29 Best universities for Development Studies 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 Development Studies. A graph of 612K citations received by 33K 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

#70 in Europe

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 49,769
Founded: 1911

2. University of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Development Studies

#100 in Europe

#322 in the World

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

3. University of Minho

Portugal | Braga

For Development Studies

#127 in Europe

#412 in the World

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

4. New University of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#172 in Europe

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 20,077
Founded: 1973

5. University of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Development Studies

#179 in Europe

#533 in the World

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

6. University of Aveiro

Portugal | Aveiro

For Development Studies

#212 in Europe

#624 in the World

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

7. University Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#310 in Europe

#885 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1972

8. University of Beira Interior

Portugal | Covilha

For Development Studies

#352 in Europe

#1021 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1986

9. Catholic University of Portugal

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#437 in Europe

#1330 in the World

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

10. Polytechnic Institute of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Development Studies

#442 in Europe

#1345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1985

11. University of the Algarve

Portugal | Faro

For Development Studies

#512 in Europe

#1625 in the World

Founded: 1979

12. Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#533 in Europe

#1705 in the World

Enrollment: 13,000
Founded: 1979

13. University of Evora

Portugal | Evora

For Development Studies

#534 in Europe

#1707 in the World

Enrollment: 10,496
Founded: 1973

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

Portugal | Vila Real

For Development Studies

#579 in Europe

#1902 in the World

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

15. Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Portugal | Leiria

For Development Studies

#642 in Europe

#2246 in the World

Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1979

16. University of the Azores

Portugal | Ponta Delgada

For Development Studies

#662 in Europe

#2313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1976

17. Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#729 in Europe

#2651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1998

18. Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Development Studies

#748 in Europe

#2798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

19. Fernando Pessoa University

Portugal | Porto

For Development Studies

#762 in Europe

#2863 in the World

Founded: 1996

20. Higher School of Nursing, Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Development Studies

#781 in Europe

#2965 in the World

Founded: 2004

21. Madeira University

Portugal | Funchal

For Development Studies

#814 in Europe

#3171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1988

22. Polytechnic Institute of Viseu

Portugal | Viseu

For Development Studies

#815 in Europe

#3173 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

#3748 in the World

Founded: 1979

24. Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco

Portugal | Castelo Branco

For Development Studies

#950 in Europe

#3940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1979

25. Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave

Portugal | Barcelos

For Development Studies

#951 in Europe

#3961 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1994

26. European University - Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Development Studies

#991 in Europe

#4202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1986

27. Superior Institute of Maia

Portugal | Castelo da Maia

For Development Studies

#1030 in Europe

#4365 in the World

Founded: 1991

28. Polytechnic Institute of Beja

Portugal | Beja

For Development Studies

#1121 in Europe

#4866 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 1979

29. Piaget Institute

Portugal | Almada

For Development Studies

#1191 in Europe

#5250 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 Trade20

Investment Banking and Stock trading15

Political Economy8