The University of Porto (U.Porto, Universidade do Porto) is a public university founded on 22 March 1911, with more than 35,800 registered students, 14% of them international.[1][2] It is ranked joint 255th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[3]
International students pay fees set by each faculty; for the special call for bachelor’s and integrated master’s degrees in 2026/27 they range from €3,500 to €16,500 a year.[4] Portuguese students pay about €697 in a bachelor’s programme and €1,250 in a master’s, according to U.Porto fee pages that still show the 2023/24 year.[5][6] Most classes are in Portuguese, although more courses are offered in English.[7]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidade do Porto (U.Porto) |
| Location | Porto, Portugal (Rectory: Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto)[8] |
| Type | Public university[1] |
| Founded | 22 March 1911, with two faculties (Sciences and Medicine)[2] |
| Structure | 14 faculties, 1 business school and 3+1 university centres[1] |
| Students | More than 35,800 registered, of which 14% international (more than 5,100 foreign students in degree courses)[1] |
| Degree courses | 315: 50 bachelor’s, 6 integrated master’s, 165 master’s and 94 doctorates[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Joint 255th[3] |
| Tuition, Portuguese students (indicative, 2023/24 page) | €697 bachelor’s and integrated master’s; €1,250 master’s; €2,750 doctorate (plus school insurance)[5] |
| Tuition 2026/27, international students (special call) | €3,500 to €16,500 a year depending on the course; CPLP nationals may get up to 45% off[4] |
| Language | Mostly Portuguese; more English-taught courses; Portuguese at “independent user level” asked in the special call[7] |
| Official website | up.pt |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
What is the University of Porto?
The University of Porto was officially established on 22 March 1911, shortly after the Portuguese Republic was proclaimed, and began with two faculties, Sciences and Medicine.[2] Faculties for engineering, arts and humanities and pharmacy followed between 1915 and 1925, and economics was added in 1953; the university expanded strongly after 1974.[2]
Today it consists of 14 faculties, one business school and 3+1 university centres, with 35,800 registered students: more than 15,800 in bachelor’s, 5,600 in integrated master’s, 9,700 in master’s and 4,500 in doctoral programmes.[1] The central administration (Reitoria) is at Praça Gomes Teixeira in Porto.[8] The university’s home page quotes other headline figures (about 54,000 enrolled in 2022/23 and more than 350 courses) than its facts page; the pages do not explain the difference, and we use the facts page.[8][1]
How is the University of Porto ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Porto is joint 255th (tied with the University of Minnesota).[3] A Portuguese study-abroad guide gives the same position.[9]
U.Porto’s own rankings page lists “255th–256th” for QS and labels it 2026, which fits the edition published in June 2026. The same page lists the Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) 2026 at 301st–400th.[10] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Porto?
U.Porto offers 315 degree-awarding courses: 50 bachelor’s degrees, 6 integrated master’s degrees, 165 master’s degrees and 94 doctorates.[1] The university has 14 faculties and one business school.[1]
The language of teaching differs by course. U.Porto says more courses are taught in English than before, but most classes are still in Portuguese; to check a course, use the university’s list of courses or ask the faculty.[7]
How much does the University of Porto cost?
| Level | Portuguese and equivalent students per year (indicative) | International students per year |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s and integrated master’s | €697 + €2 insurance (2023/24) | €3,500 to €16,500, depending on the course (special call 2026/27) |
| Master’s | €1,250 + €1.95 insurance (2023/24) | Set by each faculty; see the list of courses |
| Doctorate | €2,750 + €1.95 insurance (2023/24) | Set by each faculty; see the list of courses |
The three national-fee pages call their amounts indicative and show the academic year 2023/24, so confirm the current figure with the faculty’s academic services.[5][6][11] For international students the fee is “set by each U.Porto faculty, according to the real cost of the course”; U.Porto’s fee pages give no single amount.[5] The 2026/27 special call for international students gives the range of €3,500 to €16,500 a year and says to check the course list for exact figures.[4]
Reduction for CPLP nationals
Students from Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP) may get a reduction of up to 45%.[5][4]
Other costs
Tuition is only part of the bill. For rent and living costs, see our Portugal guide.
How do you apply to the University of Porto?
You count as an international student if you are neither Portuguese nor an EU national, if you are a dual national applying as a third-country national, or if neither you nor your parents have lived continuously in Portugal for more than two years on 1 January of the year you want to enter.[12]
- Bachelor’s and integrated master’s: apply through the special call for international students. You apply online to the academic services of the faculty you choose, and each faculty sets its own admission requirements; course-level “Apply” links lead to SIGARRA, the university’s information system.[4]
- Master’s and doctorate: use the general master’s or doctorate application pages; contact the academic services of the faculty.[12][6]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by faculty. Check the call for your course.
Which language level do you need?
The special call asks for Portuguese at the “independent user level” (the middle band of the European CEFR scale, B1 and B2) and course-specific prerequisites; without proof of Portuguese, you may have to take an oral test by video call.[4] U.Porto’s page on learning Portuguese says that international students have no mandatory language requirement, but some courses or faculties may have specific criteria.[7] The two pages are not fully consistent, so check the call and the course page before you apply.
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities runs introductory, improvement and conversation courses in Portuguese for international students, placed by an online test.[7]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the University of Porto cost for international students?
It depends on the course. The 2026/27 special call gives a range of €3,500 to €16,500 a year, and each faculty sets its own fee.[4]
Do I need to speak Portuguese to study at the University of Porto?
How do international students apply to the University of Porto?
Is there a discount for students from Portuguese-speaking countries?
Students from CPLP countries may get a reduction of up to 45% on the international fee.[4]
How is the University of Porto ranked?
It is joint 255th 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] University of Porto: Facts and figures (page without a date; footer © 2026; data years mixed)
[2] University of Porto: History (page without a date)
[3] Xuanxiao: QS World University Rankings 2027, ranks 251 to 300 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (edition released 18 Jun 2026; aggregator page)
[4] University of Porto: Special call for applications for international students 2026/2027 (page for the 2026/2027 call; no update date)
[5] University of Porto: Bachelor’s and integrated master’s degrees, general information and tuition fees (page without a date; fee shown is for 2023/24)
[6] University of Porto: Master’s degrees, general information and tuition fees (page without a date; fee shown is for 2023/24)
[7] University of Porto: Learning Portuguese (page without a date)
[8] University of Porto: Home page (page without a date; footer © 2026)
[9] Universidade do Intercâmbio: Melhores universidades de Portugal (study-abroad guide, page updated 2 Sep 2026; commercial source, used to cross-check)
[10] University of Porto: Rankings (page without a date; edition labels on the page are inconsistent)
[11] University of Porto: Doctorates, general information and tuition fees (page without a date; fee shown is for 2023/24)
[12] University of Porto: Study cycle applications for international students (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.