Bachelor in Economics (English track)

About the course

A three-year economics degree (180 to 195 ECTS) at Nova SBE’s campus in Carcavelos, near Lisbon. In first year you choose the English track, where every class is taught in English, or a mixed track that has three maths courses in Portuguese. Second and third years are taught only in English. First year covers micro- and macroeconomics, calculus, linear algebra with programming and financial accounting. Second year covers more micro- and macroeconomics, statistics, finance, econometrics and ethics. Third year has seminars and electives, including at least 28 ECTS of electives in economics.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Portugal has no fixed list of Leaving Cert subjects or grades for entry. Your Leaving Cert must be recognised as equivalent to Portugal’s 12th year. Your application score is 50% your school-leaving grade and 50% the entrance exams, and you need at least 135 out of 200 overall. Through DGES you ask to use equivalent foreign exams in place of the Portuguese entrance exams. Confirm with DGES and Nova SBE how your H grades will be converted.
• Mathematics A is part of every accepted exam combination. It counts for 50% alone, or is combined with one other subject such as Portuguese, Physics and Chemistry, Economics, Geography, English or Philosophy. Each exam needs a minimum of 9.5 out of 20. Irish applicants would normally use Leaving Cert Mathematics (most likely Higher Level) instead. Each year, by 31 May, the CNAES publishes the list of foreign exams it accepts as equivalent. Check that Leaving Cert Maths is on the list.
• Nova SBE’s national-call page does not list a separate English-language test. For the English track, check with admissions whether you need any proof of English. As an Irish student with Leaving Cert English you are unlikely to have a problem.

How to apply

1. Check the routeEU citizens apply to Nova SBE through the DGES national call, not the international-student route. Check the Nova SBE national-call page for the 2027 exam combinations and minimum scores.
2. Sort out equivalence and exam substitutionIn spring 2027, get your Leaving Cert recognised as equivalent to the Portuguese 12th year. On the DGES online platform, request an access number and activation sheet, then choose the Leaving Cert exams (including Maths) you want to use in place of the Portuguese entrance exams.
3. Apply in the 1st phaseApply online through DGES in the 1st phase of the national competition, expected from late July to early August 2027. The dates will be published by DGES.
4. Enrol and pick the English trackIf you get a place, enrol with Nova SBE in the enrolment window (24 to 27 August in 2026) and choose the English track so that all your first-year classes are in English.

Costs

• Nova SBE lists a tuition fee of 697 euro a year for 2026/27 for Portuguese and EU students admitted through the national call, plus an administrative fee of 37.60 euro. The 2027/28 fee has not been published yet. Nova SBE’s ‘international student’ route (7,500 euro a year in 2025/26, plus a 70 euro application fee) is for non-EU students and does not apply to Irish citizens.

At a glance