New University of Lisbon

New University of Lisbon (NOVA) is a public research university located in Lisbon, Portugal.

The New University of Lisbon (NOVA) was founded in 1973 as a response to the ever-increasing demand for higher education in Portugal, and in Lisbon in particular. It was also founded in the spirit of innovation and change, with the goal of creating a new kind of university that would be more responsive to the needs of the 21st century.

NOVA was initially founded with six schools: the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

NOVA has always been a pioneer in higher education in Portugal. It was one of the first universities in the country to offer interdisciplinary programs and to focus on research-based teaching. NOVA is also known for its international outlook, and it has a strong network of partnerships with universities around the world.

NOVA has played a major role in the development of Portugal into a modern and developed country. Its graduates have gone on to become leaders in business, government, and academia. NOVA is also a major contributor to the Portuguese economy, generating billions of euros in annual revenue.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, New University of Lisbon is positioned as the #388 top university in the world, which makes it the #5 top university in Portugal. The university's global rank is improved by 12 points from last year.