In this guide
Fast answer
A Learning Agreement for Portugal follows the EU template and Portuguese degrees use ECTS, so the credits are simple. What catches students out is structure and language: large universities such as the University of Lisbon are made of separate schools and you usually choose only from the school that hosts you; bachelor courses are often taught entirely in Portuguese; and grades run from 0 to 20, with 10 as the pass mark.
- Want it prepared for you? Odisea builds your Learning Agreement draft with the evidence your coordinator asks for.
- Still choosing a city? See the Portugal country guide.
The most common Portuguese mistake is building a perfect list from courses of the whole university, then finding out that half of them belong to a different school you were never nominated to.
What is the same everywhere, and what is Portuguese
| Topic | EU-wide rule | What it looks like in Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ECTS, about 60 per full-time year | ECTS (Decree-Law 42/2005); many courses are worth 6 ECTS |
| Which courses | Anything in the host catalogue | Often only from the school (faculdade) that hosts you |
| Load | — | A maximum of 30 ECTS per semester is common |
| Language | Agreed level in the language of instruction | Bachelor courses often fully in Portuguese |
| Grades | Converted by your home university | 0–20 whole numbers; 10 is the pass mark |
| Changes | Start within 5 weeks of the semester start | Courses not approved are usually swapped after the semester starts |
Choose inside your school, not the whole university
The University of Lisbon is a federation of schools, and each one runs its own exchange. The Faculty of Sciences (Ciências) tells incoming students plainly to select courses offered at Ciências, not at other faculties or schools of the university, and to take a maximum of 30 ECTS per semester. Most of its courses are worth 6 ECTS, with some at 3 and a few at 9 or 12 — which is why a Portuguese course rarely maps one-to-one onto a subject of a different weight at home.
Before you build Table A, confirm which school your agreement is with and use that school’s course list.
Language: expect Portuguese at bachelor level
At Ciências, bachelor courses are taught fully in Portuguese; at master level, classes switch to English when there are students who do not understand Portuguese. Other schools have their own policies, so check each course’s language before it goes into your Learning Agreement.
Grades from 0 to 20
Portuguese grades are whole numbers from 0 to 20, and you pass a course with 10 or more, under Decree-Law 42/2005. Your home university converts the grade, so a 14 in Portugal is a solid result.
Changing it after you arrive
The EU guidelines let you start changes within five weeks after the start of each semester, and all parties should agree within two weeks of your request. At Ciências, if some of the courses you chose are not approved, you make the necessary changes to your study plan preferably once the semester has started. Record them in the “During the mobility” tables and get all three approvals in writing.
Before your coordinator signs: a five-point check
1. Every course belongs to the school that hosts you. 2. You stay within 30 ECTS per semester (or your host’s own cap). 3. Each course is taught in a language your agreed level covers. 4. The credit weights add up even when they differ from yours (6 vs 9, for instance). 5. Each pairing in Table B has a syllabus link and a one-line reason your coordinator can check.
Point five is what our Learning Agreement service prepares: every equivalence with its course code, ECTS, syllabus link and justification, in a PDF ready for your coordinator.
Where to go next
- Portugal: cost of living, cities and universities
- Lisbon for exchange students
- Porto for exchange students
- Coimbra for exchange students
- ECTS credits explained
- Learning Agreement for Spain
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a passing grade in Portugal?
10 out of 20. Grades are whole numbers from 0 to 20 under Decree-Law 42/2005.
Can I take courses from any school of the University of Lisbon?
Usually not. The Faculty of Sciences, for example, asks incoming students to choose only courses offered at Ciências, not at other schools of the university.
Are courses in Portugal taught in English?
Some are, mostly at master level. At the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Sciences, bachelor courses are taught fully in Portuguese.
Can I change my Learning Agreement after arriving in Portugal?
Yes, within five weeks of the start of the semester under the EU guidelines, with all three parties approving the new courses.