Situated on the western coast of Portugal, Lisbon embodies all the qualities one could hope for in a capital city, offering a wealth of culture, personality, and history along with excellent dining, drinking, entertainment, and nightlife.
Lisbon offers the perfect environment for pursuing your academic goals because of its fascinating history, state-of-the-art educational facilities, and unparalleled cultural experiences. The top institutions in Lisbon have something to offer every prospective student, regardless of what draws them in—its historic architecture, varied communities, or world-class educational options.
The QS World University Rankings® 2023 include one private university, the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Lisboa (801-1000), along with two public universities in Lisbon: The University of Lisbon (joint 335th) and the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (joint 369th).
University of Lisbon- one of the top universities in Lisbon
In 1911, the University of Lisbon (ULisboa) was established. It merged with the Technical Institution of Lisbon in 2013 to become the biggest institution in Portugal and one of the top universities in all of Europe.
ULisboa, which consists of eighteen faculties, offers 400 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Over the years, the institution has gained a reputation on a global scale and is involved in several mobility projects, such as Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, and Tempus.
Additionally, it welcomes about 5,000 international students, who together represent 100 different nations and makeup about 10% of its entire cohort. Numerous courses at ULisboa are now taught in English to draw in more international students.
In addition, ULisboa is home to over 100 research units, 18 schools, and 4,000 academic staff members.
Nine student residences are part of the university’s housing options. These residences help international students integrate into the community and collaborate with other universities.
Every year, it organizes a variety of cultural events, such as conferences, concerts, and exhibitions. In addition, it has affiliations with other regional museums in the areas of astronomy, zoology, geology, and anthropology.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, has a thriving nightlife, restaurants, shops, beaches nearby, and a rich history and culture.
Lisbon takes great satisfaction in its close ties to the Portuguese community and the Lisbon metropolitan area, and it is committed to elevating the city to the status of one of Europe’s leading hubs for science and culture.
Why come to Lisbon to study?
Low living expenses
Students in the city benefit from low overall living expenses and affordable Student Accommodation Lisbon rents in the city center, as the city is ranked equal to 97th in the country for affordability this year.

Wonderful weather
There’s plenty of time to enjoy one of Portugal’s many beaches, which are just a 30-minute drive from Lisbon, as the sun shines for about 239 days of the year.
The high caliber of instruction
Four of the best universities in the world are located in this city. Among them is the University of Lisbon, which this year is ranked jointly 335th in the world.
A city full of cultures
The 79,900 students in the city are made up of 16% foreigners, and the city always welcomes visitors from other countries.
Cost of education in Lisbon
Lisbon is among the most reasonably priced cities in Europe for students. This year, the city ranks joint 97th in terms of affordability, with tuition costs averaging US$5,000 per year.
Living in Lisbon and throughout Portugal is incredibly inexpensive. In the city core, a one-bedroom apartment costs about US$1,170, which is forty-five percent cheaper than in London.
Furthermore, according to Numbeo, a single person residing in Lisbon will require an additional US$698 per month to make ends meet.
Lisbon’s way of life and culture
Lisbon has a diverse range of events and activities set against an appealing setting of old trams, narrow streets, and historic buildings. Students can take advantage of the city’s vibrant cafés, ancient public baths, and even busier nightclubs after classes.
Lisbon’s hilly topography contributes to the city’s wonderful landscape. The views are worth the extra effort, even though walking and cycling become more difficult (despite being excellent for fitness).
Career in Lisbon
Lisbon is home to a large number of start-up businesses, thus job seekers seeking employment have a lot of options. If students want to stay in Lisbon after graduation, they should start looking for work as soon as possible because there is fierce competition for positions in the city.
The city’s primary industry is services, with tourism making up a sizable portion of Lisbon’s GDP. Aside from these, Lisbon’s thriving businesses include retail, financial services, agriculture, biotechnology, IT, and telecommunications.
While non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationalities must get a job offer from a Portuguese company, EEA, EU, and Swiss nationals may work in Lisbon for up to six months before applying for a residence permit.