29 Best universities for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 2.07M citations received by 111K 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 Sociology

#82 in Europe

#252 in the World

Enrollment: 49,769
Founded: 1911

2. University of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Sociology

#92 in Europe

#276 in the World

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

3. University of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Sociology

#139 in Europe

#397 in the World

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

4. University of Minho

Portugal | Braga

For Sociology

#165 in Europe

#456 in the World

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

5. New University of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Sociology

#193 in Europe

#526 in the World

Enrollment: 20,077
Founded: 1973

6. University of Aveiro

Portugal | Aveiro

For Sociology

#253 in Europe

#665 in the World

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

7. University Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Sociology

#290 in Europe

#774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1972

8. University of the Algarve

Portugal | Faro

For Sociology

#424 in Europe

#1199 in the World

Founded: 1979

9. University of Beira Interior

Portugal | Covilha

For Sociology

#425 in Europe

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1986

10. Catholic University of Portugal

Portugal | Lisbon

For Sociology

#451 in Europe

#1301 in the World

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

11. Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies

Portugal | Lisbon

For Sociology

#476 in Europe

#1400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1998

12. University of Evora

Portugal | Evora

For Sociology

#493 in Europe

#1470 in the World

Enrollment: 10,496
Founded: 1973

13. Polytechnic Institute of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Sociology

#507 in Europe

#1518 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1985

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

Portugal | Vila Real

For Sociology

#525 in Europe

#1587 in the World

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

15. Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Sociology

#558 in Europe

#1722 in the World

Enrollment: 13,000
Founded: 1979

16. University of the Azores

Portugal | Ponta Delgada

For Sociology

#599 in Europe

#1915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1976

17. Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Portugal | Leiria

For Sociology

#689 in Europe

#2372 in the World

Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1979

18. Madeira University

Portugal | Funchal

For Sociology

#739 in Europe

#2642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1988

19. Fernando Pessoa University

Portugal | Porto

For Sociology

#752 in Europe

#2710 in the World

Founded: 1996

20. Polytechnic Institute of Viseu

Portugal | Viseu

For Sociology

#768 in Europe

#2831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1979

21. Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Sociology

#801 in Europe

#2985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

22. Superior Institute of Maia

Portugal | Castelo da Maia

For Sociology

#882 in Europe

#3394 in the World

Founded: 1991

23. Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo

Portugal | Viana do Castelo

For Sociology

#907 in Europe

#3532 in the World

Founded: 1979

24. Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco

Portugal | Castelo Branco

For Sociology

#911 in Europe

#3579 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1979

25. Higher School of Nursing, Coimbra

Portugal | Coimbra

For Sociology

#925 in Europe

#3673 in the World

Founded: 2004

26. European University - Lisbon

Portugal | Lisbon

For Sociology

#946 in Europe

#3853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1986

27. Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave

Portugal | Barcelos

For Sociology

#1008 in Europe

#4199 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1994

28. Piaget Institute

Portugal | Almada

For Sociology

#1036 in Europe

#4374 in the World

Founded: 1979

29. Polytechnic Institute of Beja

Portugal | Beja

For Sociology

#1249 in Europe

#5480 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 1979

The best cities to study Sociology 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

Political Science29

Public Policy / Administration12

Radio and Television broadcasting6

Special Education4

Sports / Exercise science18

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies25

Urban and Regional planning18