Contents
Iscte admission at a glance
If you are not a Portuguese or EU/EEA national, you apply to Iscte through its own International Student special competition, and in the latest published cycle, 2026/2027, the rounds for international undergraduates ran from 15 December 2025 to 24 June 2026. Iscte has not yet published a 2027/2028 calendar, so the 2026/2027 dates are the best guide to the shape of the next cycle.
Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon runs two doors into its bachelors. An international candidate "competes through a Special Competition, managed by Iscte", applying online in the Fénix+ system. A national or equivalent candidate, which includes EU and EEA nationals because the international definition excludes them, goes through the National Competition for Access, managed entirely by the Directorate General for Higher Education (DGES).
Iscte's international bachelor fees depend on the programme. In 2026/2027, the latest published year, Computer Engineering charges students from outside the EU 7000.00 € a year against 697.00 € for EU students, while several social science programmes such as Anthropology charge 5500.00 €.
Language and English-taught bachelors
Iscte asks international bachelor applicants for proof of the language of instruction at a "minimum of level B1" of the Common European Framework of Reference. Most Iscte bachelors are taught in Portuguese. International Studies, a new bachelor in 2026/2027, is taught in English, and Management offers a class in which subjects are taught entirely in English.
The chapters below follow the order of a real application: who counts as international, how Iscte ranks applicants, what each qualification needs, the rounds and fees, and what life in Lisbon costs.
| Item | What Iscte publishes |
|---|---|
| Application rounds | 15 Dec 2025 to 24 Jun 2026, five rounds |
| Application fee | €70 for every round |
| Reservation fee after admission | 750.00 € or 1200.00 €, by programme |
| Tuition outside the EU, by programme | 7000.00 € (for example Computer Engineering) or 5500.00 € (for example Anthropology) a year |
| Tuition for EU students | 697.00 € a year (for example Computer Engineering) |
| Language | B1 in the language of instruction |
Iscte rankings, history and reputation
Iscte is a public university institute in Lisbon whose bachelors run at Campus Lisboa and Campus Sintra. Iscte's own pages cite no overall position in the global university tables; what they cite is accreditation and graduate employment.
Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa says that 100% of its professors hold doctorates.
Iscte's university pages do not list an overall position in the QS, Times Higher Education or Shanghai tables. Iscte Business School lists the AACSB among its accreditations and affiliations, and the Management bachelor page shows an accreditation of 6 Years dated 17 Dec 2024.
Iscte campuses: Lisboa and Sintra
Iscte's undergraduate list names the campus of each bachelor: International Studies, for example, runs at Campus Lisboa, and Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence at Campus Sintra. Check the campus of your programme before you look for housing, because Lisbon and Sintra are separate campuses.
International students and graduate employment at Iscte
Iscte's Why Iscte page says its students represent more than 120 nationalities, and does not date the figure.
On employment, Iscte reports an employability rate over 96% among recent graduates, without a published survey year or method, so read it as the university's claim rather than an independent measure.
Who counts as an international student at Iscte
At Iscte you are an international candidate if you have no Portuguese or EU/EEA nationality, are not a family member of a Portuguese or EU/EEA national, and have not lived legally in Portugal for more than two years. Only international candidates use Iscte's own special competition; everyone else applies through the Portuguese national contest.
Iscte's degree pages (as of October 2026) list the full international candidate profile. You do not hold Portuguese nationality, you are not a national of an EU or EEA member state, and you are not a relative of a Portuguese or EU/EEA national. You have not resided legally in Portugal for more than two years continuously, you have not applied through the special regimes, and you do not benefit from a status of equality of rights and duties under a treaty. Iscte Business School words it the same way: an international candidate "has no Portuguese nationality; is not national of a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area (EEA); is not a family member of Portuguese or EU/EEA national".
| Your situation | Iscte route |
|---|---|
| Non-EU national, no Portuguese family, legal residence in Portugal under two years | International Student special competition, run by Iscte |
| Portuguese or EU/EEA national | National Competition for Access (DGES) |
| Family member of a Portuguese or EU/EEA national | National Competition for Access (DGES) |
| Legal resident in Portugal for more than two years | National Competition for Access (DGES) |
The residence cut-off: two dates on Iscte pages
Iscte gives two different cut-off dates for the residence test. The degree pages count legal residence "continuously, on January 1st of the year in which they intend to enter Iscte". The applications FAQ instead counts less than two years "by 31 August of the year in which they apply to Iscte". If you have lived in Portugal for close to two years, ask Iscte which date applies to your 2027 application before you choose a route.
Two details in the Iscte FAQ narrow the residence rule. A residence permit for studies does not count as legal residence in Portugal, and your parents must not have lived legally in Portugal for more than two years.
EU and EEA citizens are national candidates
Iscte treats a national candidate (or equivalent) as anyone with Portuguese nationality or the nationality of an EU or EEA member state, plus family members and long-term legal residents. EU and EEA citizens therefore cannot use the Iscte special competition: they apply through the National Competition for Access run by DGES, which the next chapter covers, and pay the EU tuition.
Iscte also says that, at present, the international student status is not yet applicable to doctoral programmes.
The rules behind the special competition
Iscte runs the special competition under its Regulamento do estudante internacional, which Iscte lists for undergraduate applicants.
EU and national applicants: the national access contest
EU and EEA citizens, Portuguese nationals and long-term residents enter an Iscte bachelor through the National Competition for Access, managed entirely by the Directorate General for Higher Education (DGES), not Iscte. At Iscte you need at least 9.5/20 in each required entrance exam and an application grade of at least 10.0/20.
The National Call is the most common route into Portuguese public higher education for Portuguese and EU students. Through the National Call you rank up to six institution and programme combinations in order of preference. Your application "is not submitted or analyzed by Iscte, but by DGES", the Directorate General for Higher Education.
To enter the National Call you must hold Portuguese nationality, be a national of an EU member state, or have legally resided in Portugal for more than two years. That is the mirror image of the Iscte international definition: if you qualify here, the Iscte special competition is closed to you.
Iscte minimums in the national contest
- Take the entrance examinations required for the chosen programme and score at least 9.5/20.
- Reach an application grade equal to or above the Iscte minimum of 10.0/20.
- National exams count in the year you take them and for the following four years if taken from 2022 onwards (two years if taken up to and including 2021).
- If you hold a foreign secondary qualification recognised as equivalent to Portuguese secondary education, you may replace the required entry examinations with the final examinations of your own programme.
Those minimums are gates, not the level of admitted students. Iscte sets the application score formula per programme; for the Management bachelor the national formula is secondary school average 50% plus entrance examination average 50%. Check the programme page for the exact weights and exams of your course.
National contest phases in 2026
The national contest takes place at the end of the academic year in three phases. The 2026 phases ran from 20 July 2026 to 12 October 2026; Iscte has not published the 2027 national contest dates.
Other Iscte special contests
Besides the international competition, Iscte lists a special contest for over 23, whose candidates "must not be covered by the status of international student". An applicant with international student status therefore cannot enter through that contest.
How Iscte ranks international applicants: school average and specific subjects
Iscte ranks international bachelor applicants on a single final score from 0 to 20, built from your secondary school marks and from your marks in the programme's specific subjects, which count 40%. Only applicants with a final score of at least 10 are admitted.
The Iscte score has two parts. Part b) is the mark or marks (on a scale from 0 to 20) you obtained in the specific subject or subjects of secondary education that the programme lists under "Specific Exams", and it contributes 40% to the final admission score. Part a) rests on the marks and averages of your secondary education, which you prove with your school documents. The final score is the average of the marks stated in paragraphs a) and b), given on a scale from 0 to 20 and rounded to the nearest whole number.
| Element | What Iscte sets |
|---|---|
| Final score scale | 0 to 20, rounded to the nearest whole number |
| Specific subject marks | 40% of the final score |
| Minimum to be admitted | 10 (on a scale from 0 to 20) |
The subject marks are where your choice of programme matters. A bachelor that lists Mathematics as its specific subject reads your secondary school Mathematics mark, so a weak Mathematics mark weighs on the 40% of the score that the specific subjects carry. The next chapter lists the specific subjects per programme.
The minimum of 10 is a gate
A final score of 10 is a gate, not the level of admitted students: places are limited, and the Committee for the Analysis of Applications considers all applications that have been paid and prepares a ranked list of applicants according to the course vacancies available at each stage.
Documents that prove your marks
- Proof of conclusion of secondary education with your marks and averages, stating the scale of each mark (the minimum and maximum value).
- A letter of motivation explaining your interest in Iscte and in the specific course.
- Proof of the language of instruction (see the language chapter).
Iscte does not publish how it converts a foreign scale into its 0 to 20 scale, which is why the scale of each mark must be on your documents. Send a transcript that shows the minimum and maximum of your grading system.
Interview, entrance exam and motivation video
Iscte names no entrance exam of its own for the international competition. The Management bachelor page of Iscte Business School (as of October 2026) says that candidates must include a link to a video in the 'Motivation' field of the application form; the video is a motivation letter in the language of the course, no longer than one minute. Iscte's page for Chinese candidates says the selection process "might include a skype interview and curriculum analysis".
Alternates and appeals
Applicants not admitted for lack of vacancies become alternates and may be accepted in order of admission score if admitted students withdraw. Appeals against results must be submitted within five business days of publication; after a successful appeal, enrolment takes place within the following two business days.
Specific exams (provas de ingresso) per Iscte bachelor
Every Iscte bachelor names the secondary subjects it reads for the specific part of your score, worth 40%: most business, economics and technology bachelors need Mathematics A plus one other subject, while the social science bachelors accept pairs from Portuguese, History, Philosophy and Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences. As an international applicant you prove these subjects with your own secondary school marks, not with Portuguese national exams.
Iscte's rule for international candidates is that you "must have specific academic qualifications in the areas of knowledge required for the intended programme", proven by documentary evidence at the time of application, following the table of Specific Exams. Iscte's selection conditions (as of October 2026) say your mark in those subjects, on a scale of 0 to 20, contributes 40% to the final classification, "considering the best solution for the student" where a programme accepts alternative subjects.
Programmes that need Mathematics A
Mathematics A is the dividing line at Iscte. The business school bachelors (Management, Economics, Finance and Accounting, Marketing Management, Industrial Management and Logistics), the engineering and computing bachelors and most Sintra digital technology bachelors all require it. Digital Technology and Sustainable Built Environment pairs Mathematics A with one of Drawing, Economics, Physics and Chemistry, Descriptive Geometry, Art History and Culture or Portuguese. Before you apply, check that your transcript shows a mathematics course that matches Mathematics A.
Programmes that accept humanities combinations
Several Iscte bachelors give you a choice of sets instead of one fixed pair. Anthropology, Modern and Contemporary History, Social Service, Digital Educational Technologies and Politics, Economics and Society each list alternative sets built on Portuguese, History, Philosophy or Maths Applied to Social Sciences. Digital Technologies and Management accepts Portuguese + Economics, or Mathematics A + one of Portuguese, Economics, Geography, Philosophy or History.
Human Resources Management is a case to check carefully. The international table lists any two of Geography, Maths Applied to Social Sciences, Portuguese and Economics, while the programme's national contest list is built around 19 Maths A. Follow the international table if you apply as an international student, and confirm with Iscte if your subjects sit on the edge.
How you prove the specific subjects
You prove each specific subject with the mark in the equivalent subject of your own secondary education, shown on your transcript with its grading scale. Iscte's page for Chinese candidates adds that if you do not have the Gaokao or Liakao exams "you will have to prove your knowledge in the subjects appointed in the above table for each of the programmes".
The 95-point minimum in the national contest
The minimums in Portuguese points apply to national candidates, not to the international competition. In the national contest each Iscte bachelor page sets a minimum of 95 in the entrance examinations, which Iscte also writes as 9.5 values, and a minimum application score of 100; national exams carry codes such as 19 Maths A or 18 Portuguese. The table below lists them per programme.
Entry requirements by qualification: Gaokao, ENEM, IB, A-levels and other diplomas
Iscte accepts any school-leaving qualification that gives access to higher education in the country where you obtained it, and publishes extra rules only for two systems: Chinese applicants need at least 55% of the maximum Gaokao or Liankao score, and Brazilian applicants are ranked on the high school grade (60%) and ENEM (40%). Iscte does not publish a minimum grade for the IB, A-levels, the Abitur, the French baccalauréat, the European Baccalaureate, a US diploma or the Polish matura.
Iscte's special competition is open to international candidates who are holders of a qualification that, in the country in which it was obtained, entitles them to apply and enter higher education in that country, or holders of a Portuguese secondary education diploma or legally equivalent. You must prove that your qualification guarantees access to higher education in your country of origin. International students already in higher education, in Portugal or abroad, can also enter through transfer or programme change. Iscte's applications pages (as of October 2026) add that international candidates must demonstrate, cumulatively, an academic qualification in the areas of knowledge required for the programme and an independent command of the language of instruction, minimum level B1.
| Qualification | Iscte rule |
|---|---|
| Gaokao or Liankao (China) | Graduation diploma + at least 55% of the maximum score; exams from the current year or the last 3 years |
| ENEM (Brazil) | High school grade 60% + ENEM 40%; one of the last three editions |
| IB, A-levels, Abitur, French baccalauréat, European Baccalaureate | No published minimum; your marks enter the 0 to 20 score, with the specific subjects at 40% |
| US high school diploma, SAT, ACT, AP | No published minimum or test requirement |
| Polish matura and other national diplomas | No published minimum; it must be proven that the qualifications held guarantee access to higher education in the country of origin |
Gaokao and Liankao applicants
Iscte says applicants from China can use the Gaokao and Liankao exams to enter its bachelors under the International Student Statute. You need the Senior Secondary School Graduation Diploma and at least 55% of the maximum score of your Gaokao or Liankao exams, and Iscte accepts exams from the current year and the last 3 years. The Chinese candidates page also matches each programme to a stream: Management, for example, accepts Natural Sciences (Li Ke) or Humanities Stream (Wen Ke).
ENEM applicants from Brazil
Brazilian applicants are ranked on the weighted average of the high school grade (60%) and the ENEM grades (40%), with scores from one of the last three editions of ENEM valid under Order no. 29/2020 of the Iscte Rector. Iscte weights the ENEM areas differently per programme:
- Management (Gestão): writing 20% + mathematics 80%.
- Psychology (Psicologia): writing 40% + natural sciences 30% + human sciences 30%.
- Architecture (integrated master): mathematics 60% + natural sciences, human sciences, languages and writing 10% each.
- Telecommunications and Computer Engineering: mathematics 65% + natural sciences 25% + languages 5% + writing 5%.
IB, A-levels and other diplomas
Iscte does not publish minimum grades or a conversion table for the IB, A-levels, the Abitur, the French baccalauréat, the European Baccalaureate, a US high school diploma or the Polish matura, and names no SAT or ACT requirement. Your final average and your marks in the programme's specific subjects are converted to the Portuguese 0 to 20 scale by a method Iscte does not publish, and the specific subjects count 40%.
Iscte lists countries whose secondary qualifications Portugal treats as legally equivalent to its own, under Portaria nº. 224/2006 (among them Germany and the People's Republic of China) and Portaria nº. 699/2006 (among them Brazil, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland). The special competition itself rests on Decree-Law no. 36/2014, of 10 March, amended by Decree-Law 62/2018 and Decree-Law 20/2025.
Language requirements at Iscte: B1 in English or Portuguese
Iscte asks international bachelor applicants for proof of the language their programme is taught in at a minimum of level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference: Portuguese for most bachelors, English for the English-taught ones. Iscte does not name an English or Portuguese test or a minimum test score, only the CEFR level.
The Iscte language rule follows the programme, not your nationality. If you apply to a Portuguese-taught bachelor, you prove Portuguese at B1; if you apply to International Studies, which is taught in English, you prove English at the same level. Management is listed as taught in Portuguese and English, so ask Iscte which language proof to upload if you want its English-taught class. Iscte's page for Chinese candidates repeats the rule: you "must also prove your knowledge in the language in which the programme you are applying to is offered".
| Programme taught in | Proof Iscte asks for |
|---|---|
| Portuguese (most bachelors) | Portuguese at CEFR B1 or above |
| English (International Studies; Management, which Iscte lists as taught in Portuguese and English) | English at CEFR B1 or above |
| Motivation video (Management, Iscte Business School) | Recorded in the language of the course |
Who is exempt: two wordings on Iscte pages
Iscte words the exemption in two ways. The ranking criteria say the language criterion "is not applicable to candidates from Portuguese-English speaking countries as well as Spanish/Castilian speaking candidates". The document list says the B1 minimum is "not applicable to applicants whose mother tangue is the teaching language".
The two wordings overlap but are not the same. A Spanish speaker applying to a Portuguese-taught bachelor is exempt under the first and not under the second, so plan for proof of the teaching language unless Iscte confirms your exemption in writing.
English tests: no named test or score
Iscte does not publish a list of accepted English tests (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge or others) or a minimum score for its bachelors. The requirement is the CEFR level, so a certificate that states your level as B1 or higher in the teaching language is the safest proof to upload.
How to apply to Iscte step by step: Fénix+, five rounds and fees
You apply to Iscte online in the Fénix+ system, in one of five rounds: in the latest published cycle, 2026/2027, the first round ran from 15 Dec 2025 to 14 Jan 2026 and the fifth closed on 24 Jun 2026, each at 17:00 Portuguese time. Every application costs €70; Iscte has not yet published the 2027/2028 rounds.
The Iscte application is online only: it must be made online through the Fénix+ system, until 17:00 (Portuguese time) on the deadline set for each round. Candidates are notified of the results by email sent to the address given in the application.
Iscte opened the 2026/2027 cycle with the line "CANDIDATES 2026/2027 Open from December 15,2025". The opening of later rounds "is subject to the availability of vacancies", and a programme only runs with a minimum number of registered students. Apply in the first round: places for international students are few per programme, and later rounds only open where places remain.
The Iscte application steps
- Apply online in Fénix+ by 17:00 (Portuguese time) on the deadline of the round.
- Pay the application fee of €70 within three (3) days of submission.
- Wait for the result: Iscte notifies candidates by email at the address given in the application.
- If admitted, pay the enrolment reservation fee within five (5) days of the results.
- Register and enrol in Fénix+; the yearly enrolment fee is 30€.
- Pay the tuition fee within five (5) days of registration, when it appears in Fénix+.
Documents to upload
For Undergraduate (Exclusive for International Students), Iscte lists a digital photo, a copy of your citizen card or equivalent, copies of previous educational certificates with classifications, transcripts of records with all courses and grades, and a letter of motivation. Add proof of the teaching language at B1 and any other documents the programme requests.
Fees and when they are due
The Iscte application fee is €70 for every round and is non-refundable in cases of withdrawal, rejection or expulsion. The enrolment reservation fee depends on the programme, 750.00 € or 1200.00 € outside the EU in the 2026/2027 round tables, and is due within five (5) days after the results are announced.
When the academic year starts
In 2026/2027 the first semester runs from 01 September 2026 to 30 January 2027, and bachelor and integrated master classes started on 14 September 2026, the day of the undergraduate welcome session. Iscte has not yet published the 2027/2028 academic calendar; plan your visa and travel around a similar mid-September start and confirm it when Iscte publishes the dates.
Iscte vacancies for international students and last placed grades
Iscte offers few places to international students in most bachelors: in the first round of the 2026/2027 cycle (latest published), Management had 42, Economics 9, Psychology 3 and International Studies 1. Iscte has not yet published international places for 2027/2028.
The Iscte round table on each programme page lists the places (vacancies) open to international students in the first round, next to the application fee and the reservation fee. Later rounds open only for the places left: "The opening of application phases is subject to the availability of vacancies". With one or two places in many bachelors, the first round is the one that matters.
| Programme | International places, 1st round | Last placed grade shown on the page |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 4 | 137,5 |
| Applied Mathematics for Economics and Finance | 5 | Not shown |
| Computer Engineering | 5 and 4 (two classes) | 150,8 daytime, 136,0 after-work |
| Computer Science and Business Management | 8 and 1 (two classes) | 155,8 daytime, 147,0 after-work |
| Data Science | 4 and 3 (two classes) | 157,8 daytime, 143,8 after-work |
| Digital Educational Technologies | 2 | 133,3 |
| Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence | 1 | 145,3 |
| Digital Technologies and Automation | 1 | 122,5 |
| Digital Technologies and Health | 3 | 146,0 |
| Digital Technologies and Information Security | 1 | 129,3 |
| Digital Technologies and Management | 3 | 161,5 |
| Digital Technology and Sustainable Built Environment | 2 | 115,8 |
| Economics | 9 | 161.5 |
| Finance and Accounting | 6 | 158,5 |
| Human Resources Management | 3 | Not shown |
| Industrial Management and Logistics | 5 | 158,3 |
| Integrated Master Degree in Architecture | 7 | 161,0 |
| International Studies | 1 | Not shown |
| Management | 42 | 165,8 |
| Marketing Management | 3 | Not shown |
| Mathematics Applied and Digital Technologies | 2 | 125,5 |
| Modern and Contemporary History | 2 | 146,3 |
| Political Science | 4 | 160,5 |
| Politics, Economics and Society | 2 | 153,0 |
| Psychology | 3 | 166,5 |
| Social Work | 1 and 1 (two classes) | 158,5 daytime, 146,5 after-work |
| Sociology | 7 and 7 (two classes) | 147,8 daytime, 133,0 after-work |
| Software and Applications Development | 1 | 114,5 |
| Telecommunications and Computer Engineering | 9 | 131,5 |
| Law | No international places in the round table | Not shown |
What the last placed grades mean
Iscte programme pages also show a "Last placed grade" per bachelor, such as 166,5 for Psychology and 165,8 for Management. The pages do not say which year or which contest these grades come from. They use a points scale, not the 0 to 20 scale of the international score, and match the scale of the national contest, where Iscte's minimum application score is 100. Read them as context on demand, not as a bar for international applicants.
The most demanded Iscte programmes
Psychology, Management, Digital Technologies and Management, Economics and Architecture show the highest last placed grades on their programme pages. For you, the tighter limit is the number of international places: Psychology had 3 and Architecture 7 in the 2026/2027 first round, so a high score on the 0 to 20 scale and an early application both count.
Iscte bachelor programmes: English-taught and Portuguese-taught
Only two Iscte bachelor routes are taught in English: the Bachelor in International Studies, new in 2026/2027, and a class in which subjects are taught entirely in English in the Bachelor in Management. Every other Iscte bachelor is taught in Portuguese, so for most programmes you need Portuguese at B1.
Iscte's undergraduate list gives the teaching language of each degree. International Studies is listed in English, Management in "Portuguese and English", and the rest in Portuguese. Portuguese-taught bachelors still include curricular units in English: Iscte says "There is a wide range of curricular units taught exclusively in English".
The English-taught class of the Iscte BSc in Management
The Iscte BSc in Management has "a class in which subjects are taught entirely in English", composed of students of various nationalities, including Portuguese. Management also has the most international places at Iscte, 42 in the first round of 2026/2027.
New Iscte bachelors in 2026/2027
- International Studies: "NEW BACHELOR IN 2026/2027", School of Sociology and Public Policy, taught in English, 180 ECTS over 3 Years, daytime, Campus Lisboa.
- Law: new bachelor in 2026/2027, taught in Portuguese, daytime, Campus Lisboa.
- Applied Mathematics for Economics and Finance: new bachelor in 2026/2027, taught in Portuguese, daytime, Campus Lisboa.
Lisbon and Sintra programmes
Iscte's undergraduate list places ten bachelors at Campus Sintra: Digital Educational Technologies, Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, Digital Technologies and Automation (Robotics), Digital Technologies and Health, Digital Technologies and Information Security (Cybersecurity), Digital Technologies and Management, Digital Technology and Sustainable Built Environment, Mathematics Applied and Digital Technologies, Politics, Economics and Society, and Software and Applications Development. All are taught in Portuguese and run in the daytime.
The business, economics, engineering, social science and architecture bachelors run at Campus Lisboa. Choose your campus before you look for housing, because the Sintra programmes are taught away from the Lisbon campus.
| Programme | Language | Campus | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Studies | English | Lisboa | 3 Years |
| Management | Portuguese and English | Lisboa | 3 years |
| Economics | Portuguese | Lisboa | 3 years |
| Psychology | Portuguese | Lisboa | 3 years |
| Computer Science and Business Management | Portuguese | Lisboa | 4 years |
| Architecture (integrated master) | Portuguese | Lisboa | 5 years |
| Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence | Portuguese | Sintra | 3 years |
How long Iscte bachelors last
Most Iscte bachelors last 3 years. Computer Science and Business Management lasts 4 years and Architecture is a 5 years integrated master. Law needs a check: the international table lists it as 3 years, while its tuition table charges fees up to a 4th Year.
Programmes marked with an asterisk on Iscte's international table, such as Data Science, Computer Engineering, Sociology and Social Service, run in the daytime and also on an evening schedule. If you need to work alongside your studies, check the schedule options on the programme page.
Iscte tuition for international and EU students
In 2026/2027, the latest published year, an Iscte bachelor costs students from outside the EU 7000.00 € a year in programmes such as Computer Engineering and 5500.00 € in several social science programmes such as Anthropology, against 697.00 € for EU students. Iscte has not yet published 2027/2028 fees.
Iscte sets one tuition for EU students and a higher one for students from outside the EU, and the international figure depends on the programme. The Iscte Business School pages label their fees "Information for 2026/2027". Anthropology, Law, Political Science and Social Work charge 5500.00 € a year outside the EU; Computer Engineering, Data Science, Digital Technologies and Automation, Industrial Management and Logistics and Politics, Economics and Society charge 7000.00 €. For EU students the figure is 697.00 € a year in Computer Engineering and 697.00 € in Finance and Accounting.
| Programme | Tuition outside the EU, per year | Reservation fee outside the EU |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 5500.00 € | 750.00 € |
| Law | 5500.00 € | Not published |
| Political Science | 5500.00 € | 750.00 € |
| Social Work | 5500.00 € | 750.00 € |
| Computer Engineering | 7000.00 € | 1200.00 € |
| Data Science | 7000.00 € | 1200.00 € |
| Digital Technologies and Automation | 7000.00 € | 1200.00 € |
| Industrial Management and Logistics | 7000.00 € | 1200.00 € |
| Politics, Economics and Society | 7000.00 € | 1200.00 € |
Other Iscte fees
- Application fee: €70 for every round, non-refundable in cases of withdrawal, rejection or expulsion.
- Enrolment reservation fee: 750.00 € or 1200.00 € outside the EU, by programme, due within five (5) days after the results.
- Enrolment fee: 30€, due for enrolment in each academic year.
How international students pay: two different statements
Iscte's pages do not agree on how international students pay. The tuition fees page for international students (as of October 2026) says that, in accordance with the international student fee regulations, the tuition fee for each year must be paid in full upon registration/enrollment.
The applications FAQ (as of October 2026) says something different: international students pay "in one installment, with payment in stages being possible, as long as it is requested in Fénix+", namely 50% upon enrolment and the remainder in 3 installments. Budget for the full year's tuition at enrolment, and ask Iscte in writing whether a phased plan is open to you before you rely on it.
When tuition is due
The tuition fee appears in the Fénix+ system immediately after registration, and you have five (5) days to pay the amount due.
Scholarships and awards at Iscte
Iscte's scholarship page gave the key dates for a scholarship application for 2026/2027: between 14 August and 2 October 2026. Iscte also lists the Merit Scholarship for exceptional academic achievement, and no bachelor scholarship reserved for international students.
Iscte's Social Action Services are available to the student community to ensure, when necessary, financial support through social action scholarships, work-study, and housing.
| Scheme | Who it is for | Cycle and how |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship (social action) | Financial support, when necessary | Applications between 14 August and 2 October 2026 for 2026/2027 |
| Merit Scholarship | Students who have shown exceptional academic achievement | A fixed-rate cash benefit |
Iscte's scholarship page says the scholarship application is submitted simultaneously with the application for admission to higher education (CNA 2026/27), the national access contest that EU applicants use. Iscte has not published the 2027/2028 scholarship dates.
Can international students get a scholarship at Iscte?
Iscte does not publish whether students admitted under the international student statute can receive this scholarship, and the Iscte scholarship pages list no bachelor award reserved for them.
The scholarship application runs with the national contest, the route EU applicants use. An applicant from outside the EU should plan to pay the full international tuition and treat any grant as a bonus.
The Merit Scholarship
The Merit Scholarship is a fixed-rate cash benefit for students who have shown exceptional academic achievement.
Housing at Iscte
Iscte has three university residences in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area: Odivelas with 100 single rooms and 52 twin rooms, Amadora with 219 single rooms and Sintra with 197 single rooms. Iscte expects Sintra and Amadora to operate without restrictions from the second semester of the 2026/2027 academic year, and Iscte does not publish room prices.
Iscte's accommodation offer includes three university residences in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area: Odivelas, Amadora and Sintra. The Sintra and Amadora buildings are complete and are going through a phased opening; Iscte expects them to operate without restrictions in the second semester of 2026/2027.
| Residence | Student rooms |
|---|---|
| Odivelas, near the Odivelas Monastery | 100 single rooms and 52 twin rooms, all with private bathrooms |
| Amadora, near Portas de Benfica | 219 single rooms |
| Sintra, Portela de Sintra | 197 single rooms with private bathrooms |
Amadora also holds 38 beds for academic staff and researchers, separate from its 219 single rooms for students.
Who can apply for an Iscte room and how
Iscte residence places are primarily intended for displaced students, with particular attention given to grant holders.
The Iscte room application form may only be submitted by students who are enrolled in an Iscte study programme and have an active institutional email account (@iscte-iul.pt). A new international student can therefore apply only after admission and enrolment, not alongside the degree application.
Other housing help at Iscte
Iscte does not publish a guide to private rooms or typical Lisbon rents. Because residence places give particular attention to grant holders and only enrolled students can apply, plan a private room as your main option and a residence place as a possible upgrade.
Student life at Iscte and in Lisbon
Iscte students share a centralised campus in Lisbon, where all fields of study share the same space, plus a second campus, Campus Sintra, for digital technologies programmes. Around the classes, Iscte lists more than 16 student associations, a Tuna Académica and a students' union.
Iscte calls itself the only public university in the country with a centralised campus where all fields of study share the same space, so management, sociology, engineering and architecture students meet on the same campus.
The Lisbon and Sintra campuses
Iscte's undergraduate list places programmes such as Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence at Campus Sintra and programmes such as International Studies at Campus Lisboa. A bachelor at Campus Sintra means a different town from the Lisbon campus, so check which campus your programme uses before you choose where to live.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Nationalities among students | more than 120 |
| Professors holding doctorates | 100% |
| Employability rate among recent graduates | over 96% |
| Student associations | more than 16 |
| University residences | Odivelas, Amadora and Sintra |
Student associations and support services
Iscte's student groups include more than 16 student associations, a Tuna Académica (the traditional student music group) and a students' union.
Iscte's Social Action Services offer the student community, when necessary, financial support through social action scholarships, work-study, and housing. The scholarships and housing chapters cover the scholarship dates and the residences.
What Iscte says about living in Lisbon
Iscte describes Lisbon as a two-hour flight from the main European cities and as a safe city with an excellent price-to-quality ratio. That is Iscte's own description; Iscte does not publish a cost-of-living figure or typical rents, so build your budget from current rental listings before you accept an offer.
Who is Iscte for? Summary
Iscte suits an applicant from outside the EU with strong secondary school marks in the subjects a programme asks for and B1 in the teaching language: the specific subjects give 40% of the admission score, and you need a final admission score of at least 10 on a 0 to 20 scale. In 2026/2027, the latest published year, programmes such as Computer Engineering cost 7000.00 € a year outside the EU.
Iscte works best if you can study in Portuguese. Most Iscte bachelors are taught in Portuguese, and only two routes run in English: the Bachelor in International Studies, new in 2026/2027, and a class of the BSc in Management in which subjects are taught entirely in English. An English-only applicant who wants engineering, psychology or law at Iscte has no English-taught option.
Iscte is good value for EU students. EU and EEA citizens do not use the international contest: they enter through the Portuguese national access contest, need at least 9.5/20 in each required entrance exam and pay 697.00 € a year in 2026/2027 in programmes such as Computer Engineering. Outside the EU, several social science bachelors cost less: Anthropology, for example, charges 5500.00 € a year, and Iscte lists no bachelor scholarship reserved for international students.
Next steps for entry in autumn 2027
Iscte approves its application calendar annually, and the 2027/2028 calendar is not out yet. The 2026/2027 cycle, the latest published, shows the pattern to expect: five rounds in the Fénix+ system from December to June, and classes started on 14 September 2026.
Prepare these Iscte documents before the 2027/2028 rounds open:
- Confirm whether you are an international candidate or go through the national contest; the status chapter sets out the rule.
- Get proof of B1 in the language of your programme, Portuguese for most bachelors.
- Gather your secondary school transcript with its grading scale, since Iscte converts your average to the 0 to 20 scale.
- If you apply to Management, record a motivation video in the language of the course, no longer than one minute.
- Apply in an early round and budget €70 for each application.
What Iscte has not yet published for 2027/2028
Iscte has not yet published the 2027/2028 round dates, vacancies per programme, tuition, reservation fees or scholarship window. Every figure in this summary is the 2026/2027 figure, the latest published, and the 2027/2028 figures can differ.
Iscte also publishes no minimum grade for specific credentials such as the IB, A levels or the Abitur, and names no English test or score beyond the B1 level. If your credential or language proof is unusual, ask the Iscte admissions office how it is converted before you apply.
Iscte: frequently asked questions
When is the Iscte application deadline for international students?
Iscte has not yet published its 2027/2028 rounds. In the 2026/2027 cycle, the latest published, international bachelor applications ran in five rounds in Fénix+, from 15 Dec 2025 to 24 Jun 2026, each closing at 17:00 Portuguese time. Rounds after the first open only where places remain, so the first round, which closed on 14 Jan 2026, is the one to aim for.
What grades do I need to get into Iscte?
Iscte ranks international bachelor applicants on one score from 0 to 20, built from your secondary school marks and from your marks in the programme's specific subjects, which count 40%. Only applicants with a final score of at least 10 are admitted, and that minimum is a gate, not the level of admitted students. Iscte does not publish a minimum grade or a conversion table for the IB, A-levels, the Abitur or other national diplomas.
What is the Iscte acceptance rate for international students?
Iscte does not publish an acceptance rate for its international competition. It publishes the places open to international students in each bachelor: in the first round of the 2026/2027 cycle, Management had 42, Psychology 3 and International Studies 1. With so few places in most programmes, the first round matters most.
How much does Iscte cost for international students?
In 2026/2027, the latest published year, Iscte bachelors charge students from outside the EU 7000.00 € a year in programmes such as Computer Engineering and 5500.00 € in several social science programmes such as Anthropology. EU students pay 697.00 € in Computer Engineering. On top come the €70 application fee and a reservation fee of 750.00 € or 1200.00 €.
Do I need the SAT, IELTS or TOEFL to apply to Iscte?
Iscte names no SAT or ACT requirement and no list of accepted English tests or minimum test scores for its bachelors. It asks for proof of the language of instruction at a minimum of level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference: Portuguese for most bachelors, English for the English-taught ones. A certificate that states your CEFR level is the safest proof to upload.
Can I study a bachelor at Iscte in English?
Only two Iscte bachelor routes are taught in English: the Bachelor in International Studies, new in 2026/2027, and one English-taught class of the Bachelor in Management. The other bachelors Iscte lists at undergraduate level are taught in Portuguese, so for them you need Portuguese at B1.
Are there scholarships for international students at Iscte?
Iscte lists no bachelor scholarship reserved for international students. Its scholarship application is submitted simultaneously with the application for admission to higher education (CNA 2026/27), and the 2026/2027 window ran from 14 August to 2 October 2026; Iscte does not publish whether students admitted under the international student statute can receive it. Plan to pay the full international tuition.
I am an EU citizen: do I apply to Iscte as an international student?
No. Iscte treats EU and EEA nationals as national candidates, so you apply through the National Competition for Access run by DGES, not the Iscte special competition. At Iscte you need at least 9.5/20 in each required entrance exam and an application grade of at least 10.0/20, and in 2026/2027 EU students pay 697.00 € a year in programmes such as Computer Engineering.
Does Iscte accept the Gaokao or ENEM?
Yes. Chinese applicants need the Senior Secondary School Graduation Diploma and at least 55% of the maximum Gaokao or Liankao score, from the current year or the last 3 years. Brazilian applicants are ranked on the high school grade (60%) and ENEM (40%), with scores from one of the last three editions of ENEM.
Can I pay Iscte tuition in instalments?
Iscte's pages disagree. Iscte's tuition fees page says that, under the international student fee regulations, each year's tuition must be paid in full upon registration/enrollment, while the applications FAQ allows a phased plan requested in Fénix+: 50% upon enrolment and the remainder in 3 installments. Budget for the full year at enrolment and ask Iscte in writing before you rely on instalments.
Does Iscte have student housing for international students?
Iscte has three university residences in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area: Odivelas with 100 single rooms and 52 twin rooms, Amadora with 219 single rooms and Sintra with 197 single rooms. You can apply only once enrolled in an Iscte study programme, with an active institutional email account, and places go primarily to displaced students, with particular attention given to grant holders. Iscte does not publish room prices, so plan a private room as your main option.
Where these numbers come from
Official pages of Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon (Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa), UCAS, gov.uk and the ranking publishers. Applicant reports, where shown, are self-reported and labelled.
Why Iscte? · Entry Requirements · Bachelor Degree in Computer Engineering · Bachelor Degree in Anthropology · Applications (Courses) · ATENÇÃO · Bachelor Degree in Management · Bachelor Degree in International Studies · Rankings, Accreditations, Affiliations · old Who can apply? · Regulations · CNA | National Call · Scholarships · Information for Chinese candidates · How and when do I apply? · Which course to choose? · Entry Requirements · Bachelor Degree in Applied Mathematics for Economics and Finance · Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and Business Management · Bachelor Degree in Data Science · Bachelor Degree in Digital Educational Technologies · Bachelor Degree in Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence · Bachelor Degree in Digital Technologies and Automation · Bachelor Degree in Digital Technologies and Health · Bachelor Degree in Digital Technologies and Information Security · Bachelor Degree in Digital Technologies and Management · Bachelor Degree in Digital Technology and Sustainable Built Environment · Entry Requirements · Entry Requirements · Entry Requirements · Integrated Master Degree in Architecture · Bachelor Degree in Law · Entry Requirements · Bachelor Degree in Mathematics Applied and Digital Technologies · Bachelor Degree in Modern and Contemporary History · Bachelor Degree in Political Science · Bachelor Degree in Politics, Economics and Society · Bachelor Degree in Psychology · Bachelor Degree in Social Work · Bachelor Degree in Sociology · Bachelor Degree in Software and Applications Development · Bachelor Degree in Telecommunications and Computer Engineering · Information for brasilian candidates · What qualifications do I need? · Where can I find useful legislation? · School year calendar · Bachelor Degree in Economics · Bachelor Degree in Finance and Accounting · Bachelor Degree in Industrial Management and Logistics · What are the tuition fees? · ATENÇÃO · Rewarding Excellence · Presentation (Residency) · Living in Lisbon
Photos: ISCTE building: photo Hipersyl, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa: photo Leonie Bourke, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Edificío 2, Iscte - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa: photo Leonie Bourke, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons