The University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, is one of the world's oldest universities in continuous operation and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, located in the historic Portuguese city of Coimbra. It enrolls roughly 29,577 students across 8 faculties, with international students making up more than 15% of the student body drawn from around 70 nationalities. The university returned to the global top 500 of the 2026 Shanghai Ranking (ARWU), rising 45 places, and its alumni include Nobel laureate Egas Moniz. Tuition for most non-EU international programmes is set at EUR 7,000 per year, rising to EUR 18,000 for the Integrated Master's in Medicine.
Coimbra was chartered by King Denis of Portugal on 1 March 1290 and confirmed by Pope Nicholas IV later that year, making it one of the oldest universities in the world still in continuous operation, and UNESCO recognized its historic core as a World Heritage Site in 2013. Alumnus Egas Moniz won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1949, giving the university a concrete claim to producing internationally recognized research rather than only historical prestige. In the 2026 Shanghai Ranking (ARWU), Coimbra climbed 45 places back into the global top 500, a specific and recent trajectory rather than a static reputation. The university also moved permanently to its current site in 1537 after originally being founded in Lisbon, meaning its architecture and institutional culture reflect nearly five centuries of continuous presence in the same city.
Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Law | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Medicine | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Pharmacy | PHD | 3-5 YRS |