University of Lisbon

University of Lisbon is a public research university located in Lisbon, Portugal.

The history of the University of Lisbon can be traced back to 1290, when King Dinis of Portugal founded a studium generale in Lisbon. This studium generale was a place of study that accepted scholars from all over Europe and conferred a recognized degree.

The studium generale was moved several times between Lisbon and Coimbra, where it settled permanently in 1537. However, the desire to have a university in Lisbon remained strong, and in 1911, the current University of Lisbon was founded, through the union of newly created and older schools, like the 19th century Polytechnic School (Escola Politécnica), the Royal Medical School of Lisbon (Real Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Lisboa) and the Letters Higher Studies (Curso Superior de Letras).

The University of Lisbon grew rapidly in the early 20th century, and by the mid-century, it was one of the largest universities in Portugal. In 2013, the University of Lisbon merged with the Technical University of Lisbon, forming the largest university in Portugal and one of the largest in Europe.

Today, the University of Lisbon is a leading university in Portugal and the world. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, and it is home to a number of research centers and institutes. The university is also deeply involved with Portuguese society and the Lisbon metropolitan area, dedicated to making the city one of European's great capitals of culture and science.

The University of Lisbon has a long and rich history, and it has played a major role in the development of Portugal and its culture. The university is committed to providing its students with a high-quality education and to conducting research that benefits society.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, University of Lisbon is positioned as the #260 top university in the world, which makes it the #1 top university in Portugal. The university's global rank is improved by 6 points from last year.