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Frequently Asked Questions - Prospective Students

Hello, welcome to U.Porto! Here you will find everything you need to know about the university we hope you will attend in the future. We’re here to help and inspire you!

The University of Porto is the Higher Education institution most sought after by students who complete their secondary education in Portugal, rated among the best European universities according to the most important international rankings.

If you are looking for a modern university, which is open to the world and able to offer quality training and an academic experience like no other in Portugal, you have arrived at the right place.

Come and experience it for yourself!

U.Porto courses provide training in nearly all fields, from Architecture to the Natural Sciences, Biology to Fine Arts, without forgetting Medicine, Engineering, Economics or the Arts and Humanities. If you have a dream, it is very likely that you can manifest it in the 14 faculties that integrate our university campus.

But it is not only the variety of courses which make U.Porto the best option to pursue a career rooted in excellence. The University's list of courses will enable you to develop a high-quality academic career. It covers all study cycles – 1st cycle (Bachelor's Degree Courses) and Integrated Master's Degree Courses, 2nd cycle (Master's Degree Courses) and 3rd cycle (Doctorate Courses).

And why not challenge your parents and siblings to update their knowledge with one of our Continuing education courses?

If you have finished secondary education in Portugal, you probably already know about admissions to the 1st year of the 1st study cycle (Bachelor's Degree course) or Integrated Master's degree course at U.Porto. You must apply online through the National Call for Applications and Admissions in Public Higher Education.

If you need help, you can always go to U.Porto's Office for Access to Higher Education located in the Rectory.

Office for Access to Higher Education (GAES-UP)

Rectory of U.Porto
Praça de Gomes Teixeira
4099-002 Porto, Portugal

Tel.: (+351) 220 408 053/198
E-mail: [email protected]

No. In addition to the general national admissions regime, U.Porto has several calls for applications and special regimes open to specific categories of applicants, in conjunction with the Directorate-General for Higher Education. Learn more about these opportunities on the Applications and Admissions page or by visiting our Office for Access to Higher Education (GAES-UP).

U.Porto has high expectations, but above all, it is a place where you can explore your potential.

We have the most abundant academic community in the country, made up of the best students, highly qualified scientific and teaching staff and an engaged Alumni community. The campus, which extends throughout the city and beyond, is where you will find the best academic, social and cultural experiences.

Yes. According to the latest studies carried out by U.Porto's Employment Observatory, the employability rate of graduates who completed their course more than five years ago is higher than 80% (more than half of the national average). Also, more than half of those graduates have never been unemployed and approximately half of them found a job in the first three months right after finishing their bachelor's degree.

By choosing U.Porto, you are not "just" choosing quality training that is widely acknowledged in the labour market. To make sure you don't miss the best opportunities, there are several employment and professional integration services available to you. They include job fairs where students interact directly with several national companies. Every year, these companies come to strengthen their teams with our graduates.

At U.Porto, however, we do not just train professionals. We want to train leaders and people who make a difference. So, we encourage you to explore your talents and make them available to the community in the form of a business idea. That is why we strongly invest in youth entrepreneurship incentives, which support our students in the creation of their own business initiatives.

Take a chance!

No need to worry! Our campus comprises a wide set of services which will facilitate your integration, regardless of your origin or socioeconomic status. You will find support regarding accommodation, food services, academic integration and learning support.

Students with social needs can apply for the scholarships provided by the Social Support Services of the University of Porto

The rest is for you to explore, inspired by the University's quality and the hospitality of a unique city, voted three times as the "Best European Destination".

Yes. U.Porto is nowadays the largest producer of scientific work in Portugal, which is why it holds a Research University status. This is the result of all the work developed in our research units by hundreds of researchers dedicated to meeting society's needs. If you want to build a successful scientific career, you arrived at the right place!

Actually, from the beginning of their academic career, students are challenged to develop their research work in collaboration with some of the most distinguished national scientists.

Participate in our research programmes so that you will have the opportunity to show your work at IJUP, an event that gathers all young university researchers every year.

Yes, but not only through the Erasmus+ programme, which is specially dedicated to student mobility among European higher education institutions.

U.Porto also developed hundreds of cooperation agreements to promote academic exchange with the best universities on the planet. It is not by accident that every year, thousands of students and researchers from all over the world choose U.Porto to complete their study cycles or to experience a mobility period.

Learn about the opportunities we have for you!

The U.Porto experience goes beyond classrooms and laboratories. U.Porto guarantees the best academic experience in Portugal, as it is part of a city with an intense academic life.

Practise a sport with the best university athletes in the country, join the Porto University Choral Society or follow the example of more than 1000 University students who have participated in volunteering programmes. There are plenty of opportunities to experience the University in a fulfilling and unforgettable way.

Of course! The University of Porto regularly travels to schools throughout the country, but mainly in the North and Centre-North, to participate in information sessions and school events that promote Higher Education courses. Requests should be sent by email to [email protected].

The University of Porto takes pride in regularly opening the doors of our schools and research centres to thousands of children and young people in primary and secondary education, aiming to provide them with an experience in the Higher Education corridors.

Visit U.Porto's Expo, take part in the Junior University or participate in the Open Days promoted by our schools to get a clearer picture of what awaits you at the best Portuguese university!

The Junior University is the largest pre-university educational programme in Portugal. If you are curious, join the 5000+ students in the 2nd and 3rd cycle of basic and secondary education (except year 12) who choose the University of Porto every year, from June to September, as their favourite summer holiday destination. Over the course of one week (or more) you can explore several education and research fields at the University, and who knows, find your talent together with our students, lecturers and researchers.

Yes. U.Porto is open to all people. Its connection with the community is one of the main elements of its mission.

Bring your family to the University of Porto Expo. Discover the treasures stored in our museums. Visit the Rectory building and take the opportunity to participate in the events promoted by our Casa Comum. Don't miss a trip to the Botanical Garden. Travel with us at the Porto Planetarium. And don't forget to visit the U.Porto Shop, where you will find a wide offer of original products, many of them with the University's seal.

U.Porto's list of courses was designed so that your parents and even your grandparents can return to school chairs through workshops and hundreds of Continuing Education courses for all ages and professional goals. At the University, it is never too late to learn more!

To follow U.Porto's daily routine, we invite you to visit the University's information platforms. Visit our website and our news portal, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

U.Porto is an ambitious university, which aims to stand among the best 100 universities in the world. It is already among the best Universities in Europe according to the most important international rankings in Higher Education. Join us and help us achieve this goal!

Do you have other questions?

Send us your questions to the e-mail address [email protected]. We will reply as soon as possible.