Why Indian Students Should Consider Studying in Portugal in 2025

TL;DR

• Portugal is fast becoming an attractive option for international students, and Indian students may be missing out. 
• With English-taught courses on the rise, affordable fees, and strong government backing for internationalization, Portugal offers quality education with clear pathways to jobs, work visas, and even permanent residency.
• While only around 1,140 Indian students were enrolled in 2024, numbers are climbing. Students can work during their studies and apply for job-seeker or freelance visas after graduation. The country also boasts high English proficiency, a growing tech sector, and EU mobility advantages. 
• YUNO LEARNING explores why Portugal might just be the most overlooked yet promising destination for students planning to study abroad in 2025.

First of all, let’s put Portugal in perspective.  The population of the entire nation is 10.4 million.  Bangalore has a population of 10.5 million.

Portugal’s total area is 92,090 square kilometers, which is slightly less than Bihar’s 94,163 square km.  Speaking of the total area of Portugal is deceptive because the north and central parts of the country are mountainous and sparsely populated.  These areas amount to about a third (30,000 sq km) of the nation’s total area.

For a small country, the number of institutions of higher learning is impressive:

Portugal strongly emphasizes technical education, with institutions offering specialized programs in engineering, AI, data science, and machine learning. Many universities collaborate with international institutions to provide cutting-edge research and training. 

Portugal also has made a name for itself in medical education. 

Check out this list:

These institutions are known for their rigorous academic programs, research contributions, and collaborations with hospitals and healthcare centers.

The domestic student scene looks like this:  Portugal’s 18-28 age group numbers around 1.2 to 1.5 million people.  The total enrollment in institutions of higher learning is 448,235.  So, approximately 37.35 percent of Portuguese of college/university age are enrolled in higher education.

Portugal has the institutions, but does it attract international students? According to Erudera, approximately 17 percent of the student population is international students. 

Currently, there is no official data published for the 2023/2024 academic year. The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education in Portugal has not yet released enrollment statistics for that period.  However, government statistics show an impressive rise in international enrollments since 2019.  These figures are interesting because while international enrollment figures for other countries show a pronounced COVID dip between 2020 and 2022, Portugal’s figures do not.

These figures represent the total number of international students enrolled in Portuguese higher education institutions, including degree-seeking students and those participating in exchange programs such as Erasmus.  The same Erudera report cited says that the majority were from Brazil (17,028), followed by Guinea-Bissau (6,910), Cape Verde (6,449), Angola (5,292), and France (3406).  This makes sense because, except for France, these are Portuguese-speaking countries.

We can find no substantiated information for the number of students from India enrolled in Portuguese universities or who were granted study visas by the government of Portugal.

One unsubstantiated figure for 2024 says that 1140 Indians were studying in Portugal.

One thousand one hundred and forty Indians studying in Portugal in 2024?!!  If that’s the correct number, then the whole lot of them could be flown to Portugal in two jumbo jets, leaving 566 seats vacant!

What’s going on here?  Why have Indian students not “discovered” Portugal?

“Historic” hangover doesn’t seem to be the reason. India annexed Goa, Daman, and Diu from Portuguese rule in December 1961 through Operation Vijay, a two-day military action. This marked the end of 451 years of Portuguese rule in these territories.  Portugal initially viewed the military action as an invasion, but diplomatic relations were restored in 1974 after Portugal’s Carnation Revolution, which led to the recognition of India’s sovereignty over these territories. Today, India and Portugal view that action as water under the bridge and have moved on to develop strong bilateral ties, collaborating in areas like trade, technology, education, and health. 

Post-graduation work opportunities don’t seem to be the problem either.  Portugal’s regulations are about the same as those of other European countries.

Portugal offers international students opportunities to work during their studies and after graduation, subject to specific regulations. Here’s an overview of the policies:

During Academic Terms:

A non-EU/EEA student with a valid student residence permit can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic term.  Full-time work is permitted during holidays. (Must maintain full-time enrollment and inform the Portuguese Immigration and Mobility Agency before commencing employment.).

See: https://visaguide.world/europe/portugal-visa/student-visa

https://www.expatica.com/pt/moving/visas/portuguese-student-visas-936507’

Post-Graduation Work Opportunities

After finishing studies, the Job Seeker Visa allows a student to stay in Portugal to search for employment. This permit is valid for up to a year, but the student must find employment within the first 120 days of the visa being issued.

With a job in hand, the former student can apply for a work visa or a residence permit for work purposes. This permits living/working in Portugal as long as the person is employed and meets the permit requirements.

Portugal also offers a Freelance Visa for graduates intending to work as freelancers or start a business.  Getting this visa requires proof of financial means and a viable business plan.

See https://www.credasmigrations.com/lande

After living in Portugal for five consecutive years on temporary residence permits (which can include time spent as a student and on a job search or work visa), a person is eligible to apply for permanent residency which grants the right to live and work indefinitely in Portugal without needing to renew the visa every few years.  If the person meets certain criteria, he or she can apply for Portuguese citizenship. See https://www.beportugal.com/portugal-student-visa

The Portuguese economy is in reasonably good shape, with a 2023-24 employment rate of 72.4 percent (slightly above the EU average).  At present, the main employment sectors are wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, administrative services, and hospitality.  The national economic plan calls for building up renewable energy and automotive industries and creating opportunities for skilled professionals.

See:

https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/economic-surveillance-eu-economies/portugal/economic-forecast-portugal

https://eures.europa.eu/living-and-working/labour-market-information-europe/labour-market-information-portugal_en

https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=633386764&DESTAQUESmodo

 It looks like just two things are keeping Indian students out of Portugal:

1. Portugal’s education system is not widely promoted in India.
2. Mistaken belief that studying/living in Portugal requires learning Portuguese.

THE FACTS:

1. Approximately 43 percent of the Portuguese population speaks English, according to estimates from various sources. This level of proficiency places Portugal among the top countries globally for English skills.
2.  In the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), Portugal ranked 6th worldwide out of 116 countries, with a score of 605. This performance places the country among the top nations for English proficiency.
3. Proficiency levels vary across age groups, with adults aged 21 to 30 exhibiting the highest fluency, which is notably higher in urban centers and regions with significant international exposure. 
4. Cities such as Braga, Coimbra, and Lisbon are recognized for their strong English-speaking populations.

Another fact: THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT WANTS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

In 2024, Portugal’s government expressed a clear commitment to increasing the number of international students in its higher education institutions. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro highlighted that higher education institutions serve as “the best gateway” for successful immigration, emphasizing that attracting foreign students is vital for enhancing Portugal’s human capital and economic competitiveness. He stated:  “If we can be attractive to foreign students, we will have the opportunity to take advantage of the qualifications they acquire and integrate them into our community, thus being able to strengthen our human capital and [become more] competitive.”

Additionally, the government introduced the “Learn More Now“ plan, aimed at improving learning and supporting foreign students, with a focus on tutoring and the review of the Portuguese as a Second Language subject. Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, emphasized the importance of integrating immigrant students into the education system, noting that “the integration of immigrants is essential for our economy and society.”

It looks like the Portuguese government is serious.  According to the 2024 the OECD report “Education at a Glance 2024” more foreign students are choosing Portuguese higher education institutions.  The proportion of international or foreign students among all higher education enrolments increased in almost all countries between 2013 and 2022. “In Portugal, it increased from 4 percent to 12 percent,” the study states.  The most substantial increase was recorded among those enrolled in master’s programmes or equivalent, which rose from 10 percent in 2013 to 15 percent in 2022, on average, in OECD countries. In Portugal, the increase was more than 10 percentage points: rising from 5 percent to 15 percent.  The number of international students in Portugal has been steadily increasing.

 In the academic year 2022/2023, more than 74,000 international students were enrolled in higher education, accounting for approximately 17 percent of total enrollment. This represents a 121 percent increase compared to the 33,500 international students in 2014/2015.

The Portuguese government has approved a new access system for international students, aiming to simplify and promote the admission process.  This initiative, formalised through Decree-Law No. 36/2014, gives greater freedom to higher education institutions to design admission policies and courses tailored to international students.  The primary objectives are to increase institutional capacity, boost revenue, and foster a truly international academic environment.

Another indication of Portugal’s commitment to attracting more international students is the increase in the number of courses taught in English, particularly at the master’s and doctoral levels.  Many universities offer programs in English, especially those known for their international programs and collaborations.

Portugal’s higher education strategy emphasizes internationalization, which includes increasing the number of courses offered in English to attract international students. This aligns with the broader European Union goals of enhancing the global competitiveness of European universities.

Even if courses are offered in English, gaining a working knowledge of Portuguese enhances a student’s experience and integration into the academic community.

YUNO LEARNING’S assessment:  

Indian students can find just what they’re looking for in Portugal’s universities and technical institutions.  Their higher education institutions are rapidly adding English language programmes to attract international students, and the country is keen to attract talent.  Moreover, the job market is good.  

As a member of the European Union, Portugal is a gateway to all of Europe, and that should certainly count for a lot for Indian students.

Stay tuned …In our next post, we take a close look at opportunities in Spain.