SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme
Lisbon, Portugal
Foundation Year
DURATION
2 semesters
LANGUAGES
English, Portuguese
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 3,570 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
Start Your Academic Journey in Europe with the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme
Have you recently completed high school and dream of studying at a top European university?
The SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme is the ideal starting point for your academic future.
This programme is designed to support international students in adapting to the European education system. Through the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme, you will develop strong academic and language skills, preparing you for direct entry into an undergraduate degree at NOVA University Lisbon, one of the world's most prestigious young universities.
And the best part?
Students who meet the progression requirements are guaranteed a place in the first year of a relevant undergraduate programme at NOVA University Lisbon or at one of its distinguished European partner universities.
Why Choose the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme
- Build a strong foundation for an international university degree.
- Transition smoothly into the European university system by developing autonomy and academic working methods.
- Improve or acquire Portuguese and English language competencies.
- Secure direct access to undergraduate programmes at NOVA or its partner universities.
- Explore optional courses across different academic areas.
- Live in Lisbon, one of Europe's safest and most vibrant cities, offering an outstanding quality of life.
Why Study at NOVA University Lisbon
- Ranked among the Top 9 young universities in Europe (QS World University Rankings 2021).
- National leader in Business and Economics, and Arts and Humanities (Times Higher Education Rankings 2021).
- Top 10 young European university in Business and Economics, Clinical and Health, and Education.
At NOVA, you will join a global academic community and benefit from an education recognised worldwide.
Choose How and When to Begin
The SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme offers flexible study options with two intakes each year:
- Fall Intake: Applications open from January to April. Classes start in September.
- Spring Intake: Applications open from July to October. Classes start in February.
Join the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme and become part of NOVA University Lisbon!
Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics to Risk Management (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology/English at NOVA Cairo)
Life Sciences and Technology
- Biochemistry (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Cell & Molecular Biology (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
Health
- Medicine (English and Portuguese at NOVA Medical School)
- Psychology (Portuguese and English at ISPA)
- Cognitive and Behavioural Sciences (Portuguese at ISPA)
- Global Public Health (English at Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública)
- Nutrition Sciences (Portuguese at NOVA Medical School)
Digital Technology
- Information Systems (English, at NOVA Information Management School)
- Information Management (English, at NOVA Information Management School)
- Data Science (English, at NOVA Information Management School)
- Computer Science and Engineering (English at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
Chemical Technology
- Applied Chemistry (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science and Technology)
- Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
Economics and Management
- Economics (English, at NOVA School of Business and Economics)
- Management (English, at NOVA School of Business and Economics)
- Ocean Studies (English, at NOVA School of Business and Economics)
Hard Engineering
- Civil Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Materials Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Micro and Nanotechnology Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Environmental Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Industrial Engineering and Management (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Physics Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Geological Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Biomedical Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Computer Science (Portuguese or English at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
- Mechanical Engineering (Portuguese at NOVA School of Science & Technology)
Law
Law (Portuguese at NOVA School of Law)
Tourism and Hospitality
- Hotel Management (Portuguese at the Estoril Higher Institute for Hospitality and Tourism)
- Leisure and Tourism Entertainment Management (Portuguese at the Estoril Higher Institute for Hospitality and Tourism)
- Tourism Management (Portuguese at the Estoril Higher Institute for Hospitality and Tourism)
- Tourist Information (Portuguese at the Estoril Higher Institute for Hospitality and Tourism)
- Food Production in Catering (Portuguese at the Estoril Higher Institute for Hospitality and Tourism)
Disclaimer: All students are responsible for ensuring the level of fluency in the language required in the degree program they have chosen
Additionally, students must attend the following classes:
- Club of Ideas, available both in Portuguese and English
- Compulsory English language course, except for candidates who can certify level B2 or above according to the CEFR, or
- Compulsory Portuguese language course, except for candidates who can certify level B2 or above according to the CEFR.
You will fit right into the SUPERNOVA's family at NOVA if you:
- Love to be around a multicultural environment
- Have always dreamed of studying at a top ranked University in Europe
- Are eager to learn and to achieve academic success
- Love to meet new people and to be around a mutual help environment
- Are looking to create memories for a lifetime
Additionally, in order to join us, you must meet the following requirements:
- High School diploma or an official declaration from the School attesting when the candidate will be finishing High school.
- All applicants must have a minimum fluency of B2* in at least one of the following languages: Portuguese or English. It depends on the language of instruction of the bachelor´s degree you want upon completion of the program.
- Candidates who are completing/have completed only the 1st year of their higher education degree.
- The age target is from 17 to 25 years old. From the ages of 25 to 30, applications are subjected to a deeper evaluation. Applicants beyond 30 years old are not eligible for the foundation programme
Educational Systems requirements:
Cambridge Assessment (A LEVELS & AS LEVELS)
The SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme requires a minimum of 3 A or 7 AS Levels. Additionally, the IGCSE certificate does not meet the minimum requirements for admission. Furthermore, NOVA University highly recommends that students take courses relevant to their chosen program of study. If a student cannot provide proof of relevant coursework, they may be required to fulfil additional academic requirements.
Ensino Médio (Brazil)
The SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme welcomes students from Ensino Médio in Brazil. The shared cultural and historical ties between Portugal and Brazil are significant and play an important role in shaping our relationship. From language to traditions, this proximity has fostered a strong sense of familiarity and connection between our two nations.
We are looking for an average grade of 50% out of 100%, or 5 out of 10. NOVA University highly recommends that students take courses that are relevant to their chosen program of study. If a student is unable to provide proof of relevant coursework, they may be required to fulfil additional academic requirements.
International Baccalaureate (IB Diploma)
The SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme requires a minimum grade of 24 out of 45. Specific subjects may be required depending on the bachelor.
Ensino Secundário (Angola)
The SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme welcomes all Angolan students! From a country that shares the same language as Portugal, we can say that there are many Angolan students who have already gone through the program!
We are looking for an average grade of 10 out of 20, or 50% out of 100% Specific subject grades may be required depending on the bachelor.
US High School Diploma
We are looking for a minimum grade of C Specific subject grades may be required depending on the bachelor. In order to graduate with a US Diploma, the Portuguese Ministry of Education mandates that students must provide transcripts from their final three years of high school, which include Years 10, 11, and 12.
Other Educational Systems
Due to the international nature of the program, SUPERNOVA takes pride in welcoming students from all over the world! To this end, we are always seeking students from other educational systems who have achieved minimum grades of 50% out of 100%. Specific subject grades may be required depending on the bachelor.
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa stands out in the main international rankings. These results acknowledge the efforts developed by NOVA as an institution with internationally competitive research and teaching excellence, able to ensure high levels of professional success to its students.
 | NOVA was ranked in the top 9 in Europe in the QS World University Rankings 2021 among universities founded less than 50 years ago. |
|---|---|
 | The Times Higher Education Ranking By Subject 2021, ranks NOVA first national position in Business and Economics and Arts and Humanities and Top 10 among young European universities founded less than 50 years ago in Business and Economics, Clinical and Health, and Education. |
 | According to the QS Top 50 under 50 ranking, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa is in 8th place among young European universities, founded less than 50 years ago.NOVA ranks again in the top 8 in the five areas of knowledge evaluated by QS by subject:
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 | TheTimes Higher Education University Impact Rankings monitor the performance of universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). NOVA ranks in the following positions among young European institutions:
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| Leveraged in the 5 Palmes prestige of Nova SBE (only 39 European institutions hold this distinction among the worldwide top 100 Business Schools), 5 Schools from NOVA University have ranked programs, being clearly the best Portuguese University.
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What students can pursue after finishing the Foundation Programme:
NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT): (Lectured in English and Portuguese)
- Cell and Molecular Biology;
- Biochemistry ;
- Conservation Restoration;
- Geological Engineering
- Mathematics
- Applied Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Micro and Nanotechnology Engineering
- Electrotechnical and Computer Engineering;
- Physics Engineering;
- Computer Science (Lectured in Portuguese)
- Computer Science and Engineering (Lectured in English)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.
NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS): (Lectured in English)
- Data Science
- Information Management;
- Information Systems;
NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH): (Lectured in Portuguese)
- Anthropology;
- Archaeology;
- Political Science and International Relations;
- Communication Sciences;
- Language Sciences;
- Musicology;
- Portuguese Studies;
- Philosophy;
- Geography and Regional Planning;
- History;
- History of Art;
- Languages, Literature and Cultures;
- Sociology (Daytime and After-work schedule);
- Translation.
NOVA Medical School (NMS | FCM): (Lectured in Portuguese)
- Nutrition Sciences
NOVA School of Law (NOVA Direito): (Lectured in English and Portuguese)
- Law
NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA SBE): (Lectured in English)
- Economics;
- Management
NOVA Cairo (Lectured in English)
- Environmental Engineering;
- Industrial Engineering and Management
- Applied Mathematics to Risk Management
Ca' Foscari University (Lectured in English and Italian)
Fully taught in English
- Hospitality, Innovation and e-Tourism
- Digital Management
- Philosophy, International and Economics
Studies Fully taught in Italian (on-line ex-post exam non-required) - Lingue, Civiltà e Scienze del Linguaggio (Language, Civilization and the Science of Language)
- Lingue, Culture e Società dell’Asia e dell’Africa Mediterranea (Language, Culture and Society of Asia and Mediterranean African)
- Conservazione e Gestione dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali (Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management)
- Scienze e Tecnologie per i Beni Culturali (Science and Technologies for Cultural Heritage)
Cergy Paris University (Lectured in English and French)
Taught in English and French (2-3 slots for the following programs:)
- Data Sciences (Taught in English)
- Langues Littérature et Civilisation étrangère (some courses are in French)
- LLCER Anglais
- LLCER Espagnol
- Langues étrangères appliquée (some courses are in French)
- LEA Anglais-Allemand
- LEA Anglais-Chinois
- LEA Anglais Japonais
Taught in French :
- Licence Informatique
- Licence Mathématiques
- Licence mention Mathématiques, parcours pluridisciplinaire (L3)
- Licence Physique
- Licence Physique, chimie
- Licence Sciences de la Terre
- Biochimie et biologie cellulaire
- Biologie générale et sciences de la Terre
- Licence Géographie et aménagement (French C1 recommended)
- Licence Histoire (French C1 recommended)
- Lettres modernes (French C1 recommended)
Algarve University (Lectured in Portuguese)
- Landscape Architecture;
- Bioengineering;
- Biology;
- Marine Biology;
- Biotechnology;
- Pharmaceutical Sciences;
- Food Engineering;
- Hotel Management;
- Marine and Coastal Management;
- Mathematics applied to Economics and Management;
- Tourism