29 Best universities for Political Science 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 Political Science. A graph of 2.44M citations received by 146K 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 Political Science

#80 in Europe

#220 in the World

Enrollment: 49,769
Founded: 1911

2. University of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Political Science

#139 in Europe

#347 in the World

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

3. University of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Political Science

#152 in Europe

#370 in the World

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

4. University of Minho

Portugal | Braga

For Political Science

#161 in Europe

#385 in the World

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

5. New University of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Political Science

#195 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 20,077
Founded: 1973

6. University of Aveiro

Portugal | Aveiro

For Political Science

#277 in Europe

#671 in the World

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

7. University Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Political Science

#308 in Europe

#744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1972

8. University of the Algarve

Portugal | Faro

For Political Science

#408 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Founded: 1979

9. University of Beira Interior

Portugal | Covilha

For Political Science

#425 in Europe

#1041 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1986

10. Catholic University of Portugal

Portugal | Lisbon

For Political Science

#477 in Europe

#1211 in the World

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

11. Polytechnic Institute of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Political Science

#521 in Europe

#1365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1985

12. Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Political Science

#588 in Europe

#1618 in the World

Enrollment: 13,000
Founded: 1979

13. University of Evora

Portugal | Evora

For Political Science

#589 in Europe

#1628 in the World

Enrollment: 10,496
Founded: 1973

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

Portugal | Vila Real

For Political Science

#592 in Europe

#1644 in the World

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

15. Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies

Portugal | Lisbon

For Political Science

#676 in Europe

#1997 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1998

16. University of the Azores

Portugal | Ponta Delgada

For Political Science

#720 in Europe

#2193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1976

17. Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Portugal | Leiria

For Political Science

#745 in Europe

#2314 in the World

Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1979

18. Madeira University

Portugal | Funchal

For Political Science

#800 in Europe

#2593 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1988

19. Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Political Science

#835 in Europe

#2817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

20. Fernando Pessoa University

Portugal | Porto

For Political Science

#849 in Europe

#2879 in the World

Founded: 1996

21. Polytechnic Institute of Viseu

Portugal | Viseu

For Political Science

#869 in Europe

#2996 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1979

22. Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo

Portugal | Viana do Castelo

For Political Science

#878 in Europe

#3047 in the World

Founded: 1979

23. Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave

Portugal | Barcelos

For Political Science

#903 in Europe

#3229 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1994

24. European University - Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Political Science

#906 in Europe

#3239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1986

25. Superior Institute of Maia

Portugal | Castelo da Maia

For Political Science

#940 in Europe

#3445 in the World

Founded: 1991

26. Higher School of Nursing, Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Political Science

#976 in Europe

#3632 in the World

Founded: 2004

27. Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco

Portugal | Castelo Branco

For Political Science

#1012 in Europe

#3803 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1979

28. Polytechnic Institute of Beja

Portugal | Beja

For Political Science

#1172 in Europe

#4716 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 1979

29. Piaget Institute

Portugal | Almada

For Political Science

#1243 in Europe

#5177 in the World

Founded: 1979

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Portugal

Broadcast Journalism8

Classics and Ancient History15

Communications and Public Relations27

Criminology and Criminal Justice10

Early Childhood Education10

Education Majors29

Forensic Science7

Gender Studies20

Human Rights Law8

Intellectual Property and Patent Law9

International Law6

International Relations and Diplomacy6

Journalism and Digital Media17

Law Enforcement7

Library and Information science18

Media Studies11

Military science9

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution8

Occupational Safety and Health7

Political Economy8

Public Policy / Administration12

Radio and Television broadcasting6

Special Education4

Sports / Exercise science18

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies25

Urban and Regional planning18