When we talk about studying in Europe, Portugal doesn’t come to mind as often as the UK or Germany. The University of Coimbra (UC) however deserves a much closer look. The University of Bologna is one of the oldest universities in the world still in existence. Founded in 1088. It offers its students an extensive encyclopedic education.
Currently, UC teaches nearly 29,000 students through eight faculties, and thousands of them arrive from abroad every year. If you’re considering whether to pick Coimbra over other places, read on for information on what you’ll study and what it costs and what life is like once classes start.
Why International Students Keep Choosing Coimbra
The UC has around 29,000 students meaning it is not a small school taking cover behind an old name. Many of them, around 4,000 or more, are from outside Portugal. The international blend has been growing for years, and it shows in the feel of the city. Coimbra has a population of around 140,000, so students aren’t a side note here as they’re woven into daily life. Cafés, buses, and neighborhoods are used to hearing a dozen accents at once, which takes a lot of the awkwardness out of arriving somewhere new.
Academically, UC runs eight faculties covering nearly every field you’d expect from a large research university. These span law, medicine, engineering, economics, pharmacy, the humanities, sport sciences, and the natural sciences all have their own dedicated schools here. UC also helped found the Coimbra Group back in 1985, a network of well-regarded European research universities that still gives students access to joint programs and exchange partnerships across the continent.
There’s also a practical side most guides skip: UC connects students to Portugal’s startup and research economy through the IPN business incubator and Biocant, the country’s first biotech park, a short drive away in Cantanhede. Neither is required reading for your degree, but both are useful if you’re thinking past graduation.
Seven Centuries, Still Teaching
Very few schools have continued successfully for over 700 years without interruptions. As generations of Portuguese scientists, writers, and jurists were molded by that history, the same research-rich culture still flows through the class teaching today. The Joanina Library, a Baroque hall packed with centuries-old manuscripts, is probably the single most photographed proof of that legacy, and it’s worth a visit even if your degree has nothing to do with books.
Degree Options for International Applicants
In its international offer, UC divides into a few clear tracks so most applicants can fairly quickly figure out which door applies to them.
Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s Degrees
First-time university applicants apply through UC’s bachelor’s and integrated master’s route, spanning everything from architecture and engineering to the social sciences and health fields. Medicine and pharmacy, in particular, run as integrated master’s programs. This means you don’t apply separately for a bachelor’s and then a master’s; it’s one continuous five- or six-year track from day one.
Standalone Master’s Programs
Graduates hunting for a specialization can pick from UC’s master’s catalog, and a good portion of these are taught fully or partly in English, which is genuinely rare outside a handful of Portuguese universities. Most combine taught modules with a research thesis, so you’re building toward either a job or a PhD application by the time you finish.
PhD and Doctoral Study
Research-track students have access to UC’s doctoral programs across nearly every discipline the university teaches, backed by established research centers and the Coimbra Group’s wider network for collaboration abroad.
Foundation and Preparatory Study
If your prior schooling doesn’t line up neatly with Portuguese entry requirements, UC runs preparatory options, including a “Year Zero” program built to close those gaps before you start a full degree.
Portuguese Language and Lifelong Learning
UC also offers non-degree, flexible learning for people who just want specific skills rather than a full qualification, and dedicated Portuguese courses for anyone building fluency before or during their studies. Given that daily paperwork and city life still run mostly in Portuguese, this option is more useful than it sounds on paper.
Scholarships and What You’ll Actually Pay
Money is usually the deciding factor for students picking between study destinations, and UC has a fairly organized system for handling it.
Merit-Based Scholarships
UC’s merit scholarships reward strong grades at both bachelor’s and master’s level, with separate funding categories covering other qualifying situations. Nationality doesn’t factor into eligibility as it’s performance-based.
Academic Prizes and Distinctions
Beyond straight scholarships, UC hands out prizes, diplomas, and formal distinctions to students who stand out. This is not only through grades, but through research work and broader academic contribution.
If you’re weighing Coimbra against other European destinations, it’s worth comparing notes with fully funded programs elsewhere, like the Czech Government Scholarships or the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, both of which run on a similarly merit-driven basis.
Tuition Costs, In Real Numbers
Here’s where UC gets genuinely interesting for budget-conscious students. EU and EEA nationals pay Portugal’s nationally regulated tuition rate, which sits at roughly €697 a year for most bachelor’s and master’s programs which is a fraction of what you’d pay in the UK or the Netherlands. Non-EU “international student” applicants pay a separate, higher rate, generally landing around €7,000 a year for standard bachelor’s and master’s programs, with Medicine’s integrated master’s running considerably higher, closer to €18,000 annually given the extra clinical training involved. These figures shift periodically, so always double-check the exact number on UC’s official tuition page before you commit to an application.
Support Systems Built for Newcomers
Getting good grades is only half the job. Settling into a country you’ve never lived in matters just as much, and UC has built out a genuinely broad support structure for that.
Social Services (SASUC)
UC’s social services division, known as SASUC, handles financial aid, student housing, and dining services, giving new arrivals one dependable place to sort out the basics without bouncing between departments.
International Relations and Exchange
The university’s international relations office runs Erasmus placements, mobility agreements, and institutional partnerships — essentially the department that makes it possible to spend a semester somewhere else without losing progress on your degree.
Student Life Through Academica
Student social life largely runs through Academica (formally the Associação Académica de Coimbra), the centuries-old student association behind most of the university’s cultural events, sports leagues, and traditions. Joining in — even just showing up to one event — is probably the fastest way to stop feeling like an outsider on campus.
Career and Employability Support
UC’s Student Hub and employability services connect students to internships, entrepreneurship programs, and a dedicated job portal, aimed squarely at students already thinking about what comes after the diploma.
Sports and Recreation
The university also runs both competitive athletic programs and casual recreational sport, so staying active doesn’t have to mean joining a varsity team — there’s a version of it for people who just want to unwind between lectures.
Life in Coimbra: The Practical Side
Compared to Lisbon or Porto, Coimbra is noticeably cheaper to live in, which matters a lot if you’re stretching a student budget. The city is also small enough that most students walk everywhere — lecture halls, apartments, cafés, and the usual weekend spots all sit within a short walk or a quick local bus ride.
Culturally, Coimbra runs on its student population almost entirely. You’ll hear “Fado de Coimbra” performed in bars near the old town, and you’ll see the black “traje académico” cape worn during traditional ceremonies — a custom that’s stuck around for generations. Add in the Botanical Garden, the Science Museum, and the UNESCO-listed campus itself, and Coimbra ends up feeling less like a college town bolted onto a city and more like an open-air heritage site that happens to run a university.
A Few Things to Sort Out Before You Apply
- Diploma recognition. Any qualification earned outside Portugal has to go through UC’s academic recognition process before it counts toward admission.
- How the system lines up. Portugal’s bachelor’s-master’s-doctoral structure is broadly similar to most of Europe, but it’s worth checking how your own country’s system maps onto it before you assume anything.
- Deadlines aren’t universal. Every program sets its own timeline, so check the specific course page early rather than assuming one date covers the whole university.
- Language reality check. Postgraduate programs lean English-friendly, but a large share of bachelor’s degrees are taught in Portuguese — so starting language prep early genuinely pays off.
Official source: University of Coimbra – International Students
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Coimbra worth considering for international students?
Yes — it pairs a genuinely historic, UNESCO-listed campus with a real international student population, a growing list of English-taught postgraduate programs, and living costs well below Lisbon or Porto.
What degrees can international students apply for?
Bachelor’s degrees, integrated master’s programs (common in medicine and pharmacy), standalone master’s degrees, and doctoral study, plus non-degree paths like lifelong learning courses, “Year Zero” prep, and Portuguese language courses.
Does UC offer scholarships to international applicants?
Yes, through merit-based scholarships tied to academic performance, plus separate prizes and distinctions for outstanding work. Amounts and eligibility shift by program, so check current details before applying.
Do I need to speak Portuguese to study there?
It depends on the program. Many master’s and PhD tracks run in English, but most bachelor’s degrees are taught in Portuguese, and everyday city life runs in Portuguese too — so a language course is a smart move regardless.
What does it actually cost?
EU/EEA students pay around €697 a year at the regulated national rate. Non-EU students typically pay around €7,000 a year, with Medicine’s integrated master’s running closer to €18,000 given the clinical component. Always confirm current rates on UC’s tuition page before applying.
What support exists once you land in Portugal?
SASUC handles housing, dining, and financial aid; the international relations office runs Erasmus and exchange programs; Academica anchors student social life; and the Student Hub connects you to internships and career services.
Is Coimbra affordable to live in day-to-day?
Generally, yes. It’s cheaper than Lisbon or Porto, and the compact layout means most students get by on walking and local transit without a big daily transport bill.