Lisbon: About (page without a date)
[8] NOVA University Lisbon: International students (SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme) (page without a date)
[9] Wikipedia: NOVA University Lisbon (list of schools and sites; student numbers on that page are from 2018 and not used)
[10] Universidade do Intercâmbio: Melhores universidades de Portugal (study-abroad guide, page updated 2 Sep 2026; commercial source, used to cross-check)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.