About

NOVA

As a public institution of higher education, NOVA has the mission to serve society through knowledge, locally and globally, by developing teaching and research of excellence that create significant social and economic value.

The fulfilment of its triple mission - Teaching, Research and Value Creation - requires:

an academic environment that embraces equality, inclusion and free thinking to attract the best students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and into the most diverse fields of knowledge, enabling them to discover their potential and develop their individual talent, with a strong sense of active citizenship, democracy and justice;
high-quality teaching with a strong international setting in all cycles of studies, student centered and delivered by leading academics who are able to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully develop a career anywhere in the world;
a collaborative research within the University and with highly specialized and interdisciplinary strategic partner institutions of international relevance, aimed at creating innovative results with recognized academic impact and value potential;
a knowledge-based and high-impact value creation activity, developed in collaboration with society and the economy, which promotes sustainable development at the economic, technological, cultural, social and health levels, not only across the nation, but also globally, with particular attention to the European and Portuguese speaking regions.

The emphasis on international and interdisciplinary collaboration in all areas of activity embodies NOVA’s vision of a university open to the world and committed to the challenges presented in the 21^st century.

NOVA has a history of successful participation in mobility and international cooperation programs, leveraged by programs such as Erasmus, especially in countries of the European Union. These mobilities have been reinforced in recent years with the neighboring countries of the European Union, Africa, Latin America and Asia, as well as research and training actions.

NOVA is composed by five faculties, three institutes and a school, offering a diversified range of study cycles in all the domains of knowledge. NOVA's facts and figures, with information related to neighboring countries, research activities, academic and research staff, internationalization, rankings, exchange students and funding can be found here.

Academic recognition

Automatic Recognition

This type of recognition generically recognises a higher education foreign degree or diploma with identical level, objectives and nature to the portuguese degrees of licenciado, mestre and doutor and the short cycle professional higher technical diplomas, that are included in the list of degrees and diplomas approved by the commission for the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas.

Does the Automatic Recognition applies to my foreign degree?

Please verify here if it applies to your degree/diploma:

Online form

If your foreign degree can be submited to the automatic recognition process, then you will have to fill out this online form [1]: Application form for the recognition of academic diplomas and degrees for foreign higher education and/or final grade conversions

What documents are needed?

Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution.

Note: If the documents are written in a foreign language other than Spanish, French and English, an official Portuguese translation must be submitted, duly certified by the competent authorities.

Cost?

After submitting the online request form, you must pay 40,00€ (without GPA conversion) or 60,00€ (with GPA conversion).
If the request for conversion of the final grade is submitted separately, then it has the cost of 60,00€.

How long does it take?

A maximum of 30 working days after the full completion of all necessary steps for the application.

Level Recognition

It is the act that allows to recognize by comparability, in an individualized way, a degree or diploma of foreign higher education as having a level corresponding to an academic degree or Portuguese higher education diploma.

Does the Level Recognition applies to my foreign degree?

Please verify here: Foreign Degrees and Diplomas Recognition;

Make sure that NOVA University Lisbon has the scientific area of your course/degree. The list of all the courses taught in NOVA are available in this catalog.

Online Form

If your foreign degree can be submited to the level recognition process, then you will have to fill out this online form [1]: Application form for the recognition of academic diplomas and degrees for foreign higher education and/or final grade conversions

What documents are needed?

Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution;
Transcript of Records;
Syllabus;
Final work:
1. Bachelor: Monography (if it’s included in the transcript of records);
2. Master: Dissertation;
3. PhD: Thesis.

Note: If the documents are written in a foreign language other than Spanish, French and English, an official Portuguese translation must be submitted, duly certified by the competent authorities for this purpose.

Cost?

Degrees from the European Union
- Without conversion of the final grade:
  - Bachelor, Master, Ph.D: 268,00€
- With conversion of the final grade:
  - Bachelor, Master, Ph.D: 298,00€
Degrees from outside of the European Union
- Without conversion of the final grade:
  - Bachelor and Ph.D: 650,00€
  - Master: 520,00€
- With conversion of the final grade:
  - Bachelor and Ph.D: 680,00€
  - Master: 550,00€

If the request for conversion of the final grade is submitted separately, then it has the cost of 60,00€.

Specific recognition of integrated master in Medicine: 1500,00€.

[1] DGES platform only allows you to upload files up to 8 MB. If the file exceeds 8 MB, you must compress or split the file, using, for instance, the iLovePDF service for those actions.

[2] Contacts: Reitoria da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Divisão de Assuntos Académicos, Campus de Campolide, 1099-085 Lisboa. Telefone: 213715600; Opening hours: 10 am to 4:30 pm (working days).

[3] NOVA fee table currently in force.

Accomodation

NOVA's Social Welfare Services has three university residences, preferably for the use of Portuguese students and foreign students:

Applications

Applications comply with the Regulations for Application to Accommodation in NOVA's Halls Residence. Students can apply through online forms. The dates are set annually.

Facilities for students with special educational needs

NOVA's Social Welfare Services provide support to students with special educational needs, with the goal of promoting their autonomy and inclusion in the academic environment.

For more information, please visit SASNOVA website.

Accommodation Services Office

Phone: +351 213 715 600
E-mail: alojamento@unl.pt

Language courses

NOVA Language Institute

The NOVA Language Institute (ILNOVA) at NOVA School of Social and Human Sciences provides its services to undergraduate and postgraduate courses of NOVA, to the general public and to companies and executives. Above all, ILNOVA is proud of its highly qualified teaching staff with native speakers.

For further information, please visit ILNOVA.

Portuguese Language Courses for foreigners

NOVA School of Social and Human Sciences organises Portuguese Language Courses aimed at students that wish to learn and enhance their knowledge of the Portuguese language. The courses are also intended for Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus students.

The courses are organised in six learning levels, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and can be of six-month duration, summer or intensive courses.

Mobility students

International exchange programmes

Universidade NOVA de Lisboa offers to all its students a vibrant and relaxed atmosphere in a suitable environment, characterised by a high international profile and a close relationship among teachers and students.

The growing participation in several mobility programmes with Universities from all continents has been a driving factor of the internationalisation strategy of NOVA.

For more information about the several mobility exchange programmes in which NOVA is involved, please visit the International webpage.

Registration and enrolment

Exchange students should enrol as soon as possible. To do so, they should contact the International Mobility Office and the Department Coordinator at their Academic Unit/School.

After registration, they will receive a student card, which will entitle them to the same rights as any other Portuguese student: access to canteens, libraries, documentation centres and price reductions for books, among others.

National Health Service

Students from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are eligible to use the European Health Insurance Card, which will give them access to the Portuguese health system with the same rights of a national citizen. To benefit from the card’s advantages, the students should request it before coming to Portugal, in their country. Students coming from countries outside EEA should make sure that they have health insurance, before travelling and arriving to Portugal.

School insurance

All NOVA students, either Portuguese or in a mobility programme, benefit from school insurance, offered at enrolment. For more information, please contact the academic services of each Academic Unit/School.

This insurance is guaranteed to Erasmus students after enrolling in the International Mobility Office of the host Academic Unit. It is worth highlighting that, if an accident occurs, the student should immediately contact this Office.

For more information about this and other international mobility programmes, please contact:

International Mobility Office

Phone.: +351 213 845 207/8
E-mail: erasmus@unl.pt

Practical information

Scholarships

The NOVA Social Welfare Services (SASNOVA) grant scholarships and emergency help to students in need, in order for them to continue their studies. Scholarships are granted according to the procedure defined by the legislation in force, namely by the rules established by the Directorate-General of Higher Education.

In 2021 the NOVA Generação NOVA Scholarships were released , this new support consists in helping those with financial difficulties via donation in kind.

For further information, please contact:

Financial Support and Scholarships Office
Phone: +351 213 715 600
E-mail: bolsas@unl.pt

Meals

SASNOVA has three canteens, with the respective snack bars and cafeterias, located at the university campuses. NOVA students have access to all these food services, as well as those in other higher education institutions in Lisbon: Universidade de Lisboa and Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa.

SASNOVA food services

SASNOVA canteens have diet menus and serve macrobiotic-type meals.The complete meal consists of main dish, soup, bread, drink and a dessert. The prices and closing periods practiced in canteens can be found here.

Food Services Office
Phone: +351 213 715 600
E-mail: alimentacao@unl.pt

Health

SASNOVA provides health services to students in order to contribute to their well-being. By prior appointment, students can have access to multiple specialty services.

In 2021, it was launched an on-line mental health support platform called The Bridge. It gives students the possibility of contacting experts via chat, reading informative contents and having access to mental health technicians.

For more information on appointments, prices and schedules, visit SASNOVA website or use the following contacts:

Health Office
Phone: +351 213 715 600
E-mail: saude@unl.pt

School insurance

Information about the school insurance is available in the Mobility Students section of this guide.

Facilities available to students

Libraries

NOVA has several Libraries and Documentation Centres scattered through the different Academic Units. The addresses can be found in the Practical Information section of each Academic Unit in this guide.

In addition to these, Lisbon offers a wide number of libraries where it can be found books and other educational material in several languages.

Sports

SASNOVA contributes to students’ well-being by increasing sports activities, promoting and encouraging all sports activities.

For further information, please visit Sports website or use the following contacts:

Sports Office
Phone: +351 213 715 600
E-mail: desporto@unl.pt

Culture

SASNOVA organizes and encourages NOVA’s community involvement in cultural events.
Contests, concerts, music festivals, exhibitions, and other, are some of many moments that happen every school year.

Culture Office
Phone: +351 213 715 600
E-mail: cultura@unl.pt

Extracurricular activities

Each Academic Unit is responsible for the existing activities, which are organized by each of the students' unions.

The University also has academic music groups, theatre groups and a choir. For more information, please visit NOVA's culture webpage.

Students' unions

Six Academic Units of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa have students' unions. In addition to these, there is an Academic Federation. More information can be found by visiting the unions’ websites or by using the following contacts:

NOVA School of Science and Technology Students' Union
Quinta da Torre
2829-516 Caparica
Phone.: +351 212 949 678
E-mail: info@ae.fct.unl.pt

NOVA School of Social and Human Sciences Students' Union
Avenida de Berna, 26-C
1069-061 Lisboa
Phone.: +351 217 908 300
E-mail: ae@fcsh.unl.pt

Nova School of Business and Economics Students´ Union
Campus de Carcavelos
Rua da Holanda, n.º 1,
2775-405 Carcavelos
Phone.: +351 211 919 005
E-mail: geral.su@novasbe.pt

NOVA Medical School Students' Union
Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, n.º 130
1169-056 Lisboa
Phone.: +351 218 803 095
E-mail: aefcml@fcm.unl.pt

NOVA Law School Students' Union
Campus de Campolide
Travessa Estêvão Pinto
1099-032 Lisboa
Phone.: +351 213 847 400
E-mail: presidencia@ae.fd.unl.pt

NOVA Information Management School Students' Union
Campus de Campolide
Travessa Estêvão Pinto
1099-032 Lisboa
Phone.: +351 218 828 610
E-mail: geral@novaimssu.pt

Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Students' Union
Av. Padre Cruz
1600-560 Lisboa
Phone.: +351 964 300 131
E-mail: direcao.aeensp-nova@ensp.unl.pt

Other practical information

There is a study centre for students in Lisbon, Ágora study centre, located in Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa, near the Tagus river and not far from Cais do Sodré railway station. This center is open 24 hours a day and has study rooms, graphic design services, computers and a bar.