Last Updated: April 30, 2026
Table of Contents
- Why Indian Students Choose IST Lisbon
- Top Programs at IST Lisbon for Indian Students
- Admission Requirements for Indian Students
- Cost of Studying at IST Lisbon
- Scholarships for Indian Students at IST Lisbon
- Kadamb Overseas Success Stats for IST Lisbon
- Post-Study Work Pathway from IST Lisbon
- Application Timeline for IST Lisbon (September 2026 Intake)
- FAQs – IST Lisbon for Indian Students
- What Kadamb Alumni Say About IST Lisbon
- Related Eastern European Study Resources
🕑 6 min read
Instituto Superior Tecnico Lisbon (IST / Tecnico Lisboa) is QS World #267 (2026) – Portugal’s #1 engineering school, founded 1911. Based on Kadamb Overseas data from 2014-2026, 45+ Indian students are enrolled at IST Lisbon, with a Kadamb admission success rate of 68%. This guide covers admission requirements, tuition, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship, and career outcomes for Indian applicants in 2026.
– Location: Lisbon, Portugal
– Ranking / status: QS World #267 (2026) – Portugal’s #1 engineering school, founded 1911
– Total students: 11,000 (1,800+ international)
– Indian students enrolled: 45+ (2025-26)
– Tuition (2026): EUR 7,000/year (non-EU students; Portuguese-medium)
– Living cost: EUR 800-1,000/month (Lisbon affordable for Western EU)
– Kadamb admission success: 68% (vs 22% general international rate)
– Top programs: M.Sc. Aerospace Engineering, M.Sc. Information Systems & Computer Engineering, M.Sc. Bioengineering, M.Sc. Renewable Energy, M.Sc. Architecture
Why Indian Students Choose IST Lisbon
- Portugal’s #1 engineering school – QS #267 (highest-ranked Portuguese institution), founded 1911
- Aerospace Engineering program is one of the strongest in EU – partnerships with ESA (European Space Agency)
- Lisbon is Western Europe at Eastern EU prices – EUR 800-1,000/mo living vs EUR 1,400+ Paris/Amsterdam
- Direct industry pipeline to Galp Energia, Portugal Telecom, Critical Software, NOS Innovation, EDP Renewables
- Calouste Gulbenkian Scholarship + Portuguese Government scholarships cover full tuition for top applicants
- Portugal offers EU citizenship after just 5 years (fastest in EU) – top destination for long-term EU settlement
Top Programs at IST Lisbon for Indian Students
| Program | Duration | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Sc. Aerospace Engineering | 4 sem | English | ESA partnership; 8-12 Indian students/yr |
| M.Sc. Information Systems & Computer Engineering | 4 sem | English | Critical Software/NOS pipeline; 10-15 Indian students/yr |
| M.Sc. Bioengineering | 4 sem | English | Joint with U.Lisbon Med School; 6-10 Indian students/yr |
| M.Sc. Renewable Energy Engineering | 4 sem | English | EDP Renewables pipeline; 6-10 Indian students/yr |
| M.Sc. / M.Arch Architecture | 4 sem | English | Heritage + sustainable design; 4-8 Indian students |
Admission Requirements for Indian Students
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Academic minimum | 7.5/10 (strong math/physics required; portfolio for Architecture) |
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (6.5+ for Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship) |
| TOEFL iBT | 80-90 |
| Entrance test | Program-specific (technical: Math + Physics; medical: Biology + Chemistry + Physics) |
| Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship | Full tuition + monthly stipend; deadline varies (Jan-Apr) |
| Motivation Letter | 1-2 pages, program-specific |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 academic/professional |
| NMC eligibility check | Mandatory for English MBBS – NEET 50%+ qualifying |
Cost of Studying at IST Lisbon
Tuition: EUR 7,000/year (non-EU students; Portuguese-medium). Living: EUR 800-1,000/month (Lisbon affordable for Western EU). With Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship, total net cost can be reduced significantly or eliminated entirely (tuition waived + monthly stipend). Without scholarship, total Master’s cost ranges Rs 12-20 lakh (Eastern EU) to Rs 18-25 lakh (Portugal); 6-year MBBS at Charles/Jagiellonian/UW ~Rs 80 lakh-1.2 crore (vs Rs 1.5-2 crore Indian private medical college). See our European Scholarships Database for full breakdown.
Scholarships for Indian Students at IST Lisbon
- Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarship: Full tuition + EUR 1,000/month stipend for Master/PhD – 30-50 awards/yr globally. Apply gulbenkian.pt by Mar 31
- Portuguese Government FCT Scholarship: PhD-focused; EUR 1,200/month stipend + tuition. Apply fct.pt; rolling deadlines
- IST Lisbon Merit Scholarship: Internal scholarship EUR 2,000-5,000/yr for top international applicants
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programmes: Full tuition + EUR 1,400/mo stipend – IST participates in 8+ joint programs incl. EUMAS
- Erasmus+ Mobility: EUR 850-1,200/month for exchange semester within EU during your degree
Kadamb Overseas Success Stats for IST Lisbon
- 68% admission rate for Kadamb-advised Indian students at IST Lisbon
- 88% Portugal student visa approval rate on first attempt (Kadamb 2024-25 cohort)
- Average starting salary post-graduation: EUR 35-50K (program-dependent)
- Top employers / pathways: Galp Energia (EUR 32-45K), Portugal Telecom (EUR 30-42K), Critical Software (EUR 28-40K), NOS Innovation, EDP Renewables (EUR 32-46K), Siemens Portugal, Cisco Portugal
Post-Study Work Pathway from IST Lisbon
- 12-month job-seeker residence permit after Portuguese degree; EU Blue Card threshold ~EUR 2,250/mo; Portugal PR after 5 years; EU citizenship pathway after JUST 5 years (fastest in EU)
- EU-wide career mobility: Portugal degree opens job market across all 27 EU member states
- Schengen + EU Blue Card: Top international employers prefer EU-educated talent for visa sponsorship
- For MBBS graduates: IST Lisbon does not offer MBBS – it is a pure engineering institute. Indian medical aspirants should consider University of Lisbon Medical School (Faculdade de Medicina) instead.
- Typical employer offers / outcomes: Galp Energia (EUR 32-45K), Portugal Telecom (EUR 30-42K), Critical Software (EUR 28-40K), NOS Innovation, EDP Renewables (EUR 32-46K), Siemens Portugal, Cisco Portugal
Application Timeline for IST Lisbon (September 2026 Intake)
- October-November 2025: Begin program shortlisting + IELTS preparation (NEET if applying for MBBS)
- December 2025: Document collection + transcripts + recommendation letters + motivation letter draft
- January-March 2026: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship application deadline (CRITICAL – varies)
- February-April 2026: University-specific applications + entrance test prep
- April-May 2026: Entrance tests (technical math/physics or medical IMAT-style)
- May-June 2026: Scholarship results + university admission decisions
- July 2026: Portugal student visa application at VFS / embassy India (Mumbai/Delhi/Bangalore)
- August 2026: Visa decision (typically 15-30 days) + accommodation booking in Lisbon
- September 2026: Arrival + residence permit registration within first 7 days
FAQs – IST Lisbon for Indian Students
What is the tuition fee at IST Lisbon for Indian students in 2026?
Tuition at IST Lisbon: EUR 7,000/year (non-EU students; Portuguese-medium). Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship can substantially reduce or eliminate this cost – top applicants receive full tuition waiver plus monthly stipend. Without scholarship, expect to pay the full sticker price for English-taught programs.
What are the admission requirements for IST Lisbon from India?
Minimum: 7.5/10 (strong math/physics required; portfolio for Architecture). IST Lisbon also evaluates entrance test performance, motivation letter, 2 letters of recommendation, and English proficiency (IELTS 6.0+ / TOEFL iBT 80+). Specific entrance tests vary by program – technical programs require math and physics screening; medical programs require biology, chemistry and physics.
What IELTS score is needed for IST Lisbon?
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) is the minimum for most English-taught Master’s programs. For Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship applicants, IELTS 6.5+ is strongly recommended. TOEFL iBT 80-90 also accepted. Score validity: 2 years from test date.
How does the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship work for Indian students?
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship is the flagship pathway for Indian applicants to IST Lisbon. It typically covers 100% tuition + monthly stipend (EUR 380-1,000 depending on country) + accommodation contribution + health insurance. Application deadlines fall between January and April annually. Selection is via document review and (for some) interview. Kadamb Overseas handles full scholarship application support for our students.
IST Lisbon does not offer MBBS – it is a pure engineering institute?
IST Lisbon does not offer MBBS – it is a pure engineering institute. Indian medical aspirants should consider University of Lisbon Medical School (Faculdade de Medicina) instead.
What is the post-study work pathway from IST Lisbon?
12-month job-seeker residence permit after Portuguese degree; EU Blue Card threshold ~EUR 2,250/mo; Portugal PR after 5 years; EU citizenship pathway after JUST 5 years (fastest in EU). Top employer pathways include: Galp Energia (EUR 32-45K), Portugal Telecom (EUR 30-42K), Critical Software (EUR 28-40K), NOS Innovation, EDP Renewables (EUR 32-46K), Siemens Portugal, Cisco Portugal. EU-wide career mobility means Portugal degree is recognized across all 27 EU member states.
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What Kadamb Alumni Say About IST Lisbon
Based on 340+ verified reviews from Kadamb alumni
Google: 4.8/5 | Justdial: 4.9/5 | Facebook: 4.9/5 | Trustpilot: 5.0/5
Five star rating
“Got admission to IST Lisbon via Kadamb – Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation + FCT Scholarship covered most of my tuition. Portugal visa cleared in 18 days. Saved Rs 15+ lakh vs UK or USA route.”
– Aakash R., IST Lisbon Master student 2025
Five star rating
“Completed my Master at IST Lisbon and now placed at top Portugal employer EUR 35K starting. Saumitra and team handled SOPs, scholarship apps, and visa – very smooth experience.”
– Pranav M., IST Lisbon alumni 2024
Five star rating
“After comparing 4 consultancies in Ahmedabad, Kadamb was the only one with real Portugal alumni network and accurate info on IST Lisbon. 88% visa rate is real – mine cleared in 21 days.”
– Krishna T., IST Lisbon student 2025
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Saumitra Rajput
Saumitra Rajput is the founder and lead counsellor at Kadamb Overseas, India's trusted Europe education consultancy based in Ahmedabad. With 14+ years of hands-on experience, he has personally guided 500+ students to universities across Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. Saumitra has visited partner universities across Europe, holds deep expertise in European visa processes, scholarships, and student life, and has achieved a 97% visa success rate for his clients. He is the host of the YouTube channel "Europe with Saumitra", where he shares first-hand insights on studying and living in Europe. His mission: make Europe accessible to every Indian student, with zero consultancy fees.
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