Master's in Litigation and Arbitration
Settle with creativity
Presentation
The Master’s in Litigation and Arbitration is the appropriate choice for those who wish to pursue legal professions, such as law practice and the judiciary. Not only does it guarantee a solid preparation for this goal, but it also deepens legal training in key areas of professional life, both nationally and internationally. The Master’s also opens up new horizons by focusing on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration and mediation, which are essential tools in the current and future legal world.
On a scientific level, the Master’s curriculum can be grouped into broad thematic areas. Within each specialization (advocacy/law and magistracy), students can choose options that emphasize one scientific area, according to their training needs and objectives. There are three scientific areas:
- Arbitration and Mediation
The Master’s offers students a cross-disciplinary view of dispute resolution methods. In addition to judicial mechanisms, it includes two courses on mediation, which, if completede, may allow students to obtain certification as mediators, and four courses on arbitration (two of which focused on international arbitration). - Civil Law and Civil Procedure
The Master’s also allows students to complete the training obtained during their Bachelor’s degree in Civil Law, with courses such as Family and Children’s Law, Consumer Law and Sustainable Innovation Appeals, and European Civil Procedure. In addition, the practical preparation of students for the legal profession and the judiciary plays a central role, with subjects such as Civil Procedure Practice, Simulation of CEJ Access Exams and Litigation. - Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Administrative Offenses
The curriculum in the field of Criminal Law currently includes five important subjects for student training: Advanced Criminal Law, Special Criminal Procedure: Theory of Evidence, Economic Criminal Law, Administrative Offenses Law and Cybercrime. All of these subjects explore topics in Criminal Law and Public Sanctionary Law in depth, generally covering new topics and issues (in relation to the Bachelor’s degree program) and analyzing the most relevant developments in the literatude and case law. This substantially strengthens students’ mastery of this scientific area.
The Master in Litigation and Arbitration is the appropriate choice for lawyers who intend to pursue a career as dispute resolution counsels or as judges.
The course prepares future judges and lawyers for the national exams for the ‘Centro de Estudos Judiciários’, and the Portuguese Bar. Furthermore, master students will broaden their legal knowledge in essential fields of both national and international law.
The Degree includes a strong component of Alternative Dispute Resolution methods, such as arbitration and mediation; essential skills for a modern dispute resolution practitioner. Relevance given to the training of Oral Advocacy and the English language (five courses are taught in English) is also a strong feature of this Master. Finally, the limited number of places fosters proximity between professors and students, with a specific focus on the individual path of each student.
Language of instruction:
- Primary: Portuguese
- Secondary: English (required)
This Master is mainly taught in Portuguese.
Why choose this Master’s ?
- Strong training in Civil and Criminal Law, core areas for careers in the judiciary and legal practice, with close links between theory and practice.
- An innovative approach to dispute resolution, preparing students for the challenges of advocacy and magistracy.
- Court internship opportunities and certification as a conflict mediator, with access to the Ministry of Justice’s official mediators’ list.
Coordination
Frederico de Lacerda da Costa Pinto
João Pedro
Pinto-Ferreira
Scientific Commission
President: Mariana França Gouveia | Board Members: Frederico de Lacerda da Costa Pinto (taught component) | João Pedro Pinto-Ferreira (research phase)
Goals
The Master in Litigation and Arbitration prepares students to be at the forefront of modern dispute resolution. Not only will Master’s students be able to deepen their knowledge in core areas of the traditional legal professions but also and equally relevant, they will be trained to deal with new knowledge, new realities and to create new solutions for emerging legal issues. The students qualified in this Master will have the skills to tackle the challenges the modern world presents to dispute resolution practitioners in secure but innovative ways.
Target Applicant
Students with a bachelor’s in law who intend to pursue a career as dispute resolution lawyers or judges or who intend to work as mediators or in arbitration, as in-house counsels of companies.
Timetable
This course is taught during working hours*.
*Some Optional Curricular Units may have schedules that do not match the timetable of the course
Certification
| Study Cycle | Degree | A3ES Decision | Number of Years | Publication of the A3ES decision | DGES registration number | Publication in Diário da República |
Litigation and Arbitration | Master | accredited | 6 | R/A-Cr 258/2015/AL05 | Order n.º 115/2017 of 3 March 2017 and Study Plan |
Employability
The Master’s in Litigation and Arbitration offers a comprehensive and practical education aimed at those pursuing careers in the judiciary, legal practice and alternative dispute resolution. The programme prepares students for successful integration into the labour market and boasts a strong track record of placing alumni in roles within courts, law firms, national and international arbitration and mediation bodies, corporate legal departments and public institutions.
Research with Impact
The Knowledge Centres at the NOVA School of Law provide Master’s students with the opportunity to conduct scientific research in a variety of legal fields.
Find out more about the Knowledge Centres that complement the Master’s in Litigation and Arbitration and enrich your research journey
Testimonials
Curricular Plan
+ 2026/2027
The taught component consists of 60 ECTS, of which 30 ECTS are mandatory (1st semester/common core).
From 2024/25, students will need to approve the curricular component with, at least 13,50 points out of 20 (13,5/20) to be able to enrol in the research phase (2nd year of the course).
Completion of the curricular component (60 ECTS), with any positive grade, grants the award of a Diploma in Postgraduate Studies in Litigation and Arbitration.
Taught Component
| 1st Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Introdução à Mediação* | 8 |
| Prática Processual Civil | 6 |
| Insolvência | 4 |
| Introdução à Arbitragem | 4 |
| Providências Cautelares | 4 |
| Recursos Civis | 4 |
In the 2nd semester (depending on the choice of specialization):
Advocacy/Law: 14 ECTS of mandatory courses; 8 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 8 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, alternatively, choose from any Master’s course taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
Magistracy: 22 ECTS of mandatory subjects in the Magistracy specialization; 4 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 4 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, as an alternative, choose from any master’s programme taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
| 2nd Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
Advocacy/Law |
|
| Mandatory | |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| Advocacia Forense | 4 |
| Moot Courts (Commercial Arbitration) | 4 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| Optional | |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo | 8 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| Direito Processual do Trabalho | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Processo Penal Especial – Teoria da Prova | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| Direito do Desporto e Arbitragem Desportiva | 4 |
| Escrita e Argumentação Jurídica | 4 |
| International Arbitration | 4 |
| Medicina Legal e Ciência Forense | 4 |
| Free Option | |
| Consumer Law and Sustainable Innovation | 6 |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica | 6 |
| Direito e Cinema | 4 |
| Simulação de Exames de Acesso ao CEJ | 4 |
| Sustainability for All 2 | 3 |
| 2º Semestre | ECTS |
|---|---|
Magistracy |
|
| Mandatory | |
| Processo Penal Especial – Teoria da Prova | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| Direito Penal Avançado | 4 |
| Escrita e Argumentação Jurídica | 4 |
| Simulação de Exames de Acesso ao CEJ | 4 |
| Optional | |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo | 8 |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| Direito Processual do Trabalho | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| Direito do Desporto e Arbitragem Desportiva | 4 |
| International Arbitration | 4 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| Free Option | |
| Consumer Law and Sustainable Innovation | 6 |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica | 6 |
| Direito e Cinema | 4 |
| Medicina Legal e Ciência Forense | 4 |
| Sustainability for All 2 | 3 |
*The successful completion of both curricular units, fulfilling the minimum requirement of class attendance, represents certified training, giving access to the list of certified mediators of the Ministry of Justice.
Research Phase
| 3rd Semester – Research | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Dissertation, internship at national or international institution or project work. | 30 |
+ 2025/2026
Taught Component
The taught component consists of 60 ECTS, of which 30 ECTS are mandatory (1st semester/common core).
From 2024/25, students will need to approve the curricular component with, at least 13,50 points out of 20 (13,5/20) to be able to enrol in the research phase (2nd year of the course).
Completion of the curricular component (60 ECTS), with any positive grade, grants the award of a Diploma in Postgraduate Studies in Litigation and Arbitration.
| 1st Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Introdução à Mediação* | 8 |
| Prática Processual Civil | 6 |
| Insolvência | 4 |
| Introduction to Arbitration | 4 |
| Providências Cautelares | 4 |
| Recursos Civis | 4 |
In the 2nd semester (depending on the choice of specialization):
Advocacy/Law: 14 ECTS of mandatory courses; 8 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 8 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, alternatively, choose from any Master’s course taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
Magistracy: 22 ECTS of mandatory subjects in the Magistracy specialization; 4 ECTS of restrictive optional courses listed above; 4 ECTS of free option courses listed here or, as an alternative, choose from any master’s programme taught at NOVA School of Law (subject to availability).
| 2nd Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
Advocacy/Law |
|
| Mandatory | |
| Moot Courts (Commercial Arbitration) | 4 |
| Oralidade na Advocacia | 4 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| Short-term Advocacy Internship | 2 |
| Optional | |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo* | 8 |
| Direito Processual do Trabalho | 6 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| Processo Penal Especial | 6 |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| International Commercial Arbitration | 4 |
| Free Option | |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica | 6 |
| Resolução de Litígios Administrativos | 4 |
| 2nd Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|
Magistracy |
|
| Mandatory | |
| Processo Penal Especial | 6 |
| Direito Civil Avançado | 4 |
| Direito da Família e da Criança | 4 |
| Direito Penal Avançado | 4 |
| Simulação de Exames de Acesso ao CEJ | 4 |
| Optional | |
| Mediação – Técnicas e Processo* | 8 |
| Direito Processual do Trabalho | 6 |
| Direito Penal Económico | 6 |
| Direito das Contraordenações | 6 |
| International Commercial Law | 6 |
| Processo Civil Europeu | 4 |
| International Commercial Arbitration | 4 |
| Free Option | |
| Metodologia de Investigação Jurídica | 6 |
| Resolução de Litígios Administrativos | 4 |
*Successful completion of both curricular units, with the minimum attendance requirement met, constitutes certified training, giving access to the Ministry of Justice’s list of certified mediators. The number of places on the Mediation – Techniques and Process course is 50 students, with preference given to students enrolled on the Introduction to Mediation course who are in a position to obtain certification.
| 3rd Semester – Research | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | |
| Dissertation, internship at national or international institution or project work. | 30 |
Objectives and Structure of the Curricular Units
Tuition Fees
In master’s degrees and doctorates, the tuition fee for part-time students corresponds to 65% of the tuition fee owed by full-time students.
In master’s degrees and doctorates, the tuition fee for part-time students corresponds to 65% of the tuition fee owed by full-time students.
*Tuition fees as deliberated by the General Council on 16 December 2025
**Applicable only if the course is not terminated inside the established deadline
Reading of this information does not exempt consultation of the Regulation for Tuition Fees, and full documentation regarding fees, emoluments and taxes for the academic year in question.
Tuition fees are annual and due in full upon enrolment in the course. Payment in instalments is allowed for students’ mere convenience.
In the case of withdrawal from the course, the amounts already paid are not refundable. The remaining tuition fee payments due for the academic year of the application must also be paid.
For admission to master’s courses (2nd cycle), and only in situations where the student does not complete the course necessary for admission (in these cases, the student must prove the situation by means of a 2026/27 enrolment statement from the institution of origin), the amounts paid for tuition fees may be subject to a refund request, in accordance with the provisions of Article 20 of Regulation No. 452/2024 (fees, school insurance and administrative costs are not refundable).
Payments must be made via Visa, PayPal, MBWay or Multibanco payments, through NetPA. The system validates payments in a few minutes, maximum. Failure to pay tuition fees within the time limits indicated results in an increase in the amount to be settled and/or the suspension of enrolment and registration, as well as the invalidity of all curricular acts practised in the academic year in which the payment dates are not respected.
Payment by instalments
Annual tuition fees for the taught component
The annual tuition fees for the taught component can be paid in 10 instalments
- 10 instalments: 1st instalment of 20% of the total amount paid at the time of enrolment, and the remaining amount in 9 instalments paid between the 1st and 10th of the months of September to May.
Tuition fees of the Research Phase
Tuition fees for the Research Phasecan be paid in 5 instalments.
- 5 instalments: 1st installment of 20% of the total amount paid upon registration; and the remaining amount divided into 4 instalments of equal value, paid between the 1st and 10th of November, January, February, and March.
Tuition fee for an additional Research Phase semester
Addiotional semester tuition fees for the Research Phasecan be paid in 4 instalments.
- 4 instalments: 25% of the total amount paid at registration, remaining instalments:
- 1st semester: between the 1st and 10th (October, November, January);
- 2nd semester: between the 1st and 10th (March, April, May).
Fee for the extension of Deadline of delivery of the Research Phase:
Fees are paid in full at the time of registration.
Merit Awards
The number of awards is established annually by the NOVA School of Law Board. Merit awards for admission to a Master’s degree are awarded as follows:
- Each selection panel for admission to a 2nd cycle of studies at NOVA School of Law submits a reasoned proposal with the candidates it proposes to award a merit award, taking into account the admission classification for the respective Master’s programme.
- The decision on the awarding of merit awards is made by the Merit Awards Jury. This Jury will set the criteria and evaluate the applications in order to rank them according to merit, with a view to selecting candidates with a previous track record indicative of talent.
- The merit award is granted subject to enrolment in the relevant study cycle and consists of a cash amount corresponding to 30% or 50% of the tuition fees that candidates will pay in the academic year of entry to the course, this amount being set by the Merit Award Jury taking into account the candidates’ graduation.
- For each Master’s degree or, in the case of the Master’s in Law, for each specialisation, at least one merit award of 50% and one merit award of 30% will be awarded.
In the research phase of the Master’s degree, three academic merit awards are awarded each academic year in each cycle of studies, or in each area of specialisation in the case of the Master’s degree in Law:
- The best student in the teaching phase of each cycle of studies or area of specialisation of a cycle of studies who continues and attends the research phase will be awarded a cash prize corresponding to 100% of the tuition fees payable for the research phase of the Master’s degree, if their average grade is equal to or higher than 18.00 (on a scale of 0/20).
- The second best student in the teaching phase of each study cycle or area of specialisation of a study cycle who continues and attends the research phase, or the two best students, if the first does not achieve an average equal to or higher than 18.00 points, a cash prize corresponding to 60% of the tuition fees payable for the research phase of the Master’s degree is awarded.
- The third best student in the teaching phase of each study cycle or area of specialisation of a study cycle who continues and attends the research phase is awarded a cash prize corresponding to 40% of the tuition fees payable for the research phase of the Master’s degree.
To assess the best grades in the teaching phase, only grades obtained at NOVA School of Law are taken into account.
Only students who complete the teaching phase on time and attend full-time are eligible for academic merit awards.
The merit award for the research phase only covers the time specified in the Regulations for the respective study cycle for the completion of this phase, not including additional semesters.
Scholarships for Access to Study Cycles at NOVA University Lisbon
The Scholarships for Access to Study Cycles are available to students of the three study cycles, being students of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, nationals or stateless persons, foreigners with tax residence in Portugal or with refugee status, who are in a situation of financial need and who do not benefit from the scholarships awarded by the Directorate-General for Higher Education, or whose value proves to be insufficient.
Full scholarship details here.
José Neves Foundation Grant
This course is eligible for the José Neves Foundation ISA scholarship programme. Find out more information here.
Emoluments/Charges and Taxes Fees
- Application fee: 51.00€
- Administrative costs per registration/enrolment (each year): 35.00€
- Institution insurance (each year): 3.00€
- Registration Certificate: 6.00 €
- Improvement grade exam: 15.00 €/enrolement
- Conclusion Certificate: 50€
Payment by instalments
Annual tuition fees for the taught component The annual tuition fees for the taught component can be paid in 10 instalments- 10 instalments: 1st instalment of 20% of the total amount paid at the time of enrolment, and the remaining amount in 9 instalments paid between the 1st and 10th of the months of September to May.
- 5 instalments: 1st installment of 20% of the total amount paid upon registration; and the remaining amount divided into 4 instalments of equal value, paid between the 1st and 10th of November, January, February, and March.
- 4 instalments: 25% of the total amount paid at registration, remaining instalments:
-
- 1st semester: between the 1st and 10th (October, November, January);
- 2nd semester: between the 1st and 10th (March, April, May).
-
Merit Awards
The number of awards is established annually by the Board of NOVA School of Law. Merit Awards are awarded to:- Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 17,00 points (on a scale of 0/20) and who enrol and attend the same course, benefit from a monetary award corresponding to 50% of the due tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.
- Candidates whose final average admission to a 2nd study cycle at NOVA School of Law, according to assessment and ranking by the appropriate jury, is equal to or higher than 16,00 points and lower than 17 (on a scale of 0/20) and who enrol and attend the same course, benefit from amonetary award corresponding to 30% of the due tuition fee for the taught component of the Master’s degree.
- The best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the Research Phase benefits from a monetary award corresponding to 100% of the tuition fee due for the Research Phase phase of the Master’s degree;
- The second-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the Research Phase benefits from a monetary award corresponding to 60% of the tuition fee due for the Research Phase phase of the Master’s degree;
- The third-best student of the taught component of each study cycle or specialization area of a study cycle who continues and attends the Research Phase of the Master’s degree benefits from a monetary award corresponding to 40% of the tuition fee due for the Research Phase phase of the Master’s degree.
Scholarships for Access to Study Cycles at NOVA University Lisbon
The Scholarships for Access to Study Cycles are available to students of the three study cycles, being students of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, nationals or stateless persons, foreigners with tax residence in Portugal or with refugee status, who are in a situation of financial need and who do not benefit from the scholarships awarded by the Directorate-General for Higher Education, or whose value proves to be insufficient. Full scholarship details here.José Neves Foundation Grant
This course is eligible for the José Neves Foundation ISA scholarship programme. Find out more information here.Emoluments/Charges and Taxes Fees
- Application fee: 51.00€
- Administrative costs per registration/enrolment (each year): 35.00€
- Institution insurance (each year): 3.00€
- Registration Certificate: 6.00 €
- Improvement grade exam: 15.00 €/enrolement
- Conclusion Certificate: 50€
Applications
Important Notice to All Prospective Students
NOVA School of Law wishes to inform all prospective students that we do not employ or authorize any representatives, agents, or intermediaries for admissions, application processing, or fee payments.
Our only partner is Keystone, but exclusively as a provider of information to prospective students. All applications, registrations, and payments must be handled directly by the candidate with the School’s Applications and Academic Services.
Please be aware of potential scams, especially those targeting international students, where third parties claim to facilitate the admissions and VISA process for a fee. These claims are false and unauthorized.
All applications are received through our official portal, and assessed according to their merit, taking into account the selection criteria defined by the scientific committees.
For your safety and to ensure a legitimate application process, always communicate directly with the School’s Applications and Academic Services through our official contact channels, by e-mail or telephone (+351 21 384 74 00).
We do not accept any liability for losses incurred due to interactions with unauthorized third parties.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation
2026/2027
General course information
- Duration: 3 semesters
- Number of ECTS: 90
- Number of places: 50
- Teaching language: Mainly taught in Portuguese
1st Phase of Applications:
- Submission of applications: From 2 to 27 February 2026
- Publication of the list of allocated places: By 1 April 2026
- Appeals regarding placements: From 1 to 8 April 2026
- Enrolment: From 20 to 27 April 2026
- Enrolment in subjects: From 14 to 24 July 2026
Admission requirements
Applications will be accepted from:
- Holders of a bachelor’s degree in law or legal equivalent, with a mention of the final average.*
- Holders of a certificate of completion of a bachelor’s degree in Law obtained at a Higher Education Establishment in countries that subscribe to the Bologna Declaration and others considered similar, taking into account the respective curricular structure, with a mention of the final average.
- Holders of a foreign higher academic degree that is recognised as satisfying the objectives of the degree of Bachelor in Law by the competent scientific body of NOVA School of Law, with a mention of the final average.
For bachelor degree finalists:
- Conditional applications are accepted from students who can demonstrate that they are in their final year of their course. If accepted in the programme, they must submit a certificate of completion by 15 October 2026.
Applicants who are required to complete their degree must present:
- A formal statement from the educational institution where they are enrolled, showing all subjects they have completed, their final grade and their current average grade. This document must also state the expected date for the completion of the program. Without this official document from the institution of origin, signed and stamped, the final grade awarded will be of 10/20 points. Print screens from academic portals are not accepted.
For the purposes of evaluation by the jury, students from NOVA School of Law must attach the free of charge document ‘Mapa de Notas e Média’ taken from their NetPA. The grade point average indicated in the document will be used for the calculation in the application.
Current finalist averages will be granted to the closest whole number to their current grade.
*Failure to prove the final classification of the Academic Degree in the terms mentioned above will result in the final classification of 10 points being awarded for the purposes of the application process
Selection and Ranking Criteria
Applications are ranked according to the score obtained in the selection process, based on individual merit. The following criteria are taken into account:
- Final grade in the degree course you are applying for (50%);
- Relevance and suitability of previous experience for the master’s course (50%) – the jury will give each candidate a score on a scale of 0 to 20, based on an analysis of the letter of motivation and curriculum vitae, and the members of the jury may decide to hold interviews with all or some of the candidates. These interviews can be held online, and each candidate who is selected for interview will receive notification to this effect via the email address used for the application;
- Elements to be valued:
- For post-Bologna law graduates, a degree corresponding to at least 240 ECTS; marks obtained in the degree subjects most relevant to the Master’s Course (areas of Civil Law and Criminal Law);
- Professional experience, in particular attendance of internships at law firms, courts or similar institutions;
- Other indicators of competences relevant to the Master’s programme, such as merit awards;
- Participation in international competitions;
- Fluency in English.
Candidates assessed with a mark lower than 9.5 will be automatically excluded.
Application process
Submission of applications:
The application must be accompanied by the following elements:
- Motivation lette – Among other things, applicants shall indicate their desired specialization (advocacy/law or magistracy), explaining how they believe their previous experience fits in with that specialization;
- Curriculum vitae (European model);
- Copy of the certificate of completion of the course(s); candidates with foreign qualifications must send transcripts showing the coefficient of performance or a statement with the final average of the degree, as well as the grading scale used in the country of origin of the course. Diplomas that are not presented in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish must be accompanied by a translation certified by the relevant authorities (the grade will be converted to the Portuguese scale in accordance with DGES criteria, rounded up to the nearest whole number);
- Proof of Tax ID Number, where applicable;
- Proof of ID;
- In the case of an International Student **, a declaration, sworn on honour, in which the candidate declares that he/she does not have Portuguese nationality, nor is covered by any of the exceptions in Article 2(2) of Regulation no. 687/2020, of 20 August, which, under the terms of Decree-Law no. 36/2014, of 10 March, excludes him/her from the status of International Student – model Declaration of honour | International Student;
- For applications for the national student scheme whose applicants present an identification document with a nationality other than Portuguese or EU, a declaration on honour that the applicant has Portuguese nationality or is covered by one of the exceptions in Article 2(2) of Regulation no. 687/2020 of 20 August, which, under the terms of Decree-Law no. 36/2014 of 10 March, excludes him/her from International Student status – model Declaration of Honour;
- Applicants who are required to complete their degree must send a statement from the educational institution where they are currently enrolled, showing all subjects they have completed, their final grade and their current average grade. This document must also state the expected date of completion of the program. Without this official document from the institution of origin, signed and stamped, the degree mark awarded will be 10/20 points. Print screens from academic portals are not accepted.
For the purposes of evaluation by the jury, students from NOVA School of Law must attach the free of charge document ‘Mapa de Notas e Média’ taken from their NetPA. The grade point average indicated in the document will be used for the calculation in the application. - After submitting the application, candidates must pay the fee according to the designated references (€51, which can be paid via Multibanco, MB way, Paypal or Visa). The application will only be sent for assessment once payment has been made.
Applications that are not accompanied by all the documents, or for which the application fee has not been paid, will be rejected outright.
** For the purposes of the provisions of Decree-Law no. 36/2014, of 10 March, amended by Decree-Law no. 113/2014, of 16 July and republished under the terms of Decree-Law no. 62/2018, of 6 August, an international student will be those who meet the conditions described at https://novalaw.unl.pt/candidatos-internacionais.
Optional documents
Candidates may submit a request for accreditation of academic training and professional experience obtained prior to entering the study cycle. Accreditation processes take into account the level of credits corresponding to previous training, and under no circumstances will accreditation be allowed for further studies in a study cycle for training undertaken as part of a study cycle at a lower level of qualification. For the purposes of accreditation, the candidate must fill in a specific form and attach all the relevant documentation. When the request for accreditation is made at the time of application, accreditation is not a sufficient condition for admission to the study cycle and only takes effect after admission and only in that same study cycle.
Important information about documentation
Whenever the above-mentioned documents are issued in a language other than Spanish, French, English or Portuguese, you must provide a translation of them, accordingly. The translations must be duly certified by relevant authorities. Otherwise, the applications will be rejected.
If there are any inquiries about the documents presented, particularly in the case of documents obtained abroad, recognition may be requested by the local Portuguese consular agent and/or legalised by the Apostille system under the terms of the Convention on the Abolition of the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Acts (better known as the Hague Convention), signed in The Hague on 5 October 1961, with the exception of documents issued by Higher Education Institutions in European Union countries.
Deadline for the submission of the course completion certificate, according to the point “Copy of the course completion certificate(s)” for successful candidates: 15 October 2026.
Deadlines 1st phase
- Applications: From 2 to 27 February 2026
Application fees
The application fee is €51 (fifty-one euros) and will not be refunded if the application is rejected or not selected. This information does not dispense with consulting the 2026/27 tuition fees notice, available on the NOVA School of Law website, as well as the NOVA fees table applicable for the current academic year.
For more information on tuition fees candidates should consult the NOVA School of Law’s Regulations on Tuition Fees, Fees and Emoluments
Applications through the NOVA School of Law applications portal.
Readmissions
Readmission is the act by which a student, after interruption of studies in an institution/course of higher education, enrols in the same institution and in the same course or in the updated version of the course.
Requirements:
Students who can apply for readmission to any cycle of studies:
- Must have already been enrolled at NOVA School of Law, in the same course in which they are already registered, without having completed it;
- Must not have been enrolled in that course in the previous academic year to the one in which they intend to be readmitted to;
- Those students whose registration has lapsed due to the requirements in force may apply for readmission once two school semesters have elapsed since the date of the lapsing.
Pursuant to Regulation No. 27/2024, students may only re-enroll in the research phase of a master’s degree program if they have completed the research phase with an average grade of 13.50 or above (Article 2(1)).
The Faculty reserves the right to refuse readmission to applications from students whose curricular record indicates serious difficulties in adapting to the study plan in force and to the type of lecturing provided at NOVA School of Law. Requests from students who are in debt to the School for tuition fees or any other amounts will be rejected, subject to the provisions of Law Nº. 75/2019, of September 2.
Deadlines for submission of applications | School Year 2025/26:
2nd Semester
Submission of the application | From 12 to 16 January 2026 |
Enrolment and Registration for Curricular Units | From 2 to 6 February 2026 |
Deadlines for submission of applications | School Year 2026/27:
1st Semester
Submission of the application | From 29 June to 3 July 2026 |
Enrolment and Registration for Curricular Units | From 31 August to 4 September 2026 |
2nd Semester
Submission of the application | From 12 to 16 January 2027 |
Enrolment and Registration for Curricular Units | From 2 to 5 February 2027 |
Instructions for submitting the application (online):
The application is submitted online through NetPA by filling in a form and uploading the necessary documents, namely:
- Online submission of a simple digital copy of the citizen card or passport (international applicants)
- Payment of the application fee through the PayPal, Visa, MBway or Multibancoreferences on the system: 70.00€ (non-refundable), validated by the system in few minutes.
- For candidates who present identification documents with a nationality other than Portuguese or EU, a declaration, under oath, stating that the candidate has Portuguese nationality or is covered by one of the exceptions in Article 2(2) of Regulation No. 687/2020 of 20 August, which, under the terms of Decree-Law No. 36/2014 of 10 March, excludes them from International Student status – model Declaration of Honour.
Incomplete and/or unpaid applications will be automatically rejected.
Fees and Emoluments
Application Fee: 70,00€
Note: All due tuition and other fees should be checked in the course’s webpage, as well as in the tuitions annual order and NOVA fee’s table.
Tuition fees are fixed annually by the General Council of the NOVA University Lisbon.
Regulations Applicable: Decree-Law Nº. 36/2014, of March 10th, altered by Decree-Law Nº. 62/2018, of August 6th, and Regulation Nº. 436/2020, of April 28th, of NOVA School of Law.
Applications through the NOVA School of Law applications portal
Clear all your doubts
We are at your disposal to answer any questions you may have about studying at NOVA
School of Law.
Please do not hesitate to contact us by email: admissions@novalaw.unl.pt