29 Best universities for Development Studies in Portugal

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Portugal ranked based on their research performance in Development Studies. A graph of 565K citations received by 31.8K academic papers made by 29 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 Development Studies

#72 in Europe

#237 in the World

Enrollment: 49,769
Founded: 1911

2. University of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Development Studies

#102 in Europe

#332 in the World

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

3. University of Minho

Portugal | Braga

For Development Studies

#128 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

4. New University of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#177 in Europe

#530 in the World

Enrollment: 20,077
Founded: 1973

5. University of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Development Studies

#180 in Europe

#537 in the World

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

6. University of Aveiro

Portugal | Aveiro

For Development Studies

#215 in Europe

#632 in the World

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

7. University Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#319 in Europe

#906 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1972

8. University of Beira Interior

Portugal | Covilha

For Development Studies

#353 in Europe

#1029 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1986

9. Catholic University of Portugal

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#438 in Europe

#1330 in the World

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

10. Polytechnic Institute of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Development Studies

#447 in Europe

#1356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1985

11. University of the Algarve

Portugal | Faro

For Development Studies

#517 in Europe

#1640 in the World

Founded: 1979

12. Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#527 in Europe

#1681 in the World

Enrollment: 13,000
Founded: 1979

13. University of Evora

Portugal | Evora

For Development Studies

#545 in Europe

#1748 in the World

Enrollment: 10,496
Founded: 1973

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

Portugal | Vila Real

For Development Studies

#580 in Europe

#1912 in the World

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

15. University of the Azores

Portugal | Ponta Delgada

For Development Studies

#660 in Europe

#2290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1976

16. Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Portugal | Leiria

For Development Studies

#665 in Europe

#2304 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1979

17. Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#742 in Europe

#2727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1998

18. Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Development Studies

#751 in Europe

#2809 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

19. Fernando Pessoa University

Portugal | Porto

For Development Studies

#772 in Europe

#2932 in the World

Founded: 1996

20. Higher School of Nursing, Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Development Studies

#782 in Europe

#2987 in the World

Founded: 2004

21. Madeira University

Portugal | Funchal

For Development Studies

#813 in Europe

#3184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1988

22. Polytechnic Institute of Viseu

Portugal | Viseu

For Development Studies

#814 in Europe

#3186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1979

23. Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo

Portugal | Viana do Castelo

For Development Studies

#904 in Europe

#3743 in the World

Founded: 1979

24. Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco

Portugal | Castelo Branco

For Development Studies

#943 in Europe

#3919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1979

25. Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave

Portugal | Barcelos

For Development Studies

#956 in Europe

#3984 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1994

26. European University - Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#1014 in Europe

#4298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1986

27. Superior Institute of Maia

Portugal | Castelo da Maia

For Development Studies

#1016 in Europe

#4301 in the World

Founded: 1991

28. Polytechnic Institute of Beja

Portugal | Beja

For Development Studies

#1129 in Europe

#4916 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 1979

29. Piaget Institute

Portugal | Almada

For Development Studies

#1181 in Europe

#5208 in the World

Founded: 1979

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

Economics subfields in Portugal

Actuarial Science9

Agricultural Economics5

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics21

Environmental Economics16

International Economics18

International Relations and Diplomacy6

International Trade19

Investment Banking and Stock trading15

Political Economy8