With its Atlantic coastline, long academic history, and public and private universities offering law programs, Portugal is a popular study-abroad destination for students interested in legal studies. Several Portuguese universities offer legal education at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, although the exact degree title, language of instruction, and duration vary by institution and program.
Below are several well-known law schools in Portugal.
Top Law Schools in Portugal
1. University of Coimbra
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: Portuguese; selected graduate offerings may vary by program
One of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Coimbra was founded in Lisbon in 1290, where it was initially known as the General Study. In 1537, the university was permanently moved to Coimbra. The university is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its architecture, cultural value, and historical significance. With more than 700 years of operation, the university continues to emphasize sustainable development, innovation, research, and entrepreneurship.
The University of Coimbra has more than 29,000 students, over 1,800 professors, and hundreds of researchers. It is composed of eight faculties, including the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and Faculty of Sciences and Technology.
The university’s Faculty of Law offers legal education through the three Bologna cycles: the first-cycle Bachelor’s Degree in Law, master’s programs, and doctoral studies. The Bachelor’s Degree in Law is taught in Portuguese and is structured as an eight-semester, 240-ECTS program. The master’s program in law may be completed in three or four semesters, depending on the chosen track, while the Ph.D. in Law is a doctoral program with multiple areas of specialization in legal studies.
2. University of Lisbon
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, LL.M., Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: Portuguese; selected international and advanced programs may use English or other consortium languages
The University of Lisbon was founded in its current form in 2013 after the merger of the former University of Lisbon, which dated back to 1911, and the Technical University of Lisbon, which was established in 1930. It is one of Portugal’s largest universities and is frequently listed among the country’s leading institutions in international rankings. The university prioritizes intellectual freedom, democratic participation, societal development, and environmental responsibility.
The University of Lisbon has 19 schools, 10 campuses, more than 51,000 students, and over 11,000 international students. Its schools include the Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Agriculture, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Law is recognized for quality, rigor, innovation, practical training, and openness to internationalization. Its law degree includes day and evening study options and specialized subjects such as Urban Planning Law, Environmental Law, Securities Law, Information Society Law, and International Trade Law. Its advanced offerings include the Joint Master’s Degree in European Legal Practice, master’s programs in law and legal practice, legal science, doctoral programs, postdoctoral research, and postgraduate courses. The faculty also offers students opportunities through conferences, professional partnerships, and academic cooperation with other institutions.
3. NOVA University Lisbon
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, LL.M., Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: Portuguese and English, depending on the program
Founded on August 11, 1973, NOVA University Lisbon was established in response to the rising demand for higher education in Lisbon. Its mission involves contributing to social and economic development through innovation, research, interdisciplinary approaches, and technological development. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, NOVA University Lisbon ranked 327th worldwide, and NOVA School of Law was placed in the 126-150 band for Law in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
The university has more than 25,000 students and more than 1,800 professors and researchers. Its academic units include NOVA School of Business and Economics, NOVA School of Law, and NOVA Information Management School.
NOVA School of Law offers bachelor’s, LL.M., master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral study options. Its Bachelor’s Degree in Law is a four-year, 240-ECTS program. Master’s options include programs such as Law and Management, Litigation and Arbitration, Law and Financial Markets, Law Applied to Technology, Law and Security, and Law and Economics of the Sea – Ocean Governance. Its Ph.D. in Law is a four-year program taught mainly in English. Students at NOVA School of Law can expect dialogued classes, academic monitoring, and training designed to strengthen critical thinking for legal studies.
4. Catholic University of Portugal
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, LL.M., Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: Portuguese and English, depending on the program
The Catholic University of Portugal was established on October 13, 1967, by the decree Lusitanorum Nobilissima Gens. The university’s mission is based on teaching, research and innovation, and university social service and responsibility. As a Catholic university, it aims to uphold the principles of Christian humanism while maintaining respect for diversity.
The university has campuses in Lisbon, Porto, Braga, and Viseu. It has more than 13,000 degree students, over 7,000 postgraduate non-degree students, and more than 1,100 faculty members. Its academic units include areas such as the humanities, arts, theology, education, psychology, business, and law. The first faculties linked to the university’s origins were the Faculty of Philosophy in Braga and the Faculty of Theology in Lisbon. Catholic University of Portugal is also listed in major international rankings, including the QS World University Rankings 2026.
The university’s law offerings include an eight-semester undergraduate degree in law, master’s and LL.M. programs, and doctoral programs. Católica Global School of Law offers LL.M. programs such as Law in a European and Global Context, Law in a Digital Economy, and International Business Law, as well as other advanced programs in transnational and global legal studies.
5. University of Porto
The University of Porto was established in 1911 and is one of Portugal’s leading universities for teaching and scientific research. It aims to provide quality education to its students and contribute value to society through talent, research, and innovation. The university consists of 14 faculties and has a broad research network. It also supports international students through partnerships with higher education institutions around the world.
The university’s Faculty of Law was established in 1995 and offers undergraduate and graduate education in law-related fields. It is also known for offering both undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Criminology, which distinguishes the faculty alongside its law programs. At the graduate level, the Master’s Degree in Law is structured as a four-semester, 120-ECTS program taught in Portuguese, while the Doctoral Degree in Law is an eight-semester, 240-ECTS program taught in Portuguese. Law students receive training in legal and criminal studies that prepares them to contribute to legal practice and research.
6. University of Minho
The University of Minho is a public university in Portugal with campuses in Braga and Guimarães, including the Gualtar campus in Braga and the Azurém and Couros campuses in Guimarães. Its School of Law is based at the Gualtar campus in Braga and is known for legal education and research across traditional and emerging areas of law. As a public institution, it plays an important role in legal education and research in Portugal, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal system while encouraging interdisciplinary study.
The academic environment at the University of Minho encourages students to explore diverse areas of law. The School of Law offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, master’s programs in areas such as European Union Law, Administrative Law, Human Rights, Contract and Company Law, Law and Informatics, Tax Law, Criminal Sciences, and Judiciary Law, as well as an LL.M. in European and Transglobal Business Law. Its doctoral program in Law, also referred to as Legal Sciences, includes specializations in private legal sciences, public legal sciences, and general legal sciences.
A Global Scholarships student profile highlights Barbara Lazarotto, a student from Brazil and Portugal who completed a master’s in Judiciary Law at the University of Minho before pursuing doctoral research in law. She described the University of Minho master’s program as “quite broad” and said it allowed her to explore many areas of law before focusing her thesis on data use in law enforcement and Portuguese criminal procedure.
Barbara’s experience demonstrates how a broad legal education can help students identify specialized research interests. Her academic path shows how the University of Minho can support students who want to move from general legal study into focused research areas such as data protection, criminal procedure, and technology-related legal issues.
We hope that this article on the best law universities in Portugal was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Courses for International Students!
