Documents for Universities in Portugal
The papers public universities in Portugal ask international students for, at bachelor's and master's level. Each school sets its own list, so check your course page too. Money is in euro (EUR).
Recent Updates
Example: transcript uploaded
Example: application fee waiting for payment
Example: language certificate still missing
Most public universities in Portugal ask for papers in these four groups.
Study Papers
Your last certificate and marks, with your final average and grading scale.
Language Proof
Portuguese for courses in Portuguese, English for courses in English.
Personal Papers
Passport, photo, CV and, if asked, a motivation letter.
Fees
Proof that you paid the application fee.
These show that you can enter the course you apply for.
- It must let you enter higher education in your home country.
- It shows your final average, your marks and the grading scale.
- At NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA), it must show you passed the subjects of the entrance exams for your course.
- Your degree certificate and full transcript with the final average.
- At Instituto Superior Técnico (Técnico), part of the University of Lisbon (ULisboa), both are asked for master's applicants.
- A paper that explains how your school or university grades.
- Any exams you took to enter higher education at home, with your marks.
Apostille Before You Enrol
Papers about you, beyond your marks.
- A copy of your passport. It shows your nationality.
- Técnico asks for a recent photo and an up to date CV.
- Optional at Técnico. Some courses ask for one.
- NOVA asks you to sign a paper saying you are an international student.
Essays
- Say why you chose this course and this university.
Most public universities charge a fee to apply. Pay it on time, or your application is not checked.
- Técnico: EUR 100, not paid back.
- NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), bachelor's: EUR 70, not paid back.
- Your application is only checked after you pay.
- Técnico: EUR 2,000 after you are admitted, to keep your place. It is not paid back. It counts as your first two tuition payments.
Average Cost Overview for Portugal
ULisboa bachelor's, phase 1 (courses that start in September 2027)
4 January to 5 February 2027
ULisboa bachelor's, phase 2 (courses that start in September 2027)
5 April to 21 May 2027
Universities check that your papers are real before you enrol.
India: the apostille comes from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
- NOVA reads papers in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish. Papers in any other language need a translation into Portuguese or English.
- To enrol, your certificates need an apostille (an official stamp from your own country that shows a paper is real), or a stamp from the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country.
- Pakistan: the apostille comes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
Document Verification Timeline
Scan your papers
Before you apply
Make clear PDF scans of every certificate and transcript.
Get the apostille
Before you enrol
Your certificates need an apostille or an embassy stamp when you enrol.
•Sending papers in another language without a translation.
•Leaving the apostille until the last week before enrolment.
Tick these off for each university you apply to.
Study Papers
Language Proof
Personal Papers
Fees
Tip
Scan every paper as a PDF. You upload them online, and you show the originals with an apostille (an official stamp from your own country that shows a paper is real) when you enrol.
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