Here is how you can do MBBS in Portugal

While researching to go for an overseas MBBS degree one must not miss out on Portugal from the list. MBBS in Portugal is a choice that will give you a healthy environment to study. Offering admissions to around 50,000 international students per year in its ancient universities with modern curricula Portugal is ready for another round of admissions for 2023. The educational curriculum in Portugal is a bit different from the rest of the country, this blog covers most of the relevant information you require to study MBBS in Portugal. 

Why Should You Go for MBBS in Portugal?

The Portuguese Republic is a beautiful country in the eurozone and also one of the best countries in terms of Quality of Medicine spending 9% of its GDP on Medicine. Perhaps it is most suitable to study MBBS in Portugal. The country also has a warm climate and pristine environment with a relaxed pace of life that is ideal for an Indian citizen for adaptability and focusing on education.

Though there is a growing number of courses in the English language, Students get an opportunity to learn Portuguese as most of the MBBS specializations are still taught in Portuguese. They also conduct preclinical English courses for international students. 

MBBS in Portugal is an integrated program of 6 years including a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree without having to go through all the formalities of admission, examination and VISA. After MBBS in Portugal, the student is given an Ano Comum or Common Year to go for general internships after which they can become practitioners under supervision. 

Must Read: Study in Portugal in 2023

How To Select a Suitable City

The choice of the city of residence is not a light subject. The students do take into account the cost of living which is higher in Big cities like Lisbon and lower in other areas. Most universities in Portugal provide accommodations throughout the city it is situated in, these off-campus placements offer security and are budget friendly for students. Other factors like connectivity and availability of resources, organizations to intern and practice MBBS-related work, and food are majorly considered. Here is an analysis of 5 cities in Portugal. 

City	Connectivity	Average Cost of Living IN Euros (INR)
Lisbon	Very Good	2000 € (~1.8 L)
Porto	Very Good	1200 € (~1.1 L)
Braga	Good	1000 € (~1 L)
Coimbra	Good	1000 € (~1 L)
Faro	Good	850 € (0.73 L)

Lisbon 

The capital city of Portugal is also the biggest city with rich cultural and historical importance. Best Medical universities like the University of Lisbon and NOVA University Lisbon are situated here.

• Rent: 600 – 1000 €
• Food: 1000 €
• Utilities: 80 €
• Transportation: 50 €

Porto

Housing the university of Porto, this city is the second largest in Portugal. It is the commercial centre of Portugal and has a thriving economy. 

• Rent: 400 – 700 € 
• Food: 500 €
• Utilities: 109 €
• Transportation: 45 €

Braga

Braga is a beautiful city to study in, with its breathtaking churches and monasteries. It is one of the oldest cities with a spiritual history which provides a vibrant yet calm environment for studies.

• Rent: 200 – 800 €
• Food: 390 €
• Utilities: 90 €
• Transportation: 50 €

Coimbra

Housing the historical University of Coimbra; the centre of learning amongst the oldest universities of Europe, Coimbra is an excellent city to pursue MBBS in Portugal. 

• Rent: 230 – 800 €
• Food: 450 € 
• Utilities: 80 €
• Transportation: 40 €

Faro

Faro boasts of its historical importance during the renaissance and its remnants of the tragedies of World War. Along with the best universities for MBBS in Portugal Faro is one of the most preferred cities to live in Portugal due to its cultural richness, food and lifestyle.

• Rent: 150 – 500 €
• Food: 500 €
• Utilities: 80 €
• Transportation: 40 €

Top Universities for MBBS in Portugal

If one chooses to study abroad the foremost reason is to get a quality education and learn from world-class institutions. The other important factor is the budget one has to overall invest in their studies and that includes the tuition fees. Some of the world-class universities for MBBS in Portugal are cheaper than other European Universities and US universities. One may also look at the availability of options for accommodation in or around the university. Here is a list of some of the best universities for MBBS in Portugal.

S No.	Name of Medical College
1	University of Coimbra Faculty of Medicine
2	NOVA University Lisbon – NOVA Medical School
3	University of Beira Interior Department of Medical Sciences
4	University of Algarve Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine
5	University of Minho School of Medicine
6	University of Lisboa Faculty of Medicine
7	University of Porto Faculty of Medicine

How to Apply for MBBS in Portugal

The eligibility criteria and the required documents for applying to MBBS in Portugal are given below:

Eligibility 

1. The student must have 60% aggregate marks in PCB in 10+2 or Bachelor. 
2. The level of studies completed must compulsorily include English as a subject and medium of instruction.
3. Students applying for any university must be above the age of 17.
4. Students must clear the NEET exam to pursue BDS or MBBS in Portugal to be able to practice back in India
5. IELTS or TOEFL is required for Universities offering a program in English.

Documents Required

1. The foremost document required is a Passport with at least 18 months of validity.
2. Documents related to academics including 10th, 12th and Graduation mark sheets. 
3. Students must also submit their birth certificates.
4. A Letter of Acceptance from the Medical University situated in Portugal.
5. 4-5 passport-size photographs are a must.
6. Authorisation document from authorities. 
7. First-year college fee receipt.
8. Visa fee payment receipt
9. Financial Documents confirming availability of funds.
10. Health check-up documents.
11. Updated CV 
12. Recommendation Letter
13. SOP

Must Read: MBBS Subjects

Cost of Studying MBBS in Portugal

The cost of studying is divided into sub-types like tuition fees, accommodation etc. Check out the average cost of studying in Portugal:

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees at most public universities range between:

Bachelor’s degrees cost between 550 and 1,050 EUR per year.
Master’s degrees range from 500 to 2,500 EUR per year.

There are, of course, exceptions. Many Bachelor’s degrees, for example, cost 4,000 EUR per year at the University of Madeira. A Master’s degree at the University of Aveiro will cost between 4,500 and 5,500 EUR per year.

The tuition fees mentioned above primarily apply to students from the EU/EEA. Tuition will be more expensive if you are not an EU/EEA citizen.

Accommodation Costs

Accommodation costs in Portugal are comparable to the global average. The following are the average prices for some of the most popular housing options:

• Student halls of residence: 150-250 EUR per month
• Renting a studio/one-room apartment costs between 200 and 800 EUR per month.
• Renting a room in a shared apartment costs between 100 and 550 EUR per month.

If you decide to rent a studio or share an apartment, make sure that the utilities are included in the rent. They can increase your monthly expenses by up to 100 EUR.

Food and Transportation Costs

You will spend approximately 150-200 EUR per month on food and groceries. Jumbo, Continente/Modelo, Lidl, and Pingo Doce are some of the most affordable supermarkets in Portugal. You can also find cheap food at university canteens, where a meal costs between 2 and 5 EUR. Even in Lisbon, you can get a meal for 7 EUR in a small restaurant.

A one-way ticket for local transportation costs about 1.5 EUR, while a monthly student transit pass costs between 20 and 55 EUR. The metro travel card in most cities costs around 25 EUR per month. By train, you can easily travel around Portugal and see spectacular sights. A trip within the country starts at 25 EUR.

Scholarships for Portugal

Both EU and non-EU/EEA students can apply for grants and government-funded scholarships in Portugal. You must apply to a university recognised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education in order to be eligible for a grant.

There are numerous scholarships available, the majority of which are awarded to Master’s students, but financial aid programmes for other degrees are also available. Look into a few institutions that provide scholarships.

• DGES – scholarships in both public and private universities, including merit scholarships and student loans
• FCT – provides doctoral students with a number of funding options.
• The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation offers scholarships to graduate students pursuing research in Armenian studies as well as students involved in research projects in the Portuguese language and culture.

Must Read: Benefits of MBBS Study Abroad for Indian Students

Admission Process for MBBS in Portugal

The Admission Process for applying to the universities in Portugal is given below:

1. Submission of Documents
2. Issue of Invoice if found eligible after document verification.
3. Registration and Application (fee 100-200€).
4. Processing of Application
5. Issue of the Acceptance letter and visa assistance documents by the University.
6. Accommodation details.

VISA Types

There are two types of Student Visas in Portugal

Type C: For researchers staying less than 90 days

Type D: For students pursuing a course for more than 90 days.

Must Read: Portugal Study Visa – Eligibility, Application, and Cost

FAQs

Portugal is an emerging market for International students with reasonable living costs as per standards. More students with queries for the flexible learning system emerge every year to scale up their learning by studying in world-class universities. If you are planning to study abroad, contact Leverage Edu and book a 30-minute free counselling session with our experts at 1800 57 2000