24 Best universities for Software Engineering in Portugal

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Portugal ranked based on their research performance in Software Engineering. A graph of 186K citations received by 11.9K academic papers made by 24 universities in Portugal was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Software Engineering

#48 in Europe

#128 in the World

Enrollment: 49,769
Founded: 1911

2. University of Minho

Portugal | Braga

For Software Engineering

#83 in Europe

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 19,077
Founded: 1973

3. University of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Software Engineering

#87 in Europe

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 29,178
Founded: 1911

4. New University of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Software Engineering

#112 in Europe

#245 in the World

Enrollment: 20,077
Founded: 1973

5. University of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Software Engineering

#136 in Europe

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 25,580
Founded: 1290

6. University of Aveiro

Portugal | Aveiro

For Software Engineering

#234 in Europe

#524 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 13,000
Founded: 1973

7. Polytechnic Institute of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Software Engineering

#324 in Europe

#723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1985

8. Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Software Engineering

#356 in Europe

#810 in the World

Enrollment: 13,000
Founded: 1979

9. University of Beira Interior

Portugal | Covilha

For Software Engineering

#359 in Europe

#815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1986

10. University Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Software Engineering

#368 in Europe

#836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1972

11. Madeira University

Portugal | Funchal

For Software Engineering

#416 in Europe

#973 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1988

12. University of the Algarve

Portugal | Faro

For Software Engineering

#450 in Europe

#1087 in the World

Founded: 1979

13. University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro

Portugal | Vila Real

For Software Engineering

#508 in Europe

#1260 in the World

Enrollment: 6,515
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1986

14. Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Software Engineering

#517 in Europe

#1290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

15. University of Evora

Portugal | Evora

For Software Engineering

#538 in Europe

#1368 in the World

Enrollment: 10,496
Founded: 1973

16. Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo

Portugal | Viana do Castelo

For Software Engineering

#601 in Europe

#1665 in the World

Founded: 1979

17. Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco

Portugal | Castelo Branco

For Software Engineering

#637 in Europe

#1850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1979

18. Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Portugal | Leiria

For Software Engineering

#644 in Europe

#1877 in the World

Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1979

19. Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave

Portugal | Barcelos

For Software Engineering

#678 in Europe

#2032 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1994

20. Polytechnic Institute of Beja

Portugal | Beja

For Software Engineering

#690 in Europe

#2077 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 1979

21. Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies

Portugal | Lisbon

For Software Engineering

#729 in Europe

#2308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1998

22. Superior Institute of Maia

Portugal | Castelo da Maia

For Software Engineering

#750 in Europe

#2397 in the World

Founded: 1991

23. Catholic University of Portugal

Portugal | Lisbon

For Software Engineering

#777 in Europe

#2662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 13,205
Founded: 1971

24. Polytechnic Institute of Viseu

Portugal | Viseu

For Software Engineering

#778 in Europe

#2668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1979

The best cities to study Software Engineering in Portugal based on the number of universities and their ranks are Lisbon, Braga, Porto, and Coimbra.